The Video Game Reviews Community (HonestGamers)
Forums | Blogs | Register | Login | Users | Staff | Links

3DS
Dreamcast
DS
GameCube
iPad
iPhone/iPod
PC
PlayStation 2
PlayStation 3
PSP
Vita
Wii
Wii U
Xbox
Xbox 360
All
Follow Us

Super Fantasy Zone
artwork unavailable
Genre:
Scrolling Shooter (Horizontal)

Developer:
SEGA
Publisher
Region
Released
SEGA
NA
??/??/????
Your Account Options
You currently have no privileges related to this game profile because you are not signed into an HonestGamers account. Please log in, or click to register for a free user account.

More Reviews by goldenvortex

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000 (Sega 32X)
To this day, I have no idea why I'm a 32x fan. I mean, I know the entire concept of the 32x was stupid and that the majority of the 32x game library (if you can...

INXS: Make My Video (Sega CD)
Now, I’ve only played a handful of games that I’d describe as truly awful. These games were either unplayable due to horrible controls, an awful grasp of the su...

Splatterhouse (Arcade)
Before games were considered a form of violent stimuli, even before the Mortal Kombat Kontroversy, there was Splatterhouse…

Primal Rage (Genesis)
Blood! Gore! Dinosaurs!!!

Custer's Revenge (Atari 2600)
If anyone finds Custer's Revenge disturbing, horrible or anything other than hilarious, then you've clearly got issues with your sense of humour. Sure, as far a...

Best Genesis Games
Shining Force II (Genesis) artwork
Shining Force II
Average Rating: 10.0; Reviews: 3
Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master (Genesis) artwork
Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
Average Rating: 10.0; Reviews: 3
Ristar (Genesis) artwork
Ristar
Average Rating: 10.0; Reviews: 3
Phantasy Star II (Genesis) artwork
Phantasy Star II
Average Rating: 10.0; Reviews: 2
Toejam & Earl (Genesis) artwork
Toejam & Earl
Average Rating: 10.0; Reviews: 2
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Genesis) artwork
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Average Rating: 9.5; Reviews: 4
Contra: Hard Corps (Genesis) artwork
Contra: Hard Corps
Average Rating: 9.5; Reviews: 4
Twinkle Tale (Genesis) artwork
Twinkle Tale
Average Rating: 9.3; Reviews: 3
Rocket Knight Adventures (Genesis) artwork
Rocket Knight Adventures
Average Rating: 9.3; Reviews: 2
Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium (Genesis) artwork
Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
Average Rating: 9.2; Reviews: 3

Looking for a good read?
Check out a selection from our database of more than 8000 reviews! EmP has weighed in on Nightmare Circus for the Genesis and figures it rates 1 out of 10. What do you think? Read the review, then be sure to leave feedback or chime in with one of your own!

Systems > Genesis > S > Super Fantasy Zone > User Review

Sign up for a free user account and you can leave feedback for this review or even submit a game review of your own!

Review by goldenvortex
February 01, 2009

Despite being average at its core, Super Fantasy Zone certainly possesses a unique charm and pleasant aesthetics. Taking a similar structure as its predecessor, Super Fantasy Zone combines the cartoonish buoyancy of any 16-bit platform game and the fast-paced action of any other 16-bit shooter to create a creative blend of style and substance.

Instead of embracing the normal structure of a side-scrolling shooter, where you basically have to blow up whatever comes at you, Super Fantasy Zone adopts a looped scrolling style of level where the goal is to destroy a collection of bizarre enemy spawning pods. As well, as fighting an array of oncoming enemies, you’ll have to jump from left to right attempting to destroy these things. With your ship’s basic weaponry, doing so can be a arduous and repetitive process. Thankfully, the destruction of these pods provides you with a numerous amount of gold coins, which in turn, can be used to purchase a selection of improved weapons, which ranges from extremely limited improved primary fire, a wide range of secondary bombs, which are slower to deploy but do greater damage or a tertiary weapon which can be used once and do a great deal of damage.

Now, each level of Super Fantasy Zone has a select number of these enemy pods which differ in appearance in each level, but perform the same function. Blowing these to smithereens will eventually bring you face to face with an unusual and often out of place boss. Giant pumpkins, enormous laser-spewing fish and spastic flailing razors are part of the bizarre line up of bosses. With a well stocked up arsenal of secondary and tertiary weaponry and careful thinking, most bosses can be overwhelmed without too much strain. The only debate is longevity of the bosses due to a) the weakness of your primary fire and b) the limited use of secondary and tertiary weaponry. Because of these factors, which aren’t exactly crippling concepts for enjoyable boss fights; these battles are hardly as intense as what they should be.

Aesthetically, Super Fantasy Zone incorporates intensely colourful visuals. Sticking with the template of the original 8-bit game, the 16-bit upgrade has certainly made its mark. To say the game has colour is somewhat of a silly understatement, Super Fantasy Zone is a glorious acid trip. Thankfully, it doesn’t go over the top its psychedelic charm to produce mind-numbing seizures like later Genesis/32X games seemed to enjoy provoking. However, its distinct charm and uniqueness certainly escalate it above the generic bland shooter visuals that follow the same archetype.

Super Fantasy Zone is fun to a certain extent at least. The reliance upon similarly structured levels, sluggish removal of enemy pods and elongated boss fights can dilute any enjoyment whatsoever. However, experimenting with various weapons and the generally archetypical enjoyment that the game provides are enough to warrant it as an average experience.


Rating: 5/10



You can click the tabs