Zool

For the Master System and Game Gear versions, see Zool (8-bit).

n/a

Zool

System(s): Sega Mega Drive

Publisher:

GameTek (US)

Electronic Arts (EU)

Developer: Gremlin Graphics Software

Supporting companies: Krisalis Software (audio)

Distributor: Electronic Arts Australasia (AU), Consumer Electronics (ZA)

Sound driver: Krisalis sound driver

Genre: Action

Number of players: 1

Release	Date	RRP	Code
US	1994-02^[1]	$59.9559.95^[1]	T-83096
US ▼ (Sega Channel)	1994-06-01^[2]	SUBsub
EU	1994-01^[3]		E264SMXI
EU ▼ (Sega Channel)	199x	SUBsub
FR	199x
UK	1994-01^[3]	£44.9944.99^[4]^[5]	E264SMXI
AU	1993
ZA	199x

Non-Sega versions
Amiga Amiga CD32 Archimedes Atari ST IBM PC Super NES

Zool or Zool: Ninja of the Nth Dimension is a platform game released for the Sega Mega Drive in 1994. It was originally developed by Gremlin Graphics for the Amiga in 1992 as an answer to the "mascot wars" of the early 1990s spearheaded by Super Mario Bros. and Sonic the Hedgehog.

A Japanese version, set to be published as Zool no Yume Bouken (ズールのゆめぼうけん) by Nissho Iwai Infocom was planned^[6] but cancelled.

Story

While investigating a disturbance in the nth dimension, Zool is caught in a vortex and crashes his ship in a strange land. He learns that the evil Krool has conquered seven worlds, including the one he has found, and that he must free these worlds from Krool's grip in order to make it back home.

Gameplay

Zool is a fast-paced platform game where players control the gremlin ninja Zool. Zool is moved with and and jumps with . He attacks by punching and shooting a ranged projectile with . He can kneel with and does a kick and fires his shot with +. He continues punching or kicking by holding , which can be used to break certain walls and provide access to areas. He can fire his shot in mid-air by pressing after jumping. He can also defeat enemies by jumping on them. Holding while jumping makes Zool perform a spinning attack. He grabs on to walls when he jumps onto them and can climb them with and or by jumping up them. Pushing while running does a sliding attack. Because of the fast pace of the game and the enemy placement, it is necessary to progress slowly and make use of the sliding attack to avoid taking too much damage.

The objective of each stage is to collect a certain amount of items and then find the exit beacon (a giant coin). The design of the items varies depending on the world; for example, they are CDs and cassette tapes in the Music World but various fruits in the Fruit World. Stages contain more items than are necessary to complete them. Some stages contain objects that can be destroyed with the spin attack that release more items. Some enemies burst into items after being destroyed. The status bar on the bottom of the screen shows how many more items need to be collected and also has an arrow that points to the direction of the exit. Each world contains four different stages, with the fourth stage having a boss fight before the exit.

Zool has three hit points and loses one whenever he takes damage from an enemy. When he runs out of hit points, he can only take one more hit before losing a life. Some enemies drop hearts that can restore a point of health, and Zool starts each stage with full health. Each stage is timed, and Zool loses a life if he runs out of time. He retains all of the items he has collected if he loses a life.

Items

	Heart
	Restores a hit point for Zool. Sometimes dropped by enemies when they are destroyed. It flies away and must be caught before it leaves.
	Bomb
	Destroys all enemies on the screen.
	Jumping Zool
	Temporarily gives Zool an enhanced jump.
	Shield
	Temporary makes Zool invincible.
	Two Zool
	Creates a "shadow Zool" that follows Zool and mirrors his movements, including his attacks, for a duration.
	Clock
	Adds more time to the timer.
	1-Up
	Awards the player an extra life.
	Goal
	Ends the stage if the player has found the necessary amount of collectibles.
	Restart Point
	Checkpoint where Zool is revived after losing a life. Stand in front of it and hold down to activate.

Worlds

	The Sweet World

	The Music World

	The Fruit World

	The Tool World

	The Toy World

	The Fairground World

	The Desert Island World

History

Legacy

The game ends with a cliffhanger and hints at a sequel. While Zool was followed by Zool 2, it was not brought to a Sega system.

Zool Redimensioned, a remaster of the game, was released in August 2021. It was developed by Sumo Digital Academy and published by Secret Mode on the Steam platform. It was based on the Mega Drive version, which was included as a bonus.

Versions

Compared to the Amiga original, the Sega Mega Drive version runs faster and has multiple parallax scrolling background planes instead of the Amiga's typical "copper mode" color gradients.

