Summary
- Release Year: 1986
- Genres: Arcade, Shooter
- Platforms: Arcade
- Publishers: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
Fantasy Zone (1986)
Fantasy Zone is a side-scrolling shooter arcade game developed and published by Sega in 1986. The player controls Opa-Opa, a cute little spaceship, on a mission to save the Fantasy Zone from the evil Menon invaders.
The game is set in a colorful and whimsical solar system consisting of eight planets, each with its own unique enemies and obstacles. Opa-Opa must fly through each planet, destroying enemies and collecting coins, in order to reach the end-of-level boss.
Fantasy Zone is known for its charming graphics, catchy music, and addictive gameplay. It was a critical and commercial success upon release, and has since been ported to numerous home consoles and computers.
Gameplay
Fantasy Zone is a single-screen shooter game. The player controls Opa-Opa, who can move left, right, up, and down the screen. Opa-Opa can shoot in eight directions, and can also use a variety of power-ups to help him defeat his enemies.
The goal of each level is to destroy all of the enemies and collect as many coins as possible. Coins can be used to purchase upgrades for Opa-Opa’s ship at the parts shop, which is located on every third planet. Upgrades include better weapons, faster engines, and more powerful shields.
At the end of each level, Opa-Opa must defeat a large boss enemy. Bosses are typically much more powerful than regular enemies, and require the player to use all of their skills and abilities to defeat them.
Power-Ups
There are a variety of power-ups that can be collected in Fantasy Zone. These power-ups can give Opa-Opa new weapons, abilities, or bonuses. Some of the most common power-ups include:
- Speed Up: Increases Opa-Opa’s speed.
- Power Up: Increases the power of Opa-Opa’s weapons.
- Shield: Gives Opa-Opa a temporary shield that protects him from enemy fire.
- Bomb: Drops a bomb that destroys all enemies on the screen.
- Coin: Collects all of the coins on the screen.
Enemies
There are a wide variety of enemies in Fantasy Zone, each with its own unique attack patterns and weaknesses. Some of the most common enemies include:
- Menons: The main enemies in the game. Menons are small, flying creatures that come in a variety of colors. They can shoot bullets, bombs, or lasers.
- Ufos: Ufos are large, flying saucers that can shoot lasers or drop bombs.
- Tanks: Tanks are ground-based enemies that can shoot bullets or fire missiles.
- Turrets: Turrets are stationary enemies that can shoot bullets or lasers.
- Bosses: Bosses are large, powerful enemies that appear at the end of each level. Bosses have a variety of attacks and can be very difficult to defeat.
Planets
Fantasy Zone is set in a solar system consisting of eight planets. Each planet has its own unique theme and enemies. The planets are:
- Planet 1: A lush, green planet with rolling hills and trees.
- Planet 2: A desert planet with cacti and pyramids.
- Planet 3: An ice planet with glaciers and icebergs.
- Planet 4: A volcanic planet with lava and fireballs.
- Planet 5: A water planet with oceans and waterfalls.
- Planet 6: A cloud planet with floating islands and rainbows.
- Planet 7: A mechanical planet with gears and robots.
- Planet 8: The final planet, which is the home of the Menon leader.
Legacy
Fantasy Zone was a critical and commercial success upon release. It was praised for its charming graphics, catchy music, and addictive gameplay. The game has since been ported to numerous home consoles and computers, and has been included in several Sega compilations.
Fantasy Zone has had a lasting impact on the video game industry. It is considered to be one of the best arcade shooters of all time, and has inspired numerous other games. The game’s characters and setting have also been featured in other Sega games, such as the Sonic the Hedgehog series.
Conclusion
Fantasy Zone is a classic arcade shooter that still holds up today. Its charming graphics, catchy music, and addictive gameplay make it a must-play for fans of the genre. If you’re looking for a fun and challenging shooter game to play, then Fantasy Zone is definitely worth checking out.
Review Score
8/10
