Firestriker

This is a localization prototype of Firestriker By: Evan G Last updated: July 9, 2021

This prototype is part of a collection of loose EPROMs recovered by the Video Game History Foundation on behalf of an anonymous collector. This lot contained prototypes from various systems including Game Boy, Mega Drive/Genesis, SNES, Game Gear, 32X, NES, Turbo-Grafx 16, Atari XE and Master System. The prototypes for other systems will be released on other sites, such as Hidden Palace and SMS Power.

I am including this in the loose EPROM lot, purely because it confirms an earlier scene release of the prototype. The loose EPROM dump is identical. The scene release came out on May 15, 1994 by the group Premiere.

                                          /\
 __________________  _____________  /\  _/  \___________________  _________
 \_______   \___   \ \    _____/  \/  \ \____/\    __________   \ \    ___/
  |  __|/   /_|/   / /   _/__|         \/    \/   _/__|   _|/   / /   _/__
  |  \_____/ \_    \/    \/  |    \/    \     \   \/  |   \_    \/    \/  |
  |    | |____|\    \________|____|| Mb  \____/_______|____|\    \________|:
 -|____|--------\____/-------------|______/------------------\____/--------+-
  |                                                                        |
  |      Title : Fire Striker                 System : SNES                |
  |    Company : DMTC                         Megabits : 8 Mbits           |
  |                                                                        |
 -+------------------------------------------------------------------------+-
  :: Supplier: Dragon Avenger & Fallen Angel :: Release Date : 05/15/94   ::
 -+------------------------------------------------------------------------+-

The prototype is partially localized, and features a very rough English translation. The final version still had some roughness to it, but nothing compared to the prototype.

The prototype still has the company information from the Japanese version of the game.

Prototype	Final

The logo is different from final, but does show that at this point they had decided on a name for the game. It is similar to the Japanese logo, but with a different colour. I have to admit, I like the symmetry of the US final release. The final release ditched the "Press Start" to make room for the "Licensed by Nintendo" text.

Prototype	Final

Japanese version (Holy Striker)

The prototype tends to have more words, but has various mistakes. This is an example from the opening cinematic.

Prototype	Final

The name of the main character was changed from "Sleither" to "Slader". I assume this was the result of a error due to the ambiguity of transcribing the katakana name from the Japanese version of the game (スレイダー).

Prototype	Final

The prototype has the king making a reference to God. Nintendo of America would definitely not have that.

Prototype	Final

The main villain's name was also changed from "Wald" to "Wylde".

Prototype	Final

At the start of the game, you do not have the option to select a character. The final version's text makes that clear.

Prototype	Final

When you fail, the King chides you in the final version of the game. The prototype has some clear placeholder text that doesn't make a lot of sense.

Prototype	Final

For the download, I have included the prototype and the original scene release.

Download Here