SydLexia.com - The Forums :: View topic

Joined: Nov 28 2010 Location: Europe Posts: 2

Hi guys,

happened to stumble on this site at random and got stuck in nostalgia here Smile

I'll take this opportunity to ask a question that bugged me for quiet some time now (well since the mid-nineties when i got my hands on SMB 3 one of the best game i've ever played on the NES if not the single best one).
It's just a little detail, but when looking at the packaging of this game on the back, you can see some screenshots from the game. But those where eihter alterations or not found in the game at all.
One is a Sky level with flying bugs (different than the one in the game) and one is a screenshot of the "Grassland" map with a little different shape than the one in the game.

So my small question: Are those screenshots taken before the game was finalized and didn't make it into the game/got changed? Or whats up with that? Anyone knows more about that? Thanks Smile

Posted: Nov 28 2010 08:53 pm

I remember as a kid when my brother bought the game, I too noticed the same thing. It's haunted me for years.

Posted: Nov 28 2010 09:00 pm

Antarion wrote:

So my small question: Are those screenshots taken before the game was finalized and didn't make it into the game/got changed?

Yes.

Some other examples:

1. Both GoldenEye 64 and TimeSplitters 2 show guns that aren't in the game. (Or rather, prototypes of actual in-game guns.)
2. The Twilight Princess box shows a magic meter, though none exists in-game.
3. The Ocarina of Time box uses beta screenshots too.

Supposedly the level shown on the back of the SMB3 box was later released for Super Mario Bros. Advance 4 (aka Super Mario Bros. 3) via the GBA e-Reader. I can't prove it though.

Joined: Jun 08 2010 Location: Termina Field Posts: 1541

Syd Lexia wrote:

3. The Ocarina of Time box uses beta screenshots too.

Can you find me a decent resolution picture.

Posted: Nov 29 2010 03:27 am

Antarion wrote:

One is a Sky level with flying bugs (different than the one in the game) and one is a screenshot of the "Grassland" map with a little different shape than the one in the game.

Are you talking about the middle screenshot? http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/bigboxshots/5/525245_28422_back.jpg

Yes, I remember that and used to always wonder why I never saw a grassy level with those flying red beetles while playing the game. It's not all that uncommon for publishers to throw in screenshots taken before a game's completion.

Joined: Nov 28 2010 Location: Europe Posts: 2

Thanks alot guys. That's what I thought but it confused the heck out of me as a kid back in the days Razz

Methid Man wrote:

Antarion wrote:

One is a Sky level with flying bugs (different than the one in the game) and one is a screenshot of the "Grassland" map with a little different shape than the one in the game.

Are you talking about the middle screenshot? http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/bigboxshots/5/525245_28422_back.jpg

Yes, I remember that and used to always wonder why I never saw a grassy level with those flying red beetles while playing the game. It's not all that uncommon for publishers to throw in screenshots taken before a game's completion.

Yeah I was talking about the middle screenshot. Thanks for the pic
Also notice how the 2nd toad house is missing on the first screenshot..

Posted: Nov 29 2010 03:48 am

While we're talking about pre-release screenshots, anyone remember Cookie Crisp cereal's Sonic 2 promotion giveaway? I remember the back of the box showing the beta title screen which I thought looked awesome, but when I finally got the game I was disappointed to see the final title screen looking less cool. Tails looks like he's about to punch Sonic in the nose while Sonic's thumbs-up looks more like a "The bathroom is that way" gesture.

Posted: Nov 29 2010 12:05 pm

Mr. Satire wrote:

Syd Lexia wrote:

3. The Ocarina of Time box uses beta screenshots too.

Can you find me a decent resolution picture.

http://firsthour.net/screenshots/legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time/legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-back-cover-enivironments-environments.jpg

Not the best but...

1) Adult Malon is showing walking around the city.
2) Those Stalfos he's fighting aren't quite right. They're more elaborate.
3) The key display is never onscreen by itself.

There are also several very well-known teaser screenshots that Nintendo released before the game came out, including the infamous Unicorn Fountain.

Joined: Sep 17 2007 Location: The Opium Trail Posts: 3475

Syd Lexia wrote:

Some other examples:

1. Both GoldenEye 64 and TimeSplitters 2 show guns that aren't in the game. (Or rather, prototypes of actual in-game guns.)

Wow, I don't remember that at all. Shocked

Posted: Nov 29 2010 03:48 pm

JRA wrote:

Syd Lexia wrote:

Some other examples:

1. Both GoldenEye 64 and TimeSplitters 2 show guns that aren't in the game. (Or rather, prototypes of actual in-game guns.)

Wow, I don't remember that at all. Shocked

Here's the KF7 Soviet as it appears in-game:

Now, look at the bottom two screenshots on the left:

http://www.mobygames.com/game/n64/goldeneye-007/cover-art/gameCoverId,6128/

Posted: Nov 29 2010 04:43 pm

Yeah I noticed that too... it's like they merged the Klobb with the Soviet...

Posted: Nov 29 2010 05:15 pm

Aren't those missing SMB3 levels present in the rom? I heard you could get to them with a hex editor / emulator.

Posted: Nov 29 2010 05:50 pm

Blackout wrote:

Aren't those missing SMB3 levels present in the rom? I heard you could get to them with a hex editor / emulator.

No.

You can see the incomplete/inaccessible levels hidden in the game here: http://themushroomkingdom.net/smb3_lost.shtml