RoboCop 2 (Arcade)

RoboCop 2
Developer: Data East Publisher: Data East Platform: Arcade (Caveman Ninja hardware) Released internationally: 1991 Released in JP: March 1991[1] This game has unused areas. This game has a hidden developer message. This game has hidden developer credits. This game has hidden development-related text. This game has unused graphics. This game has unused items. This game has unused music. This game has unused sounds. This game has unused text. This game has debugging material. This game has a hidden level select. This game has regional differences. This game has anti-piracy features.

A game based on the 1990 sequel to the blockbuster film about the titular mind-conflicted robotic law enforcer. Unlike Data East's previous RoboCop arcade game, this one has convenient instant direction-changing shooting controls and co-op gameplay (where the second character is weirdly another RoboCop instead of Anne Lewis).

Debug Functions

Version Info

Hold 1P Start + 2P Start before the game boots to see this version info screen.

Crash Handler

A standard handler for all exception vectors is built into the game. To trigger it, just crash the game somehow. Be creative. Think outside the robobox.

Stage Select

After starting a new game, the game checks Dip Switch 3-8 ("Game Over Message") and is supposed to send the player to a stage select if that dip switch is set, but there's a branch opcode at the start of the subroutine that effectively dummies this out. Put the following code in robocop2.xml to reactivate this feature:

  <cheat desc="Enable Stage Select">
    <script state="run">
      <action>maincpu.mw@003188=0002</action>
    </script>
    <script state="off">
      <action>maincpu.mw@003188=0074</action>
    </script>
  </cheat>

Press 1P Up/Down to select a scene, and press 1P Button 1 to warp to that scene.

Display Debug

The game actually tries to run a display debug subroutine every frame during normal gameplay, but the developers put an rts opcode at the start of the subroutine to disable it. Put this code in robocop2.xml to reactivate it:

  <cheat desc="Display Debug (Main)">
    <script state="run">
      <action>maincpu.mw@00DE98=4E71</action>
    </script>
    <script state="off">
      <action>maincpu.mw@00DE98=4E75</action>
    </script>
  </cheat>

STAGNO and SCENUM should be self-explanatory. BKXPOS is the current camera X position for the stage; BKYPOS and BKZPOS would be the Y and Z positions, but they're always 0x100 and 0x000 in this game. The X/Y/Z coordinates for both players are displayed on the right.

There's a second display debug for the game's bonus stages, but the code is completely unreferenced in the final game. Put this code in MAME's robocop2.xml cheat file to add it back in:

  <cheat desc="Display Debug (Bike)">
    <script state="run">
      <action>maincpu.mq@0160D6=4EB9000FFE004279</action>
      <action>maincpu.mq@0FFE00=4EB90001629E4E71</action>
      <action>maincpu.mq@0FFE08=4EB9000150E84E71</action>
      <action>maincpu.mw@0FFE10=4E75</action>
    </script>
    <script state="off">
      <action>maincpu.mq@0160D6=4EBA01C64E714279</action>
      <action>maincpu.mq@0FFE00=FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF</action>
      <action>maincpu.mq@0FFE08=FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF</action>
      <action>maincpu.mw@0FFE10=FFFF</action>
    </script>
  </cheat>

In this case, BKZPOS is the player's current position on the stage, HANDLE controls how the car or bike turns, SPEED is the current scrolling speed (Actual value in pixels is SPEED / 100), and the unfortunately named FAGAPO is an offset that the game uses to control how the road turns and bends.

Camera Debug

Like the display debug, this is technically called every frame, but is dummied out by an rts opcode at the start of the subroutine. Place the following code in robocop2.xml to reactivate it:

  <cheat desc="Debug Functions">
    <parameter>
      <item value="0x21EC">Camera Debug</item>
      <item value="0x2244">Weapon Debug</item>
    </parameter>
    <script state="run">
      <action>maincpu.mw@00EEA2=param</action>
    </script>
    <script state="off">
      <action>maincpu.mw@00EEA2=21EA</action>
    </script>
  </cheat>

Use 1P Left/Right to move the camera, and hold 1P Up/Down to stop the camera from scrolling. This works a lot better if 2P is the only one playing. Be aware that screen locks override this debug function.

Weapon Debug

Press 1P/2P Button 3 to cycle between the Cobra Assault Cannon, Bazooka, Gatling gun, and the default Auto 9. This will also give the player(s) 999 ammo where applicable. No code references the weapon debug subroutine, but the code above will replace the camera debug with the weapon debug.

There's one additional tool: Press 1P/2P Button 1 to decrease the player's health bar by 1 unit.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Copy Protection

RAM addresses 0x18C000 to 0x18C7FF are reserved for the game's copy protection chip. Shortly after booting, the game checks if address 0x18C504 is equal to 0x0084. If it isn't, it displays the above screen and prevents the game from booting further.

