Herzog Zwei

n/a

Herzog Zwei

Publisher: Sega, Technosoft (JP)

Developer: Technosoft

Genre: Simulation

Number of players: 1-2

Release	Date	RRP	Code
JP	1989-12-15	¥6,8006,800	T-18023
US	1990	$44.9544.95^[1]	1400
EU	1990		1400
CA	199x

Herzog Zwei (ヘルツォーク・ツヴァイ) is a strategy video game developed by Technosoft, released exclusively for the Sega Mega Drive in 1989, and a sequel to Herzog, which was only released for Japanese home computers in 1988. It was published in Japan by Technosoft in 1989 and in North America and Europe by Sega in 1990.

Herzog Zwei is often credited for creating the foundations of the RTS (real-time strategy) and MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) genres as we know them today. It was also a precursor to the hero shooter genre, as it was the first game to combine shooter and MOBA elements.

Gameplay

In Herzog Zwei, the player controls a unit which can freely transform from a plane to a robot, and must create and transport units to capture structures and destroy enemy bases. It combines concepts from the Thunder Force series (as it stood in 1989) with a strategic element which plays out in real time, as opposed to the more traditional turn-based strategy games which derive from games such as chess.

Along with a single-player mode, it features a split-screen two-player mode where both players are in action simultaneously. There are no pauses while decisions are taken, forcing players to think quickly while on the move. Though the player only controls one unit, a transforming mech, the manner of control foreshadowed the point-and-click mechanic of later games. It introduced much of the genre conventions, including unit construction and resource management, with the control and destruction of bases being an important aspect of the game, as were the economic/production aspects of those bases.

History

Development

The Western packaging art was created by veteran San Francisco game box illustrator Marc Ericksen, who had previously created the art for Thunder Force II.

Legacy

Herzog Zwei went on to influence future RTS games, particularly 1992's Dune II^[4].

With Technosoft closing its doors in 2001 and the status of the intellectual property being unknown, the future of the series is likely sealed.

Production credits

Main Program: Takashi Iwanaga
Weapon Program: Haruhiko Ohtsuka
Map Design: Osamu Tsujikawa
Character Design: Izumi Fukuda
Demo Program: Izumi Fukuda
Music Compose: Naosuke Arai, Tomomi Ohtani
Sound Effect: Naosuke Arai, Tomomi Ohtani
Manual Writer: Fumio Sugano
Herzog: T. O.
Special Thanks: Marie Hughes, Kamometei
Copyright: Tecno Soft

Magazine articles

Main article: Herzog Zwei/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advert in Mean Machines Sega (UK) #11: "September 1993" (1993-07-30)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1989-11: "November 1989" (1989-XX-XX)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1990-02: "February 1990" (1990-01-08)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1990-09: "September 1990" (1990-08-XX)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1990-11: "November 1990" (1990-10-XX)

Artwork

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)

40

^[19]

Aktueller Software Markt (DE)

80

^[20]

Beep! MegaDrive (JP)

NTSC-J

78

^[21]

Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)

76

^[7]

Console XS (UK)

PAL

76

^[22]

Cool Gamer (RU)

40

^[23]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

82

^[8]

Electronic Gaming Monthly (US)

NTSC-U

43

^[24]

Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)

40

^[25]

Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 3 (RU)

40

^[26]

Famitsu (JP)

NTSC-J

73

^[27]

The Games Machine (UK)

75

^[11]

Game Informer (US)

NTSC-U

97

^[28]

Igry Sega Luchshiye iz luchshikh. Vypusk 2 (RU)

50

^[29]

Joystick (FR)

78

^[12]

Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)

85

^[30]

Mega Drive Fan (JP)

NTSC-J

75

^[31]

Mega (UK)

PAL

74

^[32]

Mega (UK)

74

^[33]

MegaTech (UK)

76

^[13]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

76

^[34]

Play Time (DE)

78

^[35]

Power Play (DE)

58

^[36]

Raze (UK)

PAL

80

^[37]

Sega Power (UK)

78

^[38]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

75

^[17]

Sega Pro (UK)

