Psychic 5

Psychic 5
Developer: NMK Publisher: Jaleco Platform: Arcade (Jaleco Psychic 5 hardware) Released internationally: January 1987 This game has a hidden developer message. This game has hidden developer credits. This game has unused graphics. This game has regional differences.

Psychic 5 is an interesting platforming action game that features hovering as an important game mechanic, as well as a collection of secret bonuses that range from obvious to downright obscure.

Easter Egg

On the character stats screen, press Down, Down, Up, Right, Right, Right, Left, Left to replace the character stats with developer stats.

Please note that if the code is entered too quickly, it won't register properly.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Developer Credits

Main CPU

A lone programmer credit is in the main CPU at 0x07FC0:

Programed by NAOKI HOSHIZAKI
Copyright 1986 NMK Ltd.

An additional credit is at 0x07F70 in the international version:

Oversea's version V2.00 
CHANGED BY TAMIO NAKASATO

Audio CPU

The first message from the game's composer, CHEABOW, is near the start of the Audio CPU at 0x0080. This message is identical to the one found in Valtric:

***This Sound Monitor Made By Cheabow.***
***Sound Effect Software Logic Design by Cheabow.***
***Music Data Transfer Logic Design by Cheabow.***
<<<<CAUTION: NOT A MANNER .... to be continue.>>>>

The message is continued at 0x153A. This is largely the same as the continued Valtric message, but adds a few credits for sound designer Taeko Suzuki.

All Music Compose by Cheabow.
All Music Arrange by Cheabow.
All Music Produce by Cheabow.
All Music Voicing by Cheabow.
Sound Effect by Cheabow & Taeko Suzuki.
Time Keeper by Cheabow & Taeko Suzuki.
All Sound Effect & Music Data key in by Taeko Suzuki.
(C) 1986 Nihon Maicom Kaihatsu LTD.
Score writing by Taeko Suzuki.
to be continue.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Unused Graphics

In the background graphics ROM is what looks like the top half of a sixth developer's head. It doesn't use the same palette as the other dev heads, and whatever palette it did use doesn't exist in the game ROM anymore.

Scene 1
Scene 2
Scene 3
Scene 6
Scene 7
Scene 8

Six of the game's eight scenes have graphics for unused collectables.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Regional Differences

Character Names

The names of the five playable characters were changed in the international set.

JP	INT
Naoki	Tommy
Akiko	Linda
Bunta	Poward
Makoto	Steve
Genzoh	Richard

Poward is a great name.

Attract Mode

JP	INT

The gameplay demo was rerecorded for the international release, showcasing better play at a quicker pace.

Scene Changes

JP	INT

In the international version, helpful directional arrows were added to every scene in the game.

JP	INT

The flames in this section of Scene 2 aren't present in the international game. In the Japanese game, the player has to wait for the red platform to reach the left wall, then quickly jump up and run to the right. In the international game, the player can just hop on the platform at any time and ride it to the right.

JP
INT

There are more gaps in the sea of flames at the start of Scene 4.

JP	INT

At the end of Scene 4, the two leftmost and rightmost flames were removed from the international set.

JP	INT

More flame changes, who would have guessed? The top-left flames were doused by international fire fighters.

JP	INT

One of the wall tiles (check the center of the image) in Scene 8 was changed. There was supposed to be another directional arrow () added here, but a different wall tile was accidentally used.

(Source: Original TCRF research)