Zoda's Revenge: StarTropics II

Zoda's Revenge: StarTropics II
Developer: Nintendo IRD Publisher: Nintendo Platform: NES Released in US: March 1994 Released in EU: July 10, 2009 (Wii Virtual Console) This game has unused areas. This game has debugging material. This game has a hidden level select. This game has anti-piracy features.

Zoda's Revenge: Startropics II is the only sequel to StarTropics. Like its predecessor, it's one of the few first-party games by Nintendo that did not come out in Japan.

Debug Tools

The StarTropics series contains a few debugging features. The debug flag sits at address $8001, and it can be turned on using the Game Genie feature of an emulator with the code PAEAPAAA. As it so turns out, this code won't work on a real Game Genie due to an addressing conflict! If you insist on using the real hardware, you can use the code ESOXZAEY+EIOVIPEY+EIVVPGEY. This code differs from the original by changing the code that reads the debug flag, rather than changing the debug flag itself.

Stage Select

Once enabled, the code grants access to various stage select screens, accessed by the following button combinations:

• Hold Start and press Reset for dungeon select.
• Hold Select and press Reset for "battle zone" select.
• Hold Start + Select, and press Reset for chapter select.
• You can also hold Start while walking on the overworld to pass through walls.
• Additionally, when you enter any dungeon, hold Select and exit it again through its entrance to complete this dungeon instantly.

CPU Meter

The code PAETPAAA enables a crude CPU usage meter on the left side of the screen.

Copy Protection

This game has a couple of copy protection checks preventing the game from being modified. First, when the game boots, the copy protection code calculates a checksum for two title and intro data blocks, as well as some CHR data. If these tests fail, instead of seeing the title screen, you'll see the screen flicker back and forth from black to white, once per second, accompanied by a sound effect. After about 5.5 minutes, the title screen will appear, and the game will start as usual. To force this screen to appear, use the Game Genie code EYOVSZEI. The blinking effect may have been intended to simulate the effects of a bad cartridge connection, where the console's lockout chip continuously resets the game, though the reason for the sound effect is unknown.

Another integrity test for one of 16 predefined data/code chunks is selected randomly and performed when switching to the next chapter of the game, starting from chapter 5. If this fails, instead of the next chapter, you'll be returned to chapter 2. A Game Genie can set this off as well, so if using one, restart the game without codes upon reaching an area with a Tetrad, collect it, proceed to the next chapter, and start again with codes if desired.

C-Island

The ninth and final chapter of the game is set at C-Island, where the first StarTropics began. However, the farthest the player can proceed on the world map here is to the town (Coralcola), meaning that much of the northern portion of C-Island is never seen, indicated by the red line in the image.

Weapon Oddity

In chapter 6, when in the second room of Da Vinci's basement (with the mechanical balls), the main weapon is mysteriously changed from the dagger to the katana, which actually is not acquired until after completing this area.