Difference between revisions of "Fantasy Zone: The Maze"

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{{sub-stub}}'''''{{PAGENAME}}''''', known in Japan as '''''Opa Opa''''' (オパオパ), is an entry in the Fantasy Zone series of video games. It was released for the [[Sega Master System]] in 1987, with a [[Sega System E]] arcade version following shortly afterwards. It is often referred to as "Fantasy Zone III", though this is not an official title.
+
'''''{{PAGENAME}}''''', known in Japan as '''''Opa Opa''''' (オパオパ), is an entry in the ''Fantasy Zone'' series of video games. It was released for [[Sega System E]] arcade hardware in 1987, with a [[Sega Master System]] version following shortly afterwards. It is often referred to as "''Fantasy Zone III''", though this is not an official title.
  
−
Unlike previous entries in the series, ''Fantasy Zone: The Maze'' is similar to ''[[Pac-Man]]''. The hero, Opa Opa, must navigate around a series of mazes collecting coins while avoiding enemies. These coins can be used to buy weapons, giving Opa Opa a defense or allowing him to travel faster. The levels are based on those found in the original ''[[Fantasy Zone]]'', though there are also bonus levels in which Opa Opa must collect as many coins as possible before the time runs out.
+
==Story==
 +
What time period the story takes place in varies by region. Western manuals state that the game takes place after the events of ''[[Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa-Opa]]''; after their first two defeats by Opa-Opa, the Menons have returned to take over the Fantasy Zone, building mazes on each of the planets. Opa-Opa has lost most of his energy from having previously defeated the Menons twice, and so his younger brother, Upa-Upa, volunteers to fight alongside him to help him defeat the Menons once more.
 +
 
 +
The Japanese manual and the in-game epilogue instead place the game before the events of the original ''[[Fantasy Zone]]'', with Opa-Opa and Upa-Upa undergoing training so that they may be allowed to wield weapons with them at all times and be able to defend the Fantasy Zone from enemy threats one day.
 +
 
 +
==Gameplay==
 +
Unlike previous entries in the series, ''Fantasy Zone: The Maze'' is similar to ''[[Pac-Man]]''. The hero, Opa-Opa (and Upa-Upa in a 2-player game), must navigate around a series of mazes collecting coins while avoiding enemies. The coins placed around the maze vary in value based on their size, and bigger coins will slowly decrease in size and value the longer the player(s) takes to collect every coin. When all coins are collected, all on-screen enemies will be turned into additional coins, and the player has a short amount of time to collect them before the current round ends.
 +
 
 +
Collected coins can be used to buy weapons, giving Opa-Opa a defense or allowing him to travel faster. Before each round begins, the game shows the possible weapons that can be bought in the current round and the prices for each weapon. To buy them, the player(s) must pass over a circle containing the weapon providing they have enough money to purchase it. Weapons only last for a short amount of time and cannot be carried over between rounds, and will be lost immediately if the player dies. Most weapons are fired using either of the face buttons.
 +
 
 +
The enemies that primarily roam the mazes are Mobile Bases, emerging from a Master Hole in the center of each maze that gradually builds up energy, turning from black to red. When it's about to reach full energy, the game alerts the player(s) to start moving towards the hole and touch it to reset it. If the Master Hole is allowed to be fully charged, it will send Plasma Wave transmissions to the Mobile Bases, in turn commanding them to release more enemies.
 +
 
 +
The rounds are based on those found in the original ''[[Fantasy Zone]]'', with each planet having three rounds, though there are also bonus rounds at the end of each planet in which Opa-Opa must collect as many coins as possible before the time runs out. Collecting the 2x item in these bonus rounds will double the amount of coins collected. There are a total of 51 rounds to complete.
 +
 
