Zoop

From Sega Retro

n/a

  • Mega Drive
  • Game Gear
  • Saturn

Zoop Title.png

Zoop GG Title.png

Zoop Saturn JP SSTitle.png

Zoop
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear, Sega Saturn
Publisher:
Sega Mega Drive
Sega Game Gear
Viacom New Media (US/EU)
Sega Saturn
Media Quest
Developer:
Sound driver:
Sega Saturn
SCSP/CD-DA (6 tracks)
Genre: Action Puzzle[1], Puzzle[2]

















Number of players: 1
Official in-game languages:
Sega Mega Drive
Sega Game Gear
  • English
  • Sega Saturn
  • 日本語
  • Release Date RRP Code
    Sega Mega Drive
    US
    $49.9549.95[3] T-139086
    ESRB: Kids to Adults
    Sega Mega Drive
    EU
    T-139086-50
    ELSPA: 3+ OK
    Sega Mega Drive
    PT
    MDJ139086
    Sega Mega Drive
    UK
    £29.9929.99[4] T-139086-50
    ELSPA: 3+ OK
    Sega Mega Drive
    SE
    (Rental)
    Sega Mega Drive
    AU
    FZOO04SMC
    OFLC: G
    Sega Game Gear
    US
    T-139049
    ESRB: Kids to Adults
    Sega Saturn
    JP
    ¥4,800 (4,944)4,800e[5] T-26406G
    Sega Rating: All Ages
    Non-Sega versions

    Zoop (ズープ) is a puzzle game developed by Hookstone for Viacom New Media and released on numerous platforms, including the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Game Gear in 1995 and the Sega Saturn in 1996.

    Gameplay

    Zoop MD, Stage 8.png

    Gameplay

    Zoop is a puzzle game that is similar to the Taito arcade game Plotting. The player controls a colored shape that can move around a 4x4 square in the center of the screen. Lines of differently colored shapes (in red, green, violet, and blue) appear from four quadrant on each side of the square, pushing the shapes in front of them forward. A cursor appears to indicate where the next shape will appear. Two consecutive shapes never come in from the same quadrant. The goal is to destroy those shapes before they are pushed into the center square, which ends the game. Gameplay relies on timely color swapping and fast reaction times.

    The player's shape can move in any direction using the D-Pad. The shape can shoot other shapes by zooming out of its square to hit them, then zooming back (facing the opposite direction when it returns). On the Mega Drive and Saturn versions, the shape is a triangle, and it shoots with A, B, or C. On the Game Gear version, the shape is a square with an arrow that indicates the direction that it is facing, and it shoots with 1 or 2. Shooting a shape of the same color as the player's shape destroys it and awards points. All consecutive shapes of the same color that are behind the target shape are also cleared. More points are awarded when more shapes that are eliminated in a single move. If a shape of a different color from the player's current shape is hit, the player's shape switches colors with it, allowing the player to then eliminate shapes of that color, but the shape is not eliminated. When the player eliminates one or more same-colored shapes, if there is a different-colored shape behind them, it is hit, changing the color of the player's shape.

    When enough shapes are eliminated, the level increases, which speeds up the gameplay and (before level 10) changes the background. The player's score is shown in the upper-left corner, a counter showing the number of shapes before the next level is shown in the upper-right corner, and the current level is shown in the bottom-right corner.

    There are two modes, Continual and Level. Both are endless modes where the player can select a starting level between 1 and 9 and a difficulty level between 0 and 4. The game starts with shapes already on the grid when a difficulty level above 0 is selected. In a Continual game, after advancing to a new level, all the shapes remain on the grid; in a Level game, the grid is cleared whenever a new level begins.

    Special shapes

    If these special shapes are hit, they grant special effects. They do not end the game if they reach the center square.

    Zoop MD, Special Shapes.png
    Proximity Bomb
    Eliminates all shapes touching the next shape that the player hits.
    Zoop MD, Special Shapes.png
    Line Bomb
    Eliminates the entire line of shapes, regardless of color.
    Zoop MD, Special Shapes.png
    Color Bomb
    Eliminates all shapes in a quadrant that are the same color as the next shape that the player hits.
    Zoop MD, Special Shapes.png
    Bonus Spring
    Collecting 5 clears all shapes on the grid.

    Versions

    The Mega Drive, Game Gear, and Saturn versions of the game feature identical gameplay. The Saturn and PlayStation versions have enhanced visuals and sound. The Game Gear and Game Boy versions only use rectangles for shapes (unlike the other versions, which distinguish pieces by both color and shape) because of screen space constraints. The Game Boy port is the only version of the game with a multiplayer mode.

    Production credits

    Mega Drive version

    • Designed in the UK by: Hookstone Ltd.
    • Programmed in the UK by: PanelComp Ltd.
    • Programmer: John Rocke
    • Graphic Artists: Peter Tattersall, Malcolm Cooper, Ian Bowden
    • Hookstone Worldwide Representation: John Cook, Bad Management
    • Executive Producer: I. Kenneth Miller
    • Managing Producer: N. Matthew Welton
    • Producing Coordinator: Amanda P. Herman
    • Technical Director: Jim Hanson
    • Sound Producer: Steve Boyer
    • Sound Coordinator: Cliff Falls
    • Sound Support Software: Brian Schmidt
    • Music Composition: Bobby Scumaci
    • Additional Music Composition: Mark Davis
    • Graphic Design: Higashi Glaser Design
    • Additional Art and Animation: Jarod Pranno
    • Development Support: Baki Allen, Greg Colton, Tom Hanson, Scott Lawrence, Gus Peterson, John Podlasek
    • Packaging Design: Doublespace
    • Manual Design: Beeline Group
    • Special Thanks: Eugene Evans, Stephen Gass
    Source:
    US manual
    Zoop MD US Manual.pdf
    [6]

    Magazine articles

    Main article: Zoop/Magazine articles.

