Lost Prototype Found! The Origin of Lock-On Technology!

That’s right. We all know about Lock-On Technology, the secret dark art of Sega used to turn Sonic & Knuckles into what it should have been if Sonic the Hedgehog 3 hadn’t been rushed to release. But what if I told you that that wasn’t supposed to be the first game with Lock-On Technology? What if Sega had intended Lock-On Technology for an entirely different game, on a different console? Also, what if 80’s sitcoms were involved?

But of course

That’s right. The Sega Master System was intended to have Lock-On Technology before the Genesis. However, in 1989, Tonka wasn’t convinced this was the best route, and decided to save money by omitting the cartridge header. And admittedly, Sega made what many researchers have seen since as a questionable decision, partnering with tiny American developer Nexa. But at the time, the massive success of Monopoly was seen to demand a truly dramatic follow-up.

That’s right. ALF for the Sega Master System. We’ve seen it before, already known on this blog for pushing the limits of the Master System hardware farther than even the vaunted “blast processing” of the Sega Genesis could keep up with. But it could’ve gone farther.

That’s right. By spending six weeks digging through various dumpsters, the lost prototype has finally been found: ALF, now enhanced with Lock-On Technology. This version is a bit more primitive than the later Genesis version, without a shield to protect the cartridge port, but that snapped off my Sonic & Knuckles anyway.

That’s right. I should’ve taken better care of my things as a child, but that’s not relevant. What’s relevant is this would’ve been revolutionary. A game-changer, if you will. In that it literally changed games. To add ALF to them.

ALF-lex Kidd in Miracle World

That’s right. Of course, Alex Kidd in Miracle World was basically Sega’s answer to Super Mario Bros. (Wonder who? Is he in a Miracle World? I thought not) so of course, it should’ve been a high priority to support for this. And at first glance, it looks pretty good. There’s ALF. He’s in Miracle World. All is right with the world.

That’s right. Alf’s swimming idea doesn’t fit in this narrow passage. In fact, putting ALF in Miracle World was a silly idea. Let’s just switch out the cartridge and go back to ALF.

That’s right. He’s loose. We’re all doomed.