Proto:Bionic Commando (NES)

This page details one or more prototype versions of Bionic Commando (NES).

Two early builds exist. One is a sample of the Japanese Hitler no Fukkatsu: Top Secret which was released by Forest of Illusion on March 16, 2019. The other is an early US build dumped and released on December 25, 2024 and was likely used for previews. Screenshots from the build can be spotted in the second issue of Nintendo Power.

Japanese Sample

  This prototype is documented on Hidden Palace.

General Differences

• The prototype boots to the title screen instead of the intro.
• The monitors in communication rooms don't blink, which is true for the American version.
• The level exit shortcut (A + B + Start) is not implemented. This can lead to a softlock in areas 6 and 7 if you didn't bring the right weapon to destroy the barriers at the beginning of those stages.
• Firing the rocket launcher has a slight delay during which Ladd's palette cycles through 4 different color combination for a sort of muzzle flash effect.
• The shooting star in area 6 has not been implemented yet.
• The invisible door to the secret communications room in area 7 exists, but choosing either option immediately closes the communicate/wiretap menu, and the activator for the cheat has not been implemented yet.

JP Sample	JP Final

The man in the second room of Area 16 uses the correct text pointer unlike the final Japanese version which reuses the "Get the heck out of here, you nerd!" text from the imperial soldier outside.

JP Sample	JP Final

The pause menu lacks a counter for continues, and the extra lives counter displays two digits instead of one.

US Proto

  This prototype is documented on Hidden Palace.

General

This build of the game is very similar to the Japanese version, with only the following having been changed:

• All swastikas have been replaced.
• Captain Mack is not present in Area 14 and there are two more bullets present in the room.
• The secret door in Area 7 is not present.

The extra life counter is one digit like the final game but the continue counter still isn't present. Like the Japanese sample, the flashing lights in the communication rooms are missing along with the secret items in Area 3. These discrepancies suggest the US prototype dates after the Japanese sample but before the final Japanese version.

Text

The translation is quite a bit rougher.

Intro

The grammar was cleaned up a bit and most obviously the "Nazz" were renamed to the "Badds". Curiously, the manual text seems to be based on the earlier script from the proto and still uses "Nazz". Oops.

Proto

Final

I'LL TALK ABOUT A PERSON WHICH I'VE MET WHEN I WAS YOUNG・・・ IN 198X WE'VE FOUND NAZZ'S TOP SECRET MATERIAL CALLED ALBATROS PLAN WHICH NEVER WAS PUT INTO PRACTICE, IMPERIAL FORCE'S GENERALISSIMO KILLT HAD SEEN THIS PLAN,AND DECIDED TO MATERIALIZE THIS PLAN HIMSELF SO HE TOOK THE PLAN THE FEDERATION TRIED TO STOP HIS ATTEMPT BY SENDING OUR HERO SUPER JOE,BUT LOST OUR CONTACT WITH HIM. ONE BRAVE MAN WAS SENT TO THE EMPIRE WITH SPECIAL MISSION TO RESCUE SUPER JOE. THIS STORY BEGINS FROM HERE

I'LL TALK ABOUT THE PERSON I MET WHEN I WAS YOUNG・・・ IN 198X WE'VE FOUND THE BADDS' TOP SECRET MATERIAL CALLED ALBATROS WHICH WAS NEVER PUT INTO PRACTICE. IMPERIAL FORCE'S GENERALISSIMO KILLT HAS SEEN THE PLAN,AND DECIDED TO EXECUTE THE PLAN HIMSELF. THE FEDERATION TRIED TO STOP HIS ATTEMPT BY SENDING OUR HERO SUPER JOE. BUT LOST CONTACT WITH HIM. ONE BRAVE MAN WAS SENT WITH A SPECIAL MISSION・ ・・ TO RESCUE SUPER JOE. THE STORY BEGINS・・・

Briefing

Ellipsis were added after "The command is as follows". "The" was removed from "agents in Area 1".

