Sword of Vermilion

Sword of Vermilion
Also known as: Vermilion (JP) Developer: Sega AM2 Publisher: Sega Platform: Genesis Released in JP: December 16, 1989 Released in US: January 28, 1991 Released in EU: April 22, 1991 This game has unused music. This game has debugging material. This game has a hidden sound test. This game has a prerelease article This game has a bugs page

In Sword of Vermilion, you are the son of Erik V, who must search for the Eight Rings of Good to stop Tsarkon. It's probably most famous today for having been sold with a 106-page hint book, predating Nintendo's inclusion of a Player's Guide with copies of EarthBound.

Sub-Pages

Prerelease Info

Bugs

Test Menu

The code for the test menu is given to you at the end of the credits upon finishing the game, as well as being mentioned outright in the Hint Book: simply press A + B + C + Start on Controller 2 to access it.

Note that this can be performed at nearly any time during the game, but selecting "EXIT" brings you back to the title screen – so make sure to either perform this code on the title screen itself, or save your game before entering the code.

Input Test

A screen with the controller buttons present. The game somehow stops taking actual input on this screen and is thus impossible to exit most of the time; if you hold any button while entering the screen the game will correctly register it as being "on", but will resume not accepting input afterwards.

Sound Test

The usual choice of BGM, Effect, BGM2, and D/A. Selecting one brings up a list of sound effects or music.

C.R.T. Test

A black screen with four rows of white, red, green and blue gradients, allowing the player to adjust their screen's brightness and contrast to their liking.

Semi-Unused Music

The tune labeled "18. PLAYER DEAD" on the Sound Test is not actually used in that context, as the player is immediately brought back to the last visited church upon death.

However, if the backup RAM gets corrupted somehow (such as through battery-backup failure) and the player tries to load that save, the message "If an error occurs, press button C." will appear. Continuing will play the unused tune along with the sound effect for dying in battle, and the message "Sorry, it didn't work. Please press the Reset button." will appear.