Super Fantasy Zone

n/a

NTSC-J (Japanese) NTSC-J (English) PAL
Super Fantasy Zone
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Virtual Console, Nintendo Switch Online
Publisher: Sunsoft
Developer: Sunsoft M2
Licensor: Sega Enterprises, Ltd. Sega Corporation Sega Corporation
Sound driver: Sunsoft sound driver
Genre: Shooting
Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code JP 1992-01-14 ¥6,800 (7,004)6,800e T-15023 EU 1993 1142 UK 1993 £39.9939.99 1142 JP ▼ 2008-05-07 600pts600 US ▼ 2008-06-21 900pts900 EU ▼ 2008-06-27 800pts800 AU ▼ 2008-06 800pts800 JP ▼ 2022-03-17 SUBsub US ▼ 2022-03-16 SUBsub EU ▼ 2022-03-17 SUBsub UK ▼ 2022-03-17 SUBsub
USK

Super Fantasy Zone (スーパーファンタジーゾーン) is an entry in the Fantasy Zone series of games, and was initially released in 1992 for the Sega Mega Drive. Unlike previous outings, Super Fantasy Zone was handled entirely by Sunsoft (under license from Sega), who had previously brought Fantasy Zone and Fantasy Zone II to the Famicom.

For unknown reasons the game was not released in cartridge form in North America, but is currently unconfirmed as being a Sega Channel title. It eventually saw a more widespread release as part of the Wii's Virtual Console service and was included on all regional variants of the Mega Drive Mini.

Story

In the Space Year 623X, an irregular gravitating phenomenon was detected near the planet Menon, located in the frontier of the Fantasy Zone. A science patrol was sent on a mission to investigate this phenomenon, but during their voyage they were attacked by a military troop. Being unequipped for battle, the science patrol's communication with the operation base back home was lost.

The military troop that attacked the science patrol turned out to be the "Dark Menon Force", a large-scale invasion force planning to conquer the Fantasy Zone that has been taking over many planets en-route, plundering their currency and brutally bringing the planets' metropolises to ruin. Despite his advanced age and waning skills, O-Papa, father of the hero, Opa-Opa, led a defense squadron to ward off the Dark Menon Force, though this attempt turned out to be futile. As valiantly as they fought, the defense squadron was completely wiped out, and O-Papa was mortally wounded in battle...

Opa-Opa watched as his father was brought home for the final time. With tear-filled eyes, it is now up to him to avenge his father and restore peace to the Fantasy Zone once more.

Gameplay

Like other games in the series, Super Fantasy Zone is a multi-directional side scrolling shooter. Players control Opa-Opa and are tasked with shooting and destroying "bases" littered across levels, before fighting a boss. For the most part, gameplay is identical to the original Fantasy Zone, ignoring features such as the warps from Fantasy Zone II.

The default controls are as follows: fires the main weapon, drops a bomb (with unlimited stock), and uses the special weapon, which can be bought from a shop, found throughout each level as balloons which must be collided into to enter. All upgrades are lost if the player loses a life.

Weapons

The Parts Shop.

These are the starting prices for the items in the shop. The prices for these items increase as the player purchases more of them.

	Big Wings
	Type: Speed Up Base cost: $200
	Increases Opa-Opa's speed slightly.
	Jet Engine
	Type: Speed Up Base cost: $5,000
	Increases Opa-Opa's speed considerably.
	Turbo Engine
	Type: Speed Up Base cost: $20,000
	Increases Opa-Opa's speed dramatically.
	Rocket Engine
	Type: Speed Up Base cost: $100,000
	Increases Opa-Opa's speed drastically.
	Wide Beam
	Type: Weapon 1 Base cost: $1,000 Inflation: $800
	Fires a beam with wide range.
	Laser Beam
	Type: Weapon 1 Base cost: $4,000 Inflation: $2,000
	Fires a piercing laser beam equating to 16 bullets per second.
	7-Way Shots
	Type: Weapon 1 Base cost: $10,000 Inflation: $4,000
	Fires bullets in seven directions simultaneously.
	Cross Rang
	Type: Weapon 1 Base cost: $20,000 Inflation: $2,000
	Fires a short-ranged shuriken like a boomerang, dealing heavy damage.
	Twin Bombs
	Type: Weapon 2 Base cost: $200 Inflation: $500
	Allows Opa-Opa to drop two bombs in succession.
	Quartet Missiles
	Type: Weapon 2 Base cost: $1,000 Inflation: $1,000
	Fires four simultaneous homing missiles.
	Smart Bomb
	Type: Special Weapon Base cost: $2,000 Inflation: $1,000
	Deals damage to all on-screen enemies.
	Heavy Bomb
	Type: Special Weapon Base cost: $2,000 Inflation: $1,000
	Drops a 256t weight, crushing any enemy in its path.
	Back Fire
	Type: Special Weapon Base cost: $2,000 Inflation: $1,000
	Fires a wide burst of flame from behind Opa-Opa.
	Thunder Volt
	Type: Special Weapon Base cost: $2,000 Inflation: $1,000
	Fires eight lightning bolts at random positions on the screen.
	Hurricane
	Type: Special Weapon Base cost: $2,000 Inflation: $1,000
	Fires four wind projectiles that spiral outward from Opa-Opa.
	Ultra Bomb
	Type: Special Weapon Base cost: $2,000 Inflation: $1,000
	Drops a single bomb with a giant blast radius when it hits something.
	Shower Bombs
	Type: Special Weapon Base cost: $2,000 Inflation: $1,000
	Drops a line of six bombs simultaneously.
	Extra Ship
	Type: Other Base cost: $5,000 (1st), $20,000 (2nd), $50,000 (3rd), $100,000 (4th onwards)
	Awards an extra life.
	Shield
	Type: Other Base cost: $40,000 Inflation: $1,000
	Creates a shield around Opa-Opa.
	Rubber Boots
	Type: Other Base cost: $5,000 Inflation: $1,000
	Allows Opa-Opa to walk on the electrified floors of Le Picker.
	Super Lights
	Type: Other Base cost: $4,000 Inflation: $1,000
	Enhances Opa-Opa's visibility in Risscave.

