Difference between revisions of "Red Zone"

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| md_rating_uk=11
 
| md_rating_uk=11
 
| md_rrp_uk=44.99{{magref|cvg|156|60}}{{magref|mega|27|52}}
 
| md_rrp_uk=44.99{{magref|cvg|156|60}}{{magref|mega|27|52}}
−
| md_date_au=199x
+
| md_date_au=1994-11{{fileref|NewReleases 1994-11 AU Catalogue.pdf|page=21}}
 +
| md_code_au=FLAW00SMC
 +
| md_rrp_au=109.95{{fileref|NewReleases 1994-11 AU Catalogue.pdf|page=21}}
 
| md_rating_au=m15
 
| md_rating_au=m15
 
| md_date_kr=199x
 
| md_date_kr=199x
−
| md_code_kr=HIC-95001
+
|| md_code_kr=HIC-95001
 
| md_date_pt=199x
 
| md_date_pt=199x
 +
| md_date_cz=199x
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{SaveType
 
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}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
−
{{stub}}'''''{{PAGENAME}}''''', known as '''''Hardwired''''' during development and '''''Commando Raid''''' when demonstrated at [[Summer CES 1994]]{{magref|mms|23|10}}, is a [[Sega Mega Drive]] game released in 1994 by [[Zyrinx]].
+
{{stub}}'''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is a [[Sega Mega Drive]] action game developed by [[Zyrinx]] and published by [[Time Warner Interactive]]. First released in Europe and the United States in November 1994{{magref|cvg|156|60}}{{magref|gameplayers|0712|11}}, the game is most notable for its various graphical effects, such as sprite rotation, vector-based 3D maps, and limited [[full-motion video]] - all without utilizing extra hardware like ''[[Virtua Racing]]'', and proudly used as one of the game's selling points.{{fileref|Redzone md us cover.jpg}}
  
−
It is noteworthy for achieving sprite rotations, 3D vectors and full motion video; things that were often considered impossible to do on Mega Drive hardware. No additional hardware (such as an extra chip in ''[[Virtua Racing]]'' is used. The game proudly announces this technical achievement before the title screen.
+
==Story==
 +
The story can also be read in-game in the "History" option on the title screen, in which the game's premise is chronicled in detail.
  
−
Zyrinx were previously responsible for ''[[Sub-Terrania]]'', and the two games share similar graphics and logos. The soundtrack was again composed by [[Jesper Kyd]].
+
A radical party has succeeded in a cruel military takeover in a small former communist country called Zyristan, taking over huge depots of nuclear weapons. The coup was lead by the former colonel of the Zyristan army: Ivan Retovitz, a brutal power seeking psychopath and a notorious liar. Retovitz is a ruthless leader who has used drug trafficking to finance and purchase middle-eastern weapons to use in extreme right-wing terrorist attacks.
 +
 
 +
After using their newly acquired military firepower to annex neighbouring countries, Dictator Ivan Retovitz makes a territorial claim on two new countries. He threatens to use Zyristan's nuclear weapons on the neighbouring countries and on any countries from the free world daring to interfere, giving the world 24 hours to comply to his demands. Ivan claims that it is the last territorial claim that he will make, but a spy video tape reveals his plans about obtaining world domination by taking over one country at a time.
 +
 
 +
In a desperate last attempt to overthrow Retovitz's Zyristan party, a team of the world's elite troops assemble a covert plan to stop Retovitz and his party from taking over the world. The team is composed of "Shades", "Rocco", and "Mirage" — Each of them being trained in martial arts combat, heavy weapons operation, and vehicle reconnaissance. Military intelligence experts have recommended that a small aircraft to enter Zyristan airspace on a stealth mission bearing the codename: "Operation Red Zone". Once inside the airspace, the objective of the team is to disable the Zyristan missile launching facilities, which is to be followed by an allied infantry invasion. To accomplish this plan, the team secretly builds a special three-seater (Pilot, Gunner, Navigator) AH-64B Apache helicopter.
  
