The soundtrack from the Fantasy Zone franchise is so good you could hear it in the most unusual places, from Takeshi's Castle to the arranged version of Picnic (from Super Fantasy Zone) the guys at Traveller's Tales did for Sonic 3D's special stages. A 16-bit musical masterpiece, yesiree!
Always nice to see more Fantasy Zone, one of my all time favourite games. A few points / musings: 1. Fantasy Zone GG and Super Fantasy Zone are indeed completely separate games, so in a sense perhaps they shouldn't have been included in this video 2. The Mark III / Master System version was developed alongside the original arcade game, so in a sense it's not a regular port - the games can be seen as more akin to siblings 3. The Saturn version was the best version of the arcade game until the 3DS (3D Fantasy Zone: Opa Opa Bros) version came out, which is most certainly the definitive version. It's actually arcade superior, has more customisation, some extra secrets for fans to unlock and has an innovative twist to the game in the form of a new mode too (named after hero Opa Opa's brother, Upa Upa). It's also in optional 3D and costs £4.49 on a current gen (albeit handheld) console, so that one has got to be considered far and away the best version of the original game in existence by almost any measure. 4. Your inclusion of the Fantasy Zone-inspired homebrew PC game was interesting (I'd not come across this before) but led me to simultaneously lament the exclusion of Space Fantasy Zone on the PC Engine CD - which was a full on mashing up of Fantasy Zone and Space Harrier (complete with an inter-game mash-up version of the 1st levels theme music). Though its development had advanced considerably the game was developed clandestinely and ended up being rejected for release by Sega and exists only as a leaked image. Space Fantasy Zone seems the more important footnote in FZ's legacy than other non-mainline entries to me. 5. 2008's Complete Fantasy Zone Collection for the PS2 contained a huge deal more than just ROMS of all the Sega published Fantasy Zone games (including the unmentioned Fantasy Zone 2s): It had Fantasy Zone DX, which was the newly developed, 'true' Sega-16 sequel to the original game, which utilised a twist on the original Master System sequel's warp gate based level structure and many of that games motifs / bosses. 5. Your love of Super Fantasy Zone leads me to deduce that you may not have played the other recent 3DS Fantasy Zone release, '3D Fantasy Zone II: W'. This is a revised & optimised version of the 2008 Fantasy Zone DX, with even more options, true widescreen utilisation, other great bits of attention-to-detail and multiple endings that unlock gameplay options for a whole other new mode, an 'endless' mode dubbed 'Link Loop Land. This new mode is a radical modernisation and distillation of the essence of Fantasy Zone - and speaking as an old time Fantasy Zone fan - there's nothing in the game's history that is comparable to how amazing this is. Basically, the two M2-developed Fantasy Zone releases on the 3DS have a duty to be mentioned here as anyone with an interest in this series of games needs these superior, cheaper, lovingly crafted versions. They're the ultimate Fantasy Zones. Apologies for the long read. And thanks again for the video. Mr Brick.
Fattydeposit Nice reply. I've not played the 3DS Fantasy Zone as I'm not a fan of hand Helds. In fact I forgot all about it. My son has 3 3DS consoles. Can you believe it! One with a dead screen, another which I bought him Christmas just gone as a replacement for the dead screen unit and then on Sunday he won a New 3DS LL (the one with the extra thumb stick). Time to sell one of them I think. I'm very ware of the PC Engine CD Space Harrier style Fantasy Zone game however I don't own that on CD-R or an image so didn't really bother with it due to the different style of game play. I wonder if that's where the bonus stages of the Sega Ages Volume 3 version got their inspiration from? I still think even if I do play the 3DS game I'll still love the Mega Drive game more. It just has that something about it.
+bumtree Interesting. I never realized that the Master System version was released so soon after the arcade so maybe you made a point here. But do you have a source about it being "developed alongside the original arcade game"? It makes sense though as the Master System port has some significant differences (no vertical scrolling and no radar), differences which have been kept for the sequel on the same system so this is coherent. About Space Fantasy Zone, it's weird that NEC Avenue started developing it without even being sure that Sega would be OK with this and they weren't! More likely because from that point, they didn't want any more Sega games on competiting hardwares. But the game is not very good anyway. Also I disagree about it being "the more important footnote in FZ's legacy", it's not even official and it's a mash-up making it rather like a tribute to Sega but the more important and actual footnotes in the series are Fantasy Zone: The Maze and Galactic Protector, both on Master System. Lastly about Super Fantasy, I agree that it shouldn't have been included here and same goes for Fantasy Zone Gear but the fact that there are more recent Fantasy Zone games with more features and all doesn't mean that everyone should prefer these. It's a bit like with Streets of Rage, I appreciate the fact that there are new games (they're unofficial though but still) but I prefer the Mega Drive games. Nicer and more genuine look and sound.
Retro Core There wasn't scaling as such, just good old fashioned animated rotation. Later gen MD games sometimes tried SNES-style Mode 7-esque rotation effects but actual scaling wasn't an option for that console until the Mega-CD came along
There is some actual scaling in the game during the story which isn't show on this video. The Mega Drive or any system can do scaling but it needs to be written in to software where as on the Mega Cd and SFC / SNES it was handled by hardware. Much easier than writing software to do the job :)
thats it, people dont understand that you can replicate these effects on md by software using code and cpu horse power.. but the developers need have know how for this, is not for everyone and have alot of comercial titles with scaling / rotation / zoom effects.
