Zero Wing

n/a

Zero Wing

System(s): Sega Mega Drive

Publisher: Toaplan (JP), Sega, Retro-Bit

Developer: Toaplan

Original system(s): Toaplan System 1^[1]

Sound driver: Cube^[2]

Genre: Shooting^[3]^[4]

Number of players: 1

Release	Date	RRP	Code
JP	1991-05-31^[4]	¥8,000 (8,240)8,000e^[5]	T-40023
EU	1992-07^[6]		1138-50
UK	1992-07^[6]	£39.9939.99^[6]	1138-50
SE (Rental)	199x
AU	199x
US (Retro-Bit)	2020-10-18^[7]	$44.9944.99^[8]
EU (Retro-Bit)	2020-10-18^[7]	€39.9939.99^[8]

Non-Sega versions
Arcade CD-ROM²

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

Zero Wing (ゼロウイング) is a Sega Mega Drive horizontal shoot-'em-up game developed by Toaplan. A port of the developer's 1989 arcade title Zero Wing, the game was first published in Japan by Toaplan themselves in May 1991, was brought to Europe by Sega in July 1992, and saw a modern worldwide re-release by Retro-Bit in October 2020. Zero Wing is notable for being one of few Mega Drive ports developed by Toaplan themselves, and for the poor English translation of its opening cutscene spawning one of the earliest internet memes, All your base are belong to us.

Gameplay

and fire the player's weapon. While the game has an autofire option, a higher firing rate can be achieved by manually tapping the button. fires a suction beam that will pull certain enemies towards the player ship for use as a shield, and can which be later launched forward to destroy other enemies.

Like other Toaplan games, Zero Wing defaults to the Easy difficulty setting.

Power-ups

Some enemies will drop power-ups when destroyed; the first power-up dropped per life will always be options to further assist the player ship.

Red: Spread shot
Blue: Laser shot
Green: Homing shot
Orb: Bomb (fired with )
Speed Up: Increases ship speed

Levels

	Natols

	Legrous

	Pleades

	Aquese

	Submarine Tunnel

	Barracade Zone

	Bellon

	Gerbarra

Endings

Main article: Zero Wing/Endings.

The Japanese version of Zero Wing features 32 hidden endings.^[9] The first three endings can be acquired by beating each of the respective three difficulty settings. The remainder must be seen by beating the game again; upon every successful completion, the game will advance to the next ending. By reaching the final ending, the code for Zero Wing's debug menu is revealed.^[10]

While many of the endings consist of out-of-character discussion between the villain CATS and the actual player, the will eventually devolve into what appears to be a developer rambling about his favorite foods, singing lyrics from folk songs, and making bad puns.

Legacy

The infamously poor translation of Zero Wing's English releases has seen the game become the star of community parody. A line in the game's introduction, All your base are belong to us, was heavily featured in a fan music video for the song Invasion of the Gabber Robots by The Laziest Men on Mars (the song itself being a cover of Zero Wing's Open Your Eyes.) This video, compressed and heavily shared in the early days of the internet, gave rise to one of the first modern memes.

Production credits

Zero Wing Original Staff

68k Side: T.Ota, H.Furukawa
Z80 Side: T.Uemura
Graphics: S.Nakaoka, N.Ogiwara, M.Hayashi, S.Nito
Music: T.Uemura, M.Yuge, T.Tomizawa

© Toaplan 1991.

Source:

In-game credits

Magazine articles

Main article: Zero Wing/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-03: "March 1991" (1991-02-08)
also published in:

Mega Drive Fan (JP) #14: "March 1991" (1991-02-08)^[11]

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-05: "May 1991" (1991-04-08)
also published in:

Mega Drive Fan (JP) #16: "May 1991" (1991-04-08)^[12]

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-06: "June 1991" (1991-05-08)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-07: "July 1991" (1991-06-08)
also published in:

Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-08: "August 1991" (1991-07-08)^[13]

Collector's Edition (Retro-Bit)

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)

80

^[14]

Aktueller Software Markt (DE)

72

^[15]

Beep! MegaDrive (JP)

NTSC-J

80

^[16]

Console XS (UK)

NTSC-J

77

^[17]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

93

^[18]

Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 7 (RU)