 
==Gameplay==
 
==Gameplay==
−
The player controls an AH-64B Apache helicopter in an attempt to stop the dictator Madman Ivan Retovitz from taking over the world. The helicopter has both a normal gun (fired with {{A}}) and a variety of weapons (fired with {{B}} and switched between with {{C}}) that target a crosshair that is at a fixed distance from the front of the helicopter, which can be steered with the D-pad.
+
The game is a shooter consisting mostly of flight missions using a helicopter fighter, interspersed with on-foot missions. The player starts out in control of the team's Apache fighter chopper, then having to pilot the Apache through enemy fire to complete a series of missions, utilizing their navigational maps to locate enemy outposts, fighter jets, and nuclear missile sites.
  
−
Around half of the game consists of flight missions.
+
The helicopter starts out the mission landed on a landing pad. In order to lift off the ground, the player hold {{up}} or any other direction until the chopper is flying in the air. Once airborne, the player can move the Apache by pressing {{up}} and {{down}} to move forwards/backwards, and press {{left}} and {{right}} to turn the Apache left/right. The Apache is armed with a variety of weapons that are aimed with a crosshair that is at a fixed distance from the front of the helicopter, which steers alongside the helicopter itself. Those weapons include a 30mm chain gun (fired with {{A}}), Hellfire tank killer missiles, 70mm rockets and Stinger missiles (fired with {{B}} and switched between with {{C}}).
  
−
Armor, weaponry and fuel need to be replenished by picking up items (marked with letters on the games map, accessible via the {{Start}} button.
+
In order to land, the player must hover the Apache over a landing pad, which makes the Apache land automatically.
  
−
There are also on-foot missions, with three selectable soldiers. In this mode, the game also uses a lot technical tricks to simulate a 3D environment similar to e.g. [[Loaded]] on Sega Saturn. A defeated character is permanently dead.
+
During the on-foot missions, the player has option to select between one of the three soldiers. In this mode, the game also uses a lot of technical tricks to simulate a 3D environment similar to e.g. [[Loaded]] on [[Sega Saturn]]. Once a character is defeated, he is permanently dead. If all characters perish, the mission fails, and its considered a Game Over.
  
−
Overall the game is rather puzzle oriented. Strict ammo limits and low health as well as limited fuel require a well planed approach.
+
Overall the game is rather puzzle oriented. Strict ammo limits, low health, as well as limited fuel require a well planned approach. Armor, weaponry, and fuel need to be replenished by picking up the respective items (marked with letters on the game's map, accessible via the {{Start}} button).
  
−
A password system is used to record progress. The game has no score system.
+
A password system is used to record progress, with passwords being given after the completion of a mission. Each password consists of a combination of the letters A, B, and C that correspond to the face buttons on the Control Pad.
  
 
===Missions===
 
===Missions===
−
{{InfoTable|imagewidths=200|
+
{{InfoTable|imagewidths=224|
 
{{InfoRow
 
{{InfoRow
−
| title=Mission 1
+
| title=Mission 1 - Obtaining Infiltration Software
 
| screenshot=Notavailable.svg
 
| screenshot=Notavailable.svg
−
| desc=
+
| desc=The first mission starts out with the Apache fighter landed on an allied landing pad, where the objective is to fly to a southeastern island to meet an undercover agent. Reaching the destination, the player must land the helicopter and walk on foot to meet the agent, which will give a disk containing a piece of infiltration software designed to stun the enemy's early warning system.
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{InfoRow
 
{{InfoRow
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}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 +
 +
==Sound and music==
 +
As with previous [[Zyrinx]] games, ''{{PAGENAME}}'''s soundtrack was composed by the studio's in-house musician [[Jesper Kyd]].
 +
 +
==History==
 +
===Development===
 +
During the game's development, it was known under the working title '''''Hardwired'''''. Later, when the game was demonstrated at [[Summer CES 1994]], it appeared under the new title '''''Commando Raid'''''.{{magref|mms|23|10}}
  
 
==Production credits==
 
==Production credits==
Line 107: Line 122:
 
