Zool

n/a

Mega Drive
Master System
EU/JP
US

Zool

System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear

Publisher:

GameTek (US)

Electronic Arts (EU)

Gremlin Graphics Software (EU)

Nisshouiwai Infocom (JP)

Developer: Gremlin Graphics Software

Sound driver: Krisalis sound driver

Genre: Action^[1]^[2]^[3]

Number of players: 1

Release	Date	RRP	Code
US	1994-02^[4]	$59.9559.95^[4]	T-83096
EU	1994-01^[5]		E264SMXI
UK	1994-01^[5]	£44.9944.99^[6]^[7]	E264SMXI
AU	1993
EU	1994-03^[8]		27075-50
UK	1994-03^[8]	£29.9929.99^[9]^[8]	27075-50
JP	1994-07-29^[3]	¥3,8003,800	T-149017
US	1994	$39.9539.95	T-83048
EU	1994-03^[10]^[8]		123018-50
UK	1994-03^[8]	£29.9929.99^[11]^[8]	123018-50

This short article is in need of work. You can help Sega Retro by adding to it.

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. / makes Zool jump, while / makes him attack. Jumping into a wall will allow Zool to climb up or down it. Holding down / makes Zool perform a punch motion which can be used to activate switches, which also serve as checkpoints. Holding while jumping makes Zool perform a spinning attack. Pushing 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

	The Sweet World

	The Music World

	The Fruit World

	The Fairground World

	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	ズールのゆめぼうけん	Zool no Yume Bouken

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

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

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)

50

^[13]

Beep! MegaDrive (JP)

NTSC-J

55

^[14]

Consoles + (FR)

93

^[15]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

82

^[16]

Electronic Gaming Monthly (US)

NTSC-U

58

^[17]

Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)

60

^[18]

Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 10 (RU)

80

^[19]

GamePro (US)

NTSC-U

85

^[4]

Joker (SI)

87

^[20]

Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)

PAL

83

^[21]

Mega (UK)

PAL

74

^[22]

Mega Action (UK)

PAL

80

^[7]

Mega Force (FR)

84

^[23]

Mega Fun (DE)

PAL

74

^[24]

MegaTech (UK)

PAL

71

^[25]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

PAL

67

^[26]

Player One (FR)

65

^[27]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

78

^[28]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

84

^[29]

Sega Zone (UK)

PAL

86

^[30]

Sega Force Mega (UK)

PAL

80

^[31]

Sega Force (SE)

72

^[32]

Sonic the Comic (UK)

PAL

83

^[33]

Todo Sega (ES)

PAL

85

^[34]

Tricks 16 bit (RU)

71

^[35]

	75
Based on 25 reviews

Zool

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, UK (English-only manual)

Mega Drive, AU
Cover

Master System version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Joypad (FR)

PAL

94

^[36]

Mega Force (FR)

93

^[37]

Player One (FR)

65

^[38]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

78

^[39]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

78

^[40]

Sega Master Force (UK)

PAL

70

^[41]

	80
Based on 6 reviews

Zool

Master System, EU
Cover
Cart

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Beep! MegaDrive (JP)

NTSC-J

55

^[42]

Consoles + (FR)

86

^[43]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

79

^[44]

Game Players (US)

NTSC-U

65

^[45]

GamePro (US)

NTSC-U

85

^[46]

Joker (SI)

87

^[20]

Player One (FR)

66

^[47]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

78

^[39]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

75

^[48]

Sega Zone (UK)

PAL

90

^[49]

	77
Based on 10 reviews

Zool

Game Gear, JP
Cover
Cart

Game Gear, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Technical information

ROM dump status

System

Hash

Size

Build Date

Source

Comments

?

CRC32	cb2939f1
MD5	2d28ddb5be02a3b3612ba73ca064edb5
SHA-1	ee016f127b81f1ca2565738fa47fac0c4ed15c97

1MB

1994-01

Cartridge (US)

✔

CRC32	1ee58b03
MD5	98a9c42c965a336c2c3e6dca5319d031
SHA-1	cab14f63b7d00b35a11a3a7f60cf231199121dc8

1MB

1993-09

Cartridge (EU)

?