I loved this on the Sega Master System, previously owning a Sinclair Spectrum, on which the games lacked colour, this blew my mind. Opa Opa, the name of the small space ship/robot you play as, was also featured in the Zillion game for SMS as a power up and a playable character in Sonic and Sega All Stars Racing. Opa Opa was also Sega's mascot before Alex Kid and Sonic.
Craig Wilson Opa Opa was sort of Sega's first official mascot even before Alex Kidd. Also, did yo notice that the name entry music on Fantasy Zone is lifted straight from Space Harrier :)
No, i'll need to look this up, thanks. On the Sharp x68000 version of Fantasy Zone, i'm sure there was a Space Harrier themed stage. While i was looking on you tube, there was even early and incomplete footage of Fantasy Zone title with Space Harrier gameplay that was in early development for the PC Engine CD ;)
There was also the 3DS version, which is the arcade version but with stereoscopic 3D. As well as the Switch version, which is part of the Arcade Archive series of ports. The 3DS version is sadly no longer available, but the Arcade Archive version is highly recommended if you want to play it on modern hardware.
That's Tengen US :) Tengen Japan produced amazing stuff, mostly for the Mega Drive. Gauntlet IV, Slap Fight, V-V and Snow brothers were all fantastic games from Tengen Japan. What's sad is that only Gauntlet managed to get a western release.
Who'd imagine M2 remaking Sunsoft's Famicom version alongside Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa-Opa on the Fantasy Zone Complete Collection? Good thing they ignored Tengen's shitty NES port. As for Super Fantasy Zone, Sunsoft made an excellent Mega Drive shooter that held its own. A shame it didn't have a US release until the Wii Virtual Console...
@@RetroCore mygoodness thank god I emulated on retroarch on steam but got the mastersystem anyway but it’s available on saturn. But never gotten around the nes famicom port or version.
Great! So many good things to be said about Fantasy Zone. I sadly never got to play it in the arcades here, surprisingly. Also I noticed the video isn't coming up at 60fps for me, it might be a glitch on my end but I'll let you know if it persists.
The video may still be processing on RUclips. Also, Windows users need to watch via Chrome to get 60fps on RUclips. Firefox and IE don't support it yet :(
I was always amazed at how many ports this game got. while I only played the master system version till recently, it just never hooked me. the scrolling style always made me compare it to defender which I loved because I played it back in the arcade days alot. I have the saturn version now and played it a bit, but my mind just always says to me that defender blows this away.. play that. never played the mega drive version. I'm guessing it wasn't released in the states. wouldn't mind trying that. Well anyway, another great release, thanks Yakumo, enjoyed every minute of it!
neozeed1984 Thanks, neozeed1984. I'm pretty sure Super Fantasy Zone got a European release but yeah, not sure about the states. The Japanese version comes in the typical tinny Sunsoft box :)
Back in 1990, in America, if you have both the Nintendo and the Turbografx-16, you might wanna get the Turbografx-16 version, since it's almost arcade perfect...
Great to see Fantasy Zone finally get the BOTP treatment! By the way, are you able to explain what some of the options on the Saturn version are? I think there's two pages of stuff, including saturation and (I think) some record options? I'm not sure what to do with them...
Ruaidhri O'Baoill From the top of my head there are 3 pages of option. There is a saturation and another colour option (Gamma?), then there the record and playback game option. various rapid fire speed options, sound test including the JPN and US versions, remixed tracks and vocal track. Then there's the standard collection of options.
@@RetroCore Also in the 3DS Version, you can unlocked Upa Upa mode by beating the game once, extended weapons by having 1 million in the coin stock, gold rush by having 2 million in the coin stock, and infinite weapons by having 3 million in the coin stock.
@@RetroCore Not to mention, you can also fight Master System bosses. This must be done by starting the game in round 1 without using Coin Stock. Exceed $95, 000 before reaching the boss in round 4, then defeat all enemies that appears on-screen and collect all coins during round 4. Exceed $235,000 before reaching the boss in round 6, then destroy all enemy bases and collect less then $10,000 worth of gold within round 6.
Because in general the American market was more about in your face crap and sports. Cutie shooters were not that popular. It's also why twin bee and Parodious were not released there. In Europe the gaming taste was more suited towards the Japanese style which is why more Japanese games got a European release and we didn't always have the ultra shitty US box art although there was quite a lot of it in Europe too.
AFAIK Space Buster FZ was for Sharp MZ-700 computer www.openspc2.org/mz700/SBFZ.html . Curiously, here at Spain, on the city I'm living, there was easy to see FZ-700 computers because one local bank offered it as a present with some kind of bank accounts.