 +
===Weapons===
 +
{{InfoTable|imagewidths=50|
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| sprite=
 +
| title=Twin Shot
 +
| desc=Fires two parallel shots in front of Opa-Opa/Upa-Upa at the same time.
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| sprite=
 +
| title=Wide Beam
 +
| desc=Fires a shot in a half-circle with wider range.
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| sprite=
 +
| title=Laser Beam
 +
| desc=Fires a laser that pierces through enemies.
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| sprite=
 +
| title=Fire Bomb
 +
| desc=A bomb that travels horizontally and blows up an enemy in one blast.
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| sprite=
 +
| title=Heavy Bomb
 +
| desc=Falls from the top of the screen, crushing any enemy in its path.
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| sprite=
 +
| title=Big Wing
 +
| desc=Increases Opa-Opa/Upa-Upa's movement speed.
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| sprite=
 +
| title=Top Power
 +
| desc=Makes Opa-Opa/Upa-Upa invincible, allowing him to defeat enemies by flying directly into them.
 +
}}
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
===Items===
 +
Additional items periodically appear in the corners where the player(s) started in the maze, which can be collected by passing over them. They will flash and disappear if left alone.
 +
{{InfoTable|imagewidths=50|
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| sprite=
 +
| title=Smart Bomb
 +
| desc=Destroys all on-screen enemies.
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| sprite=
 +
| title=Flicky
 +
| desc=A cameo from ''[[Flicky]]''. Awards $5,000 when collected.
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| sprite=
 +
| title=1UP Egg
 +
| desc=Awards an extra life.
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| sprite=
 +
| title=50% Off
 +
| desc=Reduces the cost of the next weapon purchased by half.
 +
}}
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
===Planets===
 +
{{InfoTable|imagewidths=200|
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| screenshot=Notavailable.svg
 +
| title=Plaleaf (The Green Planet)
 +
| desc=
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| screenshot=Notavailable.svg
 +
| title=Tabas (The Sun Planet)
 +
| desc=
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| screenshot=Notavailable.svg
 +
| title=La Dune (The Sand Planet)
 +
| desc=
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| screenshot=Notavailable.svg
 +
| title=Dolimicca (The Super Planet)
 +
| desc=
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| screenshot=Notavailable.svg
 +
| title=Polaria (The Ice Planet)
 +
| desc=
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| screenshot=Notavailable.svg
 +
| title=Mockstar (The Cloud Planet)
 +
| desc=
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| screenshot=Notavailable.svg
 +
| title=Pocarius (The Water Planet)
 +
| desc=
 +
}}
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
===Scoring===
 +
'''Mobile Bases:''' 200 points.
 +
 
 +
'''Menon Soldiers:''' 100 points.
 +
 
 +
'''Time Bonus:''' Awarded at the end of each round, based on clear time:
 +
*Less than 20 seconds = 20,000 points.
 +
*20-29 seconds = 10,000 points.
 +
*30-39 seconds = 5,000 points.
 +
*40-49 seconds = 3,000 points.
 +
*50-59 seconds = 1,000 points.
 +
*60 seconds or more = 0 points.
  
 
==Versions==
 
==Versions==

Revision as of 15:14, 11 March 2022

n/a

  • System E
  • Sega Master System
    NTSC-U/PAL
  • Sega Master System
    NTSC-J

OpaOpa Title.png

FantasyZoneTheMaze title.png

OpaOpa SMS title.png

Fantasy Zone: The Maze
System(s): Sega System E, Sega Master System
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Peripherals supported:
Sega Master System
FM Sound Unit
Genre: Action[1]

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Arcade (System E)
JP		 ¥? ?




























Sega Master System
JP 		¥5,0005,000 G-1343
Sega Master System
US 		5108
Sega Master System
EU 		5108
Sega Master System
AU 		MK-5108-50
Sega Master System
AU
(Strategy Pack) 		FSTR04SEC
Sega Master System
BR
Sega Master System
KR 		GB-1343

Fantasy Zone: The Maze, known in Japan as Opa Opa (オパオパ), is an entry in the Fantasy Zone series of video games. It was released for Sega System E arcade hardware in 1987, with a Sega Master System version following shortly afterwards. It is often referred to as "Fantasy Zone III", though this is not an official title.

Story

What time period the story takes place in varies by region. Western manuals state that the game takes place after the events of Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa-Opa; after their first two defeats by Opa-Opa, the Menons have returned to take over the Fantasy Zone, building mazes on each of the planets. Opa-Opa has lost most of his energy from having previously defeated the Menons twice, and so his younger brother, Upa-Upa, volunteers to fight alongside him to help him defeat the Menons once more.

The Japanese manual and the in-game epilogue instead place the game before the events of the original Fantasy Zone, with Opa-Opa and Upa-Upa undergoing training so that they may be allowed to wield weapons with them at all times and be able to defend the Fantasy Zone from enemy threats one day.

