Zool

From Sega Retro

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Zool Title.png

Zool
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear
Publisher: GameTek (US), Gremlin Graphics Software (EU), Nisshouiwai Infocom (JP),
Sega Mega Drive
Electronic Arts (EU)
Developer:
Sound driver: Krisalis sound driver
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US
$59.9559.95[3] T-83096
Sega Mega Drive
EU
E264SMXI
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Master System
EU
27075-50
Sega Game Gear
JP
¥3,8003,800 T-149017
Sega Game Gear
US
$39.9539.95 T-83048
Sega Game Gear
EU
123018-50

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Zool or Zool: Ninja of the Nth Dimension, known as Zool no Yume Bouken (ズールのゆめぼうけん) in Japan, is a platform game developed by Gremlin Graphics for the Commodore Amiga in 1992 as an answer to the "mascot wars" of the early 1990s spearheadded by Super Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog. Zool's success saw it brought to a number of platforms, including the Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear during late 1993 and 1994.

Gameplay

Zool is a relatively basic but fast paced platform game. B/1 makes Zool jump, while A/2 makes him attack. Jumping into a wall will allow Zool to climb up or down it. Holding down A/2 makes Zool perform a punch motion which can be used to activate switches, which also serve as checkpoints. Holding C while jumping makes Zool perform a spinning attack. Pushing Down while running causes a sliding attack, which is vital due to the games fast pace and instantly appearing enemies.

Level designs and choices of music differ between the Sega versions (although the latter is likely due to the fact the original Amiga version had no in-game tracks). In order to clear a stage, a certain amount of items need to be collected before the exit beacon (a coin with Zools head impregnated) can be activated. Running into enemies is a design problem in this game as it goes against the high speed gameplay it theoretically offers, forcing the player to either go slow or memorize stages down to enemy positioning.

The game ends with a cliffhanger and clear hint a sequel. While Zool was followed by Zool 2, it was not brought to a Sega system.

Levels

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The Sweet World

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The Music World

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The Fruit World

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The Fairground World

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The Toy World

Versions

  • Compared to the Amiga original, the Sega Mega Drive version runs faster and has multiple parallax scrolling background planes instead of the Amiga's typical "copper mode" color gradients

Localised names

Also known as
Language Localised Name English Translation
English Zool: Ninja of the Nth Dimension Zool: Ninja of the Nth Dimension
English (US) Zool: Ninja of the Nth Dimension Zool: Ninja of the Nth Dimension
Japanese ズールのゆめぼうけん Zool no Yume Bouken

Production credits

Mega Drive version

  • Sega/Game Code: Paul Hiley
  • Game/Frontend Code: George Allan
  • Artists: Ade Carless, Paul Gregory, Damon Godley
  • Music: Patrick Phelan, Krysalis
  • Maps: Paul Gregory, Ade Carless, Tony Dawson, Paul Green
  • Additional Help: Mick Lister
  • Test: Lee Campbell, Tony Howe, Rob Millington, Simon Short
  • Produced by: Mark Glossop

Master System version

  • Main Code: Siz
  • Additional Code: Richard Stevenson
  • Music Composition: Patrick Phelan
  • Sound: Krisalis Software
  • Art: Michael Hirst, Ade Carless, Greggs, Pete Daniels
  • Map and Level Design: Mike Lister, Michael Hirst
  • Project Manager: Tony Casson
  • Development Manager: James North-Hearn
© Gremlin Graphics, 1993

Game Gear version

  • Main Code: Siz
  • Additional Code: Richard Stevenson
  • Music Composition: Patrick Phelan
  • Sound: Krisalis Software
  • Art: Michael Hirst, Ade Carlesss, Pete Daniels, Greggs
  • Map and Level Design: Mike Lister, Michael Hirst
  • Project Manager: Tony Casson
  • Development Manager: James North-Hearn
Copyright 1993 Gremlin Graphics


Magazine articles

Main article: Zool/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #145: "December 1993" (1993-11-15)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #146: "January 1994" (1993-12-15)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Consoles + (FR) #25: "Novembre 1993" (1993-1x-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Video Games (DE) #1993-12: "12/93" (1993-11-22)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Magazin (DE) #7: "Juni 1994" (1994-05-11)
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
55 [7]
93 №27, p146-148
82 [8]
58 №54, p46/234/235[9]
85 [10]
70 №12, p78/79
78 №26
83 №17, p34/35
74 №15, p48/49
80 №8, p16
71 №24, p64-66
67 [11]
65 №37, p146
78 №49, p46/47
84 №25, p70-72
80 [12]
70 [13]
83 №18, p12
Sega Mega Drive
75
Based on
18 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
50
[14]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
83
[15]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
55
[16]
Console Mania (IT)
86
[17]
Consoles + (FR)
93
[18]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
82
[8]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
58
[9]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
60
[19]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 10 (RU)
80
[20]
Freak (IL)
80
[21]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
85
[3]
Gamers (DE)
53
[22]
Hyper (AU)
79
[23]
Joker (SI)
87
[24]
Joypad (FR) PAL
78
[25]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
83
[26]
Mega (UK) PAL
74
[27]
Mega Action (UK) PAL
80
[28]
Mega Force (FR)
84
[29]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
74
[30]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
71
[31]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
67
[32]
Player One (FR)
65
[33]
Play Time (DE)
64
[34]
Power Up! (UK)
76
[35]
Power Unlimited (NL)
81
[36]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
78
[37]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
84
[38]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
86
[39]
Sega Force Mega (UK) PAL
80
[40]
Sega Force (SE)
72
[41]
Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL
83
[42]
Todo Sega (ES) PAL
85
[43]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
71
[44]
Video Games (DE) PAL
74
[45]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
50
[46]
Sega Mega Drive
75
Based on
36 reviews

