Xenon 2: Megablast

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Xenon2 Title.png

Xenon 2: Megablast
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System
Publisher: Virgin Games,
Sega Master System
Image Works (first release)
Developer:
Genre: Shoot-'em-Up

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
EU 		T-70076-50
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Master System
EU 		27012-50
Sega Master System
EU
(Virgin Games) 		27038-50

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Xenon 2: Megablast is a scrolling shoot-'em-up developed by The Bitmap Brothers and The Assembly Line and published by Image Works (and later Virgin Games) for a variety of systems including the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Master System. It is the sequel to 1988's home computer game Xenon, which was also the first game by Bitmap Brothers.

The game was notable for its soundtrack, an arrangement by David Whittaker of the 1988 song Megablast (Assault on Precinct 13) (which is also where the game's subtitle comes from), originally from British group Bomb the Bass. Megablast theme is based on the theme song of the 1976 film by John Carpenter, Assault on Precinct 13 (or more specifically, the 1983 disco version), with samples from the 1969 song You Can Make it if You Try by Sly & the Family Stone.

While North America and Japan got some of the other versions of the game, the Sega versions remained exclusive to Europe.

Gameplay

The game is a typical vertical shoot-'em-up: move around the screen with the D-pad and shoot with A, collecting credits dropped from enemies which can then be spent in a shop in exchange for weapon upgrades. Your ship continuously moves upwards, however it is also possible for reverse for a short period of time (as some of the forks in the road lead to dead-ends).

History

Legacy

According to Mike Montgomery from the Bitmap Brothers, 32X and Mega-CD ports were considered, but no publisher could be found.

Versions

The Sega Mega Drive version is the more faithful port of the game, although there is heavy slowdown and sprite flickering. The color palette is also overly saturated, with too much blue and green compared to the grays of the original. The final stage (mechanical world) is completely missing from the game.

Re-creating the Megablast theme on the Amiga was considered a substantial technical achievement in 1989, as while parts of the song were stripped out (most notably the introduction), the majority of the song remains in-tact (albeit with some slight differences due to using Amiga-generated waveforms for the instruments). This includes the samples, which although are heard at a lower quality than the source material, made Xenon II one of the first games to faithfully re-create a commercial song with non-expanded Amiga hardware.

However, despite this being one of the main selling points for Xenon II, the Mega Drive version omits all sampled audio, leaving a purely synthesized tune with gaps where the samples used to be. It also plays slightly too fast.

The Sega Master System version omits player bullets during heavy processor workload, several bosses have been removed and the final stage is also missing.

Magazine articles

Main article: Xenon 2: Megablast/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Xenon2SMSSMDAdvert.jpg
UK print advert
Xenon2SMSSMDAdvert.jpg
Master System ES print advert
Logo-pdf.svg
Mega Drive/Master System print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #132: "November 1992" (1992-10-15)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Master System print advert in Game Power (IT) #2: "Gennaio 1992" (199x-xx-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
53 №1992-08, p26[5]
59 №1, p118[6]
65 №13, p60
82 №16, p78/79[7]
50 №14, p50
52 №33, p201
72 №5, p95
45 №2, p66[8]
88 №1, p65
82 №17, p48-50[9]
82 №2/92, p15[10]
76 №17, p81[11]
66 №28, p36/37
86 №12, p42/43
86 №18, p68
82 №36, p61[12]
Sega Mega Drive
 70
Based on
16 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
50
[13]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
53
[14]
Console XS (UK) PAL
88
[15]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
59
[6]
Game Power (IT)
65
[16]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
82
[7]
Joypad (FR) PAL
50
[17]
Joystick (FR) PAL
52
[18]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
72
[19]
Mega (UK) PAL
45
[8]
Mega Action (UK)
88
[20]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
61
[21]
Mean Machines (UK)
82
[9]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
82
[22]
Power Play (DE)
67
[23]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
66
[24]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
86
[25]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
86
[26]
Sega Force (SE)
82
[10]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
76
[11]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
69
[27]
Video Games (DE) PAL
53
[28]
Zero (UK)
82
[12]
Sega Mega Drive
 69
Based on
23 reviews

Xenon 2: Megablast

Mega Drive, EU
Xenon2 MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
Xenon2 MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Xenon 2 Megablast MD EU Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, AU

Mega Drive, SE (Rental)

Master System version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
88 №1, p163[29]
94 №2, p34/35[30]
90 №1, p24-26
80 №33, p26
66 №7, p161[31]
78 №1, p110[32]
86 №19, p190
84 №13, p78-80[33]
12 №16, p95[34]
41 №22, p134[35]
87 №24, p20/21
85 №1, p38/39[36]
89 №9, p31[37]
Sega Master System
 75
Based on
13 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
50
[38]
Console XS (UK) PAL
85
[39]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
88
[29]
Game Power (IT)
94
[30]
Gamers (DE)
27
[40]
Games-X (UK)
80
[41]
Game Zone (UK) PAL
90
[42]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
66
[43]
Joypad (FR)
78
[32]
Joystick (FR)
86
[44]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
55
[45]
Mean Machines (UK) PAL
84
[33]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
84
[46]
Player One (FR)
12
[34]
Player One (FR)
41
[47]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
87
[48]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
85
[36]
Sega Pro (UK)
85
[49]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
89
[37]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
85
[50]
Supersonic (FR)
81
[51]
Supersonic (FR)
81
[52]
Video Games (DE)
57
[53]
Sega Master System
 73
Based on
23 reviews

