Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel

From Sega Retro

For the 2024 aftermarket re-release, see Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel (Limited Run Games).

n/a

ZtKS Title.png

Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Sunsoft
Developer:
Distributor: Sega-Ozisoft (AU)
Sound driver: GEMS
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US 		T-15176
Videogame Rating Council: MA-13
Sega Mega Drive
EU 		T-15176-50
Sega Mega Drive
UK 		£44.9944.99[3] T-15176-50
Sega Mega Drive
AU 		$89.9589.95[4][5] FZER02SMC
OFLC: G
Non-Sega versions

Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel is a platforming game developed by Iguana Entertainment and published by Sunsoft for the Sega Mega Drive and Super NES in 1994. It is a spin-off of the Aero the Acro-Bat series, starring Aero's rival Zero.

Story

Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel, Introduction.png

Introduction

During the events of Aero the Acro-Bat 2, Zero receives a telegram from his girlfriend Amy telling him that an evil lumberjack named Jacques Le Sheets is deforesting their homeland Stony Forest to produce counterfeit money and has also captured her father. Ignoring Edgar Ektor's protests, Zero decides to put a stop to Le Sheets. Upon arriving at the island, Zero's plane is shot down and crashes on the beach, so he starts making his way to the forest on foot. During his journey, Zero learns that Amy has also been captured after an unsuccessful attempt to save her father by herself. At the paper factory, Zero fights Le Sheets and pursues him on a flying ship. Aboard the ship, Zero finds that the mastermind is none other than Edgar Ektor. After defeating Ektor with Amy's assistance, the two squirrels parachute safely away, while Ektor's ship crashes into a cliff.

Gameplay

Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel, Map.png

Map

The game is a platformer that follows Zero traveling back to his forest home to stop an evil lumberjack. The game contains seven worlds with multiple levels in each. The goal of each level is to reach the exit at the end, which is sometimes guarded by a boss.

As an accomplished martial artist, Zero has a dizzying amount of moves. Zero walks with Left and Right and crouches with Down. While crouching, Zero readies his nunchaku; he swings them with B. Zero can throw shurikens with A while standing (but not crouching) or in midair. Shurikens can be thrown at diagonal angles by holding Up or (while jumping) Down. Like Aero's stars, shurikens are limited in supply and must be collected in the levels to use.

Zero performs a "flic-flac," a forward leap with his legs first, with C while moving or while holding Left or Right. He leaps farther if the button is held for longer. This move kicks enemies that are in the way. Zero can pull out a scope and look around (to anticipate hazards) by holding C while standing still and moving the D-Pad around.

Zero jumps with B. He can perform a spinning double jump by pressing B while in midair. Unusually, this spin jump carries the momentum of the first jump instead of having its own, so it works most effectively when executed early in the jump. While in the air (but not during a spin), Zero can perform a swooping maneuver with Down+B. The swoop covers a distance about half the width of the screen and can be used to attack enemies. Zero can dive in midair with C. If he hits the ground or an enemy from a dive, he slams into it. He can spin out of a dive with B. He can change the direction out the dive by pressing C again while holding a direction on the D-Pad: Up or Left move him in the next direction counterclockwise, while Down or Right move him in the next direction clockwise. He can dive around barriers in this way.

Some levels have Zero riding a jetski or a speedboat. In these levels, he slows down with Left, speeds up with Right, and moves with Up and Down. He jumps with A, B, or C.

Zero has a health bar and starts each level with four health points (which can be extended up to six hit points by collecting items). He loses a hit point whenever he takes damage from an enemy and loses a life when he loses every health point. Some hazards, such as lava, cost Zero a life regardless of how many health points he has left. The game ends if Zero loses all of his lives, but there are unlimited continues.

Objects

Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel, Objects.png
 Bonus Door
Jump on the bellows multiple times to blow up the door, then enter the door by standing in front of it and pressing Up to enter a bonus room filled with items.
Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel, Objects.png
 Checkpoint
Checkpoint where Zero is revived after losing a life.
Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel, Objects.png
 Goal
Pull down the scroll to end the level.

Items

Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel, Items.png
 Shurikens
Increases Zero's supply of shurikens by 1 (red/silver), 5 (blue/silver), or 10 (gold).
Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel, Items.png
 Food
Awards bonus points.
Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel, Items.png
 Coin
Collect 100 coins for an extra life.
Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel, Items.png
 Z
Adds another health point, up to a maximum of 6.
Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel, Items.png
 1-Up
Awards an extra life.

Worlds

All worlds have two levels, except for the Toxic Waste Pool (one level) and the Factory (three levels).

ZerotheKamikazeSquirrel MD Level1 Beach.png

The Beach

ZerotheKamikazeSquirrel MD Level2 Cliff.png

The Cliffs

ZerotheKamikazeSquirrel MD Level3 Tunnels.png

The Mountain Tunnels

ZerotheKamikazeSquirrel MD Level4 Rapids.png

The River Rapids

ZerotheKamikazeSquirrel MD Level5 Forest.png

The Forest

ZerotheKamikazeSquirrel MD Level6 Toxic.png

The Toxic Waste Pool

ZerotheKamikazeSquirrel MD Level7 Factory.png

The Factory

Production credits

  • Created and Produced by: Justin Siller
  • Directed by: Neill Glancy, Team Iguana
  • Game Design: Justin Siller, Neill Glancy, Team Zero
  • Team Leader: Neill Glancy
  • Executive Producer (Iguana): Jeff Spangenberg
  • Executive Producer (Sunsoft): David Siller
  • Programming: Stephen Broumley, Craig Galley
  • Genesis Engine: Carl Wade
  • Art Director (Iguana): Matt Stubbington
  • Technical Director (Iguana): Craig Galley
  • Creative Director (Iguana): Nigel Cook
  • Art Director (Sunsoft): Mario Zavala
  • Lead Artists: Jools Watsham, Matt Stubbington
  • Artists: Robbie Miller, Scott Brocker, Mark Pitcher
  • Additional Art: William B. Yeatts, Michael McCallion
  • Conceptual Art: Mario Zavala, Justin Siller, Team Zero
  • Additional Rendered Art: Neill Glancy
  • Martial Arts Consultant: Ryan Siller
  • Music Coordinators: Jay Moon, Darrin Stubbington
  • Music and Sound Effects: Fox Productions
  • Project Manager: Jay Moon
  • Technical Manager: Al Artus
  • Consumer Products Manager: Steve Gehrke
  • Marketing Director: Karen Shadley
  • Chairman: Masami Maeda
  • Vice Chairman: Tad Shimamoto
  • International Development Coordinator: Kenji Yoshioka
  • Game Test Manager: Sam Patel
  • Game Testing: Mike Spangenberg, Steve Rizor, Daniel Rizor, Ryan Siller, Matthew Ross, Dan MacArthur, René Boutin, Kelly McCarthy, Benjon Martinez, Peter Marquez, Euclid Woo
  • Game Manual: Alison Quirion
  • Executive Assistant: Nanette Hyssong
  • Customer Service and Credit: Kazuko Harman, June Eckert, Julie Williams, Jamie Jorgenson, Erin Berry, Connie Perez, Jaupale Laster
  • Sunsoft Thanks to: Bruce Reilly, Cathy Juby, Toko Okano, Darin Horgan, John Davis, Karen Lillie, Sherry Ross, Akito Takeuchi, Kazuaki Gotou, Masato Kawai
  • Sunsoft Very Special Thanks to: Debra Siller
  • Iguana Thanks to: Carl Wade, Richard Cowie, Pete Suarez, Beth Spangenberg, Tammy Mullins, Jane Notgrass, Kate Miffitt, Lemon The Cat
Source:
In-game credits
Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel MD credits.pdf
[6]

Magazine articles

Main article: Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in (US) #64: "November 1994" (1994-xx-xx)
also published in:
  • (US) #5: "November 1994" (1994-1x-xx)[7]
  • (US) #65: "December 1994" (1994-xx-xx)[8]
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
(RU)
60
[9]
(RU)
70
[10]
(US) NTSC-U
75
[11]
(US) NTSC-U
83
[12]
(RU)
60
[13]
(US) NTSC-U
82
[14]
(US) NTSC-U
75
[15]
(UK) PAL
69
[16]
(US) NTSC-U
72
[17]
(ES)
84
[18]
(DE) PAL
75
[19]
(DE) PAL
81
[20]
(UK) PAL
82
[3]
(DE) PAL
83
[21]
(DE)
84
[22]
(UK) PAL
80
[23]
(UK) PAL
75
[24]
(UK) PAL
86
[25]
(RU)
70
[26]
(ES)
90
[27]
(ES)
86
[28]
(RU)
79
[29]
(US) NTSC-U
80
[30]
Sega Mega Drive
 77
Based on
23 reviews

Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel

Mega Drive, US
ZtKS MD US Box.jpg
Cover
ZtKS MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, EU
ZtKS MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
ZtKS MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
ZtKS MD EU Manual.jpg
Manual
Mega Drive, AU
ZtKS MD AU Box.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, AU (Manual Misprint)
ZtKS MD AU Box.jpg
Cover

Technical information

Main article: Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel/Technical information.

References

  1. ↑ Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 12 December 1994" (US; 1994-1x-xx), page 12
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Mean Machines Sega, "December 1994" (UK; 1994-10-28), page 36
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Mean Machines Sega, "July 1995" (UK; 1995-05-27), page 66
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 File:NewReleases 1994-11 AU Catalogue.pdf, page 26
  5. ↑ Sega Megazone, "January 1995" (AU; 199x-xx-xx), page 28
  6. ↑ File:Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel MD credits.pdf
  7. ↑ EGM², "November 1994" (US; 1994-1x-xx), page 149
  8. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 151
  9. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 272
  10. ↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 243
  11. ↑ Electronic Games (1992-1995), "December 1994" (US; 1994-1x-xx), page 164
  12. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 42
  13. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 369
  14. ↑ Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 12 December 1994" (US; 1994-1x-xx), page 134
  15. ↑ GamePro, "December 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 114
  16. ↑ Games World: The Magazine, "August 1995" (UK; 1995-06-29), page 70
  17. ↑ Game Informer, "February 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 19
  18. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Diciembre 1994" (ES; 1994-xx-xx), page 130
  19. ↑ MAN!AC, "01/95" (DE; 1994-12-07), page 80
  20. ↑ Mega Fun, "12/94" (DE; 1994-11-23), page 128
  21. ↑ Play Time, "1/95" (DE; 1994-12-07), page 100
  22. ↑ Sega Magazin, "Dezember 1994" (DE; 1994-11-17), page 72
  23. ↑ Sega Magazine, "July 1995" (UK; 1995-06-15), page 90
  24. ↑ Sega Power, "October 1995" (UK; 1995-08-17), page 54
  25. ↑ Sega Pro, "July 1995" (UK; 1995-06-08), page 62
  26. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Review, "2" (RU; 1996-01-03), page 177
  27. ↑ Super Juegos, "Enero 1995" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 46
  28. ↑ Todo Sega, "Febrero 1995" (ES; 1995-0x-xx), page 43
  29. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 234
  30. ↑ VideoGames, "December 1994" (US; 1994-1x-xx), page 82


Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel

ZtKS Title.png

Main page | Comparisons | Maps | Hidden content | Magazine articles | Video coverage | Reception | Promotional material | Region coding | Technical information | Bootlegs


No results



Aero the Acro-Bat, Items.png
Aero the Acro-Bat games for Sega systems
Aero the Acro-Bat (1993) | Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel (1994) | Aero the Acro-Bat 2 (1995)
Retrieved from "https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=Zero_the_Kamikaze_Squirrel&oldid=1025411"