Zool

Mega Drive, US
Zool MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Zool MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, EU
Zool MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
Zool MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart

Master System version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
94 [47]
65 [48]
78 №53, p62/63
70 [49]
78 №30, p48
Sega Master System
77
Based on
5 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Sega Master System
N/A
Based on
0 reviews

Zool

Master System, EU
Zool SMS EU Box.jpg
Cover
Zool SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
86 [50]
79 [51]
66 [52]
78 №53, p62/63
75 №30, p57
Sega Game Gear
77
Based on
5 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Sega Game Gear
N/A
Based on
0 reviews

Zool

Game Gear, US
Zool GG US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngZool GG US Box Front.jpg
Cover
Zool GG US Cart.jpg
Cart
Zool GG US Manual.pdf
Manual
Game Gear, EU
Zool GG EU Box Back.jpgNospine.pngZool GG EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
Zool GG EU cart.jpg
Cart
Game Gear, JP
Zool GG JP Box Back.jpgNospine-small.pngZool GG JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
Zool GG JP Cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32 cb2939f1
MD5
SHA-1
1MB 1994-01 Cartridge (US)
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32 1ee58b03
MD5
SHA-1
1MB 1993-09 Cartridge (EU)
Sega Master System
 ?
CRC32 9d9d0a5f
MD5 42fb44c9a2c82b8c4aef8191c1b5676f
SHA-1 aed98f2fc885c9a6e121982108f843388eb46304
256kB Cartridge (EU)
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 23904898
MD5 3c200f229978af32c223bccd65428426
SHA-1 40b68abd8f2419178ea2e0d02412c29306bff46c
256kB Cartridge (EU)
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 e35ef7ed
MD5 ff5f8ad2c620e25d2b028f2e1fed2b54
SHA-1 2c799ee084b858cb71cfaa7a3f6d3a4f364b6c43
256kB Cartridge (JP)
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 b287c695
MD5 db7dc3e8f0d46f0396af99a87ff0489f
SHA-1 8143c1d5e6c677ae5dd8143620b9fd02be8873f6
256kB Cartridge (US)

References

  1. Mega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-16), page 107
  2. Sega Force Mega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-16), page 49
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 File:GamePro US 056.pdf, page 50 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamePro US 056.pdf_p50" defined multiple times with different content
  4. Sega Master Force, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-11), page 23
  5. File:SegaPro DE 18.pdf, page 47
  6. Computer & Video Games, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-06-15), page 67
  7. Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1994" (JP; 1994-07-08), page 19 (21)
  8. 8.0 8.1 Computer & Video Games, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-15), page 89
  9. 9.0 9.1 File:EGM US 054.pdf, page 46 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:EGM US 054.pdf_p46" defined multiple times with different content
  10. GamePro, "March 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 48 (50)
  11. Mean Machines Sega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-11-30), page 96/97 (96)
  12. Sega Force Mega, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-16), page 42/43 (42)
  13. SuperGamePower, "Abril 1994" (BR; 1994-0x-xx), page 45
  14. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 275
  15. Aktueller Software Markt, "Avril 1994" (DE; 1994-03-07), page 113
  16. Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1994" (JP; 1994-07-08), page 21
  17. Console Mania, "Gennaio 1994" (IT; 199x-xx-xx), page 117
  18. Consoles +, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 146
  19. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 369
  20. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 10, "" (RU; 2003-10-08), page 246
  21. Freak, "1/94" (IL; 1994-xx-xx), page 1
  22. Gamers, "Juli/August 1994" (DE; 1994-07-01), page 37
  23. Hyper, "January 1994" (AU; 199x-xx-xx), page 37
  24. Joker, "Maj 1994" (SI; 1994-xx-xx), page 21
  25. Joypad, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 130
  26. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-1x-xx), page 34
  27. Mega, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 48
  28. Mega Action, "Christmas 1993" (UK; 1993-12-02), page 16
  29. Mega Force, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-12-10), page 100
  30. Mega Fun, "01/94" (DE; 1993-12-22), page 74
  31. MegaTech, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-20), page 64
  32. Mean Machines Sega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-11-30), page 96
  33. Player One, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 146
  34. Play Time, "5/94" (DE; 1994-04-06), page 137
  35. Power Up!, "Saturday, January 08, 1994" (UK; 1994-01-08), page 1
  36. Power Unlimited, "Jaargang 2, Nummer 3, Maart 1994" (NL; 1994-02-23), page 38
  37. Sega Power, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-xx), page 46
  38. Sega Pro, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-14), page 70
  39. Sega Zone, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-25), page 36
  40. Sega Force Mega, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-16), page 48
  41. Sega Force, "2/94" (SE; 1994-02-23), page 24
  42. Sonic the Comic, "February 4th 1994" (UK; 1994-01-22), page 12
  43. Todo Sega, "Diciembre 1993" (ES; 1993-1x-xx), page 56
  44. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 236
  45. Video Games, "3/94" (DE; 1994-02-23), page 82
  46. VideoGames, "February 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 88
  47. Joypad, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 126
  48. Player One, "Janvier 1994" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 116
  49. Sega Master Force, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-11), page 22/23 (22)
  50. Consoles +, "Mars 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 155
  51. Computer & Video Games, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-03-15), page 79
  52. Player One, "Mars 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 108


Zool

Zool Title.png

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