CRC32	9d9d0a5f
MD5	42fb44c9a2c82b8c4aef8191c1b5676f
SHA-1	aed98f2fc885c9a6e121982108f843388eb46304

256kB

Cartridge (EU)

?

CRC32	b287c695
MD5	db7dc3e8f0d46f0396af99a87ff0489f
SHA-1	8143c1d5e6c677ae5dd8143620b9fd02be8873f6

256kB

Cartridge (US)

?

CRC32	23904898
MD5	3c200f229978af32c223bccd65428426
SHA-1	40b68abd8f2419178ea2e0d02412c29306bff46c

256kB

Cartridge (EU)

?

CRC32	e35ef7ed
MD5	ff5f8ad2c620e25d2b028f2e1fed2b54
SHA-1	2c799ee084b858cb71cfaa7a3f6d3a4f364b6c43

256kB

Cartridge (JP)

References

↑ File:Zool GG EU Box Back.jpg
↑ File:Zool GG JP Box Front.jpg
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 http://sega.jp/fb/segahard/gg/soft_licensee.html (Wayback Machine: 2013-01-01 20:24)
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 GamePro, "March 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 50
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 Mega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-16), page 107
↑ Sega Force Mega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-16), page 49
↑ ^7.0 ^7.1 Mega Action, "Christmas 1993" (UK; 1993-12-02), page 16
↑ ^8.0 ^8.1 ^8.2 ^8.3 ^8.4 ^8.5 Sega Magazine, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-03-15), page 100
↑ Sega Master Force, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-11), page 23
↑ Sega Pro, "April 1994" (DE; 1994-03-23), page 47
↑ Computer & Video Games, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-06-15), page 67
↑ SuperGamePower, "Abril 1994" (BR; 1994-0x-xx), page 45
↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2003-xx-xx), page 275
↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1994" (JP; 1994-07-08), page 21
↑ 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
↑ ^20.0 ^20.1 Joker, "Maj 1994" (SI; 1994-xx-xx), page 21
↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-xx-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
↑ 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-xx-xx), page 56
↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-xx-xx), page 236
↑ Joypad, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 126
↑ Mega Force, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-12-10), page 106
↑ Player One, "Janvier 1994" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 116
↑ ^39.0 ^39.1 Sega Power, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-03-03), page 62
↑ Sega Pro, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-02-24), page 48
↑ Sega Master Force, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-11), page 22
↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1994" (JP; 1994-07-08), page 23
↑ Consoles +, "Mars 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 155
↑ Computer & Video Games, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-03-15), page 79
↑ Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 2 February 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 74
↑ GamePro, "May 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 132
↑ Player One, "Mars 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 108
↑ Sega Pro, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-02-24), page 57
↑ Sega Zone, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-02-24), page 65

Zool

[:File:Zool_GG_EU_Box_Back.jpg_p-1] File:Zool GG EU Box Back.jpg

[:File:Zool_GG_JP_Box_Front.jpg_p-2] File:Zool GG JP Box Front.jpg

[https:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20130101202427.2Fhttp:.2F.2Fsega.jp.2Ffb.2Fsegahard.2Fgg.2Fsoft_licensee.html-3] 3.0 ^3.1 http://sega.jp/fb/segahard/gg/soft_licensee.html (Wayback Machine: 2013-01-01 20:24)

[:File:GamePro_US_056.pdf_p50-4] 4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 GamePro, "March 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 50

[:File:Mega_UK_16.pdf_p107-5] 5.0 ^5.1 Mega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-16), page 107

[:File:SegaForceMega_UK_07.pdf_p49-6] Sega Force Mega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-16), page 49

[:File:MegaAction_UK_08.pdf_p16-7] 7.0 ^7.1 Mega Action, "Christmas 1993" (UK; 1993-12-02), page 16

[:File:SegaMagazine_UK_04.pdf_p100-8] 8.0 ^8.1 ^8.2 ^8.3 ^8.4 ^8.5 Sega Magazine, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-03-15), page 100

