Trouble Shooter

Trouble Shooter
Also known as: Battle Mania (JP) Developer: Vic Tokai Publisher: Vic Tokai Platform: Genesis Released in JP: March 6, 1992 Released in US: November 1991 This game has a hidden level select. This game has regional differences. This game has a prototype article

Trouble Shooter is a scrolling shooter that originated the characters of Madison and Crystal, a pair of teenage soldiers who would later appear in Sega's own Segagaga.

Sub-Page

Prototype Info

Stage Select

At the title screen, press Start + Right + C on Controller 2. SELECT STAGE2 will appear if done correctly. Pressing the buttons again (still on controller two) will cycle through the stages, up to STAGE7, which is actually the end scene and credits. Press Start on Controller 1 to begin the game at the chosen stage.

Regional Differences

To do: Continue screen.

Aside from the obvious title switch, several other changes were made in the Japanese version. In keeping with the new title, protagonist Madison was renamed Mania and her sidekick Crystal became Maria.

The characters themselves are still referred to as "Trouble Shooters", though, and the internal name of the ROM is still TROUBLE SHOOTER.

Super Famicom Stomp

Among other tweaks to the Japanese version is the addition of a hidden animation of Madison/Mania stomping on a Super Famicom, activated by holding Start on Controller 2 on startup, at the Sega logo screen.

(Source: Kid Fenris)

Director and programmer Takayan stated in a 2004 interview:

At the time I wasn’t happy that most of the development budget was going to the SFC team. After I put that in, a FAX was sent to all the SEGA development studios asking them to refrain from using imagery that hurt other companies trademarks or characters. I think the only reason nothing happened at the time was the power of the Sunseibu president and the fact that SEGA themselves didn’t like Nintendo all that much.

(Source: shmuplations.com)

Title Screen

US	Japan

The title screen became a lot more colorful and animated.

Garage

US	Japan

The garage got a slight makeover. Most notably, the SEGA crates in the background were replaced with a car. The car itself was also touched up slightly.

US	Japan

The four selectable engines were completely redesigned. This includes their in-game appearance as well.

Stage 2

US	Japan

The flying skull enemy was changed to something less terrifying.

Ending

US	Japan

King Fredrick, the plump turbaned guy, had his head (but not his portrait) completely redrawn to not be terrible. The black suit also became more defined. The whole group's skin tone is pinker in Japan. The cheerleaders in the background were also redrawn/reanimated.

Credits

US	Japan

The animation shown above the credits was a lot clearer about taking place on a road in the US version. The Japanese version... might be a beach? Also, scooter versus hovercraft.

None of the above screens appear in the US version. The third, which appears after the credits, is the level select code described above, which works in both versions.