Xenon 2: Megablast

Master System, EU (Image Works)
Xenon2 SMS EU Box Imageworks.jpg
Cover
Xenon2 SMS EU Cart Imageworks.jpg
Cart
Master System, EU (Virgin Games)
Xenon2 SMS EU Box Virgin.jpg
Cover
Xenon 2 (Virgin) SMS EU Cart Top.jpg
Xenon 2 (Virgin) SMS EU Cart Back.jpgXenon2 SMS EU Cart Virgin.jpg
Cart
Xenon 2 (Virgin) SMS EU Manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, AU (Image Works)

XenonII SMS AU Cart.jpg
Cart
Xenon 2 SMS AU Manual.pdf
Manual

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Master System
 ?
CRC32 5c205ee1
MD5 1f1ce1d74c416f2b85cc3f24d316f9e3
SHA-1 72cb8a24f63e9e79c65c26141abdf53f96c60c0c
256kB Cartridge (EU)
Sega Master System
 ?
CRC32 ec726c0d
MD5 27fba4b7db989c663dda11c255cf49f3
SHA-1 860cff21eff077acd92b06a71d859bf3e81fe628
256kB Cartridge (EU)

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 File:MeanMachines UK 17.pdf, page 50
  2. ↑ File:SegaPro UK 01.pdf, page 9
  3. ↑ File:SegaPro UK 01.pdf, page 39
  4. ↑ File:Raze UK 06.pdf, page 16
  5. ↑ File:BeepMD_JP_1992-08.pdf, page 28
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, Virgin Books, page 118 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesEssentialSegaGuide Book UK.pdf_p118" defined multiple times with different content
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 File:HobbyConsolas ES 016.pdf, page 78 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:HobbyConsolas ES 016.pdf_p78" defined multiple times with different content
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 File:Mega UK 02.pdf, page 66 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Mega UK 02.pdf_p66" defined multiple times with different content
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 File:MeanMachines UK 17.pdf, page 48 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachines UK 17.pdf_p48" defined multiple times with different content
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 File:SegaForce SE 1992 02.pdf, page 15 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaForce SE 1992 02.pdf_p15" defined multiple times with different content
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 File:SegaForce UK 17.pdf, page 81 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaForce UK 17.pdf_p81" defined multiple times with different content
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 File:Zero UK 36.pdf, page 61 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Zero UK 36.pdf_p61" defined multiple times with different content
  13. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 270
  14. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1992" (JP; 1992-07-08), page 28
  15. ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 137
  16. ↑ Game Power, "Gennaio 1993" (IT; 199x-xx-xx), page 62
  17. ↑ Joypad, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-1x-xx), page 48
  18. ↑ Joystick, "Décembre 1992" (FR; 1992-1x-xx), page 201
  19. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 95
  20. ↑ Mega Action, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 65
  21. ↑ Mega Fun, "11/92" (DE; 1992-10-xx), page 38
  22. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 143
  23. ↑ Power Play, "2/93" (DE; 1993-01-xx), page 142
  24. ↑ Sega Power, "March 1992" (UK; 1992-02-06), page 36
  25. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 68
  26. ↑ Sega Pro, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-10), page 42
  27. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 233
  28. ↑ Video Games, "2/93" (DE; 1993-01-27), page 88
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, Virgin Books, page 163 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesEssentialSegaGuide Book UK.pdf_p163" defined multiple times with different content
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 File:GamePower IT 02.pdf, page 36 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamePower IT 02.pdf_p36" defined multiple times with different content
  31. ↑ File:HobbyConsolas ES 007.pdf, page 153
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 File:Joypad FR 001.pdf, page 110 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Joypad FR 001.pdf_p110" defined multiple times with different content
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 File:MeanMachines UK 13.pdf, page 78 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachines UK 13.pdf_p78" defined multiple times with different content
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 File:PlayerOne FR 016.pdf, page 95 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:PlayerOne FR 016.pdf_p95" defined multiple times with different content
  35. ↑ File:PlayerOne FR 022.pdf, page 130
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 File:SegaPro UK 01.pdf, page 38 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPro UK 01.pdf_p38" defined multiple times with different content
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 File:SegaPro UK 09.pdf, page 31 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPro UK 09.pdf_p31" defined multiple times with different content
  38. ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "Februar 1992" (DE; 1992-01-10), page 129
  39. ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 147
  40. ↑ Gamers, "Februar/März 1992" (DE; 1992-xx-xx), page 48
  41. ↑ Games-X, "5th-11th December 1991" (UK; 1991-12-05), page 26
  42. ↑ Game Zone, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-10-08), page 24
  43. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Abril 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 161
  44. ↑ Joystick, "Septembre 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 190
  45. ↑ Mega Force, "Septembre/Octobre 1991" (FR; 1991-09-13), page 94
  46. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 137
  47. ↑ Player One, "Juillet/Août 1992" (FR; 1992-07-10), page 134
  48. ↑ Sega Power, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-10-04), page 20
  49. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-19), page 31
  50. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72
  51. ↑ Supersonic, "Juillet/Août 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 29
  52. ↑ Supersonic, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 18
  53. ↑ Video Games, "3/91" (DE; 1991-09-06), page 78
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