Superman (Arcade)

Superman
Developer: Taito Publisher: Taito Platform: Arcade (Taito X System) Released in JP: February 1989[1] Released in US: January 1989[2] Released in EU: 1989 This game has unused graphics. This game has unused text. This game has a hidden level select.

Superman is side-scrolling beat-up by excellent game develop Taito. Luckily Superman spends most time punching not talking so little Taito quality tlansration is experience.

Stage Select

This game uses the Taito Code:

• While the game boots up, hold the Service Coin button until a "SERVICE SW ERROR" message pops up on the screen.
• Then, press 1P Start (x3), Service Coin, 1P Start.

A stage select menu should pop up after starting a new game. Press Left / Right to navigate the menu.

Unused Graphics

Taito's recently-replaced old logo is present at the beginning of the graphics ROM.

Unused artwork for Superman and an unknown Wonder Woman-esque female character, possibly the original Player 2 (the second player is simply a palette-swapped red Superman in the final game). Colors are not accurate.

The original version of the title screen logo was based directly on the 1940 Superman logo, which featured a very angular "U". At some point in development, this was "corrected" to be slightly more in line with the updated 1983 logo by patching the tilemap with an alternate set of graphics, stored at the very end of the graphics ROMs.

(Source: BMF54123)

(Logo history: DIAL B for BLOG)

Apparently, the COLD MEAT store in Round 2-1 was originally a COLD BLOOD store, presumably before someone at DC threw a fit and ordered it to be changed. This was patched with alternate graphics in a similar manner to the title screen logo above.

(Source: BMF54123)

Unused Text

The following text can be found at ROM address 0x26196:

EMPEROR "SCALT" OF "ZAACE" EMPIRE,
WHO HAD DEVISED A PLAN TO
CONQUER EARTH,SENT 5 COMMANDERS TO
THE U.S. AND HAS BEEN WAITING
FOR THE CORRECT TIME TO PUT
HIS PLAN INTO ACTION.

This text was most likely meant to appear during the game's attract mode, perhaps on the screen depicting Emperor Zaas holding the Earth, which is otherwise empty save for the text "INSERT COIN" (which just so happens to immediately follow this unused text in the ROM). Note that this is the only time the name Zaas (spelled "ZAACE" here) is ever mentioned outside the game's flyer and that it refers to the empire, rather than the Emperor himself. The name "SCALT" seems to have been dropped entirely.