Zool

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Zool

System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear

Publisher: GameTek (US), Gremlin Graphics (EU), Nisshouiwai Infocom (JP),

Electronic Arts (EU)

Developer: Gremlin Graphics

Genre: Action

Release	Date	RRP	Code
US	1994-02^[3]	$59.9559.95^[3]	T-83096
EU	1994-01^[1]		E264SMXI
AU	1993
EU	1994-02		27075-50
JP	1994-07-29	¥3,8003,800	T-149017
US	1994	$39.9539.95	T-83048
EU	1994-03^[5]		123018-50

VRC

Zool or Zool: Ninja of the Nth Dimension, known as Zool no Yume Bouken (ズールのゆめぼうけん) in Japan, is a platform game developed by Gremlin Graphics for the Commodore Amiga in 1992 as an answer to the "mascot wars" of the early 1990s spearheadded by Super Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog. Zool's success saw it brought to a number of platforms, including the Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear during late 1993 and 1994.

Gameplay

Zool is a relatively basic but fast paced platform game. / makes Zool jump, while / makes him attack. Jumping into a wall will allow Zool to climb up or down it. Holding down / makes Zool perform a punch motion which can be used to activate switches, which also serve as checkpoints. Holding while jumping makes Zool perform a spinning attack. Pushing while running causes a sliding attack, which is vital due to the games fast pace and instantly appearing enemies.

Level designs and choices of music differ between the Sega versions (although the latter is likely due to the fact the original Amiga version had no in-game tracks). In order to clear a stage, a certain amount of items need to be collected before the exit beacon (a coin with Zools head impregnated) can be activated. This was a very common design for western platformers of that time, also seen in e.g. Global Gladiators. Running into enemies is a design problem in this game as it goes against the high speed gameplay it theoretically offers, forcing the player to either go slow or memorize stages down to enemy positioning.

The game ends with a cliffhanger and clear hint a sequel. While Zool was followed by Zool 2", it was not brought to a Sega system.

Versions

Compared to the Amiga original, the Sega Mega Drive version runs faster and has multiple parallax scrolling background planes instead of the Amiga's typical "copper mode" color gradients

Production credits

Mega Drive version

Sega/Game Code: Paul Hiley
Game/Frontend Code: George Allan
Artists: Ade Carless, Paul Gregory, Damon Godley
Music: Patrick Phelan, Krysalis
Maps: Paul Gregory, Ade Carless, Tony Dawson, Paul Green
Additional Help: Mick Lister
Test: Lee Campbell, Tony Howe, Rob Millington, Simon Short
Produced by: Mark Glossop

Master System version

Main Code: Siz
Additional Code: Richard Stevenson
Music Composition: Patrick Phelan
Sound: Krisalis Software
Art: Michael Hirst, Ade Carless, Greggs, Pete Daniels
Map and Level Design: Mike Lister, Michael Hirst
Project Manager: Tony Casson
Development Manager: James North-Hearn

© Gremlin Graphics, 1993

Game Gear version

Main Code: Siz
Additional Code: Richard Stevenson
Music Composition: Patrick Phelan
Sound: Krisalis Software
Art: Michael Hirst, Ade Carlesss, Pete Daniels, Greggs
Map and Level Design: Mike Lister, Michael Hirst
Project Manager: Tony Casson
Development Manager: James North-Hearn

Magazine articles

Main article: Zool/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #145: "December 1993" (1993-11-15)

Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #146: "January 1994" (1993-12-15)

Print advert in Consoles + (FR) #25: "Novembre 1993" (1993-1x-xx)

Print advert in Video Games (DE) #1993-12: "12/93" (1993-11-22)

Print advert in Sega Magazin (DE) #7: "Juni 1994" (1994-05-11)

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)

50

^[12]

Aktueller Software Markt (DE)

83

^[13]

Beep! MegaDrive (JP)

NTSC-J

55

^[14]

Console Mania (IT)

86

^[15]

Consoles + (FR)

93

^[16]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

82

^[7]

Electronic Gaming Monthly (US)

NTSC-U

58

^[8]

Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)

60

^[17]

Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 10 (RU)

80

^[18]

Freak (IL)

80

^[19]

GamePro (US)

NTSC-U

85

^[3]

Gamers (DE)

53

^[20]

Hyper (AU)

79

^[21]

Joker (SI)

87

^[22]

Joypad (FR)

PAL

78

^[23]

Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)

PAL

83

^[24]

Mega (UK)

PAL

74

^[25]

Mega Action (UK)

PAL

80

^[26]

Mega Force (FR)

84

^[27]

Mega Fun (DE)

PAL

74

^[28]

MegaTech (UK)

PAL

71

^[29]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

PAL

67

^[9]

Player One (FR)

65

^[30]