*'''Acting & Math Support:''' Haissam Badawi
 
*'''Acting & Math Support:''' Haissam Badawi
 
}}
 
}}
 +
| console=MD
 +
}}
 +
{{hr}}
 +
{{creditstable|
 +
*'''Producers:''' Ken Humphries, Daniel Small
 +
*'''Manual Writer:''' Jon Mongelluzzo
 +
| source=US manual
 +
| pdf=Red Zone MD US Manual.pdf
 +
| pdfpage=12
 
| console=MD
 
| console=MD
 
}}
 
}}
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==Promotional material==
 
==Promotional material==
 
{{gallery
 
{{gallery
 +
|{{galleryPrintAd
 +
|mms|26|13,15
 +
}}
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|gamepro|66|209
 
|gamepro|66|209
 
}}
 
}}
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
−
|mms|26|13,15
+
|gamechamp|1995-03|21
 +
|gamechamp|1995-04|26
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
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| cover=Redzone md eu cover.jpg
 
| cover=Redzone md eu cover.jpg
 
| cart=Redzone md eu cart.jpg
 
| cart=Redzone md eu cart.jpg
 +
| manual=Red Zone MD EU Manual.jpg
 
| item1=RedZone MD EU pcb.jpg
 
| item1=RedZone MD EU pcb.jpg
 
| item1name=PCB
 
| item1name=PCB
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| region=PT
 
| region=PT
 
| cover=RedZone MD PT cover.jpg
 
| cover=RedZone MD PT cover.jpg
 +
}}{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Mega Drive
 +
| region=CZ ([[Datart]])
 +
| cover=Redzone md cz box front.jpeg
 +
| cart=Redzone md eu cart.jpg
 +
| manual=Notavailable.svg
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
| console=Mega Drive
 
| console=Mega Drive
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| cover=RedZone MD AU cover.jpg
 
| cover=RedZone MD AU cover.jpg
 
| cart=RedZone MD AU Cart.jpg
 
| cart=RedZone MD AU Cart.jpg
 +
| manual=Red Zone MD AU Manual.jpg
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
| console=Mega Drive
 
| console=Mega Drive
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==Technical information==
 
==Technical information==
−
===ROM dump status===
+
{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Technical information}}
−
{{romtable|
 
−
{{rom|MD|sha1=2e01a1ee8ff31b3eee0c422d30b529aedd7ffdc1|md5=b351a24e0873756de1fa22282cf81ec0|crc32=56512ee5|size=2MB|date=1994-09|source=Cartridge (US/EU)|comments=|icon=|quality=good}}
 
−
}}
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==

Revision as of 21:40, 1 June 2024

n/a

Red Zone Title.png

Red Zone
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Scavenger, Time Warner Interactive
Developer:
Sound driver: Zyrinx/Jesper Kyd sound driver
Genre: Shooting

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US 		T-48376
Videogame Rating Council: MA-13
Sega Mega Drive
EU 		T-48376-50
ELSPA: 11+ OK
Sega Mega Drive
PT
Sega Mega Drive
UK 		£44.9944.99[3][5] T-48376-50
ELSPA: 11+ OK
Sega Mega Drive
CZ
Sega Mega Drive
AU 		$109.95109.95[6] FLAW00SMC
OFLC: M15
Sega Mega Drive
KR 		HIC-95001

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

Red Zone is a Sega Mega Drive action game developed by Zyrinx and published by Time Warner Interactive. First released in Europe and the United States in November 1994[3][1], the game is most notable for its various graphical effects, such as sprite rotation, vector-based 3D maps, and limited full-motion video - all without utilizing extra hardware like Virtua Racing, and proudly used as one of the game's selling points.[7]

Story

The story can also be read in-game in the "History" option on the title screen, in which the game's premise is chronicled in detail.

A radical party has succeeded in a cruel military takeover in a small former communist country called Zyristan, taking over huge depots of nuclear weapons. The coup was lead by the former colonel of the Zyristan army: Ivan Retovitz, a brutal power seeking psychopath and a notorious liar. Retovitz is a ruthless leader who has used drug trafficking to finance and purchase middle-eastern weapons to use in extreme right-wing terrorist attacks.

After using their newly acquired military firepower to annex neighbouring countries, Dictator Ivan Retovitz makes a territorial claim on two new countries. He threatens to use Zyristan's nuclear weapons on the neighbouring countries and on any countries from the free world daring to interfere, giving the world 24 hours to comply to his demands. Ivan claims that it is the last territorial claim that he will make, but a spy video tape reveals his plans about obtaining world domination by taking over one country at a time.

