Fantasy Zone - Where a couragous hero called Opa-Opa fought in a valiant cause

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FANTASY ZONE

Post anything you want (pics, memories, opinions, game collection, memes) about Fantasy Zone here.




1986 - Fantasy Zone
1987 - Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa-Opa
1987 - Fantasy Zone: The Maze

1988 - Galactic Protector
1989 - Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf
1990 - Fantasy Zone (Tengen version)
1991 - Fantasy Zone Gear
1991 - Space Fantasy Zone (Canceled)

1992 - Super Fantasy Zone
1997 - Sega Ages: Fantasy Zone (Saturn)
2001 - Planet Harriers
2003 - Fantasy Zone Mobile

2003 - Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 3: Fantasy Zone
2007 - SEGA Splash! Golf (Opa-Opa as a caddie + Plaleaf, La dune, Polaria, and Pocarius as courses)
2008 - Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 33: Fantasy Zone Complete Collection
2012 - Medal de Fantasy Zone

2015 - 3D Fantasy Zone
2015 - 3D Fantasy Zone II W
2015 - 3D Gunstar Heroes (Green turned into Opa-Opa)
2016 - 3D Power Drift
2017 - Dariusburst Chronicle Saviours

2020 - Sega Ages: Fantasy Zone (Switch)
2020 - Endless Zone (a Homage to Fantasy Zone)
2023 - 404 Game RE:SET (Fantasy Zone as playable character)
2023 - Sonic Superstars (Best Tribute Ever!)

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In case, you haven't read this before, it's an interesting interview with Yoji Ishii , especially if you love the original Fantasy Zone.



Link : http://shmuplations.com/fantasyzone/

Some interesting quote here :

Ishii: This part here (points to the explanation for the different engines at arcade instruction card) made Sega angry. The Rocket Engine makes your ship impossibly  fast, and it was a kind of joke, but we didn’t say that on the instructions. We didn’t realize that until after everything was printed and released, and man, Sega was furious. There were a lot of very serious people at Sega then.

A : Sega in the late 80s seemed to follow that philosophy: they weren’t just making what players were asking for. Instead they were leading players, and after playing a Sega game you felt like “oh, I had wanted to play something like this!” It was impressive. 

Ishii: That positive culture at Sega in the 80s is owed to then-President Hayao Nakayama. He constantly told us, “Be the first: make something the world has never seen before.” The whole staff tried to follow that philosophy.

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"Be the first: make something the world has never seen before." Does any major publisher have that kind of vision these days? Now it's more like "Make a slight variation of what we are sure will sell."

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"Be the first: make something the world has never seen before." Does any major publisher have that kind of vision these days? Now it's more like "Make a slight variation of what we are sure will sell."

Or like, "Here's the budget. Make sure it's not over from that and get profit as much as we can"

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Trivia : Ulala could summon Opa-Opa (Fantasy Zone), Harrier (Space Harrier), and Scooter (Alien Storm)  as part of her attacks in Project X Zone (3DS)



Article : http://segabits.com/blog/2012/04/10/capcom-x-sega-x-namco-bandai-project-gets-named-and-crossover-characters-get-revealed/

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Opa-Opa’s greatest cameo appearances

Since his debut in 1986, Opa-Opa has made cameo appearances in several SEGA games, a testament to Opa-Opa’s original design.
In fact, Opa-Opa’s cameo career began the very year he debuted and his cameo appearances continue through to today.
Yes, Shenmue made the list, you can stop holding your breath Ryo Hazuki fans.

Article : http://segabits.com/blog/2013/12/13/the-weekly-five-opa-opas-greatest-cameo-appearances/

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Trivia : Opa-Opa is playable on DARIUSBURST Chronicle Saviours

DARIUSBURST Chronicle Saviours, the latest entry in Taito’s DARIUS series of side-scrolling shoot’em up games is getting some very SEGA-fied DLC.
Taito is set to release SEGA themed DLC packs that span from Fantasy Zone, Space Harrier and all the way to Galaxy Force II.
The Fantasy Zone one includes Opa-Opa as a ship to drive, theme music and even coins drop from the enemies (and is used as currency for other weapons!).
Very interesting way of including the franchise.

