tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20740650.post7999621671768432189..comments2023-06-24T04:29:24.130-07:00Comments on The Gay Gamer: Second Chances: Fantasy ZoneBryan Ochallahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16256591698209804728noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20740650.post-45391755314467258332011-11-17T09:32:54.114-08:002011-11-17T09:32:54.114-08:00Wow, that's really interesting, coolpowers! I ...Wow, that's really interesting, coolpowers! I wasn't into gaming -- or, likely, even computers -- back then, so the stuff you're talking about is new to me. Anyway, I hope you do get it again -- and soon!Bryan Ochallahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16256591698209804728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20740650.post-9353097665615020332011-11-17T09:30:38.307-08:002011-11-17T09:30:38.307-08:00Well it was a free game but it got picked up and p...Well it was a free game but it got picked up and placed in a couple of PD libraries. This was back when mail-order libraries of public domain software was the primary way for most people to get hold of new, free software if you didn't have a modem and a local BBS.<br /><br />The game was pretty horrible, I mainly want to get it again to hear the digitized audio of my teen self :)coolpowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07520235806041803430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20740650.post-52996937524577317502011-11-14T15:51:39.160-08:002011-11-14T15:51:39.160-08:00Hey there, Sean! I can't really say what cause...Hey there, Sean! I can't really say what caused me to turn the corner, so to speak, when it comes to this game, but I think it had something to do with finally coming to terms with the controls and the "feel" of the ship -- at least as much as is possible, anyway. I'm never going to say the game handles like a dream, but I do think that once you accept its controls, etc., for what they are it does become a more enjoyable experience.Bryan Ochallahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16256591698209804728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20740650.post-32001452391955847232011-11-14T15:27:28.118-08:002011-11-14T15:27:28.118-08:00I have had a similar relationship with my copies o...I have had a similar relationship with my copies of Fantasy Zone (I have it for the Famicom and PC Engine). Well, similar to your early experience of not liking the controls anyway, I haven`t come full circle and actually started liking to play the game yet. It is however one of those ones I want to like because it just looks so great. Maybe someday I`ll find the willpower like you to start from scratch!!Seanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13681778110046124243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20740650.post-60351961397280319322011-11-12T15:38:37.331-08:002011-11-12T15:38:37.331-08:00Hello again, coolpowers. Oh, so you mean you made ...Hello again, coolpowers. Oh, so you mean you made this Amiga game for an actual developer/publisher? I thought you just made it for yourself. Very cool that it was actually released :)Bryan Ochallahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16256591698209804728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20740650.post-82558091617856052642011-11-12T15:31:07.898-08:002011-11-12T15:31:07.898-08:00Okay I remembered the name - NBS PD - but I can...Okay I remembered the name - NBS PD - but I can't find a catalog of the disks they carried right now.coolpowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07520235806041803430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20740650.post-28299304781695916732011-11-12T14:56:45.110-08:002011-11-12T14:56:45.110-08:00The "3D" Fantasy Zone was an unreleased ...The "3D" Fantasy Zone was an unreleased prototype for the TurboGrafx CD called Space Fantasy Zone. It's out there in the wild, so there's lots of footage:<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn7LGlchtKA<br /><br />Bryan, I've tried before to track down my crappy Space Panic game (no relation to the actual arcade game called Space Panic) as it actually was carried by one of the bigger UK Amiga PD houses. Unfortunately I can't remember the name of it.coolpowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07520235806041803430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20740650.post-75740477404499447802011-11-12T10:07:33.841-08:002011-11-12T10:07:33.841-08:00I'm just lookin' out for ya, Justin :)I'm just lookin' out for ya, Justin :)Bryan Ochallahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16256591698209804728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20740650.post-41122193831788696512011-11-12T07:57:55.102-08:002011-11-12T07:57:55.102-08:00Fair enough.Fair enough.Viewtiful_Justinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12987909785863469591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20740650.post-75318455733748057262011-11-11T12:59:56.880-08:002011-11-11T12:59:56.880-08:00Hmmm, I would guess it is available on the Wii VC ...Hmmm, I would guess it is available on the Wii VC in some form, but I'm not sure which one. Maybe the TG-16 version?