40

^[19]

Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)

87

^[20]

Famitsu (JP)

NTSC-J

70

^[21]

Games-X (UK)

92

^[22]

Hippon Super (JP)

NTSC-J

60

^[23]

Hobby Consolas (ES)

86

^[24]

Joypad (FR)

PAL

90

^[25]

Joystick (FR)

86

^[26]

Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)

PAL

72

^[27]

Mega Drive Fan (JP)

NTSC-J

66

^[28]

Mega (UK)

PAL

70

^[29]

Mega Force (FR)

80

^[30]

MegaTech (UK)

82

^[31]

MegaTech (UK)

PAL

82

^[32]

Mean Machines (UK)

91

^[33]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

91

^[34]

Player One (FR)

79

^[35]

Play Time (DE)

68

^[36]

Sega Power (UK)

NTSC-J

100

^[37]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

88

^[38]

Sega Pro (UK)

78

^[39]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

77

^[40]

Sega Force (UK)

PAL

86

^[6]

Sega Opisaniy i sekretov (RU)

66

^[41]

Sega Saturn Magazine (JP)

NTSC-J

75

^[42]

Super Gaming (US)

67

^[43]

Supersonic (FR)

85

^[44]

Tilt (FR)

80

^[45]

Video Games (DE)

67

^[46]

	78
Based on 34 reviews

Zero Wing

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart PCB

Mega Drive, SE (rental)

Mega Drive, AU

Mega Drive, (Retro-Bit)

Technical information

ROM dump status

System

Hash

Size

Build Date

Source

Comments

✔

CRC32	89b744a3
MD5	5f4f2fb8c7b8c50efbc6eed57ce3dae3
SHA-1	98335b97c5e21f7f8c5436427621836660b91075

1MB

1990-08

Cartridge (EU)

✔

CRC32	7e203d2b
MD5	9647d8ec9183f3ec9f944d5ea49a99a9
SHA-1	fad499e21ac55a3b8513110dc1f6e3f6cdeca8dd

1MB

1990-08

Cartridge (JP)

References

NEC Retro has more information related to Zero Wing

Zero Wing
	Main page \| Comparisons \| Maps \| Hidden content \| Magazine articles \| Reception \| Region coding \| Technical information \| Bootlegs No results

[https:.2F.2Fwww.system16.com.2Fhardware.php.3Fid.3D966.26page.3D1.2319118-1] ttps://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=966&page=1#19118

[http:.2F.2Fgdri.smspower.org.2Fwiki.2Findex.php.2FMega_Drive.2FGenesis_Sound_Engine_List-2] ttp://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Mega_Drive/Genesis_Sound_Engine_List

[:File:Zerowing_md_jp_cover.jpg_p-3] File:Zerowing md jp cover.jpg

[https:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20200702232146.2Fhttps:.2F.2Fsega.jp.2Fhistory.2Fhard.2Fmegadrive.2Fsoftware_l.html-4] 4.0 ^4.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-02 23:21)

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1991-05.pdf_p16-5] Beep! MegaDrive, "May 1991" (JP; 1991-04-08), page 16

[:File:SegaForce_UK_07.pdf_p72-6] 6.0 ^6.1 ^6.2 ^6.3 Sega Force, "July 1992" (UK; 1992-06-xx), page 72

[https:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20210531211206.2Fhttps:.2F.2Fstore.strictlylimitedgames.com.2Fproducts.2Ftoaplan-shooters-collectors-edition-genesis-mega-drive-preorder-7] 7.0 ^7.1 https://store.strictlylimitedgames.com/products/toaplan-shooters-collectors-edition-genesis-mega-drive-preorder (Wayback Machine: 2021-05-31 21:12)

[:File:TSCE_Toaplan_Press_Release.pdf_p2-8] 8.0 ^8.1 File:TSCE Toaplan Press Release.pdf, page 2

[https:.2F.2Flegendsoflocalization.com.2Fzero-wing-had-32-weird-secret-endings-in-japan.2F-9] ttps://legendsoflocalization.com/zero-wing-had-32-weird-secret-endings-in-japan/

[https:.2F.2Flegendsoflocalization.com.2Fzero-wing-had-32-weird-secret-endings-in-japan.2F.23ending-35-10] ttps://legendsoflocalization.com/zero-wing-had-32-weird-secret-endings-in-japan/#ending-35

