Proto:Knuckle Bash

This page details one or more prototype versions of Knuckle Bash.

A location test version of Knuckle Bash was dumped in June 2022. The most visible differences are in the infamous text scrolls between stages, which were completely rewritten for the final build.

Differences

Title Screen

Location Test	Final

The Toaplan copyright year text throughout the attract mode is not present in the location test version. There is no visible copyright year in the location test version. The Toaplan logo was also moved up in the final versions to fit the copyright text.

The "Presented By Atari Games" text is not present in the location test when the region dipswitch is set to Europe/USA. In the final, setting the region dipswitch to USA only, Europe/USA, or USA/Europe (but not Europe only) will show the Atari Games text.

Copyright Screen

Location Test	Final

The copyright notice on bootup states the game is for use in Europe only or USA only when the region dipswitch is set to Europe/USA or USA/Europe in the location test. The final shows both regions in the respective order according to the dipswitch.

Text

The text speed is unchanged between versions. All grammatical errors are reproduced verbatim, including lack of spaces after punctuation.

The game's story changed slightly between the location test and the final.

• The ninja character is named "NINPOW" in the location test, rather than HAYATE, master of NINPOW. The narration in the final is vague about what has to be done to stop him from meeting up with the Bull Group, while in the location test the plan is explicit: kill him. It is not possible to do this in either version; he joins the playable cast after he is defeated.
• In the final, the playable characters are collectively known as the "heros" [sic] and eventually the Five Wrestlers. The former name isn't used in the location test.
• In the final, the villains are more consistently referred to as the Bull Group.

Area	Location Test	Final
"Off to destroy the Bull Group!!" 1st	Professional wrestling is my dream and I'll fight to the last to preserve it. I'll even fight with my mates to protect it. They are a formidable force and to increase their strength, they are holding a big conference in a Chicago hotel to throw a new wrestler into the arena. It's NINPOW, an ace from HongKong known for his techniques as much as for his tricks. But, before they can get him, there's only one thing: kill NINPOW!!	Becoming a professional wrestler has always been my dream. I'll fight to the end to save the sport from the corrupt Mad Bulls. Wrestling heros unite! In a Chicago hotel, a secret meeting has been arranged. The heros decide to obtain the services of a powerful master of NINPOW. His name is 'HAYATE' ninja warrior. He resides in Hong Kong and is known to be a skillful and cunning fighter. The Mad Bulls want him too and will stop at nothing. The heros can't let this happen. Even if it means...
"Fierce Battle of the Four Mad Bulls!!" 2nd	I am rushing to the BATTLE KINGDOM where the four MAD BULL GROUP assembles. It's known as the Superme Superpower Clique of the entire Bull Force. It has come to my ear, though, that one of them has some doubts in his mind about the way the Bull Force acts...	My journey takes me to BATTLE KINGDOM, headquarters of the Bull Group. It's rumored that one of them wants out of the organization. It seems he doesn't agree with their methods... I too was once lured by the temptations of the Bull Group. They are nothing but a gang of criminals, evil as sin.
"Fierce Battle of the Four Mad Bulls!!" 1st	I once belonged to the BULL professional wrestling team. To tell the truth, it was a gang of criminals as evil as sin. To protect professional wrestling, that small dream that means everything to me, I'll put up a with my mates. The Group ganged up to challenge me because they felt I was a traitor and wanted to get rid of me. And so, I am off to BATTLE KINGDOM for the ultimate fight in hell.	My journey takes me to BATTLE KINGDOM,headquarters of the Bull Group. It's rumored that one of them wants out of the organization. It seems he doesn't agree with their methods... I too was once a member of the Bull Group. Let me tell you, they were a gang of criminals evil as sin. Becoming a professional wrestler has always been my dream. I'll fight to the end to save the sport from the Mad Bulls. Heros unite! Once they learned I didn't believe in their ways,the Bull labeled me a traitor and decided to get rid of me! Now I'm off to BATTLE KINGDOM for the fight from hell I'll fight to the end to save the sport. Heros unite!
"Off to destroy the Bull Group!!" 2nd	The Forces whose four Mad Bull Clique had been slain by us are holding an Extraordinary Conference in a Chicago hotel to appoint the new wrestler they have apparently hired. It's the formidable NINPOW from HongKong, a of fearsome force. But before the have a chance to contact him, there's only one thing: Kill that mysterious man.	Our heros have defended four attacks from the Mad Bulls. The Bulls are holding a conference in a Chicago hotel to sign a new wrestler they have recruited. His name is 'HAYATE' ninja warrior, a master of NINPOW from Hong Kong. He is a merciless fighter feared throughout the orient. Our heros must prevent this meeting from happening. Even if it means...
Final Stage Boss 1 Dialogue	I knew it all along. You'll be defeat me... I think you can destory the 'BULL'. I hope you will succeed in it. Good luck!	I knew all along you'd defeat me... I think you can destroy the Bulls. I hope you will succeed. Good luck!
Ending Cutscene	It was a formidable opponent. Is this finish yet? Yes. Where are we go? We'll go somewhere.........	They were a formidable opponent... Is this the end? That's right. We have one thing left to do. What's that? Take control of our destiny!
Epilogue	I destroyed the BULL professional wrestling group, this hotbed of evil,lurking out in the darkness of hell.  It was a splendid feat that has become a legend.  A deed that has given our little ones a new dream again to be big wrestlers themselves.  And this is how people have passed from mouth to mouth the tale of all the five wrestlers have done.  And what a 'KNUCKLE BASH' it was !! THE END	We succeeded in destroying the Bull Group. The world is free of their evil ways. The story of our young heros has become legendary. Children can again look up to and dream of becoming wrestling heros themselves! This is how the tale of the Five Wrestlers has traveled from mouth to mouth. What a Knuckle Bash it was!!! THE END

In the location test version, the epilogue indents each paragraph with one space.