Line #27 VideoGame/FantasyZone


1	[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/674c60296bf1469a5e82151c27b397fd.png]]
2	->''Long ago, far away in space, there existed a "Fantasy Zone" where a courageous hero called Opa-Opa (the Player) fought in a valiant cause to rescue the "Fantasy Zone" from its enemies.''
3	-->--'''The opening sentence at the beginning of the game.'''
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5	''Fantasy Zone'' is a horizontally-scrolling ShootEmUp made by Creator/{{Sega}}. You control a ship called Opa-Opa, and have to bomb a set number of targets in each stage. Once these are destroyed, a boss will appear, which will have to be defeated to move on to the next stage.
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7	The screen scrolls automatically whenever Opa-Opa moves to the left or right (except during boss battles). Defeated enemies leave behind coins, which can be used to purchase weapon, missile and speed upgrades from the shop, which appears once per level.
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9	''Fantasy Zone'' was originally released in arcades and the [[Platform/SegaMasterSystem Master System]] (both versions were developed simultaneously), but later saw ports appearing on the Platform/{{MSX}}, [[Platform/{{Famicom}} Family Computer]], Platform/NintendoEntertainmentSystem (a different port from the Famicom release), [[Platform/SharpX68000 X68000]] and the Platform/TurboGrafx16.
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11	The game had a few sequels as well: ''Fantasy Zone II'' for the Master System, ''Fantasy Zone Gear'' (or just ''Fantasy Zone'') for the Platform/GameGear, and ''Super Fantasy Zone'' for the Platform/SegaGenesis. Additionally, there are two spinoff titles: ''Fantasy Zone: The Maze'' and ''Galactic Protector'' for the Master System. In 2008, a [[VideoGameRemake remake]] of ''Fantasy Zone II'', later known as ''Fantasy Zone II W'', was developed by Creator/{{M2}} as part of a CompilationRerelease. The remake [[{{Retraux}} is built on the same arcade board as the first game]].
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13	Currently, the original game and ''Fantasy Zone II W'' are both available for download on the Platform/Nintendo3DS via the Nintendo eShop as ''3D Fantasy Zone: Opa-Opa Bros.'' and ''3D Fantasy Zone II W'' respectively, adding 3D visuals as well as new game modes and features. The first game is also available on the Platform/NintendoSwitch as part of the "SEGA AGES" series, with many of the same additions as the 3DS version. The original version is also a recurring GameWithinAGame in the ''VideoGame/LikeADragon'' series; the spinoff ''VideoGame/LostJudgment'' even includes its Master System version, as well as the original ''Fantasy Zone II'' as DLC.
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15	A newly-made Sega Genesis port of ''Fantasy Zone'', again developed by M2, is included on the ''Genesis Mini 2'' (or the ''Mega Drive Mini 2'', for those outside North America), released in October 2022.
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17	Opa-Opa also showed up as a minor frequent character in ''Anime/RedPhotonZillion'', a SciFi {{Anime}} that Sega co-produced and made games based on. He's also a playable character in ''[[VideoGame/SegaSuperstars Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing]]''.
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19	!!Tropes used in the series:
20	* AdamSmithHatesYourGuts: Subverted in that items become more expensive each time you buy them.
21	* AdaptationExpansion: The version of ''Fantasy Zone'' featured on the ''Sega Classics Collection'' (which was originally part of the ''Sega Ages 2500'' lineup) features four new stages and a handful of new upgrades, although they have to be unlocked first.
22	** The 3DS and Switch versions add a mode where you play as Opa-Opa's brother Upa-Upa with a different method of using weapons.
23	* AmazingTechnicolorBattlefield: The final boss fights in ''Fantasy Zone II DX'' and ''Super Fantasy Zone''.
24	* AscendedExtra: Upa-Upa, the PaletteSwap brother of Opa-Opa who originally appeared as the player two character in the spinoff titles ''Fantasy Zone: The Maze'' and ''Galactic Protector'', gets his own game modes in ''3D Fantasy Zone: Opa-Opa Bros.'', ''SEGA AGES Fantasy Zone'' and ''3D Fantasy Zone II''.
25	* BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind: [[spoiler:In ''Fantasy Zone II DX'''s best ending, it is revealed that the ''entire game'' was this invoked by Opapa to give Opa-Opa a chance to rid himself of the Nenon entities trying to coax his SplitPersonality of evil into dominance. This also subtly shows if you're on your way to the bad ending; the FinalBoss will be Opa-Opa himself, while you're controlling his evil self.]]
26	* BittersweetEnding: See [[spoiler:LukeIAmYourFather]].
27	** ''Super Fantasy Zone'' ends with [[spoiler:Opa-Opa defeating the Dark Master, but now haunted by the Dark Master's final words: "What you can see, will not be all that prevails in the world."]]
28	* BossRush: The final stage in all of the games.
29	* BulletHell: ''Link Loop Land'' is absolutely ''loaded'' with enemies and their projectiles. Said enemies and projectiles also become more plentiful in NewGamePlus, especially if you manage to survive to reach more playthroughs.
30	* ContinuingIsPainful: When you respawn from death, you lose all of your upgrades, even those you had in reserve. On some bosses, you have pretty much no hope of winning if you lose to them once. Time to start over! ''Fantasy Zone II DX'' alleviates ''some'' of the pain by sending you to a shop that sells only engines if you die to a boss so you can repurchase that extra speed you lost. You're still stuck with the Twin Shot and Single Bomb weapons and no special weapons though.
31	* CuteEmUp: One of the {{Trope Maker}}s, along with Konami's ''VideoGame/TwinBee''.
32	* DualWorldGameplay: ''Fantasy Zone II DX'' replaces the "multiple areas" gameplay that the original ''Fantasy Zone II'' had with the "Bright Side" and "Dark Side" mechanic. Dark Side stages are more difficult than their "Bright" counterparts, but rewards you with more money. Depending on where you clear the stages you can get [[MultipleEndings different endings]].
33	* EarnYourHappyEnding: The only way to reach the [[GoldenEnding Bright Ending]] is to endure your way through most or all the Dark Side levels and still have enough money saved to be able to buy the highly expensive [[EleventhHourSuperpower Drop]] [[SwissArmyTears Tears]] weapon and land it on the FinalBoss, after which [[spoiler:Opa-Opa finally rids himself of all the evil Nenon emotions that have been building up since the first game]]
34	* EasterEgg:
35	** In ''Super Fantasy Zone'', [[spoiler:holding down the A, B and C buttons when starting a new game will replace the game's music with the soundtrack from the original game]].
36	** The [=TurboGrafx=]-16 port of ''Fantasy Zone'' is included on the [=TurboGrafx=]-16 Mini. Exclusive to that plug-and-play console, [[spoiler:holding Select when launching the game will run a newly-developed secret "near arcade" version of the port with remixed sound and shifted color palettes to resemble the arcade version as much as the [=TurboGrafx=]-16's technical limits allow]].
37	* EleventhHourSuperpower: In ''Fantasy Zone II DX'', [[spoiler:you gain a health bar for the battle against the FinalBoss. CollisionDamage can still kill you, though]].
38	* EndlessGame: ''3D Fantasy Zone II'' adds a game mode called ''Link Loop Land'' which is this.
39	* EveryTenThousandPoints: Subverted. You do not earn extra lives for score, but you can buy them in the shop (although their price increases each time).
40	* FallenHero: In one of the MultipleEndings in ''Fantasy Zone II DX'', [[spoiler:Opa-Opa turns evil and casts the Fantasy Zone into chaos, and thus ''VideoGame/SpaceHarrier'' and his white dragon friend Uriah have to save the day]].
