game
icon
title Psycho Soldier (Japan)
set name psychosj
manufacturer SNK
year 1987
genre Platform (hof)
category Platform / Fighter Scrolling (hof)
driver status good
driver source snk.c
snapshots MW: in game | parent / CT: in game | title | parent / PS: in game | title | scores | parent
zoom
rating

67.2% after 24 votes
 
parent Psycho Soldier (US)
display
colour emulation good
palette 1024
display type raster
orientation horizontal
resolution 368x224
frequency 60.000000Hz
sound
sound emulation good
channels mono
controls
players 2
nplayers 2P sim
controls 8 way joystick
buttons 2
coin slots 2
hardware
cpu Z80 @ 4MHz
cpu Z80 @ 4MHz
cpu Z80 @ 4MHz
audio YM3526 @ 4MHz
audio Y8950 @ 4MHz
data
version added .035b08
last change(s) none since version .53
roms
name size crc set flags sha1
up03_m4.rom  65536  05dfb409  psychosj    e6c378c86689c7ab9190908c8e4aa2d4563c3774 
up03_m8.rom  65536  5f426ddb  psychos    d4b2215122b23066ba2b231992f0f27057259ded 
up03_j6.rom  65536  bbd0a8e3  psychosj    ea8ca9de8f6042cf14ebfc83bc956751358f9521 
up03_k1.rom  1024  27b8ca8c  psychos    a2dbc22ca10c2c2c874bf766fe64981f9be75aba 
up03_l1.rom  1024  40e78c9e  psychos    779c84e5a40365d36088a018d9d1a3524f53844a 
up03_k2.rom  1024  d845d5ac  psychos    e1e0954c44264456a02aebe5e3b0bba6031b837b 
mb7122e.8j  1024  c20b197b  psychos    504cb28d652029fe87a5411d6239e78d93c83e91 
mb7122e.8k  1024  5d0c617f  psychos    845e52173c33500227cabe1e21b34919d2856215 
up02_a3.rom  32768  11a71919  psychos    ffb8c54ad5162ea5040508ccb9244b7cd087c047 
up01_f1.rom  65536  167e5765  psychos    5deb66255278e1891c344e0e9665c6f0fda59391 
up01_d1.rom  65536  8b0fe8d0  psychos    30b24878e0e333a635dae475b6527b03b9e0302c 
up01_c1.rom  65536  f4361c50  psychos    59d0915c4c4d07e26d205ffee95d7628f8eefb6d 
up01_a1.rom  65536  e4b0b95e  psychos    8e35138f9d1fc6c1d787cf09ec17a900710db375 
up02_f3.rom  32768  f96f82db  psychos    8062721431762dfcf7cc499a1f050e4cbe0fc793 
up02_e3.rom  32768  2b007733  psychos    7b808a134a9aa70aef1cf2a503b7ea786fd05275 
up02_c3.rom  32768  efa830e1  psychos    0a41a764a751a6566b9bb58086a417cfb7925d50 
up02_b3.rom  32768  24559ee1  psychos    ca2166558a8dffba9042349db2f85f9111bd8d93 
up01_f10.rom  65536  2bac250e  psychos    aaf424fb9663e14c19d4063a402fb3c4c5c5b059 
up01_h10.rom  65536  5e1ba353  psychos    1219cd11d5837c6680f6cbbf91cfece6564cacaa 
up01_j10.rom  65536  9ff91a97  psychos    064047800f3d7cb6eaf35988e0db0dc4dfa7e10f 
up01_l10.rom  65536  ae1965ef  psychos    7da6f14fa46f0443da8502f61e9f7d4aa603a19b 
up01_m10.rom  65536  df283b67  psychos    92650d3517efdef1358f5c9b9ee30d48a3bcc45a 
up01_n10.rom  65536  914f051f  psychos    743aa05ce1b4a9a49e9515e6c56c721bebd2bd2c 
up01_r10.rom  65536  c4488472  psychos    98540ca924cc20e82859b7bb88e521ff3f9f3b37 
up01_s10.rom  65536  8ec7fe18  psychos    65697058fe557066921072df691f3aa19f54968c 
up03_b5.rom  65536  0f8e8276  psychosj    8894ccccaf67ae3cfea926725c114f8e5607e4b2 
up03_c5.rom  65536  34e41dfb  psychosj    cdc4cb47a31c4f6eee8bc804389ee62af5173c15 
up03_d5.rom  65536  aa583c5e  psychosj    8433517d789c6b30938bfef366b44a0412dd5e7e 
up03_f5.rom  65536  7e8bce7a  psychosj    dd482045332719c76e598110d7285997b337352a 
cabinet art
marquee psychos.png
control panel psychos.png
flyer psychosj.png
additional information
info 0.35b8 [Carlos A. Lozano, Phil Stroffolino]