Rounds

	Round 1: Picknica
	A bright forest with a mountain lake background. The boss of this round, Lanturn (ランターン), is a giant jack-o-lantern that spits out projectiles that explode into an outward burst of eight bullets while periodically moving around the screen and teleporting. It is vulnerable all over and is a relatively simple boss to defeat.
	Round 2: Kazarne
	This level is a fiery volcanic land. The boss of this round, Zeek (ズィーク), is a circular boss lined with laser turrets that will fire in sequence similar to Cobabeach from the original Fantasy Zone. All of the laser turrets need to be destroyed in order to defeat this boss.
	Round 3: Niagaro
	Large waterfalls fall from the sky in this level with large clouds floating around the air. The boss of this round, Pooka (プーカ), is a large robotic fish that will attempt to suck in Opa-Opa while also firing scales at him. To defeat it, Opa-Opa must shoot into its mouth while it's trying to suck him in. The Quartet Missiles and Back Fire are especially effective against this boss.
	Round 4: Risscave
	A very dark cavern, it's very hard to see in here. The Super Lights will enhance Opa-Opa's visibility here. The boss of this round illuminates the entire cave and hovers in the centre of the screen, extendings its arms while also shooting bullets at Opa-Opa. Weapons like Bombs, Quartet Missiles and Heavy Bomb are effective against it.
	Round 5: Grandiuss
	This level consists of a desert landscape, with canyons in the background. The boss of this round is a pair of square-shaped bosses that move around the screen in a set pattern. The bosses are only vulnerable when one of them opens its eyes.
	Round 6: Le-Picker
	The floor glows bright with electricity in this stage, and Opa-Opa will need the Rubber Boots to safely stand on it. The boss of this round floats around and fires six rounds of electrical balls from the eight conduits on both sides, then fires two lighting bolts from the top and bottom. All eight of the conduits need to be destroyed to defeat this boss.
	Round 7: Aflorious
	Big bubbles make up the floor, with a bright rainbow in the background. The boss of this round is a giant nautilus that will split up into four smaller copies when damaged similar in fashion to Asteroids. These smaller copies will move around in a circular pattern while continuing to shoot bullets, and each one will split up into even smaller copies when defeated. The very small copies will bounce around the screen rather than shoot, and damaging them enough will immobilise them, however they will still be harmful obstacles. All 16 of the smallest copies need to be immobilised in order to defeat the boss. The Thunder Volt is effective at hitting multiple targets at once for this fight.
	Round 8: Menone
	As with previous Fantasy Zone games, the final round is a boss rush against all the previous bosses, culminating with the final boss. The first phase has Opa-Opa fight a large copy of himself that moves around and attacks using its own version of the 7-Way Shot and Heavy Bomb. When that is defeated, Opa-Opa fights the avatar of the Dark Menon Force's mastermind - the Dark Master. This boss attacks by firing a purple energy field that will follow Opa-Opa and slow him down, while also curling up into a ball and bouncing around the screen. The cockpit serves as the weaknesses for both phases.

Production credits

Main article: Super Fantasy Zone/Production credits.

Digital manuals

• 

  Mega Drive Mini JP manual

• 

  Mega Drive Mini EU manual

Magazine articles

Main article: Super Fantasy Zone/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-11: "November 1991" (1991-10-08)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1992-02: "February 1992" (1992-01-08)

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J 85 Consoles + (FR) 91 Console XS (UK) PAL 81 Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J 63 Game Power (IT) 90 Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J 60 Joypad (FR) 60 Joypad (FR) PAL 70 Joystick (FR) NTSC-J 60 Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) NTSC 86 Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) NTSC-J 86 MegaTech (UK) NTSC-J 70 Player One (FR) 90 Play Time (DE) 58 Play Time (DE) 70 Power Play (DE) 77 Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-J 80 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 71 Sega Force (UK) PAL 90 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 85 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 57 Video Games (DE) 77

	75
Based on 22 reviews

Super Fantasy Zone

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, FR
Cover
Manual

Technical information

Main article: Super Fantasy Zone/Technical information.

External links

• Sega of Japan Virtual Console pages: Mega Drive
• Nintendo catalogue pages: US, UK, AU