Oh, I wanted to. After all, it was made by the folks at Sega (always a positive in my book--well, as long as we're talking pre-2002 Sega) and it's chock-full of color. Also, I've always been fond of the game's oddly named protagonist, a sentient spaceship who answers to Opa-Opa.
So, what's kept me from lusting after this pastel-soaked shmup? Its controls were the biggest hurdle--in particular, Opa-Opa's odd sense of gravity and momentum that takes some getting used to if you were brought up, as I was, on more traditional side-scrolling shoot 'em ups, like Darius, Gradius or R-Type.
Another control-centric issue that has long impeded my ability to accept Fantasy Zone into my heart: Dealing with the aforementioned gravity and momentum issues while taking out the game's thieving enemy forces is the definition of challenging.
A few weeks ago, after reading through The Brothers Duomazov's review of the PC Engine version for what must have been the hundredth time, I decided to erase my previous opinions of the game from my memory and give it a second (maybe third) chance.
Although I'd be lying if I said this latest experience with Fantasy Zone was smooth sailing, er, flying, from the get-go, I'd also be lying if I said I didn't enjoy the title a lot more than I had in the past. Sure, I died a lot--I'm pretty sure I saw the "game over" screen too many times to count before I made it to the second stage--but I didn't much care thanks to my newly minted appreciation of the game's uniqueness (not to mention its odd, and other-worldly, assortment of environments and enemies).
Can it now be said that I, too, adore Fantasy Zone? Yes, I think it can. As for whether it also can be said that I'm any good at it, though, is another conversation entirely.
See also: Previous 'Second Chances' posts
Fantasy Zone is the greatest anything ever :| Give Super Fantasy Zone on the MD a try, it's a little fairer :P Fantasy Zone 2 on the MS is also splendid. I'm also a big fan of the underrated Fantasy Zone The Maze, which is a combination of FZ and Pac-Man :P
ReplyDeleteOh, I agree, Simon -- or, at least I now agree that it's a great game :) Also, I can reliably get to the third stage now, and sometimes even the fourth. Hopefully soon I'll be able to get further :)
ReplyDeleteI've played Super Fantasy Zone via emulation and really liked it, by the way. I've never played Fantasy Zone 2, though. Will have to do that soon.
Actually speaking about Fantasy Zone 2: I've been planning for some time to pick up a copy of the Japan-only Fantasy Zone Complete Collection for PS2. It includes pretty much every available version of Fantasy Zone, Fantasy Zone II, Fantasy Zone the Maze and ... the other one, uh, Galactic Protector, or something like that?
Anyway, the best thing included in this collection is a remade version of Fantasy Zone 2 that was made using the old System 16 (or whatever it was called) arcade board.
Here's some info on that version, if you've never heard of it: http://hardcoregaming101.net/fantasyzone/fantasyzone2.htm
It's always nice when you give a game a second chance and you finally find that sweet spot - I'm glad it happened to you and Fantasy Zone :)
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree, Kimimi! I've been doing this a lot lately, by the way --going back to games that I didn't like the first time around and seeing if I can change my mind about them. As a result, I have a whole bunch of "Second Chances" posts just waiting to be published :)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I'm guessing you're a fan of Fantasy Zone, too? Also, have you ever done this -- gone back to a game you previously disliked for whatever reason and then changed your mind about it?
I must now immediately seek out Fantasy Zone: The Maze. Never even heard of it.
ReplyDeleteI think I mentioned this on Twitter, but Fantasy Zone totally represented the weird wild arcade world that consoles were bringing in, back when I was a young teen when the Master System was debuting and most of the UK was still using our ZX Spectrums. I'd stare at the demo unit running in the computer shops, and it was just sort of magical.
The idea embedded itself in my brain so fully that I semi-unwittingly ripped off Opa Opa when designing my first (crappy) completed game on the Amiga. MASTER BEAT PRESENTS... SPACE PANIC (echo echo echo)
Hey there, coolpowers! Ah, I see I've written about a game that many people like -- and seemingly none of them had horrid first experiences with it like I did :P Actually, I shouldn't say my first experience(s) with Fantasy Zone were horrible -- rather, they just left me a bit confused as to what to do and frustrated with how everything controlled.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I love your description of this game, that it "represented the weird wild arcade world that consoles were bringing in" at the time of the Master System's release.