To trigger this bit of copy protection, place the following code in MAME's robocop2.xml cheat file and reset:

  <cheat desc="Trigger Copy Protection">
    <script state="run">
      <action>maincpu.mb@0006BA=0x66</action>
    </script>
    <script state="off">
      <action>maincpu.mb@0006BA=0x67</action>
    </script>
  </cheat>

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Location Test Screen

Put this code in MAME's robocop2.xml cheat file and beat any stage to see a screen from a location test version of the game:

  <cheat desc="Enable Location Test Screen">
    <script state="run">
      <action>maincpu.mw@00095A=0x0002</action>
    </script>
    <script state="off">
      <action>maincpu.mw@00095A=0xFDFC</action>
    </script>
  </cheat>

Once the text finishes being typed out on-screen, RoboCop will thank you for your cooperation (You're welcome) and the game will reset.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Unused Areas

Scene 00 (Intro Stage 1)

All of the US and Euro / Asia sets start you off in the street, attempting to stop the crime in progress at Nick's Guns. However, the Japan set (0.11) includes two extra scenes that give a rundown on the events of the first film and lets the player go through the movie's climax.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

However, the scene data is still in the other sets and the story text has even been fully translated! Use the above stage select code and select Scene 00 or 01 to play them.

The first scene is very short and mainly exists to let the player(s) get a handle on how the game works...

...and to show how powerful RoboCop really is. Guy's just flipping guards and exploding doors like it's nothing.

Scene 01 (Intro Stage 2)

This scene takes place in the OCP boardroom and features a boss fight against an ED-209.

At the start of the fight, RoboCop will use his visual systems to pinpoint the boss's weak point. The fight itself is a neutered version of Stage 4's ED-209 fight; this version can't shoot rockets.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

After defeating ED-209, the first movie's ending scene will play out.

Scene 0A

A very short scene that takes place in a sewer system. This would be placed in-between the parking garage and factory sections of Stage 3.

This stage seems to have been abandoned very early in development. The only object is a pipe that breaks off and swings back and forth, electrifying the nasty sewer water when it gets too low, but the electricity doesn't actually do anything at this point.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Unused Items

There are two pickups that were coded but were never placed in any stage proper. Put the following code in robocop2.xml to change the life pickup in Stage 1-1 to one of the unused items.

  <cheat desc="Change Pickup in Stage 1">
    <parameter>
      <item value="0x8005">Max Life</item>
      <item value="0x8006">Stopwatch</item>
    </parameter>
    <script state="run">
      <action>maincpu.mw@022956=param</action>
    </script>
    <script state="off">
      <action>maincpu.mw@022956=8004</action>
    </script>
  </cheat>

While the normal life pickup only heals 10 HP, the max life pickup brings the player back to full health.

This stopwatch pickup should give the player more time, but there's no code to handle that so instead it does nothing. Oh well.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Unused Graphics

Small front and sides-looking graphics of RoboCop's head are found amongst the game's font. Note that the front-looking RoboCop head seen on the player's HUD is not the same one seen here.

Early	Final

Early, less chromatic versions of the 1P/2P player markers.

The weapon icons are supposed to have a 10-frame flashing animation, but only the first frame is used in the actual game.

Early	Final

An early version of the "HIT BUTTON" prompt in a more comic book-like impact style.

Early	Later

Unused "SHOT!" prompts, available in both old and new style graphics.

A wagglin' indicator for one of those top fire button joysticks. You know the ones. The game instead uses a different, traditional joystick graphic in non-Japanese sets.

A pristine version of RoboCop's police car. In the final game, this car only shows up once, smashed up, and on fire at the beginning of Stage 1.

A strange version of the nuke vat at the end of Stage 3 with outlines around the main vat and cracks. These graphics appear about 2/3 of the way through the object graphics ROM, while the final vat graphics are at the very end.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Unused Audio

Music

Put this code in robocop2.xml and change the music in Stage 1 (Scene 03) to an unused track:

  <cheat desc="Change Stage 1 Music">
    <parameter>
      <item value="0x09">Unused Track 1</item>
      <item value="0x15">Unused Track 2</item>
    </parameter>
    <script state="run">
      <action>maincpu.mb@003323=param</action>
    </script>
    <script state="off">
      <action>maincpu.mb@003323=0x05</action>
    </script>
  </cheat>

ID	Track
09
15

09 seems to be rejected stage music; it's worth noting that Stage 1 and Stage 2 share the same track. 15 is a more sedate piece that might have been used for a continue or name entry screen.