Play Time (DE)

64

^[31]

Power Up! (UK)

76

^[32]

Power Unlimited (NL)

81

^[33]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

78

^[34]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

84

^[35]

Sega Zone (UK)

PAL

86

^[36]

Sega Force Mega (UK)

PAL

80

^[37]

Sega Force (SE)

72

^[38]

Sonic the Comic (UK)

PAL

83

^[39]

Todo Sega (ES)

PAL

85

^[40]

Tricks 16 bit (RU)

71

^[41]

Video Games (DE)

PAL

74

^[42]

VideoGames (US)

NTSC-U

50

^[43]

	75
Based on 36 reviews

Zool

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart

Master System version

Sega Retro Average

Publication	Version	Score

	N/A
Based on 0 reviews

Zool

Master System, EU
Cover
Cart

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average

Publication	Version	Score

	N/A
Based on 0 reviews

Zool

Game Gear, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, EU
Cover
Cart

Game Gear, JP
Cover
Cart

References

↑ File:Mega UK 16.pdf, page 107
↑ File:SegaForceMega UK 07.pdf, page 49
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 File:GamePro US 056.pdf, page 50 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamePro US 056.pdf_p50" defined multiple times with different content
↑ File:SegaMasterForce UK 06.pdf, page 23
↑ File:SegaPro DE 18.pdf, page 47
↑ File:CVG UK 152.pdf, page 67
↑ ^7.0 ^7.1 File:CVG UK 145.pdf, page 89 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 145.pdf_p89" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^8.0 ^8.1 File:EGM US 054.pdf, page 46 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:EGM US 054.pdf_p46" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^9.0 ^9.1 File:MeanMachinesSega15UK.pdf, page 96 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega15UK.pdf_p96" defined multiple times with different content
↑ File:SegaForceMega UK 06.pdf, page 42
↑ File:SuperGamePower BR 001.pdf, page 45
↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 275
↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "Avril 1994" (DE; 1994-03-07), page 113
↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1994" (JP; 1994-07-08), page 21
↑ Console Mania, "Gennaio 1994" (IT; 199x-xx-xx), page 117
↑ Consoles +, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 146
↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 369
↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 10, "" (RU; 2003-10-08), page 246
↑ Freak, "1/94" (IL; 1994-xx-xx), page 1
↑ Gamers, "Juli/August 1994" (DE; 1994-07-01), page 37
↑ Hyper, "January 1994" (AU; 199x-xx-xx), page 37
↑ Joker, "Maj 1994" (SI; 1994-xx-xx), page 21
↑ Joypad, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 130
↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 34
↑ Mega, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 48
↑ Mega Action, "Christmas 1993" (UK; 1993-12-02), page 16
↑ Mega Force, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-12-10), page 100
↑ Mega Fun, "01/94" (DE; 1993-12-22), page 74
↑ MegaTech, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-20), page 64
↑ Player One, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 146
↑ Play Time, "5/94" (DE; 1994-04-06), page 137
↑ Power Up!, "Saturday, January 08, 1994" (UK; 1994-01-08), page 1
↑ Power Unlimited, "Jaargang 2, Nummer 3, Maart 1994" (NL; 1994-02-23), page 38
↑ Sega Power, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-xx), page 46
↑ Sega Pro, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-14), page 70
↑ Sega Zone, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-25), page 36
↑ Sega Force Mega, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-16), page 48
↑ Sega Force, "2/94" (SE; 1994-02-23), page 24
↑ Sonic the Comic, "February 4th 1994" (UK; 1994-01-22), page 12
↑ Todo Sega, "Diciembre 1993" (ES; 1993-1x-xx), page 56
↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 236
↑ Video Games, "3/94" (DE; 1994-02-23), page 82
↑ VideoGames, "February 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 88
↑ File:Joypad FR 025.pdf, page 126
↑ File:PlayerOne FR 038.pdf, page 116
↑ File:SegaMasterForce UK 06.pdf, page 22
↑ File:ConsolesPlus FR 030.pdf, page 155
↑ File:CVG UK 149.pdf, page 79
↑ File:PlayerOne FR 040.pdf, page 108

[:File:Mega_UK_16.pdf_p107-1] File:Mega UK 16.pdf, page 107

[:File:SegaForceMega_UK_07.pdf_p49-2] File:SegaForceMega UK 07.pdf, page 49

[:File:GamePro_US_056.pdf_p50-3] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 File:GamePro US 056.pdf, page 50 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamePro US 056.pdf_p50" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:SegaMasterForce_UK_06.pdf_p23-4] File:SegaMasterForce UK 06.pdf, page 23

