Super Fantasy Zone

Developer: Sunsoft    Publisher: Sega    Release: 09/11/92   Genre: Shooter

I really liked the Sega Master System port of Fantasy Zone. It was a simple game but it had an ebb and flow that I really enjoyed and the home version captured that part beautifully. Obviously it couldn’t match the arcade game’s visuals but it was still a pretty game considering the hardware. The unlicensed Tengen port for the NES while decent for what it was could not compare. Curiously Super Fantasy Zone for the Genesis remained a European and Japanese exclusive. This console exclusive is a great game for action fans and an easy import purchase thanks to its European release.

For such a bright and happy game the story has taken a dark turn. O-papa, the previous defender of Fantasy Zone is killed by the invading Dark Menon, ruler of the Dark World. His son Opa-Opa sets out for revenge and to push back the invaders.

Super Fantasy Zone is technically a sequel but plays identically to its predecessor. In my opinion its better thanks to the dedicated special weapons button. This is still a free roaming shooter as you have a set number of enemy generators to destroy in each level before the boss will appear. Despite the fact that each level simply loops and is short there is a great deal of variety, not just in the backgrounds and but also enemies as well. Each zone is a complete world unto itself and there are a few new ones that require special items from the shop to make traversal easier such as headlights to increase your field of view on Risscave or using the rubber boots to walk on the electrified ground in Le-Picker. These are really awesome and I wish there were at least 1 or two more levels just like it.

Enemies drop gold that you can spend in the shops that appear once or twice per level. Here there is a veritable armory of weapons to purchase like engines, temporary and permanent weapon upgrades, and special items. While it might seem like money is literally falling out of the sky (and it is!) the economy is balanced so that you the best items cost far more gold than common weapons. Extra lives start at $5000 but jump to 20 then 50000 gold so that you can’t buy an infinite stock. It sounds like a lot but bosses drop so much cash you will be able to afford at least something. Standard temporary upgrades such as lasers, wide shots, and various engines for increased speed are all dirt cheap.

Super Fantasy Zone starts off easy enough but by the midpoint the difficulty ramps up considerably. More aggressive enemies appear, enemy waves crowd the screen and environmental hazards also play a role in clearing the stages. For the most part despite all of this it is easily manageable thanks to the overpowered weapons you can buy. Despite only lasting a scant 20 seconds or so the laser can easily clear half of a level by itself.

This all changes when it comes to the boss battles however. The free roaming environment gives way to an enclosed space that makes it harder to dodge bullets, one due to their amount but also because the bosses themselves cover so much of the screen. They have simple to decipher patterns however the execution is where you will more than likely stumble. My favorite is the fourth boss, a bad ass who protects his body with two large shields and for the majority of the fight is only vulnerable to bombs from above. It is a really cool fight and nearly all of the bosses have some mechanic like that.

Super Fantasy Zone is a fantastic looking game, reminiscent of the arcade but given a visual overhaul. The color palette is vivid and the game is host to a variety of environments that don’t use the standard video game tropes. It is incredibly saccharine and cute but that doesn’t mean its lacking in technical merit. The deep scrolling backgrounds are beautiful and there is no slowdown no matter how crowded the screen. While the fodder enemies are uninspired the giant bosses are the visual highlight both large, creatively designed, and animated very well. The soundtrack contains clever remixes of past themes using the system’s FM synth to really give the music some flavor.

In Closing

While it was a bit of a shame that Super Fantasy Zone did not come to the US the presence of an English version overseas made importing little deterrent. I say go for it as this can be found pretty cheap now thanks to its Virtual Console release.