Do you still have this game you made back in the day, by the way? I love its name, at the very least :)
Oh, and one last thing: I've never played Fantasy Zone: The Maze either. Nor have I played the other MS-only Fantasy Zone (Galactic Protector, or whatever it's called). Need to change that soon!
I do enjoy Fantasy Zone, I've just never been very good at it :S
ReplyDeleteI can't say there are any games yet where I've done a complete 180 on my opinion, but I'm open to the possibility and there are definitely games that have taken a few goes to really "click".
Yeah, I know about the System 16 version Bryan, but not Galactic Protector. I'll have to look into that. I also saw footage of a 3D into-the-screen FZ once, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't Space Fantasy Zone...
ReplyDeleteAh, we're in the same boat with Fantasy Zone, then. I've definitely got better at it, but I'd hardly call myself good.
ReplyDeleteAnother game that I've changed my mind about (but still suck at): Chack'n Pop (thanks to Simon, aka RetroKingSimon).
As for not having any games that have caused you to do a 180: I hear ya. I'm sure that's the case with most folks. I think I just tend to harshly judge certain games during my first experience with them, esp. if they have graphics that turn me off...
Simon: The game I was talking about (Galactic Protector or something like that) was for the MS and had you spinning around a globe/earth while protecting it from invaders. Looks kinda cute to me.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I wonder if the footage you're talking about (3D into-the-screen FZ) was of the Sega Ages version of the original FZ, which included 3D bonus stages. After you defeat a boss, you jump to a 3D scene to pick up the coins.
I actually own this version of the game but have yet to play it -- thanks to the fact that I don't yet own a Japanese PS2 :|
I played the original, I couldn't get into it. I liked the graphics though
ReplyDeleteI can understand that, Adam -- the not getting into it part, I mean. It's definitely ... different :)
ReplyDeleteI think there's a version of this one on one of the virtual consoles...I just don't recall where...maybe I made it up. I know I have access to it on SOMETHING...maybe I should figure that out and play it!
ReplyDeleteHmmm, I would guess it is available on the Wii VC in some form, but I'm not sure which one. Maybe the TG-16 version?
ReplyDeleteYou might want to try playing it via, uh, free emulation first, though, as it's definitely a polarizing game...
Fair enough.
ReplyDeleteI'm just lookin' out for ya, Justin :)
ReplyDeleteThe "3D" Fantasy Zone was an unreleased prototype for the TurboGrafx CD called Space Fantasy Zone. It's out there in the wild, so there's lots of footage:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn7LGlchtKA
Bryan, I've tried before to track down my crappy Space Panic game (no relation to the actual arcade game called Space Panic) as it actually was carried by one of the bigger UK Amiga PD houses. Unfortunately I can't remember the name of it.
Okay I remembered the name - NBS PD - but I can't find a catalog of the disks they carried right now.
ReplyDeleteHello again, coolpowers. Oh, so you mean you made this Amiga game for an actual developer/publisher? I thought you just made it for yourself. Very cool that it was actually released :)
ReplyDeleteI have had a similar relationship with my copies of Fantasy Zone (I have it for the Famicom and PC Engine). Well, similar to your early experience of not liking the controls anyway, I haven`t come full circle and actually started liking to play the game yet. It is however one of those ones I want to like because it just looks so great. Maybe someday I`ll find the willpower like you to start from scratch!!
ReplyDeleteHey there, Sean! I can't really say what caused me to turn the corner, so to speak, when it comes to this game, but I think it had something to do with finally coming to terms with the controls and the "feel" of the ship -- at least as much as is possible, anyway. I'm never going to say the game handles like a dream, but I do think that once you accept its controls, etc., for what they are it does become a more enjoyable experience.
ReplyDeleteWell it was a free game but it got picked up and placed in a couple of PD libraries. This was back when mail-order libraries of public domain software was the primary way for most people to get hold of new, free software if you didn't have a modem and a local BBS.
ReplyDeleteThe game was pretty horrible, I mainly want to get it again to hear the digitized audio of my teen self :)
Wow, that's really interesting, coolpowers! I wasn't into gaming -- or, likely, even computers -- back then, so the stuff you're talking about is new to me. Anyway, I hope you do get it again -- and soon!
ReplyDelete