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 SEGA in the Media: Opa-Opa & Zillion

This version of Opa-Opa has no weapons and in stark contrast to his video game counterpart is completely useless in battle.
Though the character lacks the power of his video game counterpart he still acts the same way I always thought he would in the games: cute and optimistic.
He may not pack the firepower of the Opa-Opa we know and love, but he certainly packs the spirit!

Article : http://segabits.com/blog/2013/12/14/sega-in-the-media-opa-opa-zillion/

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Trivia : Space Harrier and Fantasy Zone are on the TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine Mini

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-UePemoQOQ

Article : http://segabits.com/blog/2019/07/12/sega-games-space-harrier-and-fantasy-zone-coming-to-the-turbografx-16-pc-engine-mini/

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3D Fantasy Zone: Opa-Opa Bros (3DS)
A cute outer shell with a unforgiving challenge in the center

Get to play as Upa-Upa, Opa-Opa’s brother who was actually in the 1987 Master System game Fantasy Zone: The Maze as a avatar for the second player.
Once you beat the game, you unlock Up-Upa Mode which takes the base game a changes the rules a bit.
Now instead of going to shops to upgrade weapons (which have had timer on them as Opa-Opa) you can change weapons at anytime through the touch screen, but each shot will cost you a certain amount of coin.

Article : http://segabits.com/blog/2015/02/18/review-3d-fantasy-zone-opa-opa-bros-nintendo-3ds/

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Trivia : SEGA AGES Fantasy Zone (Switch) was released in western territories on January 23rd

SEGA AGES Fantasy Zone is largely based on the SEGA 3D Classic version, officially referred to as Fantasy Zone Opa-Opa Bros.
Like that version of the game, players have the option to stock up on coins they’ve accumulated during play sessions and use them the next time they play, and the return of the Upa-Upa mode.

Article : http://segabits.com/blog/2020/01/09/sega-ages-fantasy-zone-and-shinobi-releasing-in-western-territories-on-january-23rd/

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3D Fantasy Zone II W : The Tears of Opa-Opa (3DS)
If you have a 2DS or 3DS you owe it to yourself to check out this Sega 3D Classic

This is a great port of the System 16 remake of Fantasy Zone II: Tears of Opa-Opa and the first time this version was released outside of Japan.
M2 added a sort of ‘endless’ survival/score attack mode which doesn’t sound like anything special on paper but when you actually play it I think you’ll be impressed.
Not only did we get the port, but we got an enhanced port with widescreen and array of options.

Article : http://segabits.com/blog/2015/04/16/review-3d-fantasy-zone-ii-the-tears-of-opa-opa-nintendo-3ds/

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Trivia : Super Fantasy Zone is included in SEGA Mega Drive Mini and SEGA Genesis Mini



Article : http://segabits.com/blog/2019/04/18/more-titles-announced-for-the-mega-drive-mini-and-sega-genesis-mini-including-world-of-illusion-earthworm-jim-super-fantasy-zone-and-more/

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SEGA Retrospective: Welcome to Fantasy Zone, get ready!

Between 1986 and 2008, the original game has been released to a multitude of platforms, from the arcade and SEGA Master System to mobile phones and modern console.
It’s no surprise that the franchise is near and dear to our hearts, as Opa-Opa himself is our official site mascot, always seen flying over the SEGAbits logo.

Article : http://segabits.com/blog/2013/12/09/welcome-to-fantasy-zone-week-get-ready/

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Source : https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/1346765-gaming

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My Life with SEGA tackles the ultimate cute ’em up: Fantasy Zone

Fantasy Zone is one of many titles brother insisted on buying for the Master System.
It was so strange and other-worldly. Fantasy Zone was unlike any other he shooter he had seen before.
While the gameplay is similar to something like Defender, that game was nowhere near as colorful and cheerful.
I can’t remember ever seeing this fucker in the arcades, so I thought this was a Master System original for many years….

Article : http://segabits.com/blog/2013/12/11/my-life-with-sega-tackles-the-ultimate-cute-em-up-fantasy-zone/