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Proto:Shining Force III/FSS Demo

From The Cutting Room Floor
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This is a sub-page of Proto:Shining Force III.

Early Title Screen

Starting the Demo shows off an unused Title Screen, featuring CD quality audio. This is also present in the stand alone demo, though it's unused, and can only be accessed through debug. The music track it uses, TOSHI.SAP still remains in the Japanese version, but was removed in the USA and European versions..

Debug Mode

Entering 36020D00 0001 will enable a debug mode which isn't quite the same as the one in the final game. Its functions are as follows:

Name Explanation
Scene Area Warp - select the map where you wish to go, hit A, then close the menu. Has a bit below the area name, but setting it to anything other than 0 doesn't appear to do anything. WARNING: Trying to set this in battles requires you to either beat the map or hex edit the Return spell into a character's spell slot, as the spell is not available normally in the demo.
Flag Sets event flags.
Param Roster editor. Add or remove characters, and change their levels or classes.
Item Gives you any item in the game, provided you still have space. There is also an option for Max Gold.
Save Saves file. Appears to be fully functional, and in fact it can even be used in other scenarios, with a file select screen that is very different from the one used.
Load Loads a save file. Attempting to actually load a file crashes the game.
Sound Sound Test. Voices and Jingles have been omitted.
??? Unknown. Attempting to use it just refreshes the menu.
MAX Same as above.
Config The normal Configuration menu.

Also, pressing X + Y + Z will pause the game. In this mode, pressing most any button will advance the game 1 frame, and pressing L will enable some printout information. To exit this mode, press Start.

(Source: [1] Knight0fDragon)

Items

Prototype Final
Scenario 1 sprite listJapa.png
Scenario 1 sprite listUS.png

It appears they hadn't finished the item list at this stage of development. Not quite as developed as the later prototype, but not as underdeveloped as the Segakore demo either.

Differences

  • Daggers
Prototype Final
SF3Dagger1FSS.png
SF3Dagger1Final.png
Prototype Final
SF3Dagger2FSS.png
SF3Dagger2Final.png
Prototype Final
SF3Dagger3FSS.png
SF3Dagger3Final.png

The first three daggers are entirely different.

  • Blade
Prototype Final
SF3Blade1FSS.png
SF3Blade1Final.png

The shine was toned down, and a hole in the tip of the sword was removed.

  • Poleaxe
Prototype Final
SF3Poleaxe1FSS.png
SF3Poleaxe1Final.png

The shadows were redrawn to be larger.

  • Axe
Prototype Final
SF3Axe1FSS.png
SF3Axe1Final.png

The first Axe is a slightly redrawn version of the final's second Axe. The rest of the Axes in the proto were redrawn for final.

Prototype Final
SF3Axe2FSS.png
SF3Axe2Final.png

A red bandanna was added to the handle.

  • Mace
Prototype Final
SF3MaceFSS.png
SF3MaceFinal.png

Palette was changed to be a bit more colorful and metallic.

Prototype Final
SF3FlailFSS.png
SF3FlailFinal.png

Appears to be using the Battle Mace's sprite as a placeholder.

Prototype Final
SF3SaintMaceFSS.png
SF3SaintMaceFinal.png

The design was changed to add spikes.

  • Items
Prototype Final
SF3QuickChickenFSS.png
SF3QuickChickenFinal.png

The Quick Chicken was completely redone.

Prototype Final
SF3SMithrilFSS.png
SF3SMithrilFinal.png
Prototype Final
SF3LMithrilFSS.png
SF3LMithrilFinal.png

Same with the Small and Large Mithril. Their positioning was also swapped around.

Prototype Final
SF3HealingDropFSS.png
SF3Healing DropFinal.png

Cork on the Healing Drop was made bigger.

Prototype Final
Prototype Final
Prototype Final
  • Tomahawk
Prototype Final

The first two Tomahawks had a very minor change to the blade's shine.

  • Braces/Rings
Prototype Final
SF3ArtemusPinFSS.png
SF3ArtemusPinFinal.png

The leftmost tip of the star was shaved off slightly, and some transparency was added.

Prototype Final
SF3Dagger3FSS.png
SF3Dagger3Final.png
  • Misc
Prototype Final
SF3PowerUndiesFSS.png
SF3PowerUndiesFinal.png

The color was changed from a dullish purple to a more vibrant pink for the final.

Prototype Final
SF3LoinclothFSS.png
SF3LoinclothFinal.png

The bottom left corner had transparency added in the final.

Prototype Final
SF3SwiftBootsFSS.png
SF3SwiftBootsFinal.png

SF3UnknownStickFSS.png
This is the same wand Masqurin carries in her sprite. Seems it was intended as an item at one point.

  • Arrows
Prototype Final
SF3CaylonBowFSS.png
SF3CaylonBowFinal.png

Oddly enough even the unused Arrow was remade for the final. Worth noting that Kantar's Bow doesn't seem to exist yet, despite just being a recolor.

Partially Deleted

SF3FSSPDeletedItems.png SF3FSSPDeletedItems2.png
There's a row of items on the list that appear to have been deleted, though not perfectly.