In a desperate last attempt to overthrow Retovitz's Zyristan party, a team of the world's elite troops assemble a covert plan to stop Retovitz and his party from taking over the world. The team is composed of "Shades", "Rocco", and "Mirage" — Each of them being trained in martial arts combat, heavy weapons operation, and vehicle reconnaissance. Military intelligence experts have recommended that a small aircraft to enter Zyristan airspace on a stealth mission bearing the codename: "Operation Red Zone". Once inside the airspace, the objective of the team is to disable the Zyristan missile launching facilities, which is to be followed by an allied infantry invasion. To accomplish this plan, the team secretly builds a special three-seater (Pilot, Gunner, Navigator) AH-64B Apache helicopter.

Gameplay

The game is a shooter consisting mostly of flight missions using a helicopter fighter, interspersed with on-foot missions. The player starts out in control of the team's Apache fighter chopper, then having to pilot the Apache through enemy fire to complete a series of missions, utilizing their navigational maps to locate enemy outposts, fighter jets, and nuclear missile sites.

The helicopter starts out the mission landed on a landing pad. In order to lift off the ground, the player hold Up or any other direction until the chopper is flying in the air. Once airborne, the player can move the Apache by pressing Up and Down to move forwards/backwards, and press Left and Right to turn the Apache left/right. The Apache is armed with a variety of weapons that are aimed with a crosshair that is at a fixed distance from the front of the helicopter, which steers alongside the helicopter itself. Those weapons include a 30mm chain gun (fired with A), Hellfire tank killer missiles, 70mm rockets and Stinger missiles (fired with B and switched between with C).

In order to land, the player must hover the Apache over a landing pad, which makes the Apache land automatically.

During the on-foot missions, the player has option to select between one of the three soldiers. In this mode, the game also uses a lot of technical tricks to simulate a 3D environment similar to e.g. Loaded on Sega Saturn. Once a character is defeated, he is permanently dead. If all characters perish, the mission fails, and its considered a Game Over.

Overall the game is rather puzzle oriented. Strict ammo limits, low health, as well as limited fuel require a well planned approach. Armor, weaponry, and fuel need to be replenished by picking up the respective items (marked with letters on the game's map, accessible via the  START  button).

A password system is used to record progress, with passwords being given after the completion of a mission. Each password consists of a combination of the letters A, B, and C that correspond to the face buttons on the Control Pad.

Missions

Notavailable.svg

Mission 1 - Obtaining Infiltration Software
The first mission starts out with the Apache fighter landed on an allied landing pad, where the objective is to fly to a southeastern island to meet an undercover agent. Reaching the destination, the player must land the helicopter and walk on foot to meet the agent, which will give a disk containing a piece of infiltration software designed to stun the enemy's early warning system.

Notavailable.svg

Mission 2

Notavailable.svg

Mission 3

Notavailable.svg

Mission 4

Notavailable.svg

Mission 5

Notavailable.svg

Mission 6

Notavailable.svg

Mission 7

Notavailable.svg

Mission 8

Notavailable.svg

Mission 9

Sound and music

As with previous Zyrinx games, Red Zone's soundtrack was composed by the studio's in-house musician Jesper Kyd.

History

Development

During the game's development, it was known under the working title Hardwired. Later, when the game was demonstrated at Summer CES 1994, it appeared under the new title Commando Raid.[8]

Production credits

  • Code: David Guldbrandsen, Karsten Hvidberg, Jens Bo Albretsen
  • Graphics': Mikael Balle, Jesper Vorsholt Jørgensen
  • Music: Jesper Kyd
  • Additional Code: Thomas Risager (Guz)
  • Character Animation: Dan Harder
  • Acting & Math Support: Haissam Badawi
  • Producers: Ken Humphries, Daniel Small
  • Manual Writer: Jon Mongelluzzo
Source:
US manual
Red Zone MD US Manual.pdf
[9]


