U.N. Squadron (Arcade)

U.N. Squadron
Also known as: Area 88 (JP) Developer: Capcom Publisher: Capcom Platform: Arcade (CP System) Released internationally: August 1989 This game has unused graphics. This game has unused abilities. This game has debugging material. This game has regional differences.

U.N. Squadron, a.k.a Area 88, is a horizontal shoot 'em up loosely based on the manga of the same name (Area 88 that is, not U.N. Squadron). This game is notable in featuring a shop before each level, with the inventory and shop prices changing based on which of the three starting character you pick.

Extended Service Menu

Normally, only the first four options (Dot Test, I/O Test, Dip Sw Test, and Color Test) are available in the service menu. To access the full service menu, set the Game Mode dip switch to "Game", Hold 1P Coin and then press the Service Mode button (Default F2 in MAME).

Scroll Test

This is a simple level foreground / background layer viewer.

General

• 1P Button 1: Selects between free-movement mode, 16x16 movement mode, and 32x32 movement mode.
• 1P Start: Selects between the following modes: Scroll 2 (Foreground), Scroll 3 (Background), Scroll 23 (Foreground + Background), and Cursor.
• 2P Start: Jumps to next round and resets mode to Scroll 2.

Scroll 2 / Scroll 23

• 1P Joystick: Moves camera.
• 1P Button 2 + 1P Joystick: Moves camera four times faster.

Scroll 3

• 2P Joystick: Moves camera.
• 2P Button 2 + 2P Joystick: Moves camera four times faster.

Cursor

• 1P Joystick: Moves camera.
• 1P Button 2 + 1P Joystick: Moves camera two times faster.
• 2P Joystick: Moves cursor.

Object Test / Scroll 1 Test

View the Object (sprite) and Scroll 1 (HUD and font) graphics.

• 1P Up / Down: Cycle through tiles.
• 1P Up / Down + 2P Start: Cycle through tiles four times as fast.
• 1P Left / Right: Cycle through color palettes.
• 1P Button 1: Splits tiles for easier viewing (Object Test only).
• 1P Button 1 + 1P Down: Exits test.
• 1P Button 2: Toggles horizontal flipping.
• 1P Button 3: Toggles vertical flipping.
• 1P Start: Hold to cycle through eight rows of tiles every eight frames.

Scroll 2 Test / Scroll 3 Test

These should be used to view Scroll 2 (Foreground) and Scroll 3 (Background) graphics, but they both seem to be broken at this point.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Unused Items & Shop Content

Thunder Laser(s)

To add the Thunder Laser (which is only available in Mission 5 through a bonus item and never in the shop) and Thunder Laser Ⅱ (which is completely unused) to Round 1's shop, put the following code in MAME's unsquad.xml cheat file:

  <cheat desc="Add T Laser Items to Shop">
    <script state="run">
      <action>maincpu.mw@1DB44=000A</action>
      <action>maincpu.mw@1DB46=0124</action>
      <action>maincpu.mw@1DB4E=000B</action>
      <action>maincpu.mw@1DB50=0128</action>
    </script>
    <script state="off">
      <action>maincpu.mw@1DB44=0008</action>
      <action>maincpu.mw@1DB46=011C</action>
      <action>maincpu.mw@1DB4E=0009</action>
      <action>maincpu.mw@1DB50=0120</action>
    </script>
  </cheat>

Icon	Item Name	Description
	THANDER LASER	It discharges lasers in 3 directions.
	THANDER LASERⅡ	The most destructive laser.

As you might expect, Thunder LaserⅡ is almost exactly the same as the normal Thunder Laser, but it's stronger and the lasers are yellow instead of blue.

Shop Prices

Shop prices are controlled by a byte that ranges from 00 to 0E. Values in bold in the table below are unused:

00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	0A	0B	0C	0D	0E
FREE	2,000	3,000	10,000	12,000	20,000	25,000	30,000	15,000	35,000	40,000	28,000	33,000	45,000	50,000

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Unused Graphics

There are a number of filler graphics in the graphics banks. These are in the object bank...

...these are in the foreground bank...

...and all of these are in the background bank.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Regional Differences

The Japanese version of the game has a special mission that comes after Rounds 3-5. The exact trigger to access this level isn't known at this point.

After going through a short bit of level, the player(s) will encounter a large aircraft that has three rectangular bombs attached to its hull. The player(s) must carefully shoot the bombs off the plane before the 60 second timer expires to clear the level. The faster they do it, the more points and cash they get at the end of the level. If the plane takes too much damage or the timer runs out, the level ends, but the player(s) get no point or cash bonuses.