Sound Effects

Put this code in robocop2.xml to replace the "RoboCop" clip on the title screen with a different sound effect or PCM sample:

  <cheat desc="Change Title Screen Sound Effect">
    <parameter min="0x1B" max="0x76" step="0x01"/>
    <script state="run">
      <action>maincpu.mb@00B541=param</action>
    </script>
    <script state="off">
      <action>maincpu.mb@00B541=0x6E</action>
    </script>
  </cheat>

ID	Track
1B
1C
20
28
29
2A
31
32
37
38
39
3B
3E

Not much to comment on here. Sound 2A would fit in well for collecting a life pickup, which normally produces no sound at all.

PCM Samples

ID	Track	Notes
52		RoboCop: You are under arrest.
54		RoboCop: Your move, creep.
55		RoboCop: Drop it!
5B		Unused enemy grunt 1
5C		Unused enemy grunt 2
5E		Unused enemy grunt 3
60		Unused enemy grunt 4
6C		Unused enemy grunt 5
6F		???: Murphy.
74		Digitized beep
76		Digitized creek

The first three lines were used in the first RoboCop arcade game, though the clips here are of higher quality. There is a "Murphy" clip in the first game too, though the one in RoboCop 2 is new and sounds like it was recorded with a different actor.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Unused Text

Attract Mode Text

ID	Text	ID	Text	ID	Text	ID	Text	ID	Text
29	WARNING	2A	DECO MARK	2B	OPENING DEMO 1	2C	ROBOCOP	2D	IDLE
2E	BEST PLAYERS	2F	START DEMO	30	OPENING DEMO 2	31	OPENING DEMO 3	32	OPENING DEMO 4

These labels for attract mode screens were most likely used on placeholder screens before everything was properly implemented.

Placeholder Intro Text

Strings 3C to 41 are simple placeholder strings -- "MESSAGE 0", "MESSAGE 1", etc. -- that were used in the intro cutscene before the proper text was written. Put this code in the usual place to see 'em:

  <cheat desc="Placeholder Intro Messages">
    <script state="run">
      <action>maincpu.mw@001388=0x003C</action>
    </script>
    <script state="off">
      <action>maincpu.mw@001388=0x007F</action>
    </script>
  </cheat>

Sector Clear Text

ID	Text	ID	Text	ID	Text
67	SECTOR 0 CLEARED.	68	SECTOR 1 CLEARED.	69	SECTOR 2 CLEARED.
6A	SECTOR 3 CLEARED.	6B	SECTOR 4 CLEARED.	6C	SECTOR 5 CLEARED.

Yet more placeholder strings; these were used in lieu of actual end-of-stage cutscenes.

Intro Stage Outro

ID	Text
84	A YEAR PASSED BY...

Text for a screen that was cut from non-Japanese sets. Read on for more information.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Developer Text

Labels for some of the game's music and all of the game's instrument samples can be found in the audio CPU.

Music

0x2102	bgm1.bgm
0x21F6	bgm2.bgm
0x412E	bgm6.bgm
0x5870	boss1.bgm
0x5E5D	boss2.bgm
0x638E	boss3.bgm
0x698B	boss4.bgm
0x7157	cont.bgm
0x75A0	demo.bgm
0x7A98	elev.bgm
0x7F63	clear.bgm
0x81DF	over.bgm
0x84CC	end.bgm
0x9A98	bgm0.bgm

Instruments

Text starts at 0xCA36.