Magazine articles

Main article: Red Zone/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Mean Machines Sega (UK) #26: "December 1994" (1994-10-28)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in GamePro (US) #66: "January 1995" (199x-xx-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Game Champ (KR) #1995-03: "xxxx" (199x-xx-xx)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
30
[11]
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
60
[12]
Alaab Alcomputtar (SA)
78
[13]
Cool Gamer (RU)
70
[14]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
93
[3]
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
75
[15]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
68
[16]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
60
[17]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 3 (RU)
60
[18]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
80
[19]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
68
[20]
Games World: The Magazine (UK) PAL
72
[21]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
69
[22]
Joypad (FR)
86
[23]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
74
[24]
Mega (UK) PAL
92
[5]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
76
[25]
Micro Kid's Multimédia (FR)
75
[26]
Micromanía (tercera época) (ES)
90
[27]
Magazina Igrushek (RU)
90
[28]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
92
[29]
Next Generation (US)
50
[30]
Player One (FR)
90
[31]
Play Time (DE) PAL
76
[32]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
94
[4]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
78
[33]
Sega Megazone (AU)
81
[34]
Todo Sega (ES)
92
[35]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
72
[36]
Video Games (DE) PAL
84
[37]
VideoGames (US)
70
[38]
Sega Mega Drive
 76
Based on
31 reviews

Red Zone

Mega Drive, US
Redzone md us cover.jpg
Cover
Redzone md us cart.jpg
Cart
Red Zone MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
Redzone md eu cover.jpg
Cover
Redzone md eu cart.jpg
Cart
Red Zone MD EU Manual.jpg
Manual
RedZone MD EU pcb.jpg
PCB
Mega Drive, PT
RedZone MD PT cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, CZ (Datart)
Redzone md cz box front.jpeg
Cover
Redzone md eu cart.jpg
Cart
Notavailable.svg
Manual
Mega Drive, AU
RedZone MD AU cover.jpg
Cover
RedZone MD AU Cart.jpg
Cart
Red Zone MD AU Manual.jpg
Manual
Mega Drive, KR
RedZone MD KR cover.jpg
Cover

Technical information

Main article: Red Zone/Technical information.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 12 December 1994" (US; 1994-1x-xx), page 11
  2. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "September 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 166
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Computer & Video Games, "November 1994" (UK; 1994-10-15), page 60
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Sega Magazine, "October 1994" (UK; 1994-09-15), page 96
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Mega, "December 1994" (UK; 1994-11-30), page 52
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 File:NewReleases 1994-11 AU Catalogue.pdf, page 21
  7. ↑ File:Redzone md us cover.jpg
  8. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "September 1994" (UK; 1994-07-30), page 10
  9. ↑ File:Red Zone MD US Manual.pdf, page 12
  10. ↑ Game Champ, "xxxx" (KR; 199x-xx-xx), page 26
  11. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 135
  12. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 186
  13. ↑ Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1995-06-xx), page 80
  14. ↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 167
  15. ↑ Electronic Games (1992-1995), "January 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 86
  16. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 46
  17. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 352
  18. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 3, "" (RU; 2000-xx-xx), page 220
  19. ↑ Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 12 December 1994" (US; 1994-1x-xx), page 142
  20. ↑ GamePro, "January 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 50
  21. ↑ Games World: The Magazine, "February 1995" (UK; 1994-12-xx), page 15
  22. ↑ Game Informer, "January 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 12
  23. ↑ Joypad, "Décembre 1994" (FR; 1994-1x-xx), page 55
  24. ↑ MAN!AC, "12/94" (DE; 1994-11-09), page 42
  25. ↑ Mega Fun, "01/95" (DE; 1994-12-21), page 34
  26. ↑ Micro Kid's Multimédia, "Février 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 52
  27. ↑ Micromanía (tercera época), "Febrero 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 105
  28. ↑ Magazina Igrushek, "4/1995" (RU; 1995-xx-xx), page 62
  29. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "November 1994" (UK; 1994-09-30), page 66
  30. ↑ Next Generation, "February 1995" (US; 1995-01-24), page 103
  31. ↑ Player One, "Décembre 1994" (FR; 1994-1x-xx), page 126
  32. ↑ Play Time, "2/95" (DE; 1995-01-04), page 108
  33. ↑ Sega Power, "December 1994" (UK; 1994-10-20), page 76
  34. ↑ Sega Megazone, "February 1995" (AU; 1995-0x-xx), page 32
  35. ↑ Todo Sega, "Enero 1995" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 46
  36. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 22
  37. ↑ Video Games, "12/94" (DE; 1994-11-23), page 95
  38. ↑ VideoGames, "December 1994" (US; 1994-1x-xx), page 80


Red Zone

Red Zone Title.png

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