<br /><br />You might want to try playing it via, uh, free emulation first, though, as it's definitely a polarizing game...Bryan Ochallahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16256591698209804728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20740650.post-33742201488774201722011-11-11T12:47:54.040-08:002011-11-11T12:47:54.040-08:00I think there's a version of this one on one o...I think there's a version of this one on one of the virtual consoles...I just don't recall where...maybe I made it up. I know I have access to it on SOMETHING...maybe I should figure that out and play it!Viewtiful_Justinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12987909785863469591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20740650.post-17054309668001263322011-11-11T12:05:17.128-08:002011-11-11T12:05:17.128-08:00I can understand that, Adam -- the not getting int...I can understand that, Adam -- the not getting into it part, I mean. It's definitely ... different :)Bryan Ochallahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16256591698209804728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20740650.post-64691876394275514112011-11-11T11:46:15.513-08:002011-11-11T11:46:15.513-08:00I played the original, I couldn't get into it....I played the original, I couldn't get into it. I liked the graphics thoughAdamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08051255914419363819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20740650.post-70622356162939206422011-11-11T09:39:57.347-08:002011-11-11T09:39:57.347-08:00Simon: The game I was talking about (Galactic Prot...Simon: The game I was talking about (Galactic Protector or something like that) was for the MS and had you spinning around a globe/earth while protecting it from invaders. Looks kinda cute to me.<br /><br />Oh, and I wonder if the footage you're talking about (3D into-the-screen FZ) was of the Sega Ages version of the original FZ, which included 3D bonus stages. After you defeat a boss, you jump to a 3D scene to pick up the coins.<br /><br />I actually own this version of the game but have yet to play it -- thanks to the fact that I don't yet own a Japanese PS2 :|Bryan Ochallahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16256591698209804728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20740650.post-63198404890117624182011-11-11T09:28:40.729-08:002011-11-11T09:28:40.729-08:00Ah, we're in the same boat with Fantasy Zone, ...Ah, we're in the same boat with Fantasy Zone, then. I've definitely got better at it, but I'd hardly call myself good.<br /><br />Another game that I've changed my mind about (but still suck at): Chack'n Pop (thanks to Simon, aka RetroKingSimon).<br /><br />As for not having any games that have caused you to do a 180: I hear ya. I'm sure that's the case with most folks. I think I just tend to harshly judge certain games during my first experience with them, esp. if they have graphics that turn me off...Bryan Ochallahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16256591698209804728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20740650.post-39319323749397168142011-11-11T09:26:42.580-08:002011-11-11T09:26:42.580-08:00Yeah, I know about the System 16 version Bryan, bu...Yeah, I know about the System 16 version Bryan, but not Galactic Protector. I'll have to look into that. I also saw footage of a 3D into-the-screen FZ once, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't Space Fantasy Zone...RetroKingSimonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05609689348601442117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20740650.post-71659131946932796712011-11-11T09:17:29.074-08:002011-11-11T09:17:29.074-08:00I do enjoy Fantasy Zone, I've just never been ...I do enjoy Fantasy Zone, I've just never been very good at it :S<br /><br />I can't say there are any games yet where I've done a complete 180 on my opinion, but I'm open to the possibility and there are definitely games that have taken a few goes to really "click".Kimimihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06886565978974999907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20740650.post-3005050084417512112011-11-11T08:59:57.212-08:002011-11-11T08:59:57.212-08:00Hey there, coolpowers! Ah, I see I've written ...Hey there, coolpowers! Ah, I see I've written about a game that many people like -- and seemingly none of them had horrid first experiences with it like I did :P Actually, I shouldn't say my first experience(s) with Fantasy Zone were horrible -- rather, they just left me a bit confused as to what to do and frustrated with how everything controlled.