One note if you are going to make one episode for the sequel: The original game is on the Master System and there's actually two Sega System board versions: The first arcade version, released way baaack in the 80's which runs on the System E and is basically a port of the Sega Master System version with a little more graphical bells and whistles (noticeably the title screen is different and seems to use two layers on the System E version instead of one from the Master System version). The other version, a System 16C version, was released as emulation only but is none of the non emulated ports, instead is a new port which is included in the "Sega Ages 2500: Vol.33 - Fantasy Zone: Complete Collection" disc. So versions I know are: Master System (original, SEGA), Arcade (System E, SEGA), Famicom (Sunsoft), MSX2 (Pony Canyon again, ugh), PlayStation 2 (System 16C, M2), Nintendo 3DS (based on the System 16C version but with enhancements such as widescreen and Link Loop Land, M2)
I haven't played the first one, but i played the second one. I'll buy $35 eShop just to get this game which was titled 3D Fantasy Zone: Opa Opa Bros. Also, Fantasy Zone 2 was first released on Sega mark 3.
I love Fantasy Zone! Such an original series. My favorites are Fantasy Zone II on Master System and Super Fantasy Zone on Mega Drive but I'd like to try Fantasy Zone II DX: The Tears of Opa-Opa. As for the port of the first game, the Master System one is pretty decent given its very early release date. Also, as we talked about in the thread started by +bumtree, it might not be a port but rather a "parallel version". Then the PC Engine port doesn't seem that bad IMO and yeah, the Famicom port is impressive given the system's limited palettes but now compare the 2nd game on both the Famicom and Master System and you will see the gap in terms of graphic capabilities! ;3 Then the X68000 port seems great, as often, and I have the Saturn port but I never played it yet (actually it's still sealed). btw did you know that someone started porting the first game to the Mega Drive? It looks and sounds great, about as good as the X68000 port: ruclips.net/video/PuGiBWlAEbQ/видео.html. The guy is talented and also works on an impressive Mega Drive port of Darius: ruclips.net/video/TcvD0cMQD0Q/видео.html.
+Retro Core Thank you but, lol, I edited my OP since the second link didn't work well (apparently due to the brackets so I removed them) but now my post doesn't display again :/ So, can you make it appears again please? I won't edit it anymore ^^' And glad that you enjoyed his work! Talking about this, did you see Omega Blast?
ok! Well done. And yeah the post displays now. RUclips is a glitchy mess :( As for Omega Blast, it's not a port this time but a whole new Mega Drive shooter which is even cooler! It even looks like a manic shooter which was uncommon during 16-bit era. Check it out: ruclips.net/video/C5QIPdtamHY/видео.html Now I just wish that the homebrew scene would start doing stuff on Mega-CD and Saturn too! But this will probably happen in the future. (ps: this post doesn't display... do you know how to avoid this? Or is it due to settings you made in order to check posts with link(s) in order to approve them or not?)
2 things: The PS2 remake includes 4 completely new levels and bosses, all of which show up in the final boss rush if you have them enabled. and: Thoughts on the 3DS port/remake? There's some neat stuff there, I think!
The PC Engine port isn't bad IMO. It definitely could have been a bit better, but overall, I think they did a great job. The PC Engine has quite a few Sega ports that are ALMOST the best, and could have been if they employed just a touch more trickery to squeeze out just a touch more. Thinking Afterburner, Space Harrier etc. that are among the best home ports, but could have been the best hands down. I don't usually think of ports as having top notch all-tricks-employed programming though. :D
Never have heard of this game before your video. I must say, that for arcade game released in 1986 FZ looks VERY impressive. Not only amount of colours is cool, but also various special effects, like sprite scrolling and when the bosses break apart into many pieces. I would have thought that this game as released in early 90-s, if I didn't know that it's not the case!! As for the ports, NEC is...well, it must be a really interesting experiment, but this graphics hurt my eyes and this music hurt my ears. SMS port is very impressive. Famicom version is also really impressive (returning to our early talk about NES and amount for colours it can produce -_^). Sunsoft did not fail, as always. NES port is horrible, though. It looks like Armstad game or something. Genesis / Mega Drive game looks really impressive and its music sounds more like something from SNES, rather than usual Genesis / Mega Drive tunes.
Wow, I can't believe you didn't know Fantasy Zone. I thought everyone knew about this game. It's a tough little shooter but you should give it a try when you can.
***** that's a shame :( where are are you from? You've missed out on what was the ultimate time to be an arcade gamer. So many excellent games came out in the mid 80s to late 90s.
Retro Core Not only I missed Arcade games, but also Sega Genesis / Mega Drive era, PS1 / N64 era and most of the PC games as well. On the other hand, it gave me an unique opportunity to pick and choose only the best and evaluate games for their quality, without nostalgic glasses. I am from Russia, currently. I hope it won't scare you away.
***** hahaha, don't you worry. Being from Russia doesn't scare me. I have a good friend from Serbia. Yeah, I know it's not the same place but it's close. Well, at least you could see all the Dendy consoles and the creapy Elephant mascot :)
@@RetroCore Actually, Sega 3D Classics Collection was first released in Japan 2015 under the name Sega 3D Fukkoku Archives 2. Apparently, Japan has three compilations of Sega 3D Fukkoku Archives and the US/UK only had one compilation. Anyway, you should try purchase 3D Sega games on the 3DS eShop.
