Prototype
Final
During the intro sequence and title screen, the game's title is missing the trademark in the prototype, and the "II" is very slightly different to the final version if you look closely.


Prototype
Final
The font for the intro kanji is different in the prototype, but the other difference is that the prototype's intro appears to be the one intended for the original version of the game -it mentions Neo Ghost, something the final version has no mention of.


Prototype
Final
Joe's sprite is slightly different in the prototype -his legs and arms are a little thinner, plus part of his neck has different colors.


Prototype
Final
The HUD in the prototype has larger icons and different colors for the fonts. The slice sprite for Joe's dash attack is larger in the prototype, with different colors.


Prototype
Final
The options screen has a few differences in the prototype. It is just called "OPTION" rather than "OPTIONS", the music, sound effects and voices are all numbered, the default shurikens is 40 rather than 50 and the control types have different layouts. The sound tests also have some different names in the prototype:


Music
Prototype Name
Final Name
Before Storm
Storm Wind
Getsufu
Shinobi
Jommar Mutado
Shadow Master
Ju Goya
Getufu
Ogiman Z
Whirlwind
Rush and Beat'Em
Rush and Beat
Shadow's
Shadows
Solitaly
Solitary
Trap Boggie
Trap Boogie


Sound Effects
Prototype
Final
8Sou Syurikin
8Sou Shurikin
Big Ban!
Boom C
Boss2 Pow
Charge
Boom
Boom B
Boom 3
Boom D
Boss1 Attack
Lobster Attack
Dai Dmg
Damage L
Doro Bocha
Hydra Shot
Enm Gun
Gun
Enm Syurikin
Enemy Shurikin
Fire
Fire A
Fushin No Jitu
Fushin
Gacyarin
Glass
Gatoring Boss
Machine Gun
Gee
Vermin
Gojira Gaooooo
Gaooooo
Gojira Fire
Fire B
Habataki
Flutter
Haidora Enttry
Hydra Entry
Hakurou
Karura
Hibashira
Kariu
Hober
Air Bike
Ikazuti
Thunderbolt
Item Get
Power-up 2
Katana
Enemy Katana
Kunai Furi
Musashi Kunai
Kunai Nage
Shurikin
Life Item Get
Power-up 1
Masao Misile
Masao Missile
Mizin
Mijin
Mizin Return
Mijin Return
Mizu Jump
Jump B
Musasi Katana
Musashi Katana
P Damage
Shield Damage
Pi!
!
Tenage Dan
Hand Grenade
Samurai Giri
Samurai Shot
Samurai Enttry
Samurai Entry
Yari
Spear
Zako Yarare
Boom A


Voice
Prototype
Final
Enm Damage
Shurikin Hit
Funm!
Dash Attack
Gojira Walk
Walk
Haidora Damage
Hydra Damage
Haidora Out
Hydra Death
Hohoho
Lion Dance
Jommar's Funm!
Shadow Kiai
Kirisaki
Katana Hit
Masao Gun Set
Gun Set
Masao Hand
Masao Claw
Musasi Damage
Musashi Damage
Musasi Kiai
Musashi Kiai
Teng Damage
Karura Damage
To!
Musashi Kick
Tubanari
Katana Set
Teng Damage
Karura Damage
Uma
Idaten

 

Sound Effect Changes

Some of the effects sound different in the prototype, here is a list of them all. The names in brackets are what the sound effects are called in the final version.

Fushin No Jitu (Fushin)
Prototype
Final
Hakurou (Karura)
Prototype
Final
Hibashira (Kariu)
Prototype
Final
Hober (Air Bike)
Prototype
Final
Laser L
Prototype
Final
Laser S
Prototype
Final
Masao Misile (Masao Missile)
Prototype
Final
Pi! (!)
Prototype
Final
Warning
Prototype
Final

 

Other sound oddities

-The prototype has has some things in the sound tests which are not in the final version: Enm Enmaku, H, Hakugekihou, No Use, Pause, Pistol 2, R1 Nin Enttry, Ryusei Giri and Tiger Gaoo. Some, possibly all, of these sound effects are leftovers from the original version of the game.

-However the final version has some sounds you can't listen to in the sound test in the prototype: 1Up, Grenade, Masao Ready, Shadow Laser, Shadow Power and Shadow Shot.

-The prototype seems to have a glitch with sound of the sound effects tests. There is a sound test called "57" which makes the same noise as the elevator on sound. "Masao Misile" is in there twice, once spelt like that, the other time spelt "Masao Missile". Both make the same sound. Someone didn't catch this error, as whilst the typo was fixed, "Masao Missile" is still in the sound test twice in the final version.

-Another thing in the prototype's sound effects test is that it skips some numbers -numbers 61, 62, 63 and 64 are all missing.

-The sound made for when the game is paused is different in the prototype: prototype / final

-The sound effect for collecting an extra life is the same sound as collecting a power up item in the prototype. For the final, it was given a unique sound.

-The sound effect for cycling through the ninjitsu options is different in the prototype (it is called "Pi!" in the sound test, in the final version it is just "!").

-The music sound test lets you listen to a track called "Uma" in the prototype, which is the sound made for the horse running at the start of round 2. This was removed from the final version.


Other differences

-The music will stop when the game is paused in the prototype version. For the final, it continues to play.

-In the prototype, if you have the game set to the easiest setting, Joe will be invincible -he can only die by being crushed or falling into a bottomless pit. The final changes this so Joe can be hurt by enemy attacks on easy. Thanks to Doc Lithius for this info.

-The invincibility cheat doesn't work in the prototype, possibly because of the above.

-The infinite shurikens cheat is slightly different in the prototype as you don't have to change the sound effect to "shurikin" like you do in the final.

-Whilst "Stage Clear" can be heard in the prototype's sound test, it is never used in the game itself. The same thing goes for "Sakura".

-"Ground Zero" is also in the prototype's sound test, but is never used in the game itself as the ending sequence doesn't work. It sounds slightly different to the final version as part of it plays a lot slower.

-In the prototype, you can only press up and down to select a ninjitsu, whilst the final also lets you use left and right.

-When using the mijin attack in the prototype, the screen does not shake when Joe explodes. In the final, it does.


Regional differences

Japan
USA
If you change your emulator's region to American or European, the title screen for the proto will change to "The Revenge of Shinobi II".


Japan
USA
The text for the intro will also change, although it is written in Engrish. It does at least try to explain the story, unlike the final version.