Fantasy Zone
From Sega Retro
| Fantasy Zone |
|---|
| System(s): Sega System 16, MSX, Nintendo Famicom, Nintendo Entertainment System, TurboGrafx-16, Sega Master System, Sega Saturn, Sharp X68000, Virtual Console |
| Publisher: Sega |
| Developer: Sega |
| Genre: Shoot 'em up |
Fantasy Zone (ファンタジーゾーン) is a 1986 arcade shoot 'em up by Sega. It runs on Sega System 16 hardware, and spawned a number of sequels, starting with Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa-Opa.
The game stars Opa Opa, a spaceship tasked with saving the Fantasy Zone from an army of invaders. To do so, Opa Opa must defeat a number of bases spread across a level, followed by a boss until all the levels are complete. Due to the vibrant pastel-coloured worlds and joyful music, the game is often dubbed as the first "cute 'em up".
The game was ported to a variety of platforms, including the MSX, Nintendo Famicom (by Sunsoft), Nintendo Entertainment System (by Tengen), TurboGrafx-16, Sega Master System, Sega Saturn (in Japan only) and the Sharp X68000. The Master System port is almost identical to the arcade game, but due to technical restrictions the bosses do not have backgrounds. This version was re-released on the Wii's Virtual Console service. The Sharp X68000 port is also notable for devoting a secret stage to Space Harrier, also set in the fantasy zone. Contrary to popular belief, the Game Gear game often known by the same name is a completely different game.
The game was re-released as part of the Sony PlayStation 2's Sega Ages 2500 series in Japan. This verision includes a 3D mode option, which is identical to the arcade game but features 3D cell-shaded graphics and four new levels. This version was brought to the western world through Sega Classics Collection.