Proto	Final
THE COMMAND IS AS FOLLOWS ENTER INTO THE ENEMY AREA. RESCUE SUPER JOE WHILE STAYING IN TOUCH WITH AGENTS. THERE ARE MANY AGENTS IN THE AREA 1 NOW. FIRST,GO SEE THEM. WE RELY ON YOU.	THE COMMAND IS AS FOLLOWS・・・ ENTER INTO THE ENEMY AREA. RESCUE SUPER JOE WHILE STAYING IN TOUCH WITH AGENTS. THRE ARE MANY AGENTS IN AREA 1 NOW. FIRST,GO SEE THEM. WE RELY ON YOU.

Neutral Area

The spelling was corrected and the wording at the end was changed to be clearer.

Proto	Final
THIS IS A NEUTRAL AREA. ALL ACT OF HOSTILITIES IS PROHIBITED IN THIS AREA. IF VIOLATED,YOU WILL MAKE AN ENEMY.	THIS IS A NEUTRAL AREA. ALL ACTS OF HOSTILITIES ARE PROHIBITED IN THIS AREA. IF VIOLATED,YOU WILL BE ATTACKED.

Area 4

A typo with the word "which" was corrected.

Proto	Final
THIS IS M-8. USE THIS COMMUNICATOR IN AREAS 1,4 AND 5. WE HAD TO HIDE THE OTHER 3 WHITCH YOU MUST FIND.	THIS IS M-8. USE THIS COMMUNICATOR IN AREAS 1,4 AND 5. WE HAD TO HIDE THE OTHER 3 WHICH YOU MUST FIND.

Area 15

"The" was added to "a dog of the federation". The sentence "I'll teach them a lesson not to mess around with us." was simplified a bit by removing "a lesson" from it.

Proto	Final
FF BATALLION, A DOG OF FEDERATION! I'LL TEACH THEM A LESSON NOT TO MESS AROUND WITH US. IF THEY DON'T WANT TO SHORTEN THEIR LIVES, THEY'D BETTER BE QUIET!	FF BATALLION, A DOG OF THE FEDERATION! I'LL TEACH THEM NOT TO MESS AROUND WITH US. IF THEY DON'T WANT TO SHORTEN THEIR LIVES, THEY'D BETTER BE QUIET!

Area 5

"The" was added to "located the underground passage" in the communication message of the first comm room.

Proto	Final
THIS IS M-5. WE HAVE LOCATED UNDERGROUND PASSAGE WHICH IS NOT IN THE MAP. I THINK WE HAVE FOUND SOMETHING.	THIS IS M-5. WE HAVE LOCATED THE UNDERGROUND PASSAGE WHICH IS NOT IN THE MAP. I THINK WE HAVE FOUND SOMETHING.

More "The" changes. "That" was added to "I just saw that Joe was taken away." in the second comm room's communicate message.

Proto	Final
ARE YOU FROM FEDERATION? I'M A SPY FOR THE FEDERATION. I JUST SAW JOE WAS TAKEN AWAY. THEY HEADED TOWARDS AREA 8.	ARE YOU FROM THE FEDERATION? I'M A SPY FOR THE FEDERATION. I JUST SAW THAT JOE WAS TAKEN AWAY. THEY HEADED TOWARDS AREA 8.

Another "The" was added in the wiretapping message.

Proto	Final
NO.5,IS ROCKET LAUNCHER ALL RIGHT?	NO.5,IS THE ROCKET LAUNCHER ALL RIGHT?

Area 16

An article error in the imperial soldier's message was corrected.

Proto	Final
GET A HECK OUT OF HERE, YOU NERD!	GET THE HECK OUT OF HERE, YOU NERD!

The neutral man's message in the second room was simplified to save space.

Proto	Final
DON'T BE HASTY. IT IS IMPORTANT TO ADVANCE WITH CAUTION.	DON'T BE HASTY. ADVANCE WITH CAUTION.

Area 4

"A" was added to "If you have a wide cannon" in the communicate message. The awkward "3+6" was changed also.

Proto	Final
IF YOU HAVE WIDE CANNON AND ROCKET LAUNCHER, GO TOWARDS AREAS 3+6.	IF YOU HAVE A WIDE CANNON AND ROCKET LAUNCHER, GO TOWARDS AREAS 3 AND 6.

A "the" was added in the wiretapping message.

Proto	Final
EXCUSE ME,WHERE IS GARBAGE DUMP?	EXCUSE ME,WHERE IS THE GARBAGE DUMP?

"Your" was removed from "Keep it in your mind.".

Proto	Final
YOU IMBECILE, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE FORCE! IT'S IN AREA 9. KEEP IT IN YOUR MIND.	YOU IMBECILE, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE FORCE! IT'S IN AREA 9. KEEP IT IN MIND.

"The".

Proto	Final
ATTACK!! LET'S SHOW WHAT 2ND PLATOON CAN DO!	ATTACK!! LET'S SHOW WHAT THE 2ND PLATOON CAN DO!

Area 3

Take a guess.

Proto	Final
OK. WE ARE GOING TO OPEN THE DOOR OF BOSS'S ROOM.	OK. WE ARE GOING TO OPEN THE DOOR OF THE BOSS'S ROOM.

Area 8

"The" was added along with a "please hurry" in the west comm room's communicate message.

Proto	Final
AREA9 LOOKS LIKE DISPOSAL AREA. JOE MUST HAVE BEEN TAKEN THERE .	AREA 9 LOOKS LIKE THE DISPOSAL AREA. JOE MUST HAVE BEEN TAKEN THERE . PLEASE HURRY.

"The" was removed.

Proto	Final
γ CAN BE VERY USEFUL IN THE AREAS 7 AND 9.	γ CAN BE VERY USEFUL IN AREAS 7 AND 9.

Super Joe hears a singular sound like near the ocean.

Proto	Final
THIS IS SUPER JOE... CAN SOMEONE HEAR ME? WHERE AM I... SOUND LIKE NEAR THE OCEAN BUT CANNOT SEE ANY- THING.	THIS IS SUPER JOE... CAN SOMEONE HEAR ME? WHERE AM I... SOUNDS LIKE NEAR THE OCEAN BUT CANNOT SEE ANY- THING.

Area 9

"To another location".

Proto	Final
YOUR EFFORT IS WASTED. WE'VE JUST TRANSFERED JOE TO OTHER LOCATION.	YOUR EFFORT IS WASTED. WE'VE JUST TRANSFERED JOE TO ANOTHER LOCATION.

Area 7

More Nazz changes. The comma at the end was also changed to a period.

Proto	Final
THANK YOU. I'M SORRY TO CAUSE SO MUCH TROUBLE. CAPTAIN,SOME- THING TERRIBLE IS GOING TO HAPPEN. REMEMBER THERE WAS A PLAN IN NAZZS' TOP SE- RET DOCUMENT ABOUT BUILDING HUGE LASER CANNON,	THANK YOU. I'M SORRY TO CAUSE SO MUCH TROUBLE. CAPTAIN,SOME- THING TERRIBLE IS GOING TO HAPPEN. REMEMBER THERE WAS A PLAN IN THE BADDS' SE- RET DOCUMENTS' ABOUT BUILDING A HUGE LASER CANNON.

The awkward phrasing around the middle was cleaned up.

Proto	Final
THE EMPIRE IS TRYING TO ACOM- PLISH WHAT NAZZS COULDN'T DO. HOWEVER,THEY CANNOT COMPLETE THIS PROJECT BECAUSE PERSON WITH KEY KNOW- LEDGE DO NOT EXIST ANYMORE. HIS NAME IS MASTER-D. TO SUCCEED THE PROJECT,KILLT WAS TRYING TO RESURRECT HIM BUT UNABLE TO DO SO. CAPTAIN,WE MUST STOP HIM BEFORE THIS PROJECT GETS TOO BIG. I'M GOING TO AREA 12 NOW. CAN YOU FIGHT WITH ME?	THE EMPIRE IS TRYING TO ACCOM- PLISH WHAT THE BADDS' COULDN'T DO. HOWEVER THEY CANNOT COMPLETE THIS PROJECT BECAUSE THE PERSON WITH THE KEY KNOWLEDGE IS DEAD. HIS NAME IS MASTER-D. TO FINISH THE PROJECT,KILLT IS TRYING TO RESURRECT HIM BUT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DO SO. CAPTAIN,WE MUST STOP HIM BEFORE THIS PROJECT GETS TOO BIG. I'M GOING TO AREA 12 NOW. CAN YOU FIGHT WITH ME?

"Maw" was corrected.

Proto	Final
I HAVE GIVEN A SPECIAL MACHINE- GUN TO A MAW CALLED SCHWARTZNAGER IN AREA 18. YOU SHOULD USE THAT GUN.	I HAVE GIVEN A SPECIAL MACHINE- GUN TO A MAN CALLED DESTROYER-3 IN AREA 18. YOU SHOULD USE THAT GUN.

Area 18

The names of the men are similar to the Japanese version. They were greatly simplified for the final. "A" was added to "need for a machine gun?".

Proto	Final
I AM SCHWARTZNEGER. DO YOU HAVE ANY NEED FOR MACHINEGUN?	I AM DESTROYER-1. DO YOU HAVE ANY NEED FOR A MACHINEGUN?

Proto	Final
I AM SCHWERTZNEGER. DO YOU HAVE ANY NEED FOR MACHINEGUN?	I AM DESTROYER-2. DO YOU HAVE ANY NEED FOR A MACHINEGUN?

Proto	Final
I AM SCHWARTZNAGER. DO YOU HAVE ANY NEED FOR MACHINEGUN?	I AM DESTROYER-3. DO YOU HAVE ANY NEED FOR A MACHINEGUN?

"In" was removed from "located between those mountains".

Proto	Final
OH YES,SOMEONE JUST ASKED ME TO TELL YOU THAT δ IS IN TOWN LOCATED IN BET- WEEN THOSE MOUNTAINS. DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS?	OH YES,SOMEONE JUST ASKED ME TO TELL YOU THAT δ IS IN TOWN LOCATED BETWEEN THOSE MOUNTAINS. DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS?

Area 10

"A" was added to "built a newly developed" and "from a man". "Called" was changed to "named".

Proto	Final
THIS IS M-8. WE'VE BUILT NEW- LY DEVELOPED BAZOOKA. PLEASE RECEIVE IT FROM MAN CALLED HAL.	THIS IS M-8. WE'VE BUILT A NEWLY DEVLEOPED BAZOOKA. PLEASE OBTAIN IT FROM A MAN NAMED HAL.

Area 12

"The".

Proto	Final
THIS IS SUPER JOE. THIS AREA IS DIVIDED BY 2 BARRIERS. IN ORDER TO BREAK BARRIERS, YOU SHOULD BREAK THE POWER SYSTEM . FIND THE POWER SYSTEM.	THIS IS SUPER JOE. THIS AREA IS DIVIDED BY 2 BARRIERS. IN ORDER TO BREAK THE BARRIERS,YOU SHOULD BREAK THE POWER SYSTEM. FIND THE POWER SYSTEM.

The awkward "down the leader" was changed.

Proto	Final
THIS IS JOE. I'M GOING TO DESTROY THE POWER SOURCE OF THE BASE. DOWN THE LEADER AND GET OUT!	THIS IS JOE. I'M GOING TO DESTROY THE POWER SOURCE OF THE BASE. DEFEAT THE LEADER AND GET OUT!

More exciting changes comming soon.

Proto	Final
IT'S JOE,SUPER JOE IS COMMING!	IT'S JOE,SUPER JOE IS COMING!

"Began" was corrected to "begun" and awkward grammar was adjusted.

