RoboCop (Game Boy)

RoboCop
Developer: Ocean Publishers: Ocean (EU/US), Epic/Sony Records (JP) Platform: Game Boy Released in JP: March 1, 1991 Released in US: December 1990 Released in EU: 1990 This game has a hidden developer message. This game has hidden developer credits. This game has unused text. This game has regional differences.

RoboCop for the Game Boy is notable for having its title theme used in an advert for Ariston, as well as in a certain Flash animation made by a certain someone.

"Ranch... or... Cool Ranch?"

Developer Message

A short message from the developer, intended to appear on the title screen in the same way as the intro and the credits text, is present at 0x105AC. The final game has no code that uses this message, and it likely wasn't finished (see the next section). Use Game Genie codes CB1-EDB-4C7+451-EEB-E67 to see it instead of the initial copyright messages.

The full text is:

       HI TO
    MUM AND DAD
  SIMON AND LYNN
 WENDY AND PHILLIP
 DAVID AND GARETH
STEPHEN AND ASHLEY
AND ALL MY FAMILY
   AND FRIENDS
   IN N.IRELAND

Unused Password Feature

There is an unused password entry routine, fully functional and almost finished, except all the passwords for Levels 2 to 10 are just lots of identical numbers from "0000" to "8888". You can re-enable it at the title screen with Game Genie codes 6AD-5DB-805 4BD-5EB-C43, then at the title screen press Start to enter it. Unfortunately, due to the method of hacking, you can't start a new game with this code enabled, so after entering the password and returning to the title screen, disable cheats and press Start to begin from the desired level.

Additionally, there are two secret passwords: "0618" and "6544".

• The first one displays the message "HI.OCEAN" and enables the ending credits message, which is enabled normally after you beating the game.
• The second one should be enabled when the first one is entered or the game is completed, and should display the message "HI.GERALD". However, due to some code errors, you'll see only the "PASSWORD IS OK" message. In any case, the password has no effect. This said, it does raise some additional flag near the ending flag which isn't used by any part of the game, suggesting that this is connected to the unfinished developer message above.

Regional Differences

The Japanese version of the game features a digitized audio voice of Robocop during the transition. "Robocop!" was played when starting the stage and the famous "Thank you for your cooperation" was played after you beat a stage.