I actually prefer the Famicom version over the SMS, with the bases being animated and better backgrounds. Sunsoft made better use of a 1Mb cart than Sega did. Forget the NES one though... Tengen got lazy. X68000, Saturn, and the PS2 remix are best here.
To me, at least, this game seemed like a fluorescent, bouncy, cuter Japanese take on Defender. The weapon power ups and bosses gave it more depth and replay value...and that music! This is the Sega I remember...mostly for Treasure and the Streets of Rage series but the company as a whole during this period was amazing!
I was never familiar with this game, I never played it, and only ever heard about it on the Master System, I didn't realise it was originally an arcade game. So, purely from the eye test, the Megadrive, Saturn, PS2, Game Gear & Japanese Famicom versions look absolutely amazing (so does the X68000 version, but it's an X68000, so, duh). The arcade original looks like a fun little game too. Shame that I never encountered it back in the day. I wonder why there were no Western ports? Was it not popular enough in the West? Then again, US Gold probably would've got the license and probably would have commissioned an "awesome" development team like Tiertex or Creative Materials, so maybe Western gamers dodged a bullet
Famicom (Sunsoft) > NES (Tengen West) it's like Japanese/European or uncensored version of animes were better than stupid english entertainment and censorship aka 4 KIDS (particularly Sonic X, Pokémon, & other great animes). I guess this why most people prefer uncensored in animes and better versions of games released from Europe and Japan (particularly C64 European version of Akari Warriors, Sega Mega Drive Japanese version of Marble Madness, and other better versions from Europe and Japan with few exceptions) Tengen of Japan was better than Tengen West in my opinion XD
i like the sound of the Sega Master System version the PC Engine/Turbo-Grafx version sounds like crap graphically (visually) i prefer Master System version
Ah Fantasy Zone, the only game I bought the complete soundtrack of Wave Master. Also, the only shoot them up I ever played. Some note about the video : _ The Tengen version is bad ingame but the cover is even worse, reaching Megaman 1 levels of uglyness. _ The SEGA AGES 2500 version of the game is probably one of the few games really done well and was included in the SEGA Classic Collection. _ Fantasy Zone Gear and Super Fantasy Zone are totally stand alone games and should not have been in it. Also, Super Fantasy Zone the best ? No Fantasy Zone 2 DX ?
The soundtrack from the Fantasy Zone franchise is so good you could hear it in the most unusual places, from Takeshi's Castle to the arranged version of Picnic (from Super Fantasy Zone) the guys at Traveller's Tales did for Sonic 3D's special stages. A 16-bit musical masterpiece, yesiree!
The X68000 port also has a new exclusive stage: Dragon Land.
I didn't know that. thanks for the info.
And from what I've heard. an arranged soundtrack on X68K versions.
Dragon Land is based on Space Harrier.
Always nice to see more Fantasy Zone, one of my all time favourite games.
A few points / musings:
1. Fantasy Zone GG and Super Fantasy Zone are indeed completely separate games, so in a sense perhaps they shouldn't have been included in this video
2. The Mark III / Master System version was developed alongside the original arcade game, so in a sense it's not a regular port - the games can be seen as more akin to siblings
3. The Saturn version was the best version of the arcade game until the 3DS (3D Fantasy Zone: Opa Opa Bros) version came out, which is most certainly the definitive version. It's actually arcade superior, has more customisation, some extra secrets for fans to unlock and has an innovative twist to the game in the form of a new mode too (named after hero Opa Opa's brother, Upa Upa). It's also in optional 3D and costs £4.49 on a current gen (albeit handheld) console, so that one has got to be considered far and away the best version of the original game in existence by almost any measure.
4. Your inclusion of the Fantasy Zone-inspired homebrew PC game was interesting (I'd not come across this before) but led me to simultaneously lament the exclusion of Space Fantasy Zone on the PC Engine CD - which was a full on mashing up of Fantasy Zone and Space Harrier (complete with an inter-game mash-up version of the 1st levels theme music). Though its development had advanced considerably the game was developed clandestinely and ended up being rejected for release by Sega and exists only as a leaked image. Space Fantasy Zone seems the more important footnote in FZ's legacy than other non-mainline entries to me.
5. 2008's Complete Fantasy Zone Collection for the PS2 contained a huge deal more than just ROMS of all the Sega published Fantasy Zone games (including the unmentioned Fantasy Zone 2s): It had Fantasy Zone DX, which was the newly developed, 'true' Sega-16 sequel to the original game, which utilised a twist on the original Master System sequel's warp gate based level structure and many of that games motifs / bosses.
5. Your love of Super Fantasy Zone leads me to deduce that you may not have played the other recent 3DS Fantasy Zone release, '3D Fantasy Zone II: W'. This is a revised & optimised version of the 2008 Fantasy Zone DX, with even more options, true widescreen utilisation, other great bits of attention-to-detail and multiple endings that unlock gameplay options for a whole other new mode, an 'endless' mode dubbed 'Link Loop Land. This new mode is a radical modernisation and distillation of the essence of Fantasy Zone - and speaking as an old time Fantasy Zone fan - there's nothing in the game's history that is comparable to how amazing this is.
