Nintendo

Metroid IV Fusion [GBA – Beta / Proto]

metroidfusionlogo.jpg

Metroid Fusion, originally known as Metroid 4, was in development for the GameBoy Color before being stopped and reworked for the GBA. In the gallery below you can see how different the Metroid Fusion beta was, especially in its early proto version shown in 2001. When the game was released in november 2002, the graphic was completely redone and many features were removed, as the ability to walk up on walls and ceilings.

Images:

Some screenshot from: http://www.classicgaming.com/mdb

Even the later beta had various differences.

This video showcases Metroid Fusion with an odd looking HUD, and at 0:07 you can see that the enemy’s right side is blown off, a feature not present in the full game. Other things are that title cards seem to have a different font, and at 0:24 there’s a scope icon at the top right. also, at 0:33 Samus seems to be wearing a dress.

In these videos there are some unused debug rooms, though the loading points WERE hacked to get them loaded.

In this one the X parasites look different, and at 0:18 the doors look completely different. Throughout the video the scope thing (as said earlier) at the top right has a wavy texture (Maybe radio or heartbeat monitor?). The enemies also respawn much faster than in the final.

There are also some unused music hidden in the final game’s code. You can listen them in the videos below.

Thanks to Mariosegafreak for the contribution! An archive of screens, info and videos of the early Metroid Fusion versions, can be found at Celebi23’s website!

Videos

 

Metroid Zero Mission [GBA – Beta]

metroidzerogbalogo.jpg

Metroid: Zero Mission​ is an action adventure developed by Nintendo R&D1 for the Game Boy Advance, published by Nintendo 2004. In these early screens and trailer we can notice that the graphic was completely different from the one used in the final game! Also the second and third video show that  hidden in the game’s code it’s possible to find an unused model of a Crocomire, a lost enemy, and in the gallery you can notice a debug room!

Thanks to interdpth for the contribution!

Images:

Videos:

 

Shantae 2: Risky Revolution [GBA – Cancelled]

shantaegbalogo.jpg

A Shantae sequel was planned for the Game Boy Advance, and screens resembled a port with updated graphics. However, all news of the game stopped and nothing became of it. It is assumed to have been cancelled. As with the original game, Shantae Advance was developed by creator Matt Bozon on his own time. This may be part of the reason for its cancellation, as without an official corporate backing, finding a publisher would be prohibitively difficult. A DS and/or PSP game may be released in the future. – [info from Wikipedia]

Another Shantae project was originally in development for the Nintendo DS in 2006, but it was later canned for some reasons. You can check our page for Shantae DS 2006 for more info and screens! In 2009, a new Shantae was announced for the DSiWare and probably it uses some of the concepts from the unreleased GBA and DS 2006 projects.

Thanks to Icefire2626 for the contribution!

Images:

Videos:

 

Donkey Kong Plus [GBA – Cancelled]

dk2gbalogo.jpg

Donkey Kong Plus is the name of an unreleased game demo developed by Nintendo as a demonstration at E3 2002. Nintendo had planned for the game to be an extension / sequel of the Donkey Kong Game Boy game. The player would have the ability to design and create levels on the GameCube, and play them on the Game Boy Advance using the GameCube cable. The user-created level could be tested out on the GameCube, then saved on a memory card.

Although the game was never released, it did inspire the gameplay of Nintendo’s Mario vs. Donkey Kong, for Game Boy Advance. A level editor was not officially available in this game, but it was included in the sequel, Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis for the Nintendo DS. [info from Wikipedia]

An hidden level editor was found by Martboo48 in Mario vs. Donkey Kong, but to unlock it you’ll have to edit one single byte in the games memory code. It’s unknown why Nintendo hidden this editor from the final game, but it seems that Donkey Kong Plus and Mario vs. Donkey Kong could really be seen as the same project.

Thanks to Hiccup for the contribution!

Images:

Videos:

 

Zelda II Map [GBA Tech Demo]

zelda2gbamaplogo.jpg

The Legend of Zelda II: The Adventure of Link have been introduced as a sequel of the masterpiece “The Legend of Zelda”, released in the NES on the year 1988 (1987 in Japan).
However, the only informations that have been discovered about this Tech Demo it was not playable, as the thousands of playable tech demos, this wasn’t one of the list. It’s probably just a testing graphics resource for the Game Boy Advance, because, it have a really nice detailed Hyrule Field Map (see images below).

Images: