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Zool

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Zool Title.png
Zool
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear
Publisher: GameTek (US), Gremlin Graphics (EU), Nisshouiwai Infocom (JP),
Sega Mega Drive
Electronic Arts (EU)
Developer:
Sound driver: Krisalis sound driver
Genre: Action































Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US 		$59.95[1] T-83096
Sega Mega Drive
UK 		£44.99[2] E264SMXI
Sega Mega Drive
FR 		?F E264SMXI
Sega Mega Drive
DE 		DM ? E264SMXI
Sega Mega Drive
ES 		?Ptas E264SMXI
Sega Mega Drive
AU 		$? ?



Sega Master System
UK 		£29.99[4] 27075-50
Sega Master System
FR 		?F 27075-50
Sega Master System
DE 		DM ? 27075-50
Sega Master System
ES 		?Ptas 27075-50



Sega Game Gear
JP 		¥3,800 T-149017
Sega Game Gear
US 		$39.95 T-83048
Sega Game Gear
UK 		£29.99[5] 123018-50
Sega Game Gear
FR 		?F 123018-50
Sega Game Gear
DE 		DM ? 123018-50
Sega Game Gear
ES 		?Ptas 123018-50
Sega Game Gear
IT 		?£ 123018-50



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Zool or Zool: Ninja of the Nth Dimension, known as Zool no Yume Bouken (ズールのゆめぼうけん) in Japan, is a platform game developed by Gremlin Graphics for the Commodore Amiga in 1992 as an answer to the "mascot wars" of the early 1990s spearheadded by Super Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog. Zool's success saw it brought to a number of platforms, including the Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear during late 1993 and 1994.

Gameplay

Zool is a relatively basic but fast paced platform game. B/1 makes Zool jump, while A/2 makes him attack. Jumping into a wall will allow Zool to climb up or down it. Holding down A/2 makes Zool perform a punch motion which can be used to activate switches, which also serve as checkpoints. Holding C while jumping makes Zool perform a spinning attack. Pushing Down while running causes a sliding attack, which is vital due to the games fast pace and instantly appearing enemies.

Level designs and choices of music differ between the Sega versions (although the latter is likely due to the fact the original Amiga version had no in-game tracks). In order to clear a stage, a certain amount of items need to be collected before the exit beacon (a coin with Zools head impregnated) can be activated. Running into enemies is a design problem in this game as it goes against the high speed gameplay it theoretically offers, forcing the player to either go slow or memorize stages down to enemy positioning.

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

Levels

Notavailable.svg
 The Sweet World
Notavailable.svg
 The Music World
Notavailable.svg
 The Fruit World
Notavailable.svg
 The Fairground World
Notavailable.svg
 The Toy World

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 Zool no Yume Bouken (ズールのゆめぼうけん) Zool's Dream Adventure

Production credits

Mega Drive version

  • Sega/Game Code: Paul Hiley
  • Game/Frontend 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


Master System version

  • Main Code: Siz
  • Additional Code: Richard Stevenson
  • Music Composition: Patrick Phelan
  • Sound: Krisalis Software
  • Art: Michael Hirst, Ade Carless, Greggs, Pete Daniels
  • Map and Level Design: Mike Lister, Michael Hirst
  • Project Manager: Tony Casson
  • Development Manager: James North-Hearn
© Gremlin Graphics, 1993


Game Gear version

  • Main Code: Siz
  • Additional Code: Richard Stevenson
  • Music Composition: Patrick Phelan
  • Sound: Krisalis Software
  • Art: Michael Hirst, Ade Carlesss, Pete Daniels, Greggs
  • Map and Level Design: Mike Lister, Michael Hirst
  • Project Manager: Tony Casson
  • Development Manager: James North-Hearn
Copyright 1993 Gremlin Graphics


Magazine articles

Main article: Zool/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

CVG UK 145.pdfCVG UK 145.pdf

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

CVG UK 146.pdfCVG UK 146.pdf

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

ConsolesPlus FR 025.pdfConsolesPlus FR 025.pdf

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

VideoGames DE 1993-12.pdfVideoGames DE 1993-12.pdf

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

SegaMagazin DE 07.pdf

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

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
55 №1994-08, p19[7]
93 №27, p146-148
82 №145, p89[8]
58 №54, p46/234/235[9]
85 №56, p48[1]
70 №12, p78/79
78 №26
83 №17, p34/35
74 №15, p48/49
80 №8, p16
71 №24, p64-66
67 №15, p96/97[10]
65 №37, p146
78 №49, p46/47
84 №25, p70-72
80 №6, p42/43[11]
70 №1, p45[12]
83 №18, p12
Sega Mega Drive
 75
Based on
18 reviews

Mega Drive, US
Zool MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Zool MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, EU
Zool MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
Zool MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart

Master System version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
94 №25, p126[13]
65 №38, p116[14]
78 №53, p62/63
70 №6, p22/23[15]
78 №30, p48
Sega Master System
 77
Based on
5 reviews

Master System, EU
Zool SMS EU Box.jpg
Cover
Zool SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
86 №30, p155[16]
79 №149, p79[17]
66 №40, p108[18]
78 №53, p62/63
75 №30, p57
Sega Game Gear
 77
Based on
5 reviews

Game Gear, US
Zool GG US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngZool GG US Box Front.jpg
Cover
Zool GG US Cart.jpg
Cart
Game Gear, EU
Zool GG EU Box Back.jpgNospine.pngZool GG EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
Zool GG EU cart.jpg
Cart
Game Gear, JP
Zool GG JP Box Back.jpgNospine-small.pngZool GG JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
Zool GG JP Cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32 cb2939f1
MD5
SHA-1
1MB 1994-01 Cartridge (US)
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32 1ee58b03
MD5
SHA-1
1MB 1993-09 Cartridge (EU)
Sega Master System
 ?
CRC32 9D9D0A5F
MD5 42FB44C9A2C82B8C4AEF8191C1B5676F
SHA-1 AED98F2FC885C9A6E121982108F843388EB46304
256kB Cartridge (EU)
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 23904898
MD5 3C200F229978AF32C223BCCD65428426
SHA-1 40B68ABD8F2419178EA2E0D02412C29306BFF46C
256kB Cartridge (EU)
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 E35EF7ED
MD5 FF5F8AD2C620E25D2B028F2E1FED2B54
SHA-1 2C799EE084B858CB71CFAA7A3F6D3A4F364B6C43
256kB Cartridge (JP)
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 B287C695
MD5 DB7DC3E8F0D46F0396AF99A87FF0489F
SHA-1 8143C1D5E6C677AE5DD8143620B9FD02BE8873F6
256kB Cartridge (US)

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 File:GamePro US 056.pdf, page 50
  2. ↑ File:SegaForceMega UK 07.pdf, page 49
  3. ↑ File:Mega UK 16.pdf, page 107
  4. ↑ File:SegaMasterForce UK 06.pdf, page 23
  5. ↑ File:CVG UK 152.pdf, page 67
  6. ↑ File:SegaPro DE 18.pdf, page 47
  7. ↑ File:BeepMD_JP_1994-08.pdf, page 21
  8. ↑ File:CVG UK 145.pdf, page 89
  9. ↑ File:EGM US 054.pdf, page 46
  10. ↑ File:MeanMachinesSega15UK.pdf, page 96
  11. ↑ File:SegaForceMega UK 06.pdf, page 42
  12. ↑ File:SuperGamePower BR 001.pdf, page 45
  13. ↑ File:Joypad FR 025.pdf, page 126
  14. ↑ File:PlayerOne FR 038.pdf, page 116
  15. ↑ File:SegaMasterForce UK 06.pdf, page 22
  16. ↑ File:ConsolesPlus FR 030.pdf, page 155
  17. ↑ File:CVG UK 149.pdf, page 79
  18. ↑ File:PlayerOne FR 040.pdf, page 108


Zool
Zool Title.png

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