41	* GimmickLevel: ''Super Fantasy Zone'' has two of them. First there's Risscave, a BlackoutBasement where you'll want to buy the Super Lights to increase your field of vision, and then there's Le Picker, which has an electrified floor that will [[HighVoltageDeath kill you]] if you touch it unless you buy the Rubber Boots.
42	* GuideDangIt: Buying all the engines in the original game gives you unlimited ammo for any beam weapons you buy. Not that the game ever mentions this.
43	* KarmaMeter: The touch screen in ''3D Fantasy Zone II W'' shows Opa-Opa's status, indicating which ending you'll get. He starts neutral, gets angry if you're on your way to the bad ending, and becomes happy if you're on your way to the good ending.
44	* ALongTimeAgoInAGalaxyFarFarAway: Is set in a region of space called the Fantasy Zone.
45	* LukeIAmYourFather: [[spoiler:The FinalBoss of the first game is none other than Opa-Opa's long lost father. This leads Opa-Opa into questioning if his victory [[WasItReallyWorthIt was worth this price he had to pay]]]].
46	** [[ParodiedTrope Parodied]] in [[spoiler: Upa-Upa's ending in Opa-Opa Bros. where he finds that it was in fact his mom who sent the Menon forces against him because he spent a hefty sum of his brother's savings. This leads Upa-Upa into questioning if his victory was worth this literal price he had to pay]].
47	* MirrorBoss: In ''Fantasy Zone II'', [[spoiler:the FinalBoss is Opa-Opa's evil personality in physical form who attacks using the same weapons Opa-Opa can use.]]
48	** In ''Super Fantasy Zone'', [[spoiler:the first phase of the final boss is a bigger version of Opa-Opa who attacks with the same weapons, only bigger.]]
49	* MultipleEndings: ''Fantasy Zone II DX'' has three of them depending on which stage types you clear [[spoiler:and whether or not you use the Drop Tears weapon on the FinalBoss]]. The better the ending, the more bonus points you get:
50	** [[DownerEnding Bad ending]]: Go through more Bright stages than Dark stages. [[spoiler:Opa-Opa's dark side takes over and makes him evil. He spreads chaos throughout the Fantasy Zone, destroying many of his former allies, leading to Space Harrier to try and stop him, though it's implied it's already too late.]] Doubles as a NonStandardGameOver.
51	** Good ending: Go through more Dark stages than Bright stages. [[spoiler:Opa-Opa never finds out about the truth, but peace is nonetheless restored to the Fantasy Zone.]]
52	** GoldenEnding: Same as above, but [[spoiler:use the Drop Tear on the FinalBoss]]. [[spoiler:Peace is restored and Opa-Opa finds out about the truth; shedding TearsOfJoy, he vows to never let war occur again.]]
53	* NewGamePlus: After you get the ending, the game starts again so you can go for a higher score. However, shop prices won't reset, and you restart with only one life.
54	* NintendoHard: Despite the cute look, the games are extremely unforgiving. There's no continuous play feature and extra lives cost money that's needed for weapons [[spoiler: and the good ending in ''II DX'']], which gets frustrating as [[ContinuingIsPainful said weapons go away on each new life]]. The controls also take some getting used to.
55	* NonStandardGameOver: The bad ending in ''Fantasy Zone II DX'' doesn't let you go into NewGamePlus, and instead shows a GameOver and ends the game.
56	* OneHitPointWonder: Though the Master System version of ''Fantasy Zone II'' adds an extendable life bar. In ''Fantasy Zone II DX'', primary weapon upgrades double as an extra hit point as long as it is active.
57	* PinballScoring: Has reasonable scoring unless you're skilled enough to beat the game. You'll receive a bonus of several million points[[note]]1,000,000 per remaining ship + 10 points per remaining gold[[/note]] and [[NewGamePlus start back at the beginning]] where if you're really skilled, you can do it again and again. If you're a god of this game, you can get [[{{Cap}} 99,999,990 points]].
