Cool Spot

From Sega Retro

n/a

Cool Spot Title.png

Cool Spot
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear, Sega Master System
Publisher: Virgin Games
Developer:
Sound driver:
Sega Mega Drive
GEMS
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP
¥8,0008,000 T-70013
Sega Mega Drive
US
$54.9954.99[3] T-70196
Sega Mega Drive
EU
T-70196-50
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Mega Drive
KR
GM93031JT
Sega Master System
EU
MK-27068-50
Sega Master System
AU
Sega Game Gear
US
T-70108
Sega Game Gear
EU
T-70108-50

Cool Spot (クールスポット) is a 1993 platform video game developed and published by Virgin Interactive staring the then mascot of 7-up, the 7-up spot. It is a sequel to Spot: The Video Game, a puzzle game similar to Ataxx initially released on the Commodore Amiga and Atari ST.

Cool Spot was developed with the Sega Mega Drive in mind, and due to its success was ported to other platforms, including the Amiga, DOS computers, Game Boy, Sega Game Gear, Sega Master System and SNES. During development it was referred to as Spot: The Quest For Cool,

The game was followed by the isometric platformer Spot Goes to Hollywood in 1995.

Gameplay

The gameplay, summarized in the introductory picture before you go to the first level, is very simple - the player character's goal is to explore each level collection the red dots scattered throughout. Once the player has collected enough, he'll be able to clear the level by finding a cage with an ally character trapped inside, and breaking it.

Besides the spots, levels have typical platformer elements - Items, traps, and enemies. Enemies can usually be defeated by firing the player's fizz-like projectile at them until they burst. Said projectile is also used to open the cages.

Bonus levels can be unlocked by collecting an even greater amount of red dots than is necessary for level completion; usually, the amount of dots for a bonus level are close to the amount of total dots on a stage. Bonus levels give the player even more Extra Life opportunities.

Versions

Cool Spot was developed with the Sega Mega Drive in mind before being ported to other platforms.

As Spot stood as a mascot for 7-up, Cool Spot was originally intended to help promote the 7-up soft drink, however curiously most 7-up branding was removed following its initial North American release. The PAL and subsequent Super NES versions still credit the Seven-Up company for the license to use the Spot character, but all branded bottles are replaced with unlabeled alternatives (such as the bottle Spot rides in the introduction).

The PAL Mega Drive versions were were partially optimised to have correct music speed, put the gameplay is slower than in the NTSC version. As a result, forcing the game to run at 60Hz causes the music to play too fast.

Most conversions of the game retain the same core gameplay as seen in the Mega Drive version, however in the case of weaker systems such as the Master System and Game Gear, graphics and audio are cut back.

The Super NES version, released several months after the Mega Drive original, offers more colourful (and in some cases, more "animated") graphics, but at the expense of screen resolution. In this case, the assets, designed for the Mega Drive's 320x224 display, were not re-worked for the 256x224 resolution of the Super NES, and subsequently appear wider than originally intended (alongside a reduced field of view). However, the Super NES version is able to make use of semi-transparent sprites which not achievable on standard Mega Drive hardware.

Production credits

Mega Drive version

  • Programmed by: David Perry
  • Animation by: Mike Dietz, Shawn McLean, Clark Sorensen
  • Background Art by: Christian Laursen
  • Music, Sound FX & Samples by: Tommy Tallarico
  • Executive Game Designer: David Bishop
  • Level Design: Bill 'Boy' Anderson
  • Game Design: The 'Global' Team
  • Additional Background Art by: Rene Boutin
  • Art Supervision: Stan Gorman, Mike Dietz
  • Artists: Roger Hardy, Willis Wong
  • Sprite Management Engineer: Tim Williams, Doug Cope
  • Samples by: Steven S. Henifin
  • Quality Assurance Manager: Michael D. Gater
  • Testing and Quality Assurance: Noah Tool, Justin Norr, Danny Lewis, Mike Glosecki, Bijan Shaheer, Adam Ryan, Scott Duckett
  • Producer: Cathie A. Bartz-Todd, Michael Merren
  • Executive Producers: Neil Young, Dr. Stephen H. Clarke-Willson


Magazine articles

Main article: Cool Spot/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

ES print advert 1
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Print advert in GamePro (US) #48: "July 1993" (1993-xx-xx)
also published in:
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Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #16: "December/January 1993/1994" (1993-xx-xx)
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Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #140: "July 1993" (1993-06-15)
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Print advert in Mean Machines Sega (UK) #11: "September 1993" (1993-07-30)
also published in:
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Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #147: "February 1994" (1994-01-15)
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Print advert in Mega Force (FR) #19: "Ete 1993" (1993-0x-xx)
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Print advert in Video Games (DE) #1993-12: "12/93" (1993-11-22)
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Print advert in Todo Sega (ES) #5: "Agosto 1993" (1993-0x-xx)
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Print advert in Sega Force (SE) #1993-04: "4/93" (1993-07-08)
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Print advert in Sega Force (SE) #1993-05: "5/93" (1993-08-26)
also published in:
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Television advertisements

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
92 №21, p106/107/108/109
85 №45, p42/43[16]
85 №5, p60/61/62
91
92
89 №10, p18/19/20/21
93 №9, p42/43
86 №7, p80
95
85
89 №17, p68/69/70
90 №8, p52-54[17]
85 №32, p62/63/64/65
85
90
80 №43, p60/61/62
93 №19, p24/25/26
90 №8, p32/33/34
86 №18, p58-61[18]
90 №12, p34/35
Sega Mega Drive
89
Based on
20 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
80
[19]
Æskan (IS)
97
[20]
Alaab Alcomputtar (SA)
89
[21]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
83
[22]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
63
[23]
Consoles + (FR)
92
[24]
Cool Gamer (RU)
80
[25]
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
92
[26]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
85
[27]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
70
[28]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 4 (RU)
80
[29]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
90
[30]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
53
[31]
Game Power (IT)
91
[32]
Game Power (IT) PAL
92
[33]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
85
[16]
GamesMaster (UK) PAL
85
[34]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
50
[35]
Joypad (FR) PAL
94
[36]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
89
[37]
Mega (UK) PAL
93
[38]
Mega Action (UK)
86
[39]
Mega Force (FR)
95
[40]
Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-U
85
[41]
Mega Play (US) NTSC-U
92
[42]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
89
[43]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
90
[17]
Player One (FR)
85
[44]
Power Up! (UK)
87
[45]
Power Play (DE)
79
[46]
ProGames (BR)
100
[47]
Power Unlimited (NL) NTSC
85
[48]
Score (CZ)
82
[49]
Sega Magazin (DE)
88
[2]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
80
[50]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
93
[51]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
90
[52]
Sega Force (SE)
90
[53]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
86
[18]
Sega Mega Drive Review (RU)
90
[54]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
66
[55]
Supergame (BR) NTSC-U
87
[56]
Supersonic (FR)
90
[57]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
83
[58]
Video Games (DE)
79
[59]
Sega Mega Drive
85
Based on
45 reviews

Cool Spot

Mega Drive, US
Coolspot md us cover.jpg
Cover
Cool Spot MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Cool Spot MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
Cool Spot MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
COOLSPOTCARTEUR.JPG
Cart
Cool Spot MD EU Manual.jpg
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
(Classic Mega Drive)
CoolSpot MD EU Box Classic.jpg
Cover
COOLSPOTCARTEUR.JPG
Cart
Mega Drive, JP
Cool Spot MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
CoolSpot MD JP CartTop.jpg
CoolSpot MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, AU

Cool Spot Megadrive AU Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, KR
CoolSpot MD KR Box.jpg
Cover
CoolSpot MD KR Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, SE (Rental)

Master System version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
82 №14, p100[4]
86 №37, p154
91 №6, p14-16[60]
75 №49, p52/53
90 №27, p55
91 №7, p64/65[61]
Sega Master System
86
Based on
6 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Joypad (FR)
91
[62]
Mega Force (FR)
88
[63]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
74
[64]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
82
[4]
Player One (FR)
86
[65]
Sega Magazin (DE)
88
[66]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
75
[67]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
90
[68]
Sega Force (SE)
83
[69]
Sega Master Force (UK) PAL
91
[70]
Todo Sega (ES) PAL
87
[71]
Sega Master System
85
Based on
11 reviews

Cool Spot

Master System, EU
Cool Spot SMS EU Box.jpg
Cover
CoolSpot SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
CoolSpotSMSEUManual7L.pdf
Manual
Master System, AU

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
78
90 №52, p188[72]
71
90 №6, p37[73]
75 №49, p52/53
95 №27, p60
90 №7, p73[6]
Sega Game Gear
84
Based on
7 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Digitiser (UK)
90
[74]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
78
[75]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
90
[72]
Joypad (FR)
71
[76]
Joypad (HU)
90
[77]
Megablast (DE) PAL
78
[78]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
74
[64]
Megazone (AU)
88
[79]
Sega Magazin (DE)
88
[66]
Sega News (CZ)
85
[80]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
75
[67]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
95
[81]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
86
[82]
Sega Force (SE)
95
[83]
Sega Master Force (UK) PAL
90
[84]
Todo Sega (ES)
87
[85]
Sega Game Gear
85
Based on
16 reviews

Cool Spot

Game Gear, US
CoolSpot GG US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngCool Spot GG US front.jpg
Cover
Cool Spot GG US cart.jpg
Cart
Cool Spot GG US Manual.pdf
Manual
Game Gear, EU
CoolSpot GG EU Box Back.jpgNospine.pngCool Spot GG EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
Cool Spot GG EU cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Mega Drive
CRC32 f024c1a1
MD5 74aeac0e83d75842ebee4cb86a89acd1
SHA-1 9a214e0eab58ddb8e9d752e41fce2ce08e6c39a7
1MB 1993-05 Cartridge (US)
Sega Mega Drive
CRC32 5f09fa41
MD5 fe5d4230dde728a3f7e0da5cb6c17bc3
SHA-1 b6dc5d4c29b2161f7252828cf267117e726d8e82
1MB 1993-05 Cartridge (EU)
Sega Mega Drive
CRC32 e869efb1
MD5 202349abae72c5328b46f75ab0e65d0a
SHA-1 e32826ca9ae5173d5ef9722b52bfcb4ad390a7bb
1MB 1993-07 Cartridge (JP/KR)
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32 0ebaa4a8
MD5 6b78857672b5cb69e04448adf2569e41
SHA-1 9b42bb33186ddc759a469ed3e0ee12e5dee0b809
1MB 1993-05 Page

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 File:SegaForce UK 18.pdf, page 61
  2. 2.0 2.1 File:SegaMagazin DE 01.pdf, page 56 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaMagazin DE 01.pdf_p56" defined multiple times with different content
  3. 3.0 3.1 File:GamePro US 045.pdf, page 47
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 File:MeanMachinesSega14UK.pdf, page 100 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega14UK.pdf_p100" defined multiple times with different content
  5. File:SegaForceMega UK 07.pdf, page 65
  6. 6.0 6.1 File:SegaForceMega UK 07.pdf, page 73
  7. File:GamePro US 051.pdf, page 158
  8. Sega Visions, "August/September 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 42
  9. Computer & Video Games, "September 1993" (UK; 1993-08-15), page 2
  10. Sega Force, "6/93" (SE; 1993-09-30), page 2
  11. Sega Force, "7/93" (SE; 1993-11-04), page 14
  12. Sega Force, "8/93" (SE; 1993-12-09), page 2
  13. Sega Force, "1/94" (SE; 1994-01-12), page 2
  14. Sega Force, "5/94" (SE; 1994-08-10), page 2
  15. Sega Force, "6/94" (SE; 1994-09-14), page 47
  16. 16.0 16.1 File:GamePro US 045.pdf, page 46 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamePro US 045.pdf_p46" defined multiple times with different content
  17. 17.0 17.1 File:MeanMachinesSega08UK.pdf, page 52 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega08UK.pdf_p52" defined multiple times with different content
  18. 18.0 18.1 File:SegaForce UK 18.pdf, page 58 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaForce UK 18.pdf_p58" defined multiple times with different content
  19. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 51
  20. Æskan, "" (IS; 1993-06-01), page 1
  21. Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1995-06-xx), page 80
  22. Aktueller Software Markt, "August 1993" (DE; 1993-07-12), page 52
  23. Beep! MegaDrive, "March 1994" (JP; 1994-02-08), page 19
  24. Consoles +, "Juin 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 106
  25. Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 55
  26. Electronic Games (1992-1995), "June 1993" (US; 1993-05-11), page 52
  27. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "May 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 28
  28. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 302
  29. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 4, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 92
  30. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 33
  31. Famitsu, "1994-02-25" (JP; 1994-02-10), page 1
  32. Game Power, "Maggio 1993" (IT; 1993-0x-xx), page 35
  33. Game Power, "Gennaio 1994" (IT; 199x-xx-xx), page 86
  34. GamesMaster, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-04-19), page 60
  35. Hippon Super, "February 1994" (JP; 1994-01-06), page 43
  36. Joypad, "Juin 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 72
  37. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-04-29), page 18
  38. Mega, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 42
  39. Mega Action, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-04), page 80
  40. Mega Force, "Juin 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 84
  41. Mega Fun, "07/93" (DE; 1993-06-23), page 82
  42. Mega Play, "June 1993" (US; 1993-0x-xx), page 64
  43. MegaTech, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-04-23), page 68
  44. Player One, "Juin/Juillet 1993" (FR; 1993-06-10), page 62
  45. Power Up!, "Saturday, June 26, 1993" (UK; 1993-06-26), page 1
  46. Power Play, "8/93" (DE; 1993-07-14), page 106
  47. ProGames, "Julho 1993" (BR; 1993-0x-xx), page 28
  48. Power Unlimited, "Nummer 2, September 1993" (NL; 1993-08-19), page 29
  49. Score, "Únor 1994" (CZ; 1994-02-01), page 44
  50. Sega Power, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-06), page 60
  51. Sega Pro, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-04-08), page 24
  52. Sega Zone, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-xx), page 32
  53. Sega Force, "5/93" (SE; 1993-08-26), page 6
  54. Sega Mega Drive Review, "1" (RU; 1995-04-03), page 35
  55. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
  56. Supergame, "Junho 1993" (BR; 1993-06-xx), page 16
  57. Supersonic, "Juillet/Août 1993" (FR; 1993-xx-xx), page 34
  58. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 46
  59. Video Games, "7/93" (DE; 1993-06-30), page 94
  60. File:SegaMasterForce UK 06.pdf, page 14
  61. File:SegaForceMega UK 07.pdf, page 64
  62. Joypad, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 162
  63. Mega Force, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-12-10), page 134
  64. 64.0 64.1 Mega Fun, "12/93" (DE; 1993-11-24), page 112
  65. Player One, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 154
  66. 66.0 66.1 Sega Magazin, "November/Dezember 1993" (DE; 1993-11-03), page 20
  67. 67.0 67.1 Sega Power, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-xx), page 52
  68. Sega Pro, "Xmas Special 1993" (UK; 1993-12-02), page 55
  69. Sega Force, "8/93" (SE; 1993-12-09), page 24
  70. Sega Master Force, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-11), page 64
  71. Todo Sega, "Octubre 1993" (ES; 1993-xx-xx), page 44
  72. 72.0 72.1 File:GamePro US 052.pdf, page 192 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamePro US 052.pdf_p192" defined multiple times with different content
  73. File:SegaMasterForce UK 06.pdf, page 37
  74. Digitiser (UK) (1994-01-04)
  75. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 55
  76. Joypad, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 153
  77. Joypad, "3/1994" (HU; 1994-xx-xx), page 23
  78. Megablast, "1/94" (DE; 1993-12-29), page 83
  79. Megazone, "October 1993" (AU; 1993-xx-xx), page 28
  80. Sega News, "Leden 1997" (CZ; 1997-xx-xx), page 36
  81. Sega Pro, "Xmas Special 1993" (UK; 1993-12-02), page 60
  82. Sega Zone, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-25), page 35
  83. Sega Force, "8/93" (SE; 1993-12-09), page 27
  84. Sega Master Force, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-11), page 73
  85. Todo Sega, "Noviembre 1993" (ES; 1993-1x-xx), page 64