Difference between revisions of "Dropzone"

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| developer=[[Big Red Software]]
 
| developer=[[Big Red Software]]
 
| system=[[Sega Game Gear]]
 
| system=[[Sega Game Gear]]
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| players=1-2 (alternating)
 
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| gg_date_eu=1994
 
| gg_date_eu=1994
 
| gg_code_eu=T-121007
 
| gg_code_eu=T-121007
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| gg_date_uk=1994-07{{magref|cvg|153|56}}{{magref|segapower|56|53}}
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| gg_date_uk=1994-09-02{{magref|ctw|502|43}}{{magref|segapro|36|8}}<!--1994-07{{magref|cvg|153|56}}{{magref|segapower|56|53}}-->
 
| gg_code_uk=T-121007
 
| gg_code_uk=T-121007
 
| gg_rrp_uk=27.99{{magref|segapower|56|53}}{{magref|segapro|34|64}}<!--21.99{{magref|cvg|149|14}}-->
 
| gg_rrp_uk=27.99{{magref|segapower|56|53}}{{magref|segapro|34|64}}<!--21.99{{magref|cvg|149|14}}-->
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| otherformats={{NonSega|A8B|C64|GB|GBC|NES}}
 
| otherformats={{NonSega|A8B|C64|GB|GBC|NES}}
 
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{{sub-stub}}'''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is a shoot-'em-up game released among other consoles for the [[Sega Game Gear]]. It is very similar to ''Defender'' in design.
+
'''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is a shooting game. It was originally released for the [[Atari 8-bit family]] of home computers, but it was ported to other computers and consoles, including the [[Sega Game Gear]] in 1994.
  
−
The Game Gear version was released exclusively in Europe. A [[Sega Master System]] version was also planned for release in July 1994{{magref|segamaguk|8|21}}{{magref|segapower|56|12}}, but cancelled.
+
The Game Gear version was released exclusively in Europe.
  
−
[https://www.smspower.org/Hacks/Dropzone-GG-GG2SMS A Sega Master System GG2SMS hack was released in April 2017.]
+
==Story==
 +
On the surface of Jupiter's moon, Io, a human scientific research base is under attack by aliens. A heroic astronaut must rescue the scientists and return them to the base.
 +
 
 +
==Gameplay==
 +
{{ScreenThumb2|Dropzone, Dropzone.png|Dropzone, Shooting.png|width=160|Gameplay}}
 +
The game is similar to ''Defender''. Players control the hero, an astronaut wearing a spacesuit with a jetpack, on a horizontally scrolling game field. A level is completed when all of the scientists are rescued (or dead) and all of the enemies are destroyed. Some levels contain no scientists and only involve eliminating alien invaders. The astronaut is equipped with a raygun, a cloaking device, and smart bombs. A map appears on the bottom of the screen that shows the terrain and the location of any scientists and aliens.
 +
 
 +
The hero must elude or engage various aliens (which have a variety of speeds, movement patterns, and attacks) and return the scientists to the base's dropzone. Scientists appear as blue squares with yellow corners, and the dropzone is a white cross on the ground. Scientists can be killed by enemies or by friendly fire. The astronaut can pick up scientists one at a time by touching them, then they are carried until placed onto the dropzone. Counters on the bottom of the screen show how many scientists have been successfully rescued ("IN") and how many remain ("OUT").
 +
 
 +
The astronaut can fly in any direction with the D-Pad. The moon has low gravity, so the astronaut floats briefly in the air before falling back to the surface. The astronaut is armed with a laser gun that can be fired with {{1}}. This weapon shoots quickly and can penetrate multiple targets. Additionally, the astronaut starts the game with three smart bombs, which destroy all on-screen enemies when used. Smart bombs are detonated with {{2}}. Finally, the astronaut's spacesuit contains a cloaking system that allows the astronaut to pass through enemies and enemy fire unharmed. Cloaking is toggled with {{1}}+{{2}}. Cloaking drains a meter when it is engaged; the meter is partially replenished when a level is completed. Scientists cannot be picked up while cloaked, but the astronaut can cloak after picking up a scientist.
 +
 
 +
The astronaut is killed if harmed by an enemy or a hazard (including volcanoes and lightning) but respawns without restarting the level if the player has extra lives remaining. The player starts the game with three lives, and the game ends if the player runs out of lives. The player gains an extra life and another smart bomb for every 10,000 points earned.
 +
 
 +
There is a two-player mode where players take turns playing (using the same Game Gear).
 +
 
 +
==Music and sound==
 +
The game uses an arrangement of [[wikipedia:Toccata and Fugue in D minor|"Toccata and Fugue in D minor"]] by German composer [[wikipedia:Johann Sebastian Bach|Johann Sebastian Bach]] for its title screen music.
 +
 
 +
==History==
 +
===Development===
 +
A [[Dropzone (Master System)|Sega Master System version]] was planned for release in July 1994{{magref|segamaguk|8|21}}{{magref|segapower|56|12}}, but was ultimately cancelled.
 +
 
 +
===Legacy===
 +
A sequel, ''Super Dropzone'', was released for the [[Super NES]], [[Game Boy Advance]], and [[PlayStation]].
  
 
==Magazine articles==
 
==Magazine articles==
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<references/>
 
<references/>
 
{{DropzoneOmni}}
 
{{DropzoneOmni}}
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[[Category:Unreleased Master System games]]
 

Latest revision as of 19:31, 28 April 2024

n/a

Dropzone title.png

Dropzone
System(s): Sega Game Gear
Publisher: Codemasters
Developer:
Genre: Arcade[1]

















Number of players: 1-2 (alternating)
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Game Gear
EU 		T-121007
Sega Game Gear
UK 		£27.9927.99[4][5] T-121007
Non-Sega versions

Dropzone is a shooting game. It was originally released for the Atari 8-bit family of home computers, but it was ported to other computers and consoles, including the Sega Game Gear in 1994.