WIP:
  • 0.127u7: Stephane Humbert checked inputs and dipswitches via Z80 code analysis for Psycho Soldier and clone.
  • 0.127u1: SNK rewrite [Nicola Salmoria]: Fixed sprite-sprite priorities. Converted to tilemaps, proper memory map, fixed input and added dip locations etc. Changed visible area to 3686x224.
  • 0.126u5: Fixed gfx3 rom addresses to $8000/10000/18000.
  • 0.36b16: Renamed (psychosa) to (psychosj). Removed the YM-3526 and added 2nd Y8950 (4MHz).
  • 0.36b14: Replaced YM-3812 sound with YM-3526.
  • 26th December 1999: wwtk@mail.com and Matthew Conte fixes to SNK games sound.
  • 0.35b8: Carlos A. Lozano and Phil Stroffolino added Psycho Psycho Soldier (set 1) (SNK 1987) and clone (set 2).
LEVELS: 6

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Romset: 1381 kb / 29 files / 657 zip
history Psycho Soldier (c) 1987 SNK.


Psycho Soldier is a 1986 release by SNK. It is a side-scrolling shooter featuring two-player simultaneous play. The major character is a girl named Athena. She fires blasts of psychic energy as her main weapon. She can collect orbs which she can control telepathically. These orbs protect her from some projectiles and can also be launched at targets. The orbs will explode on impact. Her companion, a boy named Kensu, can help her with his own powers. Together they clean up a ruined city full of monsters and mutants.


- TECHNICAL -


Game ID : 'PS'


This game is one of a particular line of SNK machines that operates using three Z80's at 4MHz. Most of the sound effects come from a YM3526 (OPL1) FM chip while most music and all digitized effects (including the complete vocal track) are created by a Y8950 (it is a YM3526 with a 4-channel ADPCM decoder added on). Here is the detail :


Main CPU : (2x) Z80 (@ 4 Mhz)

Sound CPU : Z80 (@ 4 Mhz)

Sound Chips : YM3526 (@ 4 Mhz), Y8950 (@ 4 Mhz)


Because of its extensive vocal soundtrack, the board is huge. It consists of three PCBs full of ICs all sandwiched together.


Screen orientation : Horizontal

Video resolution : 384 x 224 pixels

Screen refresh : 60.00 Hz

Palette Colors : 1024


Players : 2

Control : 8-way joystick

Buttons : 2


- TRIVIA -


Psycho Soldier was the first-ever video game featuring a vocal soundtrack. The Japanese lyrics for the Psycho Soldier theme is also used as the Psycho Soldier team's team music in KOF94 and 96, as well as Athena's theme music in KOF 97 and 02.


Psycho Soldier's Soundtrack was released as a bonus with the purchase of Nintendo Famicom's Athena. It also included a vocal version of the ending theme.


The main character, Athena, appears in The King of Fighters series. Kensu, wearing a different outfit, appears in The King of Fighters series as 'Sie Kensou'. Kensu, as he appears here in Psycho Soldier, appears as a striker character in "The King of Fighters 2000" as ''Psycho Soldier Kensou''.


- UPDATES -


The Japanese and US versions have song lyrics in Japanese and English respectively.


Here is the lyrics for the Japanese version :

Psycho Ball ga hikari hanachi -

Athena no sugata terashi dasu no -

Psycho Soldier yami o saite -

Athena wa yume o suki dasu no.

Psycho Power o kokoro ni himete -

Hateshinai michi o hashiru -

Ima wa mo aozora mienai kedo...

Fire! Fire! Psycho Soldier! (x2)

Psycho Soldier ga yami o saite -

Athena wa yume o suki dasu no -

Psycho Beam no kagayaki nokoshi -

Athena wa mirai o motome tabidatsu.

Honoo no yoni moeru hitomi -

Kibo no kakaera o mitsume -

Ima wa moda namida misenai wa!

Fire! Fire! Psycho Soldier! (x2)

Psycho Beam no kagayaki nokoshi -

Athena wa mirai o motome tabidatsu.

Dare hitori shiranai ashita -

Hino tori no sugata karite -

Honoo no yoni moero hitomi -

Kibo no kakarea o mitsume -

Psycho Power o kokoro ni himete -

Hateshinai michi o hashiru -

(repeats)


Here's the english version :

Athena's name is magic -

mystery is what you see -

her crystal is the answer -

fighting fair -

to keep us free -

she's just a little girl with power inside -

burning bright -

you'd better hide if you are bad -

she'll get you -

she'll read your mind and find if -

you believe in right or wrong -

fire, fire psycho soldier.


