Retro Game Master: Super Fantasy Zone

[segaismysavior]

Kotaku is now repackaging episodes of the Japanese show Game Center CX, and this week they're featuring Super Fantasy Zone.

It's a fun show, with quirky personalities, and I love how the main guy typically needs help from his underlings to tackle classic game design challenges. It's not particularly fast-paced, but worth watching on a rainy or lazy day.

Game Info:

Super Fantasy Zone was developed by Sunsoft, published by SEGA, and originated on the Mega Drive/Genesis. The main character Opa-Opa can be considered SEGA's first mascot character. Space Harrier even takes place in the Fantasy Zone "universe."

[Barry the Nomad]

Finally got around to watching it! It's a fun show, though I'm lost on certain references to japanese pop culture.

Tomorrow's show is Bonanza Bros! I'm totally checking that one out day of. Love the BB's!

[Centrale]

I hadn't heard of this show before, but read a bit about it after watching the couple of episodes shown on Kotaku recently.  There's relatively few Sega games in the series so it's cool that we're seeing a couple in a row.  There's something really enjoyable about watching someone else play games and seeing their reactions... it helps that the Kacho has a pleasant personality, as opposed to the myriad gameplay videos on Youtube where you just wish the person doing it would shut up.

[Barry the Nomad]

Damn! Reading wikipedia, they made a load of episodes! And kotaku are skipping quite a few of them. Good thing is, Sonic the Hedgehog was the premiere of season nine! I'm certain kotaku will play that one at some point.

I like the Mystery Science Theater sort of premise too. He is an employee for a fictional company and is assisted by interns and staff members. lol. One of the Japanese DVD sets even contained fake stock certificates for the company.

[CrazyT]

I never even knew there was a fantasy zone on the mega drive. I feel ashamed

[Barry the Nomad]

The Bonanza Bros. episode is up!
http://kotaku.com/retro-game-master/

After watching Super Fantasy Zone, the game looks hard as balls!

[Centrale]

I'd never really checked out Bonanza Bros. before... very interesting art direction.  I love the little nods to other Sega titles in it... I spotted a framed image of the Revenge of Shinobi title screen, and an Opa-Opa in the museum level.

Did Super Fantasy Zone come out in the West?  I don't remember ever seeing it.

[Barry the Nomad]

Did Super Fantasy Zone come out in the West?  I don't remember ever seeing it.

I don't think so, I can't find a Genesis version online. I got into Bonanza Bros. via emulator and collections, never played the original cart. Watching the Game Master episode, it looks damn hard but has loads of homages (as mentioned) and I like all the little stealth moves like disguising oneself like a robot.

[segaismysavior]

Did Super Fantasy Zone come out in the West?  I don't remember ever seeing it.

Europe got it, the only US release was much later on Wii Virtual Console.