e_piano	e_piano2	pia_5th	pia_at	pia_hi1	pia_hi2	pia_seq	pia_syn	piano_1	piano_2
piano_3	piano_4	piano_5	piano_6	piano_7	piano_8	pia_casio	pia_gt	hiseqx	seque
badbell	belflute	bellsyn	belviola	chaimer	kinkon	toybell	abc	cheap	kira1
kira2	metalsyn	analogue	flution	flution2	gira	hamowire	soundtrack	soundtrac2	synclavi
clav_1	delayer	masked	melody	percle	readcal	spaces	synther	tremolo	tubasyn
wavewire	wire	analogue2	tomita	voice1	voice2	voice3	voice4	voice5	voice6
voice7	voice8	voice9	accordion 3	celest_1	celest_2	e_organ1	e_organ2	e_organ3	e_organ4
hammond_1	hammond_2	impact_org	organ_1	organ_2	organ_3	organ_4	soften	organ_v1	organ_v2
esn_org	ob_organ1	ob_organ2	sx_organ	waveorgan	porgan_1	porgan_2	porgan_at	harpsi	ginginlead
lead	maskedlead	syorgan1	syorgan2	marimba_1	marimba_2	marimba_st	melody_at	mokkin_at	s_xylo
vibra_1	vibra_2	vibra_3	xylo_1	xylo_2	koto	shami_1	shami_2	e_guitar1	e_guitar2
grassharp	guitar_1	guitar_cx	bright_dis	clavsitar	hard_g	hardy_1	hardy_2	hardy_3	hardy_4
hardy_5	low_dist	a_bass	a_bassx	afr_bass	bright_wb	w_bass	analog_b1	analog_b2	analog_b3
analog_b4	syn_b1	syn_b2	syn_b3	syn_b4	syn_b5	syn_b6	syn_b7	syn_b8	syn_b9
syn_b10	thick_b	bassclavi	bright_b1	bright_b2	dx7_b	e_bass1	e_bass2	e_bass3	e_bassx
pick_b1	pick_b2	pick_b3	ricken_b	rr_bass	log_bass	mokugyo_b	casio_cym	ride_symba	hr_snare
meka_dr1	meka_dr2	meka_drm3	metalhit1	metalhit2	noise_sd	noise_sd2	snare	waterclap	bd_tom
bowlhit	smallbowl	b_drum	afr_drm1	afr_drm2	baribari	gamran	steeldrum1	steeldrum2	steeldrum3
steeler	at_clari	fagot	fue	piccolo1	sht_brs	syn_oboe	trp_1	trp_2	trp_3
trp_4	brs_1	brs_2	crystal	hard_brs	5th_brs1	metal_brs	opl_brs1	opl_brs2	opl_brs3
rise_brs	slow_brs	wave_brs	wave_brs2	5th_brs1	5th_brs1	bell_brs	delay_brs	vivi_brs	bassoon
brk_sax	cheap_horn	hard_horn	hi_sax	hornsect	sax_1	sax_2	sax_3	soft_sax	softuba
syn_brs1	syn_brs2	syn_sax	cembalo_1	cembalo_2	solovln_1	solovln_2	solovln_3	violin_1	violin_2
violin_3	violin_4	5th_str	lane	distrings	hi_str	orchstra	strings	syn_str1	syn_str2
syn_str3	pizz_1	pizz_2	vioboe	bass50	bass60	bass70	bass80	bassd80	harpsi5
harpsi	brass1	brass2	brass3	brass3	brbass

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Regional Differences

Attract Mode

Exclusive to the Japanese version is a fourth gameplay demo taking place on the intro stage's ED-209 boss fight.

Intro Stage

• 

  The police officer Alex Murphy was murdered in the brutal crime city Detroit.

• 

  However, various intrigues surround RoboCop…

• 

  What's your name?
  Murphy.

As mentioned previously, only the Japanese set lets the player play through the intro stage without cheats or hacks.

And, one year later...

There's one difference even if the intro stage is re-enabled in other sets: After the stage ends, a screen of text is displayed followed by an animated title screen.

Button Prompts

International	Japan

At the end of the first section of Stage 1, the player has to stop a pick-up from running them over. In the US and Euro/Asia versions, the game tells the player to use the joystick and the buttons, but the Japanese version displays "Hit Button" instead of a moving joystick. Despite this difference, the game behaves the same across all versions - moving the joystick and pressing the buttons will work.

A similar section in Stage 3 where the player is trying to pry themselves off a giant magnet uses the "Hit Button" prompt in every version of the game, but the joystick is exclusive to non-Japanese sets.

Secret Credits

Credits	Background Only

Version 0.11 (Japan) of the game has an additional set of scribble-like credits if you manage to beat the game with just one credit. These credits are scrolled on top of a still image of RoboCop 2 from the film that is otherwise unused.

While the images are semi-transparent in the game, the transparency has been removed in these images and replaced with black for ease of reading. Some of the names refer to parts of the staff that worked on the game; these have been filled in when possible based on the endgame credits and other sources.

• 

  Project Leader
  Mentaiko

• 

  Miscellaneous
  Ada

• 

  Graphics
  Master

• 

  Enemy Programmer
  GAU! TESA (TS-002)

• 

  Sound
  Tatsuya Kiwch (Tatsuya Kiuchi)

• 

  Sound
  Tomtom Sato (Tomoyoshi Satou)

• 

  Drawn by ROBOCOP Ishibiki (Yoshiyuki Ishibiki)

• 

  Program
  YAR Thank you for Playing

• 

  Graphics
  The Garbage Squire Yamamoko (Yoshihiro Yamamoto)

• 

  I'M THE PROGRAMMER!
  Up Down Right Right 112 SEL

• 

  PCB WORKS
  K.K. (Katsumi Kurihara)

• 

  Graphics - Objects
  (Kuri) (Eiko Kurihara)

• 

  A Nobody
  The Character き - Jake

• 

  Graphics Deadbeat
  Hirame (Yasuko Hirane)

• 

  Graphics
  RoboCop II Animator Kaihou (Yoshinari Kaihou)

• 

  Graphic Non-Artist
  Hafuu

• 

  Russian Thrash Artist Guy
  Arena Mexico Inobita

• 

  Graphics
  Mondaji the Consumer

(Source: Translations by GlitterBerri, with annotations by Foxhack)