Proto	Final
OH? THE KID WHO WAS HERE BEFORE. I NEVER THOUGHT OF SEEING YOU HERE. BUT YOU'RE TOO LATE THE ALBATROS HAS BEGAN TO MOVE NOT NECESSARILY TO WAIT UNTIL FOR MASTER-D TO REVIVE. I'VE JUST CUT OFF THE SWITCH FOR RESURRECTION DEVICE. MASTER-D WILL NEVER RISE AGAIN . NOW,IT'S YOUR TURN TO DIE・・・ UH? WHAT!? AYHH・・・	OH? THE KID WHO WAS HERE BEFORE. I NEVER THOUGHT I'D SEE YOU HERE. BUT YOU'RE TOO LATE. THE ALBATROS HAS BEGUN TO MOVE. NOT NECESSARY TO WAIT FOR MASTER-D TO REVIVE. I'VE JUST CUT OFF THE SWITCH FOR THE REVIVAL DEVICE. MASTER-D WILL NEVER RISE AGAIN. NOW,IT'S YOUR TURN TO DIE・・・ UH? WHAT!? AYHH・・・

A major clean up of awkward spelling and grammar.

Proto	Final
YOU HAVE AWAKEND ME FROM LONG SLEEP. NOW,I HAVE NO MORE USE FOR YOU . I'LL TAKE OVER YOUR POSITION AND RULE WHOLE WORLD. WHAT,YOU BRAT IS GOING TO FIGHT AGAINST ME? YOU DAMN FOOL. IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT,I'LL SHOW YOU THE HORROR OF ALBATROS!	YOU WOKE ME FROM A LONG SLEEP. NOW,I HAVE NO MORE USE FOR YOU. I'LL TAKE OVER YOUR ARMY AND RULE THE WORLD. WHAT,YOU'RE GOING TO FIGHT AGAINST ME? YOU DAMN FOOL. IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT,I'LL SHOW YOU THE HORROR OF THE ALBATROS!

"I return this bazooka" was changed to "I take this bazooka", possibly the "I" was meant to be removed but was left in by accident. "Kill him" was changed to the more tame "go get him".

Proto	Final
I'M HAL.MASTER-D IS・・・LEAVING. I WON'T LAST LONG. I RETURN THIS BAZOOKA. KILL HIM! TH・・・THERE IS A CHOPPER DOWN HERE. AIM AT THE COCK- PIT AS YOU JUMP. YOU CAN DO IT!	I'M HAL.MASTER-D IS・・・LEAVING. I WON'T LAST LONG. I TAKE THIS BAZOOKA. GO GET HIM! TH・・・THERE IS A CHOPPER DOWN HERE. AIM AT THE COCK- PIT AS YOU JUMP. YOU CAN DO IT!

This line was changed to the iconic one.

Proto	Final
DROP DEAD! MONSTER!	YOUR NUMBER'S UP! MONSTER!

Somehow in the process of correcting the spelling the second "E" in "explode" was dropped.

Proto	Final
THIS BASE WILL BE EXPLODED IN 60 SECONDS. EVACUATE RIGHT AWAY.	THIS BASE WILL EXPLOD IN 60 SECONDS. EVACUATE RIGHT AWAY.

Ending

One more "the".

Proto	Final
WHAT HAPPENED TO CAPTAIN! WE CANNOT WAIT ANY LONGER. WE ARE GOING TO ESCAPE NOW!	WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CAPTAIN? WE CANNOT WAIT ANY LONGER. WE ARE GOING TO ESCAPE NOW!

"A" added. The phrasing was also changed.

Proto	Final
BATTLE HAS ENDED AND WE HAVE NEW HERO NOW. I WAS FEELING CHANGE OF TIME AS I WAS RECEIVING THE BLESSINGS FROM COMRADES.	BATTLE HAS ENDED AND WE HAVE A NEW HERO NOW. I WAS FEELING DIFFERENT AS I RECEIVED THE BLESSINGS FROM COMRADES.

More cleaning up of awkward phrasing.

Proto	Final
NOW,SO MUCH TIME HAS ELAPSED AND I'M SO OLD NOW, I THINK IT'S TIME FOR ME TO TELL ALL OF YOU ABOUT WHOLE STORY. HOPING THIS STORY WILL BE TOLD FOR LONG LONG TIME・・	NOW,SO MUCH TIME HAS ELAPSED AND I'M OLD NOW, I THINK IT'S TIME FOR ME TO TELL YOU THE WHOLE STORY. I HOPE THIS STORY WILL BE TOLD FOR A LONG TIME・・・