Zool

From Sega Retro

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

n/a

Zool Title.png

Zool
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher:
Sega Mega Drive
GameTek (US)
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 		$59.9559.95[1] T-83096
Videogame Rating Council: GA
Sega Mega Drive
EU 		E264SMXI
Sega Mega Drive
UK 		£44.9944.99[3][4] E264SMXI
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Non-Sega versions

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 Infocom was planned[5] 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 Left and Right and jumps with B. He attacks by punching and shooting a ranged projectile with A. He can kneel with Down and does a kick and fires his shot with Down+A. He continues punching or kicking by holding A, which can be used to break certain walls and provide access to areas. He can fire his shot in mid-air by pressing A after jumping. He can also defeat enemies by jumping on them. Holding C while jumping makes Zool perform a spinning attack. He grabs on to walls when he jumps onto them and can climb them with Up and Down or by jumping up them. Pushing Down 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

Zool, Items.png
 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.
Zool, Items.png
 Bomb
Destroys all enemies on the screen.
Zool, Items.png
 Jumping Zool
Temporarily gives Zool an enhanced jump.
Zool, Items.png
 Shield
Temporary makes Zool invincible.
Zool, Items.png
 Two Zool
Creates a "shadow Zool" that follows Zool and mirrors his movements, including his attacks, for a duration.
Zool, Items.png
 Clock
Adds more time to the timer.
Zool, Items.png
 1-Up
Awards the player an extra life.
Zool, Items.png
 Goal
Ends the stage if the player has found the necessary amount of collectibles.
Zool, Items.png
 Restart Point
Checkpoint where Zool is revived after losing a life. Stand in front of it and hold down A to activate.

Worlds

Zool, Stage 1.png

Zool, Stage 1 Boss.png

  • Zool, Stage 1.png

  • Zool, Stage 1 Boss.png

The Sweet World

Zool, Stage 2.png

Zool, Stage 2 Boss.png

  • Zool, Stage 2.png

  • Zool, Stage 2 Boss.png

The Music World

Zool, Stage 3.png

Zool, Stage 3 Boss.png

  • Zool, Stage 3.png

  • Zool, Stage 3 Boss.png

The Fruit World

Zool, Stage 4.png

Zool, Stage 4 Boss.png

  • Zool, Stage 4.png

  • Zool, Stage 4 Boss.png

The Tool World

Zool, Stage 5.png

Zool, Stage 5 Boss.png

  • Zool, Stage 5.png

  • Zool, Stage 5 Boss.png

The Toy World

Zool, Stage 6.png

Zool, Stage 6 Boss.png

  • Zool, Stage 6.png

  • Zool, Stage 6 Boss.png

The Fairground World

Zool, Stage 7.png

Zool, Stage 7 Boss.png

  • Zool, Stage 7.png

  • Zool, Stage 7 Boss.png

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[6]

Magazine articles

Main article: Zool/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #145: "December 1993" (1993-11-15)
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #146: "January 1994" (1993-12-15)
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Consoles + (FR) #25: "Novembre 1993" (1993-1x-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Video Games (DE) #1993-12: "12/93" (1993-11-22)
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Magazin (DE) #7: "Juni 1994" (1994-05-11)

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
70 №12, p78/79
Sega Mega Drive
 70
Based on
1 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
50
[7]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
83
[8]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
55
[9]
Consoles + (FR)
93
[10]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
82
[11]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
58
[12]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
60
[13]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 10 (RU)
80
[14]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
85
[1]
Hyper (AU)
79
[15]
Joker (SI)
87
[16]
Joypad (FR) PAL
78
[17]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
83
[18]
Mega (UK) PAL
74
[19]
Mega Action (UK) PAL
80
[4]
Mega Force (FR)
84
[20]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
74
[21]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
71
[22]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
67
[23]
Player One (FR)
65
[24]
Play Time (DE)
64
[25]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
78
[26]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
84
[27]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
86
[28]
Sega Force Mega (UK) PAL
80
[29]
Sega Force (SE)
72
[30]
Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL
83
[31]
Todo Sega (ES) PAL
85
[32]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
71
[33]
Video Games (DE) PAL
74
[34]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
50
[35]
Sega Mega Drive
 75
Based on
31 reviews

Zool

Mega Drive, US
Zool MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Zool MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Zool MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
Zool MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
Zool MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Zool MD EU Manual.jpg
Manual
Mega Drive, UK (English-only manual)

Mega Drive, AU
Zool MD AU cover.jpg
Cover

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32 cb2939f1
MD5 2d28ddb5be02a3b3612ba73ca064edb5
SHA-1 ee016f127b81f1ca2565738fa47fac0c4ed15c97
1MB 1994-01 Cartridge (US)
Sega Mega Drive
✔
CRC32 1ee58b03
MD5 98a9c42c965a336c2c3e6dca5319d031
SHA-1 cab14f63b7d00b35a11a3a7f60cf231199121dc8
1MB 1993-09 Cartridge (EU)

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 GamePro, "March 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 50
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Mega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-16), page 107
  3. ↑ Sega Force Mega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-16), page 49
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Mega Action, "Christmas 1993" (UK; 1993-12-02), page 16
  5. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "January 1995" (JP; 1994-12-08), page 83
  6. ↑ File:Zool MD US Manual.pdf, page 13
  7. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2003-03-10), page 275
  8. ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "Avril 1994" (DE; 1994-03-07), page 113
  9. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1994" (JP; 1994-07-08), page 21
  10. ↑ Consoles +, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 146
  11. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-15), page 89
  12. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "January 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 46
  13. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 369
  14. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 10, "" (RU; 2003-10-08), page 246
  15. ↑ Hyper, "January 1994" (AU; 199x-xx-xx), page 37
  16. ↑ Joker, "Maj 1994" (SI; 1994-xx-xx), page 21
  17. ↑ Joypad, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 130
  18. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 34
  19. ↑ Mega, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 48
  20. ↑ Mega Force, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-12-10), page 100
  21. ↑ Mega Fun, "01/94" (DE; 1993-12-22), page 74
  22. ↑ MegaTech, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-20), page 64
  23. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-11-30), page 96
  24. ↑ Player One, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 146
  25. ↑ Play Time, "5/94" (DE; 1994-04-06), page 137
  26. ↑ Sega Power, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-xx), page 46
  27. ↑ Sega Pro, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-14), page 70
  28. ↑ Sega Zone, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-25), page 36
  29. ↑ Sega Force Mega, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-16), page 48
  30. ↑ Sega Force, "2/94" (SE; 1994-02-23), page 24
  31. ↑ Sonic the Comic, "February 4th 1994" (UK; 1994-01-22), page 12
  32. ↑ Todo Sega, "Diciembre 1993" (ES; 1993-1x-xx), page 56
  33. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 236
  34. ↑ Video Games, "3/94" (DE; 1994-02-23), page 82
  35. ↑ VideoGames, "February 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 88


Zool

Zool Title.png

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