[:File:Megadrive_Fan_1991-03.pdf_p99-11] Mega Drive Fan, "March 1991" (JP; 1991-02-08), page 99

[:File:Megadrive_Fan_1991-05.pdf_p42-12] Mega Drive Fan, "May 1991" (JP; 1991-04-08), page 42

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1991-08.pdf_p16-13] Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1991" (JP; 1991-07-08), page 16

[14] 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 349

[:File:ASM_DE_1991-11.pdf_p139-15] Aktueller Software Markt, "November 1991" (DE; 1991-10-11), page 139

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1991-05.pdf_p27-16] Beep! MegaDrive, "May 1991" (JP; 1991-04-08), page 27

[:File:Console_XS_UK_01.pdf_p137-17] Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 137

[:File:CVG_UK_117.pdf_p60-18] Computer & Video Games, "August 1991" (UK; 1991-07-15), page 60

[19] Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 7, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 291

[:File:MeanMachinesEssentialSegaGuide_Book_UK.pdf_p118-20] Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 118

[:File:Famitsu_JP_0133.pdf_p19-21] Famitsu, "1991-xx-xx" (JP; 1991-06-14), page 19

[:File:GamesX_UK_09.pdf_p36-22] Games-X, "21st-26th June 1991" (UK; 1991-06-21), page 36

[23] Hippon Super, "May 1991" (JP; 1991-04-04), page 42

[:File:HobbyConsolas_ES_011.pdf_p48-24] Hobby Consolas, "Agosto 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 48

[:File:Joypad_FR_009.pdf_p158-25] Joypad, "Juin 1992" (FR; 1992-05-1x), page 158

[:File:Joystick_FR_018.pdf_p182-26] Joystick, "Juillet/Août 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 182

[:File:MDAG_UK_05.pdf_p95-27] Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 95

[:File:Megadrive_Fan_1991-08.pdf_p123-28] Mega Drive Fan, "August 1991" (JP; 1991-07-08), page 123

[:File:Mega_UK_09.pdf_p21-29] Mega, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 21

[:File:MegaForce_FR_06.pdf_p76-30] Mega Force, "Mai 1992" (FR; 1992-05-05), page 76

[:File:MegaTech_UK_05.pdf_p32-31] MegaTech, "May 1992" (UK; 1992-04-20), page 32

[:File:MegaTech_UK_18.pdf_p93-32] MegaTech, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 93

[:File:MeanMachines_UK_10.pdf_p74-33] Mean Machines, "July 1991" (UK; 1991-06-29), page 74

[:File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf_p143-34] Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 143

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_020.pdf_p70-35] Player One, "Mai 1992" (FR; 1992-05-10), page 70

[:File:PlayTime_DE_1992-0809.pdf_p94-36] Play Time, "(8/9)/92" (DE; 1992-07-08), page 94

[:File:SegaPower_UK_23.pdf_p55-37] Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 55

[:File:SegaPower_UK_33.pdf_p34-38] Sega Power, "August 1992" (UK; 1992-07-02), page 34

[:File:SegaPro_UK_06.pdf_p41-39] Sega Pro, "April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-19), page 41

[:File:SegaPro_UK_18.pdf_p68-40] Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 68

[:File:14000_opisaniy_i_sekretov_SEGA.pdf_p236-41] Sega Opisaniy i sekretov, "14000 Opisaniy i sekretov" (RU; 2003-03-11), page 236

[:File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf_p85-42] Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85

[:File:SuperGaming_US_02.pdf_p8-43] Super Gaming, "Fall 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 8

[:File:Supersonic_FR_01.pdf_p6-44] Supersonic, "Mai/Juin 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 6

[:File:Tilt_FR_093.pdf_p53-45] Tilt, "Septembre 1991" (FR; 1991-09-xx), page 53

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1992-07.pdf_p46-46] Video Games, "7/92" (DE; 1992-06-24), page 46

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Zero Wing

From Sega Retro

Contents

Gameplay

Power-ups

Levels

Endings

Legacy

Production credits

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Collector's Edition (Retro-Bit)

Physical scans

Technical information

ROM dump status

References