Wonderboy (C64) – a rather different looking version

Some years ago I was talking on the Lemon 64 of a strange recollection of a rather different looking version of the C64 Wonderboy. I had the budget edition of the game, which I played to death – but also later picked up the game on a Beau Jolly 30 pack of games. The recollection was of a rather expanded looking main sprite (where as the version I originally played had two sprites bolted together).

Our blocky version who looks like they are on LSD
Our blocky hero who looks like he’s on LSD

Sure enough – on further examination, the Beau Jolly edition was rather different. After some initial examining back in 2008 and quick comparisons – I found that it wasn’t just the main sprite that was different, but some sprites and segments of the game were quite different.

It’s been long overdue, but i’ve finally gone through a good bulk of the game to bring a proper look at some of the key differences between both games. Below are some comparison screenshots and interesting differences i’ve found.

Originally it was believed that this odd version was the NTSC version of the game – with cut down sprites due to speed issues; but that doesn’t seem to be the case. This in fact looks to be a slightly earlier version of the game, which may have been sent back to the developer to make some amendments or final changes on request. One critical omission has to be the Skateboard – which does not feature at all in the Beau Jolly version. You will also see a slightly different end after killing one of the big bosses as well at the very end of the screenshots.

So how did it come to get released on the Beau Jolly pack? We are not quite sure – maybe Activision/Electric Dreams accidentely gave a pre-final change version of the game instead of the correct final master version. It is believed that the same thing happened with Enduro Racer, with Nick Pelling’s unfinished version sneaking out on some packs.

Shortly after posting this entry, Gurt on the Lemon64 forum found a promotional video which shows an even earlier version of the game. It seems to be earlier than the V1 Beau Jolly title with a different expanded sprite, a different font used in the top panel and high res parts to the background graphics. The video can be found towards the bottom of the screenshots, along with screengrabs.

Also – I later played all the way through the entire game – and as well as enemy patterns I can establish the following:

  1. Music does not slow when getting the enemy fairy
  2. Fairy only starts appearing half way through the game
  3. Says “Game Over” after completing every level on the last Area (Area 7)
  4. Slightly different completion screen – still small girl (even though the big sprites exist). Last character explodes into loads of 100 points with last object to collect.

But! … after Game Over then appeared for Point 4 – I was suddenly in “Area BLANK Level 1″…. Wonderboy’s very own “World 0”. Check out the screenshot here:

area0

As you can see, the top object part is now corrupt – but the level starts from this point, and the platforms are all borked. It seems to be a portion of Level 1. As you go to the end of the level, there are 3 flames which seem to be impossible to pass to see what comes next. It’s likely just a glitch in the game – but could be that the coder at this stage didn’t tidy up properly and deliberately put in 3 flames to prevent the player from progressing. Thanks to Vinny Mainolfi, you can use the following pokes to get past the flames and other objects:

POKE 9854,234
POKE 9855,234

To change it back (if you get stuck) , enter:

POKE 9854,240
POKE 9855,36

The game does progress to an Area 0, Level 2 – with loads of mad clouds everywhere and octopuses It is just likely part of the game’s memory coming into play and corrupting things where the programmer hasn’t tied the game off properly. It sadly crashes half way across some clouds :-(

To compare for yourself, here are the two versions for downloading:

For now lets now take a look at some of the differences between both games via a series of comparison dumps and screenshots:

As well as the main sprite, you may spot some odd unused bits - including a bonus S sprite.
As well as the main sprite, you may spot some odd unused bits – including a bonus E sprite near the spider. Hmmm… where is the skateboard?
Now compare to what was in the final game
Now compare to what was in the final game. No 500 points it seems and some sprite tidy ups which we’ll see in a bit more detail now…
Blander looking fruit
Blander looking fruit
A little more defined
A little more defined
Ugly rocks
Ugly rocks
Better rocks
Better rocks
Snail green death
Snail green death
Snail red death
Snail red death – I guess was clearer against the green grass.
Snake looking a little messy
Snake looking a little messy
Subtle changes to improve in the final version.
Subtle changes to improve in the final version.
That boulder looks different
That boulder looks different
That's because it is.
That’s because it is.
Frog in one place
Frog in one place
Harder positioning in final version
Harder positioning in final version
Generously given three platforms
Generously given three platforms
Slightly more challenge in final version
Slightly more challenge in final version
Nice and bright on level 2
Nice and bright on level 2
A more subdued blue in the final version - and also look at that cloud platform!
A more subdued blue in the final version – and also look at that cloud platform!
A large splash
A large splash
A bit more squished on the final version
A bit more squished on the final version – oh, and a skateboard… sadly missing in the earlier version.
Ice block looking a little mangled in V1
Ice block looking a little mangled in V1
Fixed in final version
Fixed in final version and a slightly lighter grey background?
Skull looks a little paler
Skull looks a little paler
Fixed to a darker blue
Fixed to a darker blue
Brighter Cyan yet again on Level 4
Brighter Cyan yet again on Level 4
And back again in the final version
And back again in the final version
A basic looking spider
A basic looking spider
Fixed!
Fixed!
Bad guy head in V1
Bad guy head in V1
Some tweaking in the final version
Some tweaking in the final version – actually looks a little worse
Now in the final version - you defeat the boss and the character runs off screen.  Not here.  You must collect the object first!
Now in the final version – you defeat the boss and the character runs off screen. Not here. You must collect the object first!
But then a girl runs onto the screen before you hit the bonus countdown!
But then a girl runs onto the screen before you hit the bonus countdown!
Start of Area 0
Start of Area 0
Start of Area 0 Level 2
Start of Area 0 Level 2
Cloud madness
Cloud madness
Just before it crashes - loads of clouds and enemies.
Just before it crashes – loads of clouds and enemies.
Now for the even earlier version found in a UK Activision promotion video, thanks to Gurt from the Lemon 64 forums:
First the screenshots, and then the video itself (Start at 2:52 approx)…
Look at that main sprite!
Look at that main sprite! (Click for large)
Sprites have odd colours and panel is different too
Sprites have odd colours and panel is different too
Why are the boulders pink?
Why are the boulders pink?
Different clouds too - not expanded?
Different clouds too – not expanded?
Cyan again, but now an ugly looking island and different clouds.
Cyan again, but now an ugly looking island and different clouds.

5 Responses to Wonderboy (C64) – a rather different looking version

  1. Long at last the wicked Wonderboy mystery’s been solved! I remember my pleasant surprise upon loading the conversion that the main sprite looked infinetely superior to the rendition depicted in Happy Computer’s review. Heinrich Lenhardt praises the game but asks readers to look beyond the graphics, especially the “ghastly” main character. I wonder then which version Activision sent out as a review copy. In fact, even German print ads featured the extra chunky eponymous sprite, so the game must have had a guardian angel of sorts. See the original HC review here: Wonderboy, C64, original Happy Computer review June 1987 (German)

    • Thanks Obiwandi! … That is very interesting to see that German print ads and Happy Computer seem to have featured the earlier release.

      So my guess is that you had a copy bought in Germany which was with the correct sprite? So as well as Beau Jolly being sent a pre-production version by accident, it seems German media were sent the same as well. As far as I know, all the UK mags featured screenshots with the updated sprite. I’ll have to check and see if there are any pre-review preview shots anywhere.

      • You are welcome, Frank! That is correct, the version of Wonderboy that eventually shipped featured the much better defined sprites. I’ll try and recover the full-page ad I mentioned from my collection; it looks exactly like the more widely known English version, except for the screenshots. In fact, I remember there being only a single one, Sega’s blocky hero facing off against the end-of-game boss. Furthermore, Wonderboy has red skin in that screenshot.

        In Germany, Activision spent a small fortune on touting its arcade conversions Enduro Racer, Quartet and Wonderboy. I felt these were all over the place, similar to their movie tie-ins Labyrinth, Aliens and Big Trouble in Beige Breadbin…I’ll try to unearth the German Wonderboy ad asap!

  2. Some really interesting forensic work, Frank. It’s great to be able explore the development processes involved with creating a game.

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