Arkanoid: Doh It Again

Arkanoid: Doh It Again
Also known as: Arkanoid (EU/AU box cover) Developer: Taito Publishers: Taito (JP), Nintendo (US/EU) Platform: SNES Released in JP: January 15, 1997 Released in US: November 3, 1997 Released in EU: 1997 Released in AU: 1997 This game has hidden development-related text. This game has debugging material. This game has a hidden level select. This game has regional differences.

Arkanoid: Doh It Again is a SNES entry in the Arkanoid series.

Debug Mode

At one time, a debug menu was available using a button combination, but then disabled in the final version of the game. The branch distance for a controller check was set to $00, essentially making it a Branch Always command that can never reach Debug Mode.

To restore it, use Game Genie code D06C-4766 or Pro Action Replay (PAR) code 8280AE04. On the title screen, highlight Option, then hold Select while pressing Start until Debug Mode appears.

The following are the version dates listed in the Debug Mode for the Japanese, US, and European/Australian releases:

05/30 16:25 version
05/30 16:25 version
06/03 00:00 PAL version

(Source: JLukas)

Regional Differences

Copyright Screen

Japan	International

Like many Taito games in that era, in the Japanese version, the copyright disclaimer says "Taito Corporation 1997 All Rights Reserved", while in the International version, the copyright disclaimer says "Taito 1997 Licensed by Nintendo", although the fact Nintendo published the game outside Japan and the copyright disclaim on the back box cover says "Licensed to Nintendo".

Hidden Texts

Located at 0x19100 in the Japanese version, 0x19BF0 in the US version, 0x19220 in the PAL version, this seems to be early copyright disclaimer leftover.

@ TAITO 1993 LICENSED BY NINTENDO

This date lists 1993 rather than 1997 in-game, suggesting the game started or finished the development, but won't be released until four years later, also "TAITO" and "LICENSED BY NINTENDO" texts suggesting that the game was going to published by Taito in the US, but due Taito America's closure in 1995-1996, the game went postponed and Taito was unable to find other publishers until Nintendo took over.