80

^[18]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

76

^[39]

Sega Saturn Magazine (JP)

NTSC-J

75

^[40]

Tricks 16 bit (RU)

66

^[41]

User (GR)

NTSC-J

90

^[42]

	70
Based on 31 reviews

Herzog Zwei

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, CA
Cover

Technical information

ROM dump status

System

Hash

Size

Build Date

Source

Comments

✔

CRC32	a605b65b
MD5	e812002daafb264fc2ab1dff9bd06ac2
SHA-1	8f7262102c2b2334f0bc88ee6fd6b08797919176

512kB

1989-12

Cartridge (US/EU)

✔

CRC32	4cf676b3
MD5	cf5984ce943babe3e8551ee0e9b771a8
SHA-1	851be7abad64a4fb05e4c51ce26fbe5efe12ea42

512kB

1989-09

Cartridge (JP)

References

↑ VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "May 1990" (US; 1990-0x-xx), page 38
↑ Raze, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-01-31), page 59
↑ Sega Power, "July 1991" (UK; 1991-06-06), page 27
↑ http://www.above-the-garage.com/rblts/vie16b.htm (Wayback Machine: 2003-05-04 03:49)
↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "February 1990" (JP; 1990-01-08), page 67 (69)
↑ File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf, page 85
↑ ^7.0 ^7.1 Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 31
↑ ^8.0 ^8.1 Computer & Video Games, "April 1990" (UK; 1990-03-16), page 103
↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "October 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 85
↑ File:EGM US BuyersGuide 1993.pdf, page 46
↑ ^11.0 ^11.1 The Games Machine, "March 1990" (UK; 1990-02-08), page 50
↑ ^12.0 ^12.1 Joystick, "Novembre 1990" (FR; 1990-1x-xx), page 102
↑ ^13.0 ^13.1 MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 78
↑ Play Time, "6/91" (DE; 1991-05-10), page 116/117 (116)
↑ Power Play, "4/90" (DE; 1990-03-16), page 121
↑ Raze, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-01-31), page 58/59 (58)
↑ ^17.0 ^17.1 Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 53
↑ ^18.0 ^18.1 Sega Pro, "Christmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-12), page 61
↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 95
↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "Avril 1990" (DE; 1990-03-30), page 78
↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "February 1990" (JP; 1990-01-08), page 69
↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 130
↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 102
↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "May 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 20
↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 321
↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 3, "" (RU; 2000-xx-xx), page 107
↑ Famitsu, "" (JP; 1989-xx-xx), page 1
↑ Game Informer, "May 1999" (US; 1999-0x-xx), page 72
↑ Igry Sega Luchshiye iz luchshikh. Vypusk 2, "" (RU; 2001-08-27), page 207
↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 63
↑ Mega Drive Fan, "May 1990" (JP; 1990-04-07), page 89
↑ Mega, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 20
↑ Mega, "August 1994" (UK; 1994-07-21), page 79
↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 139
↑ Play Time, "6/91" (DE; 1991-05-10), page 116
↑ Power Play, "4/90" (DE; 1990-03-16), page 123
↑ Raze, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-01-31), page 58
↑ Sega Power, "July 1991" (UK; 1991-06-06), page 26
↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 66
↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 16
↑ User, "Noémvrios 1990" (GR; 1990-1x-xx), page 63

Herzog Zwei

Music: Technosoft Music Collection: Herzog & Herzog Zwei (2020)

[:File:VG.26amp.3BCE_US_16.pdf_p38-1] VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "May 1990" (US; 1990-0x-xx), page 38

[:File:Raze_UK_05.pdf_p59-2] Raze, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-01-31), page 59

[:File:SegaPower_UK_20.pdf_p27-3] Sega Power, "July 1991" (UK; 1991-06-06), page 27

[https:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20030504034920.2Fhttp:.2F.2Fwww.above-the-garage.com.2Frblts.2Fvie16b.htm-4] ttp://www.above-the-garage.com/rblts/vie16b.htm (Wayback Machine: 2003-05-04 03:49)