Gameplay

Unlike previous entries in the series, Fantasy Zone: The Maze is similar to Pac-Man. The hero, Opa-Opa (and Upa-Upa in a 2-player game), must navigate around a series of mazes collecting coins while avoiding enemies. The coins placed around the maze vary in value based on their size, and bigger coins will slowly decrease in size and value the longer the player(s) takes to collect every coin. When all coins are collected, all on-screen enemies will be turned into additional coins, and the player has a short amount of time to collect them before the current round ends.

Collected coins can be used to buy weapons, giving Opa-Opa a defense or allowing him to travel faster. Before each round begins, the game shows the possible weapons that can be bought in the current round and the prices for each weapon. To buy them, the player(s) must pass over a circle containing the weapon providing they have enough money to purchase it. Weapons only last for a short amount of time and cannot be carried over between rounds, and will be lost immediately if the player dies. Most weapons are fired using either of the face buttons.

The enemies that primarily roam the mazes are Mobile Bases, emerging from a Master Hole in the center of each maze that gradually builds up energy, turning from black to red. When it's about to reach full energy, the game alerts the player(s) to start moving towards the hole and touch it to reset it. If the Master Hole is allowed to be fully charged, it will send Plasma Wave transmissions to the Mobile Bases, in turn commanding them to release more enemies.

The rounds are based on those found in the original Fantasy Zone, with each planet having three rounds, though there are also bonus rounds at the end of each planet in which Opa-Opa must collect as many coins as possible before the time runs out. Collecting the 2x item in these bonus rounds will double the amount of coins collected. There are a total of 51 rounds to complete.

Weapons

Twin Shot
Fires two parallel shots in front of Opa-Opa/Upa-Upa at the same time.
Wide Beam
Fires a shot in a half-circle with wider range.
Laser Beam
Fires a laser that pierces through enemies.
Fire Bomb
A bomb that travels horizontally and blows up an enemy in one blast.
Heavy Bomb
Falls from the top of the screen, crushing any enemy in its path.
Big Wing
Increases Opa-Opa/Upa-Upa's movement speed.
Top Power
Makes Opa-Opa/Upa-Upa invincible, allowing him to defeat enemies by flying directly into them.

Items

Additional items periodically appear in the corners where the player(s) started in the maze, which can be collected by passing over them. They will flash and disappear if left alone.

Smart Bomb
Destroys all on-screen enemies.
Flicky
A cameo from Flicky. Awards $5,000 when collected.
1UP Egg
Awards an extra life.
50% Off
Reduces the cost of the next weapon purchased by half.

Planets

Notavailable.svg

Plaleaf (The Green Planet)

Notavailable.svg

Tabas (The Sun Planet)

Notavailable.svg

La Dune (The Sand Planet)

Notavailable.svg

Dolimicca (The Super Planet)

Notavailable.svg

Polaria (The Ice Planet)

Notavailable.svg

Mockstar (The Cloud Planet)

Notavailable.svg

Pocarius (The Water Planet)

Scoring

Mobile Bases: 200 points.

Menon Soldiers: 100 points.

Time Bonus: Awarded at the end of each round, based on clear time:

  • Less than 20 seconds = 20,000 points.
  • 20-29 seconds = 10,000 points.
  • 30-39 seconds = 5,000 points.
  • 40-49 seconds = 3,000 points.
  • 50-59 seconds = 1,000 points.
  • 60 seconds or more = 0 points.

Versions

Localised names

Also known as
Language Localised Name English Translation
English Fantasy Zone: The Maze Fantasy Zone: The Maze
English (US) Fantasy Zone: The Maze Fantasy Zone: The Maze
Japanese オパオパ Opa Opa

Magazine articles

Main article: Fantasy Zone: The Maze/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

OpaOpaWBiML Arcade JP Flyer.pdf

PDF
JP flyer
OpaOpaWBiML Arcade JP Flyer.pdf

Physical scans

System E version

Master System version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
81
[4]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK) PAL
81
[5]
The Games Machine (UK)
78
[6]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
81
[7]
Power Play (DE)
65
[8]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
50
[9]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
84
[10]
Soft (DK)
80
[11]
Software Gids (NL)
96
[12]
User (GR) PAL
61
[13]
Sega Master System
 76
Based on
10 reviews

