Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000

From Sega Retro

n/a

  • NTSC-U
  • NTSC-J
  • PAL

ZaxxonsMotherbase2000 32X US Title.png

Parasquad 32X JP TitleScreen.png

Motherbase 32X EU Title.png

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000
System(s): Sega 32X
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Sound driver: SMPS Z80
Genre: Shooting[1][2]

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega 32X
JP
¥7,8007,800 GM-4012
Sega Rating: All Ages
Sega 32X
US
$59.9959.99[3] 84512
ESRB: Kids to Adults
Sega 32X
EU
84512-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Sega 32X
UK
£49.9949.99[6] 84512-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Sega 32X
AU
FMOT03SXC
OFLC: G

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, known in Europe as Motherbase (which was also a working title) and in Japan as Parasquad (パラスコード), is a shoot-'em-up released by Sega for the Sega 32X. Despite its North American title, the game has no connection to the arcade game Zaxxon aside from both being isometric shooters set in space.

The game runs at about 20 FPS during gameplay, with slight dips when there are too many objects on-screen.

Story

The Hive Confederation was once a peaceful planetary system of intelligent insectoids until the separation of the Ginglii clan. The Ginglii created a computer that can coordinate the production of weapons and have overtaken and enslaved numerous Hive planets. A rebellion force has begun a mission, codenamed "Motherbase 2000," to fight through the Ginglii defenses and reach the computer.

Gameplay

The game is an autoscrolling shoot-'em-up played from an isometric point of view where the player flies a spaceship, the Stinger, through enemy bases. The Stinger moves with the D-Pad and fires its standard weapon with A. By default, the movement of the ship is relative to the perspective of the player rather than following the isometric view (similar to Viewpoint), but it can be changed to control similarly to the original Zaxxon. Weapons do not have rapid-fire by default, but this can also be changed in the options before starting the game. The Stinger has a rocket booster mounted to its underside and can "jump," increasing its altitude momentarily, with B, which can be used to hop over enemy fire.

Allied spacecraft, called couriers, appear throughout the stages. The Stinger can take over these craft by jumping onto them with B. Couriers vary in size and armor. Each is equipped with its own unique weapons systems, including a secondary weapon that is fired with C. All weapons have unlimited ammunition. The Stinger exits a courier with B. The game begins with the Stinger already in a courier, the Pincer, but starts subsequent stages on its own.

Additionally, the Stinger can hijack some enemy ships by docking onto them in the same manner as couriers. This requires some experimentation to learn which enemies can be docked since the Stinger is destroyed if it attempts to land on a ship that cannot be docked. Like couriers, enemy craft have unique weapons, including secondary weapons. The player receives "Hacking" bonus points for each enemy ship taken over. If the player pilots the ship until a lightning effect appears (accompanied by a voice sample saying, "Ready"), the Stinger "learns" the enemy craft's primary attack (retaining this weapon as the Stinger's secondary attack even after ejecting from the craft) and the player earns "Learning" bonus points as well.

The Stinger is destroyed by any hit from enemy fire or a collision. Couriers and enemy ships can take multiple hits before exploding (destroying the Stinger as well). Heavier armored couriers can withstand more abuse than lightly armored couriers. Ships do not take damage from hitting the walls of the stage. The game does not directly indicate how much damage a ship has taken, though couriers visually lose parts as they are damaged. The status bar flashes red when the ship is about to destruct. Ships cannot be repaired, but the player can jump to another vessel. If the ship is destroyed, the player loses a life and must restart the stage from the beginning in the Stinger (with no courier). If the player runs out of lives, the game ends, but it can be continued as long as there are continues remaining. The player earns extra lives at 50,000 and 100,000 points and then every 100,000 points after that.

The game also features a versus mode where two players face off in a small arena. Whoever destroys the opposing player's ship five times wins. There are multiple arenas, which have their own obstacles and hazards.