58	* {{Retraux}}: ''Fantasy Zone II DX'' is developed on the [=System16=] arcade hardware the first game used, with the only addition being some extra RAM. It's so authentic that many who see it don't realize that it first came out in ''2008 on the [=PlayStation=] 2'' and not alongside the Master System original. It even runs in UsefulNotes/{{MAME}}.
59	* SapientShip: In an interesting variation, the ship-looking characters (who Opa-Opa and his father represent) are considered to be their own species of robots, as opposed to an actual spaceship; they have legs, have expressions, and the intro for ''Super Fantasy Zone'' explicitly show the Opa-Opa bros inside the HQ's control room. ''Red Photon Zillion'' and ''Space Fantasy Zone'' reveals that Opa-Opa is smaller than humans.
60	* SecretCharacter: ''Link Loop Land'' has two: Opa-Opa and [[spoiler:Evil Opa-Opa]], which are respectively unlocked after finishing the game once and finishing the game with the best ending.
61	* SharedUniverse: With ''VideoGame/SpaceHarrier.''
62	* ShoutOut:
63	** One of the "bomb" weapons you can buy is a [[Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus 16-ton weight.]]
64	** Some of the various Name Entry songs in ''Fantasy Zone II DX'' are taken from the Name Entry songs of other Sega arcade games, including ''Sindbad Mystery'' (Ranking C), ''Mister Viking'' (Ranking D), ''Sanrin San-Chan - Tricycle-San'' / ''Spatter'' (Ranking E), and ''VideoGame/{{Pitfall}} II'' (Ranking F)[[note]]although it's an Creator/{{Activision}} game, Sega did its arcade adaptation[[/note]].
65	* {{Snowlems}}: Poppoos/Poppos, the boss(es) of Polaria in the first game, are cute Version III examples.
66	** The singular Poppo enemies from ''Fantasy Zone II'' also count as such.
67	* SpellMyNameWithAnS:
68	** The snowman bosses in ''Fantasy Zone'' are either referred to as "Poppoos" (Both Platform/PlayStation2 Sega Ages ''Fantasy Zone'' games, ''Opa-Opa Bros.'', and the Sega Ages Switch re-release) or "Poppos", if you go by the names the smaller enemy versions use, [[https://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%82%BB%E3%82%AC-%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%83%B3%E3%82%BF%E3%82%B8%E3%83%BC%E3%82%BE%E3%83%BC%E3%83%B3-%E3%83%9D%E3%83%83%E3%83%9D%E3%83%BC%E3%82%BA-T%E3%82%B7%E3%83%A3%E3%83%84-L%E3%82%B5%E3%82%A4%E3%82%BA/dp/B00PQU24L2 an official t-shirt]], and this pre-round comment in stage 4 of ''Fantasy Zone II DX'':
69	-->"Opa-Opa felt something wrong. Small-sized boss have a function for collecting fragments of boss's information. It was not possible that Boss Poppo wasn't yet restored after 10 years had elapsed."
70	** Enemy forces come from a planet spelled "Menon" in the first game's AttractMode text crawl, "Nenon" in the second game's crawl, and again "Menon" for ''Super''.
71	* SpreadShot: Each game has a variant of it. The original had the 7-Way Shot, one of the most useful in the game. Some of the sequels had the 3-way Shot instead, or alongside it.
72	* TooFastToStop: The faster engines you can buy make your ship much more difficult to control.
73	* UnstableEquilibrium: You have to kill enemies to earn money, and you lose all your powerups when you respawn from death. Should be pretty easy to see how this comes into play.
74	* WorkOffTheDebt: [[spoiler:This is the main reason why Upa-Upa goes into the ''Link Loop Land'']].
75	* YouKilledMyFather: Opa-Opa's father is killed by the Dark Menon Forces in the opening to ''Super Fantasy Zone''. Opa-Opa then vows to defeat the enemy's mastermind for this reason.

Context VideoGame / FantasyZone