image image image image image image image image image image image image image image

Terranigma / Tenchi Sozo

title

This is a final prototype of Tenchi Sōzō.

By: Evan G
Last updated: July 9, 2021

Terranigma (Tenchi Sōzō - 天地創造 in Japan) has an incredible fanbase. Their dedication has led them to create a petition to reissue the game, with the blessing of some of the original creators. See also this article on Nintendo Life.

This same passion has led to the discovery of a prototype of the game. b_lay sent me the prototype, which came from an anonymous person who was involved in the development of the game. Unfortunately, the game is final, and only four bytes associated with the internal checksum that are different.

Comparing files 天地創造Terranigma_513027_No.180.SFC and Tenchi Souzou (J).SFC:
0000FFDC: 4B 39
0000FFDD: FF D8
0000FFDE: B4 C6
0000FFDF: 00 27
End of both files.

The cart has a label saying "513027" and "No. 180". One of the checksum bytes that was changed, 0xB4, is 180 in decimal, so obviously the checksum was changed as a watermark matching the label. I would assume this would have been used as a press copy.

image
Scan of the prototype cart

© Evan G. This site made by a Canadian, and fueled by beer. Do not use material on this site without permission.