Slumdog Zillionaire

When I was a kid, Zillion was just a game on the Master System. It wasn't until gettingt older that I learned of it's toys and cartoons as well. It was around then realization that the weird laser tag gun my friend down the street had was a knock off of the Zillion light gun game released by SEGA. Zillion was a media mix series in Japan that was a collaboration between SEGA and Tatsunoko Productions. There was an anime, toys, and video games. It wasn't much more than a blip on our radars here in the States but reasonably popular in Japan. If you've ever used the Master System Light Phaser, it's specifically the Zillion gun. Pretty weird how that worked out.

Psychic in a Psycho World.

 

Sometimes a great game will get swept under the rugs of history. Considering how many great games come and go without a sequel, that's not really a surprise. However sometimes the great game might have been seen at one time as something special, so when it doesn't get a sequel and or gets ignored by history... well, it's a little sad. Psycho/Psychic World is one of those games. In those older days of video game magazines, it was one of those games that was clearly one of the more cool ones to be into. Originally released as Psycho World for the MSX2, it was later ported to the Sega Master System and Game Gear as Psychic World. 

I've mentioned before how many game magazines made micro computers like the MSX2 seem like a whole different level of hip. That's probably got to do with the entire vibe. Games like Valis or the MSX2 versions of NES games often got that treatment. Psycho World was in that camp. The MSX2 version was a more robust game than the SEGA version for reasons I cannot understand. Those systems have pulled off some great conversions. I'm not a developer though, so what do I know? I've never played the original, only the SEGA ones, and I think those are pretty great. The SMS game definitely has more watered down graphics, however on Game Gear they were redrawn to fit the smaller display better. Personally, I think it's the better looking of the three.

The game takes place in the year 19XX. Dr Knavik and his twin sister assistants study ESP and it's uses. One day there was an explosion and Cecile had disappeared. Lucia, the remaining sister, is told that experiments with ESP had been performed on monsters. Those monsters now had rebelled and taken Cecile. Lucia is sent to rescue her and defeat the monsters armed with the ESP Booster, which gives her the ability to use psychic powers. Game play consists of action platforming with plenty of running and jumping. Those psychic powers are used as various weapons which are collected along the way. These weapons also serve as abilities to help Lucia get through each level's challenges. 

I've seen some random criticism that the game is a Megaman rip off. I've never felt that way personally, but the graphics are a little similar. The Game Gear version more so than the others. It's a game firmly of it's era without a doubt and the story is definitely from it's time. As a kid, it seemed much more serious than it does as an adult who rolls his eyes at the idea of an employee cleaning up her bosses mistakes. Regardless, it's still a fun game with a cool setting. Perhaps some of those memories of how much cooler those old game magazines would make it seem as compared to others are still lingering. You won't hear much about this game anymore, aside from various play through and the odd blogger (cough). That's a shame, it's pretty great.

New Week in Monster World

It's Monday and that means a new week here on Planet Zone! I had a low key weekend spent watching Kaiju Masterclass panels and playing Gundam Breaker on my Galaxy Tab. The Mrs and I did make it out to some stores for a few things. While out I managed to find Cyberverse Sludge, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Trap Jaw, MOTU Mega Construx Scuba Attack Zodak (finally), and the Ghostbusters Fright Features Venkman with Terror Dog. I was starting to think I'd never find that Zodac and now just got to find the Winston with Slimer before the kids come out.

I intended to straighten up my toy room, but looks like that's going to be a project for next weekend. I've got a pretty big backlog of toys (mostly Transformers) to work through as well. I started feeling sick in the spring before everything came to a head mid summer. That lead to a lot of time resting and not feeling like doing much of anything. Of course I'm feeling much better now and have a small mountain of unopened toys purchased during that time to go through.