Fantasy Zone: The Maze

Master System, JP
FZTheMaze JP cover.jpg
Cover
FZTheMaze JP cart.jpg
Cart
OpaOpaSMSJPManual.pdf
Manual
Master System, US
FZTheMaze US cover.jpg
Cover
FZTheMaze US cart.jpg
Cart
Fantasyzonemaze sms us manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, EU
FZTheMaze EU cover.jpg
Cover
FZTheMaze EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, SE (Rental)

Master System, AU
FZTheMaze AU cover.jpg
Cover
FZTM SMS AU cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, AU (Strategy Pack)
FZTM SMS AU sp back.jpgNospine.pngFZTM SMS AU sp cover.jpg
Cover
FZTM SMS AU cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, BR
FZTheMaze BR cover.jpg
Cover
FZTheMaze BR cart.jpg
Cart
FZTheMaze SMS BR Manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, KR

FZTheMaze SMS KR Cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Master System
 ?
CRC32 d29889ad
MD5 d37f86c678b2ad0018518ea7278db24b
SHA-1 a2cd356826c8116178394d8aba444cb636ef784e
128kB Cartridge (EU/US)
Sega Master System
 ?
CRC32 bea27d5c
MD5 a31cbbded45f66633fb38b1c1bef9b08
SHA-1 38bd50181b98216c9ccf1d7dd6bc2c0a21e9a283
128kB Cartridge (JP)

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/segamark3/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2019-06-21 03:44)
  2. ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "May 1992" (JP; 1992-04-xx), page 103
  3. ↑ Computer Entertainer, "August 1988" (US; 1988-08-13), page 12
  4. ↑ Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 96
  5. ↑ The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 56
  6. ↑ The Games Machine, "June 1988" (UK; 1988-05-19), page 65
  7. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 133
  8. ↑ Power Play, "Ausgabe 5" (DE; 1988-05-24), page 86
  9. ↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 56
  10. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 70
  11. ↑ Soft, "" (DK; 1988-10-xx), page 22
  12. ↑ Software Gids, "Mei/Juni 1990" (NL; 1990-05-xx), page 37
  13. ↑ User, "Aprílios 1992" (GR; 1992-0x-xx), page 87


Fantasy Zone: The Maze

OpaOpa Title.png

Main page | Comparisons | Maps | Magazine articles | Reception


Sega Master System
Prototypes: Prototype



Opa-Opa Fantasy Zone series of games
Arcade
 Fantasy Zone (1986) | Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa-Opa (1988) | Fantasy Zone (1998) | Fantasy Zone II DX: The Tears of Opa-Opa (2008) | Medal de Fantasy Zone (2012)
Sega Master System
 Fantasy Zone (1986) | Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa-Opa (1987) | Fantasy Zone: The Maze (1987) | Galactic Protector (1988)
PC Engine
TurboGrafx-16
 Fantasy Zone (1988) | Space Fantasy Zone (Unreleased)
Sega Game Gear
 Fantasy Zone Gear (1991)
Sega Mega Drive
 Super Fantasy Zone (1992) | Fantasy Zone (2022)
Sega Saturn
 Sega Ages Fantasy Zone (1997)
Mobile phone
 Fantasy Zone: Boss no Gyakushuu (2001) | Fantasy Zone P1 (2002) | Fantasy Zone (2003)
Sony PlayStation 2
 Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 3: Fantasy Zone (2003) | Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 33: Fantasy Zone Complete Collection (Fantasy Zone II DX: The Tears of Opa-Opa | Fantasy Zone Neo Classic) (2008)
LCD handheld game
 Fantasy Zone (2009)
Nintendo 3DS
 3D Fantasy Zone: Opa-Opa Bros. (2014) | 3D Fantasy Zone II W (2014)
Nintendo Switch
 Sega Ages Fantasy Zone (2019)
Fantasy Zone related media
Music
 Fantasy Zone Ultra Super Big Maximum Great Strong Complete Album (2008) | Fantasy Zone (2022)
Book
 Fantasy Zone Kanzen Kouryaku Guide (1987) | Fantasy Zone Ura Manual (1987) | Family Computer Game Hisshou Hou Series 43: Fantasy Zone (1987) | Fantasy Zone Hisshou Kanpeki Hon (1987) | Fantasy Zone: Isekai kara no Shinryakusha (1987) | Fantasy Zone II Kanpeki Hon (1989) | Fantasy Zone 2: Isei eno Tabidachi (1989) | Love! Fantasy Zone 2019 (2019)
Film
 Fantasy Zone (1987)
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