Basically, the two M2-developed Fantasy Zone releases on the 3DS have a duty to be mentioned here as anyone with an interest in this series of games needs these superior, cheaper, lovingly crafted versions. They're the ultimate Fantasy Zones.
Apologies for the long read. And thanks again for the video.
Mr Brick.
Fattydeposit Nice reply. I've not played the 3DS Fantasy Zone as I'm not a fan of hand Helds. In fact I forgot all about it. My son has 3 3DS consoles. Can you believe it! One with a dead screen, another which I bought him Christmas just gone as a replacement for the dead screen unit and then on Sunday he won a New 3DS LL (the one with the extra thumb stick). Time to sell one of them I think.
I'm very ware of the PC Engine CD Space Harrier style Fantasy Zone game however I don't own that on CD-R or an image so didn't really bother with it due to the different style of game play. I wonder if that's where the bonus stages of the Sega Ages Volume 3 version got their inspiration from?
I still think even if I do play the 3DS game I'll still love the Mega Drive game more. It just has that something about it.
bumtree About Fantasy Zone Gear and Super Fantasy Zone, he just thought he could make them known, I guess.
+bumtree
Interesting. I never realized that the Master System version was released so soon after the arcade so maybe you made a point here. But do you have a source about it being "developed alongside the original arcade game"? It makes sense though as the Master System port has some significant differences (no vertical scrolling and no radar), differences which have been kept for the sequel on the same system so this is coherent.
About Space Fantasy Zone, it's weird that NEC Avenue started developing it without even being sure that Sega would be OK with this and they weren't! More likely because from that point, they didn't want any more Sega games on competiting hardwares. But the game is not very good anyway. Also I disagree about it being "the more important footnote in FZ's legacy", it's not even official and it's a mash-up making it rather like a tribute to Sega but the more important and actual footnotes in the series are Fantasy Zone: The Maze and Galactic Protector, both on Master System.
Lastly about Super Fantasy, I agree that it shouldn't have been included here and same goes for Fantasy Zone Gear but the fact that there are more recent Fantasy Zone games with more features and all doesn't mean that everyone should prefer these. It's a bit like with Streets of Rage, I appreciate the fact that there are new games (they're unofficial though but still) but I prefer the Mega Drive games. Nicer and more genuine look and sound.
I totally agree.. super fantasy zone is amazing, great use of colors and great sound track, showing how use well the mega drive hardware.
Yep, there even a bit of sprite scaling in the Mega Drive game.
Retro Core There wasn't scaling as such, just good old fashioned animated rotation. Later gen MD games sometimes tried SNES-style Mode 7-esque rotation effects but actual scaling wasn't an option for that console until the Mega-CD came along
There is some actual scaling in the game during the story which isn't show on this video. The Mega Drive or any system can do scaling but it needs to be written in to software where as on the Mega Cd and SFC / SNES it was handled by hardware. Much easier than writing software to do the job :)
thats it, people dont understand that you can replicate these effects on md by software using code and cpu horse power.. but the developers need have know how for this, is not for everyone and have alot of comercial titles with scaling / rotation / zoom effects.
Retro Core was it time consuming (unpopular) for game developers to write the scaling into the Mega Drive games?
I loved this on the Sega Master System, previously owning a Sinclair Spectrum, on which the games lacked colour, this blew my mind.
Opa Opa, the name of the small space ship/robot you play as, was also featured in the Zillion game for SMS as a power up and a playable character in Sonic and Sega All Stars Racing. Opa Opa was also Sega's mascot before Alex Kid and Sonic.
Craig Wilson Opa Opa was sort of Sega's first official mascot even before Alex Kidd. Also, did yo notice that the name entry music on Fantasy Zone is lifted straight from Space Harrier :)
No, i'll need to look this up, thanks.
On the Sharp x68000 version of Fantasy Zone, i'm sure there was a Space Harrier themed stage.
While i was looking on you tube, there was even early and incomplete footage of Fantasy Zone title with Space Harrier gameplay that was in early development for the PC Engine CD ;)
Craig Wilson
Ah, That is Space Fantasy Zone. It was an NEC production but they didn't have Sega's go-ahead so it never got an official release.
There was also the 3DS version, which is the arcade version but with stereoscopic 3D. As well as the Switch version, which is part of the Arcade Archive series of ports. The 3DS version is sadly no longer available, but the Arcade Archive version is highly recommended if you want to play it on modern hardware.
Tengen: Destroyer of popular series, ruiner of well-spent childhoods.
That's Tengen US :) Tengen Japan produced amazing stuff, mostly for the Mega Drive. Gauntlet IV, Slap Fight, V-V and Snow brothers were all fantastic games from Tengen Japan. What's sad is that only Gauntlet managed to get a western release.
Retro Core Yea :(
Also, got MAME4Droid, so I can play this and many other arcade titles on my phone.
I think you misspelled "Tiertex"
Seeing this game on other systems is the equivalent of if Mario was on the PS4 and Xbox One
Who'd imagine M2 remaking Sunsoft's Famicom version alongside Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa-Opa on the Fantasy Zone Complete Collection? Good thing they ignored Tengen's shitty NES port. As for Super Fantasy Zone, Sunsoft made an excellent Mega Drive shooter that held its own. A shame it didn't have a US release until the Wii Virtual Console...
