Mega Man X4 (aka Rockman X4 in Japan) is the fourth game in the Mega Man X series, released for the Sega Saturn and PlayStation in July 1997. Kei was able to find an old preview/trailer of the game from an equally old April 1997 Multiple Option CFC (Capcom Friendly Club) Style videotape from Japan. As Kei has wrote in the U64 Forum:
While this preview may not include much immediate beta/pre-release differences, there is one particularly noticeable element that can be heard in this video. For one, X sounds completely different as you see him jump and shooting out charged buster shots in the video; we’re talking about a pre-release video of the Japanese version here. Apparently, he had a different voice actor, as he sounds like a girl, much like he does in the English final version of RMX4. Zero also sounds slightly different as well, his Saber slashes are odd too.
Also, Bowserenemy and Protodude noticed some more differences in the same beta trailer:
Enemies are in different spots; Zero’s missing a few frames in his mid-air slar, and the hit detection is a bit off here and there. [...] it’s the same as the third slash in his 3 hit combo, so just compare the two.
Hidden in the game’s code, Ace Spark from The Mechanical Maniacs has found some unused animation frames for Double, that could be from removed dialogue sequences [UPDATE: The running animation for Double is actually used in the game, but you only see it for a split second after you select a stage in the game. Thanks to OKei!]. An unused mugshot is in there too.


Some beta screenshots are available too, in which we can notice that the intro stage had a drill enemy in the beta, that was removed from the final game. When the place starts blowing up there are even more drill enemies. You can read more info on the beta at The Mechanical Maniacs!
Images:
Video:
An even later beta build than the one above with many more differences can be seen below:
U64 is an archive with articles, screens and videos for cancelled, beta & unseen videogames. Every change & cut creates a different gaming experience: we would like to save some documents about this evolution for curiosity, historic and artistic preservation.
4 Responses to Mega Man X4 [PSX/Saturn - Beta / Unused Sprites]
OKeijiDragon
May 12th, 2010 at 8:01 am
The running animation for Double is actually used in the game, but you only see it for a split second after you select a stage in the game.
MarxForever
November 27th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
In the Beta, Zero’s mid air attack is just the last hit of his ground Combo.
In the final game it’s a quick, one handed, horizontal slash.
MarxForever
November 27th, 2010 at 12:55 pm
As seen 40 seconds into the video.
Anonymous
August 5th, 2011 at 2:56 am
“…as he sounds like a girl..”
lol!