It's Monday morning now, though still Sunday night as I'm typing this. I have a late night tradition of watching Beyond Belief on Amazon Prime untill I fall asleep Sunday nights. It's probably one of my favorite all time shows. I'm happy. I haven't talked about my health issues much since everything happened this summer. However I have some good news. You see, I'm on a lot of medication and go to the doctor a lot. I had my first Heart Echo since I was in the hospital this past week and got the results this weekend. While I'll always have a condition and have to take care of it, I've also recovered quite a bit. Guess who's got two thumbs and an nearly normal operating heart?

This guy.

Thanks everyone for reading Zone Base. It means so much to me and I appreciate the support. As usual all I ask is please share with your friends.

R-Type SMS

Ninja Game- Shinobi!

Shinobi is a top shelf game. It's in that upper echelon of games that is untouchable by anything. Like an expensive bottle of wine or a gourmet meal from a premier chef. It's a higher quality family of games and I fully recognize that. My favorite of the series has to be Revenge of the Shinobi for the Genesis/Mega Drive, but today I'm looking at this great commercial for the Master System version of the original game. The live action segments of the ninja flipping around and what appears to be the first stage boss makes me wish for a tokusatsu show based on the games.

Sonic Claymation

Monday's are an odd day for me. Working at night usually means I'm free all Monday before going to work (aside from a nap). Usually I spend a lot of time uploading toy pics to Instagram if not running odd errands. Or both. Those Instagram days are usually have YouTube or Tubi running in the background while I arrange toys on my TV tray. One of my favorite things to watch is compilations of old commercials. Probably not a surprise to any of you, but I absolutely love it.

The above commercial is for the original Sonic The Hedgehog game. As you can see, the Japanese commercial featured a cool claymation Sonic dancing around while being cheered on by a crowd. The craftsmanship is pretty dang cool and hard not to like. I've always liked the Noid from Domino's, partially due to the clay animation used to bring him to life. It's not a lost art, but it's certainly not as common in today's world of CGI.

R-Type on Master System

Alien Storm attract mode

I'm far more familiar with the Genesis/Master System version of Alien Storm than the arcade (or Master System). I play it regularly on the portable SEGA Genesis player that I keep on my nightstand. Such a great game. I love side scrolling beat 'em ups and SEGA made some of the best during their glory days. Alien Storm is a little different in this genre as the fighting is done mainly with shooting weapons. There's a variety of game play as well, shooting areas like in Shinobi or even a few running while shooting spots give the game breaks in action to keep you on your toes. Saturday night, after my wife had fell asleep, I played good old Alien Storm until I ran out of credits. Got pretty far too. It's a shame the game never got any sequels or has a better legacy. Though it's regularly available on various compilations or on e-shops, so at least the option to play it is still present.

Gain Ground, cover tracks

I have a little story to tell. Last night (for me, for you it was yesterday) before bed, I played my portable Genesis player that I keep by my bed (as I usually do). I played Gain Ground for a while before getting sleepy. Ever play Gain Ground? It's an excellent game. Each round you have a level you have to clear with each of your assigned characters, either by reaching the exit or killing all the onscreen enemies. It's a mix of strategy and good old arcade shooting enemies and dodging the enemies fire. Just a great game that I'm surprised isn't more popular in today's world of mobile games.

So as I'm sleeping I have a dream, and in this dream I help a person escape prison. I don't know how I got involved, but I pulled it off. Perfectly too might I add, somehow I sneaked them off into a car and into busy traffic. Though later as I worried that the police my get me for helping the person escape, I decided to cover my tracks. That's when it became all to clear as to the only thing that would clue the police to my involvement. You guessed it.

If they knew I had been playing Gain Ground, they'd know it was me who helped the guy escape.

TransBot/Astro Flash attract mode... Is that Omega Supreme?

And that sure is an At-ST Omega Supreme is fighting.

edit: Shawn pointed out it's pretty close to Rodimus Prime and, he's right. I was noticing it looks like Optimal Optimus, which the game came out 10 years before, so that's just a coincidence. Unless a Beast Wars designer was a SEGA kid...