[NESPlayer]

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[Boco]

Did you compare either version with the Japanese original? Since there's only a few months' gap between the release dates, if Yo! Noid was in development for 2 years it's likely both versions were being worked on simultaneously, so it'd be interesting to see if stuff like the minigame differences and the platform layout differences match the (seemingly more complete) prototype rather than the retail.

Edit: To answer my own question it seems the platform placement in the prototype is the same as the Japanese version, as seen here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F5LxvSoz2c#t=5m54s

[NESPlayer]

I didn't compare the prototype with the Japanese version, but that was a good call!



I went through the Famicom game tonight to check the bonus stage mini-games, and they're closer to the prototype in that you cannot go off-screen or over any boxes/graves.

I added these screenshots to the article comparing the prototype and Japanese platforming sections, which as you said, appear to be identical:

[sebmal]

That's kind of crazy how every change seems to either be an improvement from the final or closer to the original Japanese version. Could they have possibly released an older build to retail by mistake?