***** You know what is odd, that Tengen port like their Afterburner port seems to be based upon Sunsoft's code but is a really messed up way.
@@RetroCore mygoodness thank god I emulated on retroarch on steam but got the mastersystem anyway but it’s available on saturn. But never gotten around the nes famicom port or version.
Right now I'm on the same version of MD to play it
davidvfx The MD game really is great. Sunsoft made some fantastic games back in the day.
Great! So many good things to be said about Fantasy Zone. I sadly never got to play it in the arcades here, surprisingly. Also I noticed the video isn't coming up at 60fps for me, it might be a glitch on my end but I'll let you know if it persists.
The video may still be processing on RUclips. Also, Windows users need to watch via Chrome to get 60fps on RUclips. Firefox and IE don't support it yet :(
Retro Core And there it is *lol* All fixed!
I hope to see Battle of the Ports - Fantasy Zone 2: The Tears of Opa Opa, but that'll be sometimes in the future.
Nicely done! :)
I grew up and played the SMS version mostly.
Me too
Love Fantasy Zone on the Sega master system and the mega drive
Very good, and thankfully, seeing how crap the MSX version is, I feel glad US Gold didn't attempt to port Fantasy Zone to the ZX Spectrum !!!!
I was always amazed at how many ports this game got. while I only played the master system version till recently, it just never hooked me. the scrolling style always made me compare it to defender which I loved because I played it back in the arcade days alot. I have the saturn version now and played it a bit, but my mind just always says to me that defender blows this away.. play that. never played the mega drive version. I'm guessing it wasn't released in the states. wouldn't mind trying that.
Well anyway, another great release, thanks Yakumo, enjoyed every minute of it!
neozeed1984 Thanks, neozeed1984. I'm pretty sure Super Fantasy Zone got a European release but yeah, not sure about the states. The Japanese version comes in the typical tinny Sunsoft box :)
Back in 1990, in America, if you have both the Nintendo and the Turbografx-16, you might wanna get the Turbografx-16 version, since it's almost arcade perfect...
Can 2 people play at once? or is it in turns on the saturn version?
steve5123456789 I'm afraid not. Just one at a time.
Great to see Fantasy Zone finally get the BOTP treatment!
By the way, are you able to explain what some of the options on the Saturn version are? I think there's two pages of stuff, including saturation and (I think) some record options? I'm not sure what to do with them...
Ruaidhri O'Baoill From the top of my head there are 3 pages of option. There is a saturation and another colour option (Gamma?), then there the record and playback game option. various rapid fire speed options, sound test including the JPN and US versions, remixed tracks and vocal track. Then there's the standard collection of options.
so was the x68000 like the neo geo of its day ? with basically getting the arcade games
I guess so but unlike a Neo Geo it had games from many different backgrounds, not only arcades.
Nice video, i liked it
Thank you.
Wait...
12:47 Is that thing shooting us the double bird?
hehe, it does look like it.
What are your thoughts on the 3DS ports of Fantasy Zone and the sequel?
I'd love to tell you but I've never aged them I'm afraid.
Retro Core Oh, you gotta try it. They're the best versions second to the Saturn version and Genesis version.
PreStalnic
I will do at some point. thanks for bringing them to my attention.
I now have 3D Fantasy Zone: Opa Opa Bros for the 3DS.
Nice!
@@RetroCore Also in the 3DS Version, you can unlocked Upa Upa mode by beating the game once, extended weapons by having 1 million in the coin stock, gold rush by having 2 million in the coin stock, and infinite weapons by having 3 million in the coin stock.
@@RetroCore Not to mention, you can also fight Master System bosses. This must be done by starting the game in round 1 without using Coin Stock. Exceed $95, 000 before reaching the boss in round 4, then defeat all enemies that appears on-screen and collect all coins during round 4. Exceed $235,000 before reaching the boss in round 6, then destroy all enemy bases and collect less then $10,000 worth of gold within round 6.
I loved this on the SMS, great little game.
LeShark75 I think the Master System was the first version of this game I ever played.
Me too, I did like FZ The Maze too.
LeShark75
It's like a Fantasy Zone themed Pac Man :)
Indeed.
My favorites are 3D Fantasy Zone: Opa-Opa Bros and 3D Fantasy Zone 2: W
I’m really confused as to how the 240p Sega Saturn is managing to play the 240p fantasy zone with scanlines.
Framemeister
Retro Core Oh, you’re adding them with the frameister? Why just for that console?
I dont get it. Why did Sunsoft decided to not release their FZ port in North America?
Because in general the American market was more about in your face crap and sports. Cutie shooters were not that popular. It's also why twin bee and Parodious were not released there. In Europe the gaming taste was more suited towards the Japanese style which is why more Japanese games got a European release and we didn't always have the ultra shitty US box art although there was quite a lot of it in Europe too.
Retro Core Yeah, true. At least it's different nowadays.
Raiden MK-II (Lyra) yes, there's a lot more none traditional games being released these days.
Retro Core What genres were better suited for western markets, anyway?