Localised names

Also known as
Language	Localised Name	English Translation
English	Zool: Ninja of the Nth Dimension	Zool: Ninja of the Nth Dimension
English (US)	Zool: Ninja of the Nth Dimension	Zool: Ninja of the Nth Dimension
Japanese	ズールのゆめぼうけん	Zool no Yume Bouken

Production credits

Gremlin Graphics

Sega/Game Code: Paul Hiley
Game/Front end Code: George Allan
Artists: Ade Carless, Paul Gregory, Damon Godley
Music: Patrick Phelan, Krysalis
Maps: Paul Gregory, Ade Carless, Tony Dawson, Paul Green
Additional Help: Mick Lister
Test: Lee Campbell, Tony Howe, Rob Millington, Simon Short
Produced by: Mark Glossop

GameTek

Producer: Van Collins
Packaging by: Wendy Weber and Bracchi Design
Manual by: Stacey Ruderman
Art Director: Sherry Kross
Quality Assurance: Bobby King

Source:

US manual^[7]

Magazine articles

Main article: Zool/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #145: "December 1993" (1993-11-15)

Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #146: "January 1994" (1993-12-15)

Print advert in Consoles + (FR) #25: "Novembre 1993" (1993-1x-xx)

Print advert in Video Games (DE) #1993-12: "12/93" (1993-11-22)

Print advert in Sega Magazin (DE) #7: "Juni 1994" (1994-05-11)

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)

50

^[8]

Aktueller Software Markt (DE)

83

^[9]

Beep! MegaDrive (JP)

NTSC-J

55

^[10]

Console Mania (IT)

86

^[11]

Consoles + (FR)

93

^[12]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

82

^[13]

Electronic Gaming Monthly (US)

NTSC-U

58

^[14]

Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)

60

^[15]

Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 10 (RU)

80

^[16]

Freak (IL)

80

^[17]

GamePro (US)

NTSC-U

85

^[1]

Gamers (DE)

53

^[18]

Hyper (AU)

79

^[19]

Joker (SI)

87

^[20]

Joypad (FR)

PAL

78

^[21]

Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)

PAL

83

^[22]

Mega (UK)

PAL

74

^[23]

Mega Action (UK)

PAL

80

^[5]

Mega Force (FR)

84

^[24]

Mega Fun (DE)

PAL

74

^[25]

MegaTech (UK)

PAL

71

^[26]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

PAL

67

^[27]

Player One (FR)

65

^[28]

Play Time (DE)

64

^[29]

Power Up! (UK)

76

^[30]

Power Unlimited (NL)

81

^[31]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

78

^[32]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

84

^[33]

Sega Zone (UK)

PAL

86

^[34]

Sega Force Mega (UK)

PAL

80

^[35]

Sega Force (SE)

72

^[36]

Sonic the Comic (UK)

PAL

83

^[37]

Todo Sega (ES)

PAL

85

^[38]

Tricks 16 bit (RU)

71

^[39]

Video Games (DE)

PAL

74

^[40]

VideoGames (US)

NTSC-U

50

^[41]

	75
Based on 36 reviews

Zool

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, UK (Telstar; English manual)
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, FR
Cover
Cart Manual UK Manual

Mega Drive, AU
Cover
Cart Manual

Technical information

Main article: Zool/Technical information.

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 GamePro, "March 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 50
↑ Sega Channel schedule (US; 1994-06-01)
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 Mega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-16), page 107
↑ Sega Force Mega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-16), page 49
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 Mega Action, "Christmas 1993" (UK; 1993-12-02), page 16
↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "January 1995" (JP; 1994-12-08), page 83
↑ File:Zool MD US Manual.pdf, page 13
↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 275
↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "Avril 1994" (DE; 1994-03-07), page 113
↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1994" (JP; 1994-07-08), page 21
↑ Console Mania, "Gennaio 1994" (IT; 199x-xx-xx), page 117
↑ Consoles +, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 146
↑ Computer & Video Games, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-15), page 89
↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "January 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 46
↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 369
↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 10, "" (RU; 2003-10-08), page 246
↑ Freak, "1/94" (IL; 1994-xx-xx), page 1
↑ Gamers, "Juli/August 1994" (DE; 1994-07-01), page 37
↑ Hyper, "January 1994" (AU; 199x-xx-xx), page 37
↑ Joker, "Maj 1994" (SI; 1994-xx-xx), page 21
↑ Joypad, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 130
↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-1x-xx), page 34
↑ Mega, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 48
↑ Mega Force, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-12-10), page 100
↑ Mega Fun, "01/94" (DE; 1993-12-22), page 74
↑ MegaTech, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-20), page 64
↑ Mean Machines Sega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-11-30), page 96
↑ Player One, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 146
↑ Play Time, "5/94" (DE; 1994-04-06), page 137
↑ Power Up!, "Saturday, January 08, 1994" (UK; 1994-01-08), page 1
↑ Power Unlimited, "Jaargang 2, Nummer 3, Maart 1994" (NL; 1994-02-23), page 38
↑ Sega Power, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-xx), page 46
↑ Sega Pro, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-14), page 70
↑ Sega Zone, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-25), page 36
↑ Sega Force Mega, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-16), page 48
↑ Sega Force, "2/94" (SE; 1994-02-23), page 24
↑ Sonic the Comic, "February 4th 1994" (UK; 1994-01-22), page 12
↑ Todo Sega, "Diciembre 1993" (ES; 1993-1x-xx), page 56
↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 236
↑ Video Games, "3/94" (DE; 1994-02-23), page 82
↑ VideoGames, "February 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 88