[:File:SegaMasterForce_UK_06.pdf_p23-9] Sega Master Force, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-11), page 23

[:File:SegaPro_DE_18.pdf_p47-10] Sega Pro, "April 1994" (DE; 1994-03-23), page 47

[:File:CVG_UK_152.pdf_p67-11] Computer & Video Games, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-06-15), page 67

[:File:SuperGamePower_BR_001.pdf_p45-12] SuperGamePower, "Abril 1994" (BR; 1994-0x-xx), page 45

[:File:1700_igr_dlya_Sega_2003.pdf_p275-13] 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2003-xx-xx), page 275

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1994-08.pdf_p21-14] Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1994" (JP; 1994-07-08), page 21

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

[:File:CVG_UK_145.pdf_p89-16] Computer & Video Games, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-15), page 89

[:File:EGM_US_054.pdf_p46-17] Electronic Gaming Monthly, "January 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 46

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

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

[:File:Joker_10_SI.pdf_p21-20] 20.0 ^20.1 Joker, "Maj 1994" (SI; 1994-xx-xx), page 21

[:File:MDAG_UK_17.pdf_p34-21] Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 34

[:File:Mega_UK_15.pdf_p48-22] Mega, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 48

[:File:MegaForce_FR_23.pdf_p100-23] Mega Force, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-12-10), page 100

[:File:MegaFun_DE_1994-01.pdf_p74-24] Mega Fun, "01/94" (DE; 1993-12-22), page 74

[:File:MegaTech_UK_24.pdf_p64-25] MegaTech, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-20), page 64

[:File:MeanMachinesSega15UK.pdf_p96-26] Mean Machines Sega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-11-30), page 96

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_037.pdf_p146-27] Player One, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 146

[:File:SegaPower_UK_49.pdf_p46-28] Sega Power, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-xx), page 46

[:File:SegaPro_UK_25.pdf_p70-29] Sega Pro, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-14), page 70

[:File:SegaZone_UK_14.pdf_p36-30] Sega Zone, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-25), page 36

[:File:SegaForceMega_UK_06.pdf_p48-31] Sega Force Mega, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-16), page 48

[:File:SegaForce_SE_1994_02.pdf_p24-32] Sega Force, "2/94" (SE; 1994-02-23), page 24

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

[:File:TodoSega_ES_09.pdf_p56-34] Todo Sega, "Diciembre 1993" (ES; 1993-xx-xx), page 56

[35] Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-xx-xx), page 236

[:File:Joypad_FR_025.pdf_p126-36] Joypad, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 126

[:File:MegaForce_FR_23.pdf_p106-37] Mega Force, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-12-10), page 106

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_038.pdf_p116-38] Player One, "Janvier 1994" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 116

[:File:SegaPower_UK_53.pdf_p62-39] 39.0 ^39.1 Sega Power, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-03-03), page 62

[:File:SegaPro_UK_30.pdf_p48-40] Sega Pro, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-02-24), page 48

[:File:SegaMasterForce_UK_06.pdf_p22-41] Sega Master Force, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-11), page 22

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1994-08.pdf_p23-42] Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1994" (JP; 1994-07-08), page 23

[:File:ConsolesPlus_FR_030.pdf_p155-43] Consoles +, "Mars 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 155

[:File:CVG_UK_149.pdf_p79-44] Computer & Video Games, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-03-15), page 79

[:File:GamePlayers_US_0702.pdf_p74-45] Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 2 February 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 74

[:File:GamePro_US_058.pdf_p132-46] GamePro, "May 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 132

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_040.pdf_p108-47] Player One, "Mars 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 108

[:File:SegaPro_UK_30.pdf_p57-48] Sega Pro, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-02-24), page 57

[:File:SegaZone_UK_17.pdf_p65-49] Sega Zone, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-02-24), page 65

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Zool

From Sega Retro

Contents

Gameplay

Levels

Versions

Localised names

Production credits

Mega Drive version

Master System version

Game Gear version

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Master System version

Game Gear version

Technical information

ROM dump status

References