The Game Gear version was released exclusively in Europe.

Story

On the surface of Jupiter's moon, Io, a human scientific research base is under attack by aliens. A heroic astronaut must rescue the scientists and return them to the base.

Gameplay

Dropzone, Dropzone.png

Dropzone, Shooting.png

Gameplay

The game is similar to Defender. Players control the hero, an astronaut wearing a spacesuit with a jetpack, on a horizontally scrolling game field. A level is completed when all of the scientists are rescued (or dead) and all of the enemies are destroyed. Some levels contain no scientists and only involve eliminating alien invaders. The astronaut is equipped with a raygun, a cloaking device, and smart bombs. A map appears on the bottom of the screen that shows the terrain and the location of any scientists and aliens.

The hero must elude or engage various aliens (which have a variety of speeds, movement patterns, and attacks) and return the scientists to the base's dropzone. Scientists appear as blue squares with yellow corners, and the dropzone is a white cross on the ground. Scientists can be killed by enemies or by friendly fire. The astronaut can pick up scientists one at a time by touching them, then they are carried until placed onto the dropzone. Counters on the bottom of the screen show how many scientists have been successfully rescued ("IN") and how many remain ("OUT").

The astronaut can fly in any direction with the D-Pad. The moon has low gravity, so the astronaut floats briefly in the air before falling back to the surface. The astronaut is armed with a laser gun that can be fired with 1. This weapon shoots quickly and can penetrate multiple targets. Additionally, the astronaut starts the game with three smart bombs, which destroy all on-screen enemies when used. Smart bombs are detonated with 2. Finally, the astronaut's spacesuit contains a cloaking system that allows the astronaut to pass through enemies and enemy fire unharmed. Cloaking is toggled with 1+2. Cloaking drains a meter when it is engaged; the meter is partially replenished when a level is completed. Scientists cannot be picked up while cloaked, but the astronaut can cloak after picking up a scientist.

The astronaut is killed if harmed by an enemy or a hazard (including volcanoes and lightning) but respawns without restarting the level if the player has extra lives remaining. The player starts the game with three lives, and the game ends if the player runs out of lives. The player gains an extra life and another smart bomb for every 10,000 points earned.

There is a two-player mode where players take turns playing (using the same Game Gear).

Music and sound

The game uses an arrangement of "Toccata and Fugue in D minor" by German composer Johann Sebastian Bach for its title screen music.

History

Development

A Sega Master System version was planned for release in July 1994[6][7], but was ultimately cancelled.

Legacy

A sequel, Super Dropzone, was released for the Super NES, Game Boy Advance, and PlayStation.

Magazine articles

Main article: Dropzone/Magazine articles.

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Computer & Video Games (UK) PAL
76
[8]
Gamers (DE)
73
[9]
Games World: The Magazine (UK) PAL
46
[10]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
73
[11]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
90
[12]
Player One (FR) PAL
70
[13]
Play Time (DE)
71
[14]
Power Up! (UK)
83
[15]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
70
[16]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
85
[17]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
90
[4]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
26
[5]
Sega Megazone (AU) PAL
75
[18]
Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL
86
[19]
Todo Sega (ES)
82
[20]
Video Games (DE) PAL
45
[21]
Sega Game Gear
 71
Based on
16 reviews

Dropzone

Game Gear, EU
Dropzone GG EU Box Back.jpgDropzone GG EU Box Spine.jpgDropzone GG EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
Dropzone GG EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Dropzone GG EU Manual.jpg
Manual

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 152f0dcc
MD5 65df09530f9c8f02ab11982228d7d18e
SHA-1 b78bc3fe6bfbc7d6f5e85d59d79be19bf7372bcc
128kB 1994-05-24 Cartridge (EU)

References

  1. ↑ File:Dropzone GG EU Box Back.jpg
  2. ↑ Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1994-08-29), page 43
  3. ↑ Sega Pro, "September 1994" (UK; 1994-08-11), page 8
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Sega Power, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-05-05), page 53
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Sega Pro, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-06-16), page 64
  6. ↑ Sega Magazine, "August 1994" (UK; 1994-07-15), page 21
  7. ↑ Sega Power, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-05-05), page 12
  8. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "August 1994" (UK; 1994-07-15), page 56
  9. ↑ Gamers, "Juli/August 1994" (DE; 1994-07-01), page 51
  10. ↑ Games World: The Magazine, "August 1994" (UK; 1994-06-30), page 25
  11. ↑ Mega Fun, "07/94" (DE; 1994-06-22), page 69
  12. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-05-28), page 62
  13. ↑ Player One, "Octobre 1994" (FR; 1994-xx-xx), page 128
  14. ↑ Play Time, "8/94" (DE; 1994-07-16), page 145
  15. ↑ Power Up!, "Saturday, October 22, 1994" (UK; 1994-10-22), page 1
  16. ↑ Sega Magazine, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-06-16), page 90
  17. ↑ Sega Magazine, "August 1994" (UK; 1994-07-15), page 97
  18. ↑ Sega Megazone, "September 1994" (AU; 1994-0x-xx), page 28
  19. ↑ Sonic the Comic, "November 11th 1994" (UK; 1994-10-29), page 10
  20. ↑ Todo Sega, "Octubre 1994" (ES; 1994-xx-xx), page 50
  21. ↑ Video Games, "7/94" (DE; 1994-06-29), page 106
Dropzone

Dropzone title.png

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