Xenon 2: Megablast

From Sega Retro

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  • Mega Drive
  • Master System

Xenon2 Title.png

Xenon2 SMS Title.png

Xenon 2: Megablast
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System
Publisher: Virgin Games
Sega Master System
Image Works (first release)
Developer:
Distributor:
Sega Mega Drive
Hent Gruppen (SE rental)
Original system(s): Amiga, Atari ST
Genre: Arcade[1]

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
EU 		T-70076-50
Sega Mega Drive
UK 		£34.9934.99[4][5] T-70076-50
Sega Mega Drive
SE
(Rental)
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Master System
EU 		27012-50
Sega Master System
EU
(Virgin Games) 		27038-50
Sega Master System
PT
Sega Master System
UK 		£29.9929.99[9][10] 27012-50
Sega Master System
UK
(Virgin Games) 		27038-50
Sega Master System
AU 		FXEN00SEC
Non-Sega versions

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

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. PCM Complete was set to publish the Mega Drive port in Japan[13], but the version was cancelled.

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.

Production credits

Uncredited

Magazine articles

Main article: Xenon 2: Megablast/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Xenon2SMSSMDAdvert.jpg
UK print advert
Xenon2SMSSMDAdvert.jpg
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
Print advert in Mega Force (ES) #7: "Noviembre 1992" (1992-xx-xx)
also published in:
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
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
50
[15]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
53
[16]
Console XS (UK) PAL
88
[17]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
59
[18]
Game Power (IT)
65
[19]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
82
[20]
Joypad (FR) PAL
50
[21]
Joystick (FR) PAL
52
[22]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
72
[23]
Mega (UK) PAL
45
[24]
Mega Action (UK)
88
[25]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
61
[26]
Mean Machines (UK)
82
[27]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
82
[28]
Power Play (DE)
67
[29]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
66
[5]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
86
[30]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
86
[31]
Sega Force (SE)
82
[32]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
76
[33]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
69
[34]
Video Games (DE) PAL
53
[35]
Zero (UK)
82
[36]
Sega Mega Drive
 69
Based on
23 reviews

Xenon 2: Megablast

Mega Drive, EU
Xenon2 MD AU Cover.jpg
Cover
Xenon2 MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Xenon 2 Megablast MD EU Manual.pdf
Manual
Xenon2 MD EU pcb.jpg
PCB
Mega Drive, SE (rental; Hent; black)
Xenon2 MD SE Rental Cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, AU
Xenon2 MD AU Cover.jpg
Cover
Xenon2 MD AU Cart.jpg
Cart
Xenon2 MD AU Manual.jpg
Manual

Master System version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
50
[37]
Console XS (UK) PAL
85
[38]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
88
[39]
Game Power (IT)
94
[40]
Gamers (DE)
27
[41]
Games-X (UK)
80
[42]
Game Zone (UK) PAL
90
[43]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
66
[44]
Joypad (FR)
78
[45]
Joystick (FR)
86
[46]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
55
[47]
Mean Machines (UK) PAL
84
[48]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
84
[49]
Player One (FR)
12
[50]
Player One (FR)
41
[51]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
87
[52]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
85
[53]
Sega Pro (UK)
85
[54]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
89
[55]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
85
[56]
Supersonic (FR)
81
[57]
Supersonic (FR)
81
[58]
Video Games (DE)
57
[59]
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, PT (Virgin Games)

Master System, AU (Image Works)
Xenon2 SMS AU imageworks cover.jpg
Cover
XenonII SMS AU Cart.jpg
Cart
Xenon 2 SMS AU Manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, AU (Virgin Games)
Xenon2 SMS AU virgin cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, AU (Classics)
Xenon2 SMS AU classics cover.jpg
Cover
XenonII SMS AU Cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

Main article: Xenon 2: Megablast/Technical information.

References

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NEC Retro has more information related to Xenon 2: Megablast
  1. ↑ File:Xenon2 SMS EU Box Imageworks.jpg
  2. ↑ MegaTech, "August 1992" (UK; 1992-07-20), page 20
  3. ↑ Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1992-11-16), page 28
  4. ↑ Mean Machines, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-27), page 50
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Sega Power, "March 1992" (UK; 1992-02-06), page 36
  6. ↑ Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 9
  7. ↑ Sega Power, "September 1991" (UK; 1991-08-01), page 16
  8. ↑ Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1991-11-18), page 27
  9. ↑ Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 39
  10. ↑ Raze, "April 1991" (UK; 1991-02-28), page 16
  11. ↑ Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1992-11-02), page 10
  12. ↑ Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1992-11-02), page 10
  13. ↑ Sega '93 Winter Catalogue: TV Game World, page 25
  14. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Noviembre 1992" (ES; 1992-xx-xx), page 10
  15. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 270
  16. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1992" (JP; 1992-07-08), page 28
  17. ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 137
  18. ↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 118
  19. ↑ Game Power, "Gennaio 1993" (IT; 199x-xx-xx), page 62
  20. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Enero 1993" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 78
  21. ↑ Joypad, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-1x-xx), page 48
  22. ↑ Joystick, "Décembre 1992" (FR; 1992-1x-xx), page 201
  23. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 95
  24. ↑ Mega, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-15), page 66
  25. ↑ Mega Action, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 65
  26. ↑ Mega Fun, "11/92" (DE; 1992-10-xx), page 38
  27. ↑ Mean Machines, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-27), page 48
  28. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 143
  29. ↑ Power Play, "2/93" (DE; 1993-01-xx), page 142
  30. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 68
  31. ↑ Sega Pro, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-10), page 42
  32. ↑ Sega Force, "2/92" (SE; 1992-11-19), page 15
  33. ↑ Sega Force, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-04-01), page 81
  34. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 233
  35. ↑ Video Games, "2/93" (DE; 1993-01-27), page 88
  36. ↑ Zero, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 61
  37. ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "Februar 1992" (DE; 1992-01-10), page 129
  38. ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 147
  39. ↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 163
  40. ↑ Game Power, "Gennaio 1992" (IT; 199x-xx-xx), page 36
  41. ↑ Gamers, "Februar/März 1992" (DE; 1992-xx-xx), page 48
  42. ↑ Games-X, "5th-11th December 1991" (UK; 1991-12-05), page 26
  43. ↑ Game Zone, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-10-08), page 24
  44. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Abril 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 161
  45. ↑ Joypad, "Octobre 1991" (FR; 1991-09-17), page 110
  46. ↑ Joystick, "Septembre 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 190
  47. ↑ Mega Force, "Septembre/Octobre 1991" (FR; 1991-09-13), page 94
  48. ↑ Mean Machines, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-27), page 78
  49. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 137
  50. ↑ Player One, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 95
  51. ↑ Player One, "Juillet/Août 1992" (FR; 1992-07-10), page 134
  52. ↑ Sega Power, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-10-04), page 20
  53. ↑ Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 38
  54. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-19), page 31
  55. ↑ Sega Pro, "July 1992" (UK; 1992-06-18), page 31
  56. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72
  57. ↑ Supersonic, "Juillet/Août 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 29
  58. ↑ Supersonic, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 18
  59. ↑ Video Games, "3/91" (DE; 1991-09-06), page 78


Xenon 2: Megablast

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