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1990-02.pdf_p69_.2867.29-5] Beep! MegaDrive, "February 1990" (JP; 1990-01-08), page 67 (69)

[:File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf_p85-6] File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf, page 85

[:File:CGtC_UK_04.pdf_p31-7] 7.0 ^7.1 Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 31

[:File:CVG_UK_101.pdf_p103-8] 8.0 ^8.1 Computer & Video Games, "April 1990" (UK; 1990-03-16), page 103

[:File:EGM_US_015.pdf_p85-9] Electronic Gaming Monthly, "October 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 85

[:File:EGM_US_BuyersGuide_1993.pdf_p46-10] File:EGM US BuyersGuide 1993.pdf, page 46

[:File:TGM_UK_28.pdf_p50-11] 11.0 ^11.1 The Games Machine, "March 1990" (UK; 1990-02-08), page 50

[:File:Joystick_FR_010.pdf_p102-12] 12.0 ^12.1 Joystick, "Novembre 1990" (FR; 1990-1x-xx), page 102

[:File:MegaTech_UK_01.pdf_p78-13] 13.0 ^13.1 MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 78

[:File:PlayTime_DE_1991-06.pdf_p116_.28116.2F117.29-14] Play Time, "6/91" (DE; 1991-05-10), page 116/117 (116)

[:File:PowerPlay_DE_1990-04.pdf_p121-15] Power Play, "4/90" (DE; 1990-03-16), page 121

[:File:Raze_UK_05.pdf_p58_.2858.2F59.29-16] Raze, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-01-31), page 58/59 (58)

[:File:SegaPower_UK_23.pdf_p53-17] 17.0 ^17.1 Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 53

[:File:SegaPro_UK_03.pdf_p61-18] 18.0 ^18.1 Sega Pro, "Christmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-12), page 61

[19] 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 95

[:File:ASM_DE_1990-04.pdf_p78-20] Aktueller Software Markt, "Avril 1990" (DE; 1990-03-30), page 78

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1990-02.pdf_p69-21] Beep! MegaDrive, "February 1990" (JP; 1990-01-08), page 69

[:File:Console_XS_UK_01.pdf_p130-22] Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 130

[23] Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 102

[:File:EGM_US_010.pdf_p20-24] Electronic Gaming Monthly, "May 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 20

[25] Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 321

[26] Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 3, "" (RU; 2000-xx-xx), page 107

[27] Famitsu, "" (JP; 1989-xx-xx), page 1

[:File:GameInformer_US_073.pdf_p72-28] Game Informer, "May 1999" (US; 1999-0x-xx), page 72

[29] Igry Sega Luchshiye iz luchshikh. Vypusk 2, "" (RU; 2001-08-27), page 207

[:File:MDAG_UK_05.pdf_p63-30] Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 63

[:File:Mdfan_JP_1990-05.pdf_p89-31] Mega Drive Fan, "May 1990" (JP; 1990-04-07), page 89

[:File:Mega_UK_09.pdf_p20-32] Mega, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 20

[:File:Mega_UK_23.pdf_p79-33] Mega, "August 1994" (UK; 1994-07-21), page 79

[:File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf_p139-34] Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 139

[:File:PlayTime_DE_1991-06.pdf_p116-35] Play Time, "6/91" (DE; 1991-05-10), page 116

[:File:PowerPlay_DE_1990-04.pdf_p123-36] Power Play, "4/90" (DE; 1990-03-16), page 123

[:File:Raze_UK_05.pdf_p58-37] Raze, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-01-31), page 58

[:File:SegaPower_UK_20.pdf_p26-38] Sega Power, "July 1991" (UK; 1991-06-06), page 26

[:File:SegaPro_UK_18.pdf_p66-39] Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 66

[:File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf_p85-40] Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85

[41] Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 16

[:File:User_GR_08.pdf_p63-42] User, "Noémvrios 1990" (GR; 1990-1x-xx), page 63

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Herzog Zwei

From Sega Retro

Contents

Gameplay

History

Development

Legacy

Production credits

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Artwork

Physical scans

Technical information

ROM dump status

References