- SCORING -


Lightning flashing column : Shooting power increases

Blue ball(s) flashing column : provides psycho ball(s) for psycho shooting and defense shield

Red beam flashing column : Increases psycho energy

Skull flashing column : AVOID. drains your psycho energy (doesn't kill you) Flashing rainbow square - Better jumping response and dexterity

Red Sword : break stone with one hit, allows fire through stone and walls

Large blue ball : Turns all enemies in psycho balls and their projectiles into ballons

Orange ball with blue center : Increases fire speed

Infinity sign : Ability increase : ???

Arrow up : AVOID. Ugrades enemies into more advanced enemies

Arrow down : downgrades enemies

Large red skull : AVOID. Takes away all extra powers and leaves you with basic powers

Large red ball with "F" : Instant maximum psycho energy

Pillar formations : shoot these and a floating ballon or saucer comes out. Grab for bonus points. The longer you wait before grabbing, the higher the point value (up to 8000 points).


- TIPS AND TRICKS -


* Movement : Move Athena or Kensu left or right along platforms. Make them move up or down to jump to other platforms. They will not get hurt by long falls.


* Forming Pillars : Don't walk on them. You'll trip and be vulnerable to attack!


* Attacking with Psycho Bolts : Press the primary fire button to standard bolts of energy. These can punch through stone as well as through enemies. If you break a stone and it contains a lightning capsule, you can power up your primary attack.


* Using the Psycho Balls : Sometimes you'll find balls floating on the screen. If you grab them, then they will circle around Athena. By pressing the secondary fire button, you can launch them at your enemies. They can destroy anything in their path short of a boss or some of the later creatures. Your ammo is listed at the bottom of the screen, above your life count. Using psycho balls does drain some energy from Athena. The more energy you have, the more powerful the ball attack is. Psycho balls also act as a limited form of defense. The more energy you have, the faster they revolve around your character. They can block small projectiles and small flying creatures.


* Using the sword : A sword is hidden in some blocks. When you get a sword, your shots will now pass through stone. You must walk up to a stone and hit it with the sword to break it (use the fire button). The sword lasts for a while (probably a set number of strikes). The sword may also be used against enemies at very close range.


* Becoming the Psycho Creature : If your energy bar is full and you have collected lots of psycho balls, you should break stones until a green egg pops out. When you break the egg, a special item will appear that changes Athena into a phoenix (Kensu becomes a green dragon). The phoenix has a powerful breath attack and can ram enemies to kill them. The breath attack has no penalty for use, but you use energy whenever you ram an enemy or you get hit by a projectile. If your energy bar is not full, or you don't have enough psycho balls, the egg will release a large number of maggots. Therefore, try not to be close to an egg when you break it. If you're too close, the maggots will swarm you.


- SERIES -
  1. Athena (1986)
  2. Psycho Soldier (1987)
  3. - STAFF -
    • Staff : Kaori.S, Hamashin, Kooyan, John. Guso, Gon, Dachi, Kikuhen, R. Aran, Hachisuka, G. Iwasaru
    • - PORTS -
    • * Consoles :
    • Nintendo NES [Unreleased Prototype]
    • * Computers :
    • SInclair ZX Spectrum (1987)
    • Commodore C64 (1987)
    • Amstrad CPC (1988)
    • - SOURCES -
    • Game's rom.
    • Edit this entry at Arcade-History.com: http://www.arcade-history.com/?n=psycho-soldier&page=detail&id=2060&o=2
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cheats
cheats
code comments
00000000:F77E:00000003:FFFFFFFF  Infinite Lives PL1
00010000:F77F:00000003:FFFFFFFF  Infinite Lives PL1 (2/2)
00000000:F790:0000000C:FFFFFFFF  Infinite Powerballs PL1
00000000:F78E:00000014:FFFFFFFF  Maximum Energy PL1
00000000:F780:0000000C:FFFFFFFF  Invincibility PL1:Dont get stuck in Dead Ends. Turn Invincibility OFF if you do!
60000000:0000:00000000:00000000 
00000000:F7D4:00000003:FFFFFFFF  Infinite Lives PL2
00010000:F7D5:00000003:FFFFFFFF  Infinite Lives PL2 (2/2)
00000000:F7E6:0000000C:FFFFFFFF  Infinite Powerballs PL2
00000000:F7E4:00000014:FFFFFFFF  Maximum Energy PL2
00000000:F7D6:0000000C:FFFFFFFF  Invincibility PL2:Dont get stuck in Dead Ends. Turn Invincibility OFF if you do!
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