Ships

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Ships.png
924 Stinger
Speed:
Average
Armor:
Light
Primary weapon:
Light Cannon
The Stinger is the base ship, which can dock into any of the other ships, called couriers, as well as many enemy vessels. It is capable of fighting on its own, but it is more fragile than other craft. Its primary armament is a quick-firing light cannon. It has no secondary weapon, but if it "learns" the weapon of an enemy after hijacking it, it becomes assigned to the Stinger's secondary weapon.
Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Ships.png
Pincer 24-H
Speed:
Slow
Armor:
Heavy
Primary weapon:
Heavy Cannon
Secondary weapon:
Ripper Missiles
The Pincer is slow-moving and heavily armored. Its primary weapon is a cannon that shoots two strong shots in parallel; it can have up to three pairs of shots out at a time. Its secondary weapon is firing two heat-seeking Ripper Missiles.
Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Ships.png
Beetle 16-B
Speed:
Slow
Armor:
Heavy
Primary weapon:
Type 12 Cannon
Secondary weapon:
Plasma Mines
The Beetle is slow-moving and heavily armored. Its primary weapon is a single powerful cannon; it can have two shots out at a time. Its secondary weapon is deploying two Plasma Mines that land and explode (or explode if they hit an enemy before landing).
Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Ships.png
R95 Mantis
Speed:
Average
Armor:
Average
Primary weapon:
Twin Heavy Lasers
Secondary weapon:
Spitter Missiles
The Mantis is equipped with twin lasers. It can shoot Spitter Missiles, up to two at a time, which are standard missiles that fly to the end of the screen.
Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Ships.png
T159 Wasp
Speed:
Fast
Armor:
Light
Primary weapon:
Medium Laser
Secondary weapon:
Needle Missiles
The Wasp is the fastest moving ship. It is lightly armored and equipped with medium lasers, similar to the Mantis but not as powerful. These lasers are fired singly; there can be up to three out at a time. Its secondary weapons are fast-firing, heat-seeking Needle Missiles.

Stages

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 1.png

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 1 Boss.png

  • Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 1.png

  • Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 1 Boss.png

Stage 1

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 2-1.png

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 2-2.png

  • Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 2-1.png

  • Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 2-2.png

Stage 2

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 3.png

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 3 Boss 1.png

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 3 Boss 2.png

  • Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 3.png

  • Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 3 Boss 1.png

  • Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 3 Boss 2.png

Stage 3

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 4.png

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 4 Boss.png

  • Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 4.png

  • Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 4 Boss.png

Stage 4

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 5-1.png

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 5-2.png

  • Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 5-1.png

  • Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 5-2.png

Stage 5

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 6.png

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 6 Boss 1.png

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 6 Boss 2.png

  • Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 6.png

  • Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 6 Boss 1.png

  • Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 6 Boss 2.png

Stage 6

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 7-1.png

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 7-2.png

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 7-3.png

  • Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 7-1.png

  • Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 7-2.png

  • Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 7-3.png

Stage 7

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 8.png

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 8 Boss.png

  • Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 8.png

  • Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 8 Boss.png

Stage 8

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 9-1.png

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 9-2.png

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 9 Boss 1.png

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 9 Boss 2.png

  • Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 9-1.png

  • Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 9-2.png

  • Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 9 Boss 1.png

  • Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Stage 9 Boss 2.png

Stage 9

Arenas

These are small arenas without scrolling that are used in the two-player mode.

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Arena 1.png

Map 1
Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Arena 1.png

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Arena 2.png

Map 2
Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Arena 2.png

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Arena 3.png

Map 3
Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Arena 3.png

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Arena 4.png

Map 4
Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Arena 4.png

Versions

Localised names

Also known as
Language Localised Name English Translation
English Motherbase Motherbase
English (US) Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000 Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000
Japanese パラスコード Parasquad

Production credits

Source:
In-game credits
Zaxxon's Motherbase 32X credits.pdf
[7]

Production
Marketing
Source:
US manual
Zaxxon 32x us manual.pdf
[8]

Source:
Developer mentions


Magazine articles

Main article: Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Hobby Consolas (ES) #46: "Julio 1995" (1995-xx-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1995-08: "August 1995" (1995-07-07)
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
CD Consoles (FR)
40
[10]
Consoles + (FR)
80
[11]
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
67
[12]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
54
[13]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
63
[14]
GameFan (US) NTSC-U
80
[15]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
36
[16]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
70
[3]
GamesMaster (UK) PAL
73
[17]
Games World: The Magazine (UK) PAL
79
[18]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
58
[19]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
75
[20]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
64
[21]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
62
[22]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
86
[6]
Next Generation (US) NTSC-U
0
[23]
Player One (FR)
70
[24]
Play Time (DE)
68
[25]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
68
[26]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
71
[27]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
66
[28]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
68
[29]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
70
[30]
Todo Sega (ES)
77
[31]
Top Consoles (FR)
70
[32]
Última Generación (ES)
68
[33]
Video Games (DE) PAL
58
[34]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
50
[35]
Sega 32X
64
Based on
28 reviews

