Kaizou Choujin Schbibinman Zero

Kaizou Choujin Schbibinman Zero
Also known as: Cyber Citizen Shockman Zero (re-release) Developers: NCS (original), Masaya Games (re-release) Publishers: Masaya (original), Ratalaika Games (re-release) Platforms: Satellaview, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X Released internationally: July 5, 2024 Released in JP: March 30, 1997 (original), June 30, 2017 (cartridge version) This game has a hidden developer message. This game has unused graphics. This game has debugging material. This game has a hidden sound test. This game has a hidden level select.

Kaizou Choujin Schbibinman Zero is the fourth and final game in the Kaizou Choujin Schbibinman series of goofy henshin-inspired platformers. This one plays like Mega Man with beat-'em-up elements (or a beat-'em-up with Mega Man elements, if you like). It's also one of the few Satellaview games to later get a physical release.

Unused Faces

These two face graphics are stored after all of the other character portraits, but are not referenced at all by the game's event data. The left side has "代理" (substitute) written above a portrait that looks similar to Doraemon, while the right side has Hebe/Bop-Louie from the Hebereke series.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Copyright Message

A message from the developers is located at offset 0x00FF00:

Schbibin Man - COPYRIGHT(C)1994 NCS This softwere was producted by Nippon Computer Systems Corp. in 1994

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Flag Editor

The game contains a flag editor similar to the "soft dip" settings seen in many arcade games. To enable it, pause the game and (on either controller) press Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, X, X, B, B, Y, A, Y, A.

The flags are divided into two groups (one byte each). Use the D-Pad to navigate, press Y to set or clear the selected flag, and press Start to exit.

SW1 Flags

Left to right:

• bit 7: Enables stage select (see below).
• bit 6: Enables "easy mode", which begins the game with 9 credits instead of 3. The correct way to enable this is to hold L + R on either controller when starting a new game; enabling it here doesn't really do anything.
• bit 5: Causes damage dealt to enemies to be cut in half.
• bits 4-1: Unknown.
• bit 0: Allows player 1 to control the movements of the first boss using L, R, Y, B, and Down on the D-Pad. This was probably used to test the first boss' relatively complex animation.

SW2 Flags

Left to right:

• bit 7: Unknown (on by default).
• bit 6: Enables double jumping.
• bit 5: Enables free play (unlimited credits).
• bit 4: Disables cutscenes.
• bit 3: Allows player 1 to use the Super Schbibin attack by pressing A, which normally requires both players to charge their weapons in tandem. This flag doesn't do anything for player 2.
• bit 2: Allows both players to perform their special moves (on by default).
• bit 1: Unknown (on by default).
• bit 0: Causes the player to freeze in place for a few frames every time they land a hit on an enemy. This is useful for attacking enemies in midair, as the player stays in the air for much longer when attacking.

Debug Menu

Pause the game, hold B + X, and press R to open the sound test menu. Just like before, use the D-Pad to navigate and press Y to make your selection.

Setting bit 7 of SW1 adds the "next area" and "stage select" options to the menu.

(Source: Original TCRF research)