Bygone (prototype)

Bygone is a two-player horizontal shooter from Taito Corporation, created in 1985. Players control diminutive blue robot characters resembling Slinkys, navigating a series of platforming levels filled with enemy creatures. Gameplay centers around jumping and adhering to platforms while eliminating foes and collecting robotic parts. These collected components allow players to transform their robots into different forms, each offering unique abilities before reverting back to the original form for further experimentation. This transformation mechanic is key to accessing higher areas and progressing through the game's stages. A recurring challenge in each level involves defeating a stone monster boss by repeatedly shooting its eye without making contact with its body. Although innovative in design, this title appears to have remained a prototype and was never formally released. The game utilizes dual Zilog Z80 processors for gameplay and sound, alongside Yamaha YM2203 chips for audio output, offering a distinctive visual experience on a 240x224 pixel display with a 60Hz refresh rate.