Super Fantasy Zone

Infobox VG
title = Super Fantasy Zone


caption=Japanese boxart
developer = Sunsoft
publisher =Sega
released=Sega Mega Drive
vgrelease|JP=1993

Virtual Console
vgrelease|JP=May 7, 2008|EU=June 27, 2008|NA=July 21, 2008
genre=Scrolling shooter
modes=Single player
platforms = Sega Mega Drive, Virtual Console

"Super Fantasy Zone" was the last addition to the "Fantasy Zone" series of video games. It was originally released in Europe and Japan but, for unknown reasons, not in the United States. However, North America would eventually receive the game in the form of a Wii Virtual Console release on July 21, 2008. [ [http://www.vc-reviews.com/news/2008/07/usa_vc_update_super_fantasy_zone_and_gley_lancer USA VC Update: Super Fantasy Zone and Gley Lancer] ]

The game is a free moving shoot 'em up, like its side-scrolling predecessors, and essentially has the same control system. The main differences between "Super Fantasy Zone" and the previous games in the series are its improved graphics/soundtrack.

The soundtrack to the game was composed by Naoki Kodaka, but also features themes from earlier "Fantasy Zone" games composed by Hiroshi Kawaguchi.

tory

The game follows Opa-Opa as he fights to avenge the death of his father, (O-papa), who was killed defending the Fantasy Zone against the invading "Dark Menon". Opa-Opa must rid the Fantasy Zone of the minions of the Dark Menon and restore peace.

Gameplay

Opa-Opa must clear the levels by moving through them and shooting down all of the "Enemy Generators". Once every "Enemy Generator" in the level has been destroyed a "Menon Guardian" will appear. These are essentially the bosses of each level. In order to obtain better weapons/equipment, etc, the player needs to collect gold. Gold coins can be collected when an enemy is destroyed. Vast amounts of Gold will also be given when Menon Guardians are defeated.

The Gold Values are as follows:

5000, 2000, 1000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 10 gold

To buy weapons, etc, the player has to fly into the "shop". The shop is shown as a red weather balloon. Here many different items may be purchased to increase Opa-Opa's chances of victory.The items for sale and their prices are as follows:

SPEED UPGRADES:

1: Big Wings, 200 Gold.An upgrade from the small wings.

2: Jet Engine, 5,000 Gold. An upgrade from the Big Wings.

3: Turbo Engine, 20,000 Gold.An upgrade from the Jet Engine.

4: Rocket Engine, 100,000 Gold.Insanely fast; the ultimate upgrade.

WEAPON UPGRADES:

1: Wide Beam, 1,000 Gold. This item shoots off Semi-Circles of energy. Can be useful at close range. 2: Laser Beam, 4,000 Gold. The laser is a powerful weapon that fires a continuous beam of energy that damages enemies greatly.

3: 7-Way Shot, 10,000 Gold. This item has a large range.

4: Cross-Rang, 20,000 Gold. A boomerang-type weapon.

BOMB UPGRADES:

1: Twin Bomb, 200 Gold. Double the firepower of the default weapon.

2: Quartets, 1,000 Gold. Four heat-seeking missiles.

SPECIAL WEAPONS:

1: Ultra Bomb, 2,000 Gold.A powerful bomb, with cumulative damage.

2: Heavy Bomb, 2,000 Gold.A giant weight that kills any enemies that are under the player.

3: Thunder Volt, 2,000 Gold.Random thunderbolts strike across the screen.

4: Hurricane, 2,000 Gold.Whirlwinds spiral out from the player's ship, killing anything that comes in contact with them.

5: Smart Bomb, 2,000 Gold.Destroys all weaker enemies on screen. This does not include Enemy Generators or bosses.

6: BackFire, 2,000 Gold.A burst of flame comes from behind the ship.

7: Shower Bombs, 2,000 Gold.Six bombs are dropped from the player's ship.

OTHER ITEMS:

1: Extra Life, 5,000 Gold.Another chance.

2: Shield, 40,000 Gold.A bubble will surround the player's ship and defend the player from attacks for a short time.

3: Rubber Boots, 5,000 Gold.Useful to insulate electricity.

4: Super Lights, 4,000 Gold.Used to see in the dark.

Bosses

LEVEL ONE

The boss for level one is a giant floating pumpkin, which can be seen on the cover art for the game. Its attacks by spitting a seed that splits into eight spiraling projectiles once it lines up with Opa-Opa either vertically or horizontally. It also teleports around the screen, moving to where Opa-Opa has just been.

LEVEL TWO

The boss for level two is a metal face covered with small gun turrets, which all need to be destroyed to defeat it. The gun turrets shoot in turn, and when a couple have been destroyed the rest will start to rotate.

LEVEL THREE

This boss is a floating metal fish, which attacks by sucking the player in and shooting scales at them. It is hard to kill as the only time it is vulnerable is when it is inhaling, and this is when its mouth is open.

LEVEL FOUR

This boss is a metal octopus, which attacks by swinging its axe-like tentacles and shooting at the player. The only vulnerable part of this boss is its face.

LEVEL FIVE

The boss for this level are two square stone heads. They move in sequence, parallel to each other round the screen. As they move they open and close their eyes, and they can only be damaged when their eyes are open.

LEVEL SIX

The boss for this level is a metal ship that conducts electricity from the ground and air, and then uses it to fire balls of energy at the player. When he has run out of energy he charges again, creating bolts of energy at his top and bottom.

LEVEL SEVEN

This Boss is a giant nautilus that fires balls of energy at the player. Once the player destroys him, it multiplies. First into four, then into sixteen. Although the smallest nautili do not shoot at Opa-Opa, they remain on-screen when defeated, still able to kill by collision.

Levels

PICNICA

This level is a colourful kind of level, with nicely done graphics.

KAZARNE

A darker sort of level compared to Picnica, mainly purple.

NIAGRO

'The Water Level' to some people, full of waterfalls and fish.

RISSCAVE

This level is a cave, and the player may want to pick up some 'Super Lights' from the shop.

GRANDIUSS

A desert type of level, with washing machine type bases.

LE-PICKER

An electric level, where 'Rubber Boots' are required to step onto the ground, where all the bases are.

AFLOURICIOUS

The hardest level of all, with a very hard boss. The bases need to take some beating here.

MENONE

All the bosses, again.

YA-DA-NE (LAST LEVEL)

The player starts off facing a bigger version of themselves, and then a ship that turns itself into a ball.

References