Zillion (video game)

Zillion

North American cover art
Developer(s) Sega
Publisher(s) Sega
Designer(s) Kotaro Hayashida
Composer(s) Tokuhiko Uwabo
Platform(s) Sega Master System
Release date(s)
Genre(s) Platform
Mode(s) Single player

Zillion, known as Akai Koudan Zillion (赤い光弾 ジリオン, lit. Red Photon Zillion)[3] in Japan, is a space adventure platform video game designed for the Sega Master System as a companion for Tatsunoko Productions's Zillion anime series in 1987.[4] The game is a free-scrolling platform/adventure, similar to Epyx's Impossible Mission,[5] in which objects must be inspected to enable things by accessing codes.[3][4] It has also been compared to Nintendo's Metroid.[3][6]

Zillion prominently features Sega's egg-shaped mascot, Opa-opa, who stars in the Fantasy Zone games, also available for the Sega Master System. A sequel to the game, Zillion II: The Triformation was released in 1988.

Gameplay

JJ in front of the Mothership on Planet X.

The White Knights, a peacekeeping force within the Planetary System, are on a mission to destroy the evil Noza (misspelled as "Norsa" in the North American version) Empire's base on Planet X. In order to do so, JJ, the main character from the Zillion anime, must infiltrate the base and acquire the five floppy disks that will enable him to input the self-destruct sequence into the base's mainframe computer. Mothership lands on the surface of the planet, and JJ must make his way through the labyrinthine base, fighting enemies, avoiding hazards and possibly rescuing two of his captured allies on his way to destroy the base.

The player starts out in the role of JJ, just outside the Mothership on the surface of the planet. After reaching the underground base shortly after beginning, the player spends the rest of the game underground, only coming back up to replenish the character's health or to leave after completing the mission.

Throughout the base, are capsules containing key codes and power-up items. Some of the obstacles of the missions include tripwires, enemy guards, laser turrets and force fields. The game style includes entering and exiting room to room in the base and unlocking each room with computer ID cards and inputting the correct four-digit code, found by investigating capsules in the room. Aside from unlocking rooms, the player has also the option to make specific actions, such as turning off barriers, deactivating traps, or even committing suicide, among others. One of the codes is needed to initiate the Noza base self-destruct sequence. The game is well known for a variety of "special messages" that can be received if the player inputs certain codes in certain rooms.

The player carries a gun, which was used as a design model for the Sega Master System Light Phaser. As the game progresses, the gun will become stronger, allowing the player to break progressively stronger capsules containing codes for the computers or powerups. Once they are rescued, the player can also play as Apple or Champ, each one with their own differences; the female Apple is fast, but weaker, and the male Champ is slower, but stronger. Like JJ, they can also find upgrades for their gun power, speed, jumping ability and health.

A well known glitch in the game allows the player to become invincible by dying while going down in a room-to-room elevator. However, using this glitch makes the status menu inaccessible, so the player can only switch characters when a new teammate is found.[7] Another glitch, appearing only on certain original cartridges manufactured in 1987, allowed a player to reenter the now empty underground base after the main computer had self destructed. However, the base's elevators are removed meaning the player is effectively trapped at the bottom of the first entry shaft.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Zillion Release Information for Sega Master System - GameFAQs". Retrieved March 2, 2010.
  2. ↑ "IGN: Zillion". Retrieved March 2, 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 "Hardcore Gaming 101: Zillion". Retrieved March 2, 2010.
  4. 1 2 "Zillion Review". Retrieved March 2, 2010.
  5. ↑ Szczepaniak, John. "Backtracking: The History of Metroidvania". GamesTM (116). Imagine Publishing. pp. 148–53.
  6. ↑ "Kingdom of Desire - Zillion". Retrieved March 2, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Zillion Shrine: Hints and Game Cheats". Retrieved March 2, 2010.
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