Early Punch-Out Prototype ROM Released Online
▼ Summary
– A prototype cartridge of Punch-Out was purchased for $45,000 and its ROM data was later made publicly available online.
– The prototype version lacks sound and features only four boxers, with gameplay that loops after defeating the final one.
– It includes arcade characters like Piston Hurricane and Pizza Pasta, who were replaced or omitted in the final NES release.
– The prototype reveals early character names, such as Vodka Drunkenski for the fighter later renamed Soda Popinski.
– A debug mode exists that lets players control opponents, but it causes significant visual glitches.
A significant piece of gaming history has just become publicly available. A rare prototype cartridge for the classic NES title Punch-Out has been preserved and its ROM data released online for all to examine. This unique artifact is reported to have originated from a former Nintendo of America employee, later surfacing at a garage sale before its eventual acquisition.
The journey of this cartridge culminated in a high-profile auction where it sold for a staggering $45,000. Following the sale, the preservationists at The Cutting Room Floor successfully dumped the ROM and published it, granting researchers and fans unprecedented access to this developmental snapshot.
Analysis reveals several fascinating departures from the final retail version. The prototype is completely devoid of sound code and data, creating a silent experience. The gameplay structure is also radically different, featuring only four boxers fought in a fixed sequence: Glass Joe, Bald Bull, King Hippo, and Don Flamenco. After defeating Flamenco, the game presents a training cutscene and a password before looping back to the start, with no championship title fight or mention of Mike Tyson.
Perhaps the most intriguing details are found in the game’s code. References to characters from the original arcade game appear, including Piston Hurricane and Pizza Pasta, who were replaced or omitted in the final NES release. The data also lists unknown fighters named Rockyhead and Mongol Khan. Furthermore, the credits reveal that the character known as Soda Popinski in the final game is still identified here by his original, more adult-oriented arcade name, Vodka Drunkenski.
The prototype includes a debug mode that allows players to control the unfinished opponent characters and cycle through their movesets, though activating it primarily results in graphical glitches. The Video Game History Foundation recently showcased this remarkable find in a new video, providing a visual tour of its unique features.
This discovery adds a new chapter to the legacy of a beloved franchise, following other recent finds like new codes for Super Punch-Out. It offers a rare glimpse into the iterative design process behind one of Nintendo’s most iconic titles.
(Source: Nintendoeverything.com)