<br /><br />Anyway, I love your description of this game, that it "represented the weird wild arcade world that consoles were bringing in" at the time of the Master System's release.<br /><br />Do you still have this game you made back in the day, by the way? I love its name, at the very least :)<br /><br />Oh, and one last thing: I've never played Fantasy Zone: The Maze either. Nor have I played the other MS-only Fantasy Zone (Galactic Protector, or whatever it's called). Need to change that soon!Bryan Ochallahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16256591698209804728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20740650.post-91370243835085586432011-11-11T08:53:50.131-08:002011-11-11T08:53:50.131-08:00I must now immediately seek out Fantasy Zone: The ...I must now immediately seek out Fantasy Zone: The Maze. Never even heard of it.<br /><br />I think I mentioned this on Twitter, but Fantasy Zone totally represented the weird wild arcade world that consoles were bringing in, back when I was a young teen when the Master System was debuting and most of the UK was still using our ZX Spectrums. I'd stare at the demo unit running in the computer shops, and it was just sort of magical.<br /><br />The idea embedded itself in my brain so fully that I semi-unwittingly ripped off Opa Opa when designing my first (crappy) completed game on the Amiga. MASTER BEAT PRESENTS... SPACE PANIC (echo echo echo)coolpowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07520235806041803430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20740650.post-14921079336685885502011-11-11T08:49:50.124-08:002011-11-11T08:49:50.124-08:00Yes, I agree, Kimimi! I've been doing this a l...Yes, I agree, Kimimi! I've been doing this a lot lately, by the way --going back to games that I didn't like the first time around and seeing if I can change my mind about them. As a result, I have a whole bunch of "Second Chances" posts just waiting to be published :)<br /><br />Anyway, I'm guessing you're a fan of Fantasy Zone, too? Also, have you ever done this -- gone back to a game you previously disliked for whatever reason and then changed your mind about it?Bryan Ochallahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16256591698209804728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20740650.post-83533149627637166332011-11-11T08:46:37.041-08:002011-11-11T08:46:37.041-08:00It's always nice when you give a game a second...It's always nice when you give a game a second chance and you finally find that sweet spot - I'm glad it happened to you and Fantasy Zone :)Kimimihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06886565978974999907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20740650.post-19619236158858945852011-11-11T08:41:35.646-08:002011-11-11T08:41:35.646-08:00Oh, I agree, Simon -- or, at least I now agree tha...Oh, I agree, Simon -- or, at least I now agree that it's a great game :) Also, I can reliably get to the third stage now, and sometimes even the fourth. Hopefully soon I'll be able to get further :)<br /><br />I've played Super Fantasy Zone via emulation and really liked it, by the way. I've never played Fantasy Zone 2, though. Will have to do that soon.<br /><br />Actually speaking about Fantasy Zone 2: I've been planning for some time to pick up a copy of the Japan-only Fantasy Zone Complete Collection for PS2. It includes pretty much every available version of Fantasy Zone, Fantasy Zone II, Fantasy Zone the Maze and ... the other one, uh, Galactic Protector, or something like that?<br /><br />Anyway, the best thing included in this collection is a remade version of Fantasy Zone 2 that was made using the old System 16 (or whatever it was called) arcade board. <br /><br />Here's some info on that version, if you've never heard of it: http://hardcoregaming101.net/fantasyzone/fantasyzone2.htmBryan Ochallahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16256591698209804728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20740650.post-78834302834796094192011-11-11T08:30:55.399-08:002011-11-11T08:30:55.399-08:00Fantasy Zone is the greatest anything ever :| Give...Fantasy Zone is the greatest anything ever :| Give Super Fantasy Zone on the MD a try, it's a little fairer :P Fantasy Zone 2 on the MS is also splendid. I'm also a big fan of the underrated Fantasy Zone The Maze, which is a combination of FZ and Pac-Man :PRetroKingSimonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05609689348601442117noreply@blogger.com