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000

32X, JP
Parasquad 32x jp backcover.jpgParasquad MD JP BoxSpine.jpgParasquad 32x jp frontcover.jpg
Cover
Parasquad MD JP CartTop.jpg
Parasquad MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Parasquad 32x jp manual.pdf
Manual
32X, US
ZMB2000 32X US Box Back.jpgZMB2000 32X US Box Front.jpg
Cover
Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000 32X US cart.jpg
Cart
Zaxxon 32x us manual.pdf
Manual
32X, EU
ZMB2000 32X EU Box Back.jpgMotherbase 32X EU Box Spine.jpgZMB2000 32X EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
ZaxxxonsMotherbase2000 32X EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Motherbase 32X EU Manual.jpg
Manual
32X, AU
ZMB2000 32X AU Box Front.jpg
Cover

Technical information

Main article: Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000/Technical information.

External links

  • Sega of America webpage: 32X

References

  1. File:Parasquad 32x jp frontcover.jpg
  2. 2.0 2.1 http://sega.jp/fb/segahard/32x/soft.html (Wayback Machine: 2013-06-19 13:31)
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 GamePro, "July 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 48
  4. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "June 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 128
  5. Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1995-09-18), page 96
  6. 6.0 6.1 Mean Machines Sega, "July 1995" (UK; 1995-05-27), page 70
  7. File:Zaxxon's Motherbase 32X credits.pdf
  8. File:Zaxxon 32x us manual.pdf, page 18
  9. https://vgdensetsu.net/2_MariKoizumi.html (Wayback Machine: 2024-04-08 10:57)
  10. CD Consoles, "Juillet/Août 1995" (FR; 1995-xx-xx), page 110
  11. Consoles +, "Juillet/Août 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 130
  12. Electronic Games (1992-1995), "July 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 73
  13. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "June 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 36
  14. Famitsu, "1995-07-21" (JP; 1995-07-07), page 1
  15. GameFan, "Volume 3, Issue 6: June 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 16
  16. Game Players, "Vol. 8 No. 7 July 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 42
  17. GamesMaster, "August 1995" (UK; 1995-07-06), page 50
  18. Games World: The Magazine, "August 1995" (UK; 1995-06-29), page 68
  19. Game Informer, "June 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 39
  20. Hobby Consolas, "Agosto 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 82
  21. MAN!AC, "07/95" (DE; 1995-06-14), page 66
  22. Mega Fun, "07/95" (DE; 1995-06-21), page 82
  23. Next Generation, "July 1995" (US; 1995-06-20), page 71
  24. Player One, "Juillet/Août 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 118
  25. Play Time, "(8/9)/95" (DE; 1995-07-05), page 92
  26. Saturn Fan, "1995 October" (JP; 1995-09-08), page 72
  27. Sega Magazine, "July 1995" (UK; 1995-06-15), page 92
  28. Sega Power, "September 1995" (UK; 1995-07-20), page 46
  29. Sega Pro, "August 1995" (UK; 1995-07-13), page 52
  30. Sega Saturn Magazine, "August 1995" (JP; 1995-07-07), page 77
  31. Todo Sega, "Septiembre 1995" (ES; 1995-0x-xx), page 44
  32. Top Consoles, "Septembre 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 88
  33. Última Generación, "Junio 1995" (ES; 1995-0x-xx), page 96
  34. Video Games, "7/95" (DE; 1995-06-28), page 100
  35. VideoGames, "July 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 61


Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000

ZaxxonsMotherbase2000 32X US Title.png

Main page | Comparisons | Maps | Credits | Hidden content | Magazine articles | Reception | Region coding | Technical information


Sega 32X
Prototypes: 1995-02-10 | 02-21 | 02-23 | 02-27 | 03-03 | 03-06 | 03-10 | 03-15 | 03-31



Games in the Zaxxon Series
Zaxxon (1981) (home computers) | Super Zaxxon (1982) | Zaxxon Super Game (1984) | Zaxxon 3D (1987) | Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000 (1995) | Zaxxon Escape (2012)
Others
Zaxxon (LCD) (1982) | FL Zaxxon (1982) | Zaxxon (tabletop) (1982) | Zaxxon (board game) (1982)
Zaxxon related media
Book
The Official How to Win at Zaxxon (1982)