[:File:SegaPro_DE_18.pdf_p47-5] File:SegaPro DE 18.pdf, page 47

[:File:CVG_UK_152.pdf_p67-6] File:CVG UK 152.pdf, page 67

[:File:CVG_UK_145.pdf_p89-7] 7.0 ^7.1 File:CVG UK 145.pdf, page 89 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 145.pdf_p89" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:EGM_US_054.pdf_p46-8] 8.0 ^8.1 File:EGM US 054.pdf, page 46 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:EGM US 054.pdf_p46" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:MeanMachinesSega15UK.pdf_p96-9] 9.0 ^9.1 File:MeanMachinesSega15UK.pdf, page 96 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega15UK.pdf_p96" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:SegaForceMega_UK_06.pdf_p42-10] File:SegaForceMega UK 06.pdf, page 42

[:File:SuperGamePower_BR_001.pdf_p45-11] File:SuperGamePower BR 001.pdf, page 45

[12] 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 275

[:File:ASM_DE_1994-04.pdf_p113-13] Aktueller Software Markt, "Avril 1994" (DE; 1994-03-07), page 113

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1994-08.pdf_p21-14] Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1994" (JP; 1994-07-08), page 21

[:File:ConsoleMania_IT_026.pdf_p117-15] Console Mania, "Gennaio 1994" (IT; 199x-xx-xx), page 117

[16] Consoles +, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 146

[17] Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 369

[18] Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 10, "" (RU; 2003-10-08), page 246

[19] Freak, "1/94" (IL; 1994-xx-xx), page 1

[:File:Gamers_DE_1994-05.pdf_p37-20] Gamers, "Juli/August 1994" (DE; 1994-07-01), page 37

[:File:Hyper_AU_002.pdf_p37-21] Hyper, "January 1994" (AU; 199x-xx-xx), page 37

[22] Joker, "Maj 1994" (SI; 1994-xx-xx), page 21

[:File:Joypad_FR_026.pdf_p130-23] Joypad, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 130

[:File:MDAG_UK_17.pdf_p34-24] Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 34

[:File:Mega_UK_15.pdf_p48-25] Mega, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 48

[:File:MegaAction_UK_08.pdf_p16-26] Mega Action, "Christmas 1993" (UK; 1993-12-02), page 16

[:File:MegaForce_FR_23.pdf_p100-27] Mega Force, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-12-10), page 100

[:File:MegaFun_DE_1994-01.pdf_p74-28] Mega Fun, "01/94" (DE; 1993-12-22), page 74

[:File:MegaTech_UK_24.pdf_p64-29] MegaTech, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-20), page 64

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_037.pdf_p146-30] Player One, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 146

[:File:PlayTime_DE_1994-05.pdf_p137-31] Play Time, "5/94" (DE; 1994-04-06), page 137

[32] Power Up!, "Saturday, January 08, 1994" (UK; 1994-01-08), page 1

[:File:PowerUnlimited_NL_008_199403.pdf_p38-33] Power Unlimited, "Jaargang 2, Nummer 3, Maart 1994" (NL; 1994-02-23), page 38

[:File:SegaPower_UK_49.pdf_p46-34] Sega Power, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-xx), page 46

[:File:SegaPro_UK_25.pdf_p70-35] Sega Pro, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-14), page 70

[:File:SegaZone_UK_14.pdf_p36-36] Sega Zone, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-25), page 36

[:File:SegaForceMega_UK_06.pdf_p48-37] Sega Force Mega, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-16), page 48

[:File:SegaForce_SE_1994_02.pdf_p24-38] Sega Force, "2/94" (SE; 1994-02-23), page 24

[39] Sonic the Comic, "February 4th 1994" (UK; 1994-01-22), page 12

[:File:TodoSega_ES_09.pdf_p56-40] Todo Sega, "Diciembre 1993" (ES; 1993-1x-xx), page 56

[41] Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 236

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1994-03.pdf_p82-42] Video Games, "3/94" (DE; 1994-02-23), page 82

[:File:VideoGames_US_61.pdf_p88-43] VideoGames, "February 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 88

[:File:Joypad_FR_025.pdf_p126-44] File:Joypad FR 025.pdf, page 126

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_038.pdf_p116-45] File:PlayerOne FR 038.pdf, page 116

[:File:SegaMasterForce_UK_06.pdf_p22-46] File:SegaMasterForce UK 06.pdf, page 22

[:File:ConsolesPlus_FR_030.pdf_p155-47] File:ConsolesPlus FR 030.pdf, page 155

[:File:CVG_UK_149.pdf_p79-48] File:CVG UK 149.pdf, page 79

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_040.pdf_p108-49] File:PlayerOne FR 040.pdf, page 108

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Zool

From Sega Retro

Contents

Gameplay

Versions

Production credits

Mega Drive version

Master System version

Game Gear version

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Master System version

Game Gear version

References