AFAIK Space Buster FZ was for Sharp MZ-700 computer www.openspc2.org/mz700/SBFZ.html . Curiously, here at Spain, on the city I'm living, there was easy to see FZ-700 computers because one local bank offered it as a present with some kind of bank accounts.
One note if you are going to make one episode for the sequel: The original game is on the Master System and there's actually two Sega System board versions: The first arcade version, released way baaack in the 80's which runs on the System E and is basically a port of the Sega Master System version with a little more graphical bells and whistles (noticeably the title screen is different and seems to use two layers on the System E version instead of one from the Master System version). The other version, a System 16C version, was released as emulation only but is none of the non emulated ports, instead is a new port which is included in the "Sega Ages 2500: Vol.33 - Fantasy Zone: Complete Collection" disc.
So versions I know are: Master System (original, SEGA), Arcade (System E, SEGA), Famicom (Sunsoft), MSX2 (Pony Canyon again, ugh), PlayStation 2 (System 16C, M2), Nintendo 3DS (based on the System 16C version but with enhancements such as widescreen and Link Loop Land, M2)
Yes, I know about that one. Good call though. The Sega Ages vol:33 I did feature on a special I did sometime in 2020.
I haven't played the first one, but i played the second one. I'll buy $35 eShop just to get this game which was titled 3D Fantasy Zone: Opa Opa Bros. Also, Fantasy Zone 2 was first released on Sega mark 3.
The Sega Mark 3 is the same as the Master System.
Thanks for noticing.
@@RetroCore I've purchased 3D Fantasy Zone: Opa Opa Bros, 3D Out Run, 3D Space Harrier, 3D Super Hang-On, and 3D After Burner on the 3DS eShop.
I love Fantasy Zone! Such an original series. My favorites are Fantasy Zone II on Master System and Super Fantasy Zone on Mega Drive but I'd like to try Fantasy Zone II DX: The Tears of Opa-Opa.
As for the port of the first game, the Master System one is pretty decent given its very early release date. Also, as we talked about in the thread started by +bumtree, it might not be a port but rather a "parallel version". Then the PC Engine port doesn't seem that bad IMO and yeah, the Famicom port is impressive given the system's limited palettes but now compare the 2nd game on both the Famicom and Master System and you will see the gap in terms of graphic capabilities! ;3 Then the X68000 port seems great, as often, and I have the Saturn port but I never played it yet (actually it's still sealed).
btw did you know that someone started porting the first game to the Mega Drive? It looks and sounds great, about as good as the X68000 port: ruclips.net/video/PuGiBWlAEbQ/видео.html. The guy is talented and also works on an impressive Mega Drive port of Darius: ruclips.net/video/TcvD0cMQD0Q/видео.html.
^ damn youtube, again a comment which doesn't display (prolly due to the links). Can you make it appear, Mark?
Fixed. I'm really liking the Mega Drive game ports. That's some fantastic work right there.
+Retro Core
Thank you but, lol, I edited my OP since the second link didn't work well (apparently due to the brackets so I removed them) but now my post doesn't display again :/
So, can you make it appears again please? I won't edit it anymore ^^'
And glad that you enjoyed his work! Talking about this, did you see Omega Blast?
I just followed the first link then subscribed to the guys channel. By the way, I can see your post in the regular comment section.
ok! Well done. And yeah the post displays now. RUclips is a glitchy mess :(
As for Omega Blast, it's not a port this time but a whole new Mega Drive shooter which is even cooler! It even looks like a manic shooter which was uncommon during 16-bit era. Check it out: ruclips.net/video/C5QIPdtamHY/видео.html
Now I just wish that the homebrew scene would start doing stuff on Mega-CD and Saturn too! But this will probably happen in the future.
(ps: this post doesn't display... do you know how to avoid this? Or is it due to settings you made in order to check posts with link(s) in order to approve them or not?)
I about to go to Gamestop to buy 3 $10 eShop cards for the 3D Sega games.
the MD version looks like has really good use of color.
Rob Toohey It sure does. Sunsoft did a great job with it.
but it's not as vibrant as the arcade... it's washed out (as usual with MD).
@Benjamin Owuye Jagun i like the arcade better
sega's first mascot
2 things:
The PS2 remake includes 4 completely new levels and bosses, all of which show up in the final boss rush if you have them enabled.
and: Thoughts on the 3DS port/remake? There's some neat stuff there, I think!
I've not played the 3Ds remake I'm afraid.
Well you have to purchase them on the 3DS eShop.
Who wants more of Opa-Opa should play the SEGA Dlc of Dariusburst Chronicles Saviours. Yep...Opa-Opa vs The Belsar Empire
The PC Engine port isn't bad IMO. It definitely could have been a bit better, but overall, I think they did a great job. The PC Engine has quite a few Sega ports that are ALMOST the best, and could have been if they employed just a touch more trickery to squeeze out just a touch more. Thinking Afterburner, Space Harrier etc. that are among the best home ports, but could have been the best hands down. I don't usually think of ports as having top notch all-tricks-employed programming though. :D
Oh man, the Arcade version is so much harder than the PCE or SMS ones.
The Mega Drive Version is the best,even it includes the original songs from the arcade version :'3
Never have heard of this game before your video.