Zool
	Main page \| Comparisons \| Maps \| Hidden content \| Bugs \| Magazine articles \| Video coverage \| Reception \| Region coding \| Technical information \| Bootlegs No results

[:File:GamePro_US_056.pdf_p50-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 GamePro, "March 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 50

[Sega_Channel_schedule_.28US.3B_1994-06-01.29-2] Sega Channel schedule (US; 1994-06-01)

[:File:Mega_UK_16.pdf_p107-3] 3.0 ^3.1 Mega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-16), page 107

[:File:SegaForceMega_UK_07.pdf_p49-4] Sega Force Mega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-16), page 49

[:File:MegaAction_UK_08.pdf_p16-5] 5.0 ^5.1 Mega Action, "Christmas 1993" (UK; 1993-12-02), page 16

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1995-01.pdf_p83-6] Beep! MegaDrive, "January 1995" (JP; 1994-12-08), page 83

[:File:Zool_MD_US_Manual.pdf_p13-7] File:Zool MD US Manual.pdf, page 13

[8] 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 275

[:File:ASM_DE_1994-04.pdf_p113-9] Aktueller Software Markt, "Avril 1994" (DE; 1994-03-07), page 113

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1994-08.pdf_p21-10] Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1994" (JP; 1994-07-08), page 21

[:File:ConsoleMania_IT_026.pdf_p117-11] Console Mania, "Gennaio 1994" (IT; 199x-xx-xx), page 117

[12] Consoles +, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 146

[:File:CVG_UK_145.pdf_p89-13] Computer & Video Games, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-15), page 89

[:File:EGM_US_054.pdf_p46-14] Electronic Gaming Monthly, "January 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 46

[15] Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 369

[16] Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 10, "" (RU; 2003-10-08), page 246

[17] Freak, "1/94" (IL; 1994-xx-xx), page 1

[:File:Gamers_DE_1994-05.pdf_p37-18] Gamers, "Juli/August 1994" (DE; 1994-07-01), page 37

[:File:Hyper_AU_002.pdf_p37-19] Hyper, "January 1994" (AU; 199x-xx-xx), page 37

[20] Joker, "Maj 1994" (SI; 1994-xx-xx), page 21

[:File:Joypad_FR_026.pdf_p130-21] Joypad, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 130

[:File:MDAG_UK_17.pdf_p34-22] Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-1x-xx), page 34

[:File:Mega_UK_15.pdf_p48-23] Mega, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 48

[:File:MegaForce_FR_23.pdf_p100-24] Mega Force, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-12-10), page 100

[:File:MegaFun_DE_1994-01.pdf_p74-25] Mega Fun, "01/94" (DE; 1993-12-22), page 74

[:File:MegaTech_UK_24.pdf_p64-26] MegaTech, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-20), page 64

[:File:MeanMachinesSega15UK.pdf_p96-27] Mean Machines Sega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-11-30), page 96

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_037.pdf_p146-28] Player One, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 146

[:File:PlayTime_DE_1994-05.pdf_p137-29] Play Time, "5/94" (DE; 1994-04-06), page 137

[30] Power Up!, "Saturday, January 08, 1994" (UK; 1994-01-08), page 1

[:File:PowerUnlimited_NL_008_199403.pdf_p38-31] Power Unlimited, "Jaargang 2, Nummer 3, Maart 1994" (NL; 1994-02-23), page 38

[:File:SegaPower_UK_49.pdf_p46-32] Sega Power, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-xx), page 46

[:File:SegaPro_UK_25.pdf_p70-33] Sega Pro, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-14), page 70

[:File:SegaZone_UK_14.pdf_p36-34] Sega Zone, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-25), page 36

[:File:SegaForceMega_UK_06.pdf_p48-35] Sega Force Mega, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-16), page 48

[:File:SegaForce_SE_1994_02.pdf_p24-36] Sega Force, "2/94" (SE; 1994-02-23), page 24

[37] Sonic the Comic, "February 4th 1994" (UK; 1994-01-22), page 12

[:File:TodoSega_ES_09.pdf_p56-38] Todo Sega, "Diciembre 1993" (ES; 1993-1x-xx), page 56

[39] Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 236

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1994-03.pdf_p82-40] Video Games, "3/94" (DE; 1994-02-23), page 82

[:File:VideoGames_US_61.pdf_p88-41] VideoGames, "February 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 88

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Zool

From Sega Retro

Contents

Story

Gameplay

Items

Worlds

History

Legacy

Versions

Localised names

Production credits

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Physical scans

Technical information

References