    Promotional material

    Main article: Zoop/Promotional material.

    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)
    60
    [7]
    Consoles + (FR) PAL
    84
    [8]
    Cool Gamer (RU)
    70
    [9]
    GamePro (US) NTSC-U
    78
    [3]
    Hobby Consolas (ES) PAL
    91
    [10]
    Joypad (FR) PAL
    77
    [11]
    MAN!AC (DE) PAL
    64
    [12]
    Mega Fun (DE) PAL
    64
    [13]
    Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
    63
    [4]
    Player One (FR) PAL
    94
    [14]
    Power Up! (UK)
    90
    [15]
    Sega Magazin (DE) PAL
    61
    [16]
    Sega Power (UK) PAL
    81
    [17]
    Sega Pro (UK) PAL
    85
    [18]
    Sega Megazone (AU)
    40
    [19]
    Sega Opisaniy i sekretov (RU)
    75
    [20]
    Sega Saturn Magazine (UK) PAL
    62
    [21]
    Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL
    89
    [22]
    Todo Sega (ES)
    90
    [23]
    Tricks 16 bit (RU)
    81
    [24]
    Video Games (DE) PAL
    67
    [25]
    Sega Mega Drive
    75
    Based on
    21 reviews

    Zoop

    Mega Drive, US
    Zoop MD US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngZoop MD US Box.JPG
    Cover
    Zoop MD US Cart.jpg
    Cart
    Zoop MD US Manual.pdf
    Manual
    Mega Drive, EU
    Zoop MD EU Box.jpg
    Cover
    Zoop MD EU Cart.jpg
    Cart
    Zoop MD EU Manual.jpg
    Manual
    Mega Drive, FR

    Zoop MD FR Manual.pdf
    Manual
    Mega Drive, PT

    Mega Drive, SE (Rental)

    Mega Drive, AU
    Zoop MD AU cover.jpg
    Cover

    Saturn version

    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Score Source
    {{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
    Based on
    0 review
    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Version Score
    Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
    58
    [26]
    Fusion (US) NTSC-U
    75
    [27]
    Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
    50
    [28]
    Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
    62
    [29]
    Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
    60
    [30]
    Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
    64
    [31]
    Sega Saturn
    61
    Based on
    6 reviews

    Zoop

    Saturn, JP
    Zoop Saturn JP Box Back.jpgZoop Saturn JP Box Front.jpg
    Cover
    Zoop Saturn JP Spinecard.jpg
    Spinecard
    Zoop Saturn JP Disc.jpg
    Disc

    Game Gear version

    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Score Source
    {{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
    Based on
    0 review
    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Version Score
    Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
    59
    [32]
    Sega Game Gear
    59
    Based on
    1 review

    Zoop

    Game Gear, US
    Zoop GG US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngZoop GG US front.jpg
    Cover
    Zoop GG US cart.jpg
    Cart

    Technical information

    Main article: Zoop/Technical information.

    References

    1. File:Zoop Saturn JP Box Back.jpg
    2. 2.0 2.1 https://sega.jp/fb/segahard/ss/soft_licensee2.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-03-20 23:05)
    3. 3.0 3.1 GamePro, "December 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 88
    4. 4.0 4.1 Mean Machines Sega, "December 1995" (UK; 1995-10-30), page 86
    5. Sega Saturn Magazine, "1996-14 (1996-08-23)" (JP; 1996-08-09), page 15
    6. File:Zoop MD US Manual.pdf, page 10
    7. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 276
    8. Consoles +, "Décembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 136
    9. Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 246
    10. Hobby Consolas, "Enero 1996" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 66
    11. Joypad, "Décembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 42
    12. MAN!AC, "12/95" (DE; 1995-11-08), page 79
    13. Mega Fun, "12/95" (DE; 1995-11-21), page 78
    14. Player One, "Décembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 102
    15. Power Up!, "Saturday, December 02, 1995" (UK; 1995-12-02), page 1
    16. Sega Magazin, "Januar 1996" (DE; 1995-12-13), page 14
    17. Sega Power, "January 1996" (UK; 1995-11-16), page 38
    18. Sega Pro, "December 1995" (UK; 1995-11-02), page 55
    19. Sega Megazone, "Summer '95/'96" (AU; 1995-xx-xx), page 26
    20. Sega Opisaniy i sekretov, "14000 Opisaniy i sekretov" (RU; 2003-03-11), page 236
    21. Sega Saturn Magazine, "December 1995" (UK; 1995-11-24), page 92
    22. Sonic the Comic, "8 December 1995" (UK; 1995-11-25), page 12
    23. Todo Sega, "Diciembre 1995" (ES; 1995-1x-xx), page 40
    24. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 310
    25. Video Games, "2/96" (DE; 1996-01-24), page 86
    26. Famitsu, "1996-12-06" (JP; 1996-11-22), page 1
    27. Fusion, "Volume 1, Number 5: December 1995" (US; 1995-1x-xx), page 116
    28. Saturn Fan, "1996 No. 24" (JP; 1996-11-15), page 187
    29. Saturn Fan, "1997 No. 2" (JP; 1997-01-17), page 70
    30. Sega Saturn Magazine, "1996-18 (1996-10-25)" (JP; 1996-10-11), page 225
    31. Sega Saturn Magazine, "Readers rating final data" (JP; 2000-03), page 15
    32. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "November 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 52


    Zoop

    Zoop Title.png

    Main page | Comparisons | Hidden content | Magazine articles | Reception | Promotional material | Region coding | Technical information | Bootlegs


    Sega Game Gear
    Prototypes: Prototype

    Sega Mega Drive
    Prototypes: Prototype