I must say, that for arcade game released in 1986 FZ looks VERY impressive. Not only amount of colours is cool, but also various special effects, like sprite scrolling and when the bosses break apart into many pieces. I would have thought that this game as released in early 90-s, if I didn't know that it's not the case!!
As for the ports, NEC is...well, it must be a really interesting experiment, but this graphics hurt my eyes and this music hurt my ears.
SMS port is very impressive.
Famicom version is also really impressive (returning to our early talk about NES and amount for colours it can produce -_^). Sunsoft did not fail, as always.
NES port is horrible, though. It looks like Armstad game or something.
Genesis / Mega Drive game looks really impressive and its music sounds more like something from SNES, rather than usual Genesis / Mega Drive tunes.
Wow, I can't believe you didn't know Fantasy Zone. I thought everyone knew about this game. It's a tough little shooter but you should give it a try when you can.
Retro Core I missed everything that was between NES and PS2. And our city didn't had many arcades or at least I didn't know about any.
***** that's a shame :( where are are you from?
You've missed out on what was the ultimate time to be an arcade gamer. So many excellent games came out in the mid 80s to late 90s.
Retro Core Not only I missed Arcade games, but also Sega Genesis / Mega Drive era, PS1 / N64 era and most of the PC games as well. On the other hand, it gave me an unique opportunity to pick and choose only the best and evaluate games for their quality, without nostalgic glasses.
I am from Russia, currently. I hope it won't scare you away.
*****
hahaha, don't you worry. Being from Russia doesn't scare me. I have a good friend from Serbia. Yeah, I know it's not the same place but it's close. Well, at least you could see all the Dendy consoles and the creapy Elephant mascot :)
You’ll have to update this and add the 3DS version of it from the Sega 3DS classics cartridge.
Someone will have to provide me with a copy of the game too 😜
@@RetroCore Actually, Sega 3D Classics Collection was first released in Japan 2015 under the name Sega 3D Fukkoku Archives 2. Apparently, Japan has three compilations of Sega 3D Fukkoku Archives and the US/UK only had one compilation. Anyway, you should try purchase 3D Sega games on the 3DS eShop.
I actually prefer the Famicom version over the SMS, with the bases being animated and better backgrounds. Sunsoft made better use of a 1Mb cart than Sega did. Forget the NES one though... Tengen got lazy. X68000, Saturn, and the PS2 remix are best here.
16:54 Or then Pony Canyon didn't give a fuck about MSX port.
KNight Stwenk Pony Canyon made nothing or released nothing but crap anyway no matter what the system was.
Retro Core Well, what was their biggest sh*tstain?
To me, at least, this game seemed like a fluorescent, bouncy, cuter Japanese take on Defender. The weapon power ups and bosses gave it more depth and replay value...and that music! This is the Sega I remember...mostly for Treasure and the Streets of Rage series but the company as a whole during this period was amazing!
That's one way of looking at it. :)
I was never familiar with this game, I never played it, and only ever heard about it on the Master System, I didn't realise it was originally an arcade game. So, purely from the eye test, the Megadrive, Saturn, PS2, Game Gear & Japanese Famicom versions look absolutely amazing (so does the X68000 version, but it's an X68000, so, duh). The arcade original looks like a fun little game too. Shame that I never encountered it back in the day.
I wonder why there were no Western ports? Was it not popular enough in the West? Then again, US Gold probably would've got the license and probably would have commissioned an "awesome" development team like Tiertex or Creative Materials, so maybe Western gamers dodged a bullet
I think we should count our blessings that there was no western ports lol.
@@RetroCore LOL
@@RetroCore Well, aside from Tengen's rubbish.
How about to make battle of ports of Fantasy Zone sequel Fantasy Zone 2: the tears of opaopa
It's on the cards. It will arrive at some point.
Famicom (Sunsoft) > NES (Tengen West)
it's like Japanese/European or uncensored version of animes were
better than stupid english entertainment and censorship aka 4 KIDS (particularly Sonic X, Pokémon, & other great animes).
I guess this why most people prefer uncensored in animes and better versions of games released from Europe and Japan (particularly C64 European version of Akari Warriors, Sega Mega Drive Japanese version of Marble Madness, and other better versions from Europe and Japan with few exceptions) Tengen of Japan was better than Tengen West in my opinion XD
Sega genesis dose when nitendon’t so that means sega genesis is the best port
i like the sound of the Sega Master System version
the PC Engine/Turbo-Grafx version sounds like crap
graphically (visually) i prefer Master System version
Are we going to pretend Adventurous Boy doesn't exist?
Yep. I actually own an original cartridge of that. Will be doing a Taiwanese Mega Drive Special in the future.
The US should be a shame of localization
Ah Fantasy Zone, the only game I bought the complete soundtrack of Wave Master. Also, the only shoot them up I ever played.
Some note about the video :
_ The Tengen version is bad ingame but the cover is even worse, reaching Megaman 1 levels of uglyness.
_ The SEGA AGES 2500 version of the game is probably one of the few games really done well and was included in the SEGA Classic Collection.
_ Fantasy Zone Gear and Super Fantasy Zone are totally stand alone games and should not have been in it. Also, Super Fantasy Zone the best ? No Fantasy Zone 2 DX ?