Fantasy Zone

Fantasy Zone has probably the highest replay value of any game I've ever played and one of the most nearly perfect arrangements ever. It doesn't seem too long and there is plenty to offer. I found the weapon shop to be an excellent idea, so that instead of just collecting different power-ups, you have the opportunity to decide what you want when you want it, although you can only get what you want on a single occasion most of the time. The price increase is a bit annoying too, because eventually it's just too high. Regardless, such flaws in a game like this are almost too minor to note and I highly recommend anyone reading this to finally purchase a Master System. Get this game with it and you're hooked.

Seulement, sur Master System comme dans les autres versions 8-bit, c'est un jeu qui tourne un peu à vide, qui souffre de cet héritage arcade que Sega aura trop souvent jugé, bien à tort, comme imperfectible. Un classique, soit, mais un classique mineur, taille petit pois, comme son héros.

Paying no mind to the unlicensed Tengen port of Fantasy Zone to the NES almost 20 years ago, the arrival of the SEGA Master System version of Fantasy Zone on the Wii's Virtual Console really is Opa-Opa's Big N debut. And it's an occasion to be celebrated. This is a mascot and a series that only a select group of fans got to enjoy in their original days, and they've always deserved more attention and a wider audience. We'd recommend you become a member of that new audience – especially if you've never met Opa-Opa before.

I've never been a huge fan of Fantasy Zone, but this version is the best I've seen. This is not your typical shooter. The stages are awash with pastel colors, looking like something from a fairy tale or a really bad acid trip. You control a small pod-shaped ship as the screen scrolls slowly to the left or right. You can pick up the pace by pressing against the sides of the screen, but that's risky, so it's best to sit back and proceed at a more leisurely pace. Fantasy Zone is ideal for young kids, with its cute enemies and unhurried gameplay.

With its day-glow colors, whimsical graphics, and queer music, you might think this game is just for homos. But in fact it's a thoroughly engaging shooter for players of all sexual orientations. You move your tiny ship left or right, shooting and bombing all enemies in each level before facing the boss. Destroyed enemies yield coins you can collect, and "shop" icons let you purchase new items. Cool weapons like the seven-way shot really add excitement to the game. The controls are kind of tricky because you're always moving forward. Each bizarre level has its own distinctive pastel-colored backgrounds and goofy enemies. It's a pretty good shooter overall.

Fantasy Zone ist definitiv eines der Programme, die ich mit dem Sega-Joypad kaum spielen kann. Da man ans Game Gear keinen Joystick anstöpseln kann, war ich manchmal kurz vorm Nervenzusammenbruch. Zudem kapiere ich das Scrolling nicht ganz. Es ist zwar wunderschön fließend, aber, um es in Schwung zu bekommen, muß man sich mit dem Raumschiff so nahe dem Bildschirmrand nähern, daß eine Feindkollision fast programmiert ist. Von diesen beiden Schönheitsfehlern abgesehen, ist Fantasy Zone Gear ein gutes, witziges und klar überdurchschnittliches Ballerspiel Marke "Süß & Niedlich".

With that in mind, Fantasy Zone is a tough sell. Fantasy Zone fanatics and folks wanting to support the recently launched SMS section of the Virtual Console would do well to drop 500 points, but for everyone else, it's probably worth waiting. Regardless, anyone who decides to shell out for the game will find a wonderfully whimsical shmup unlike anything else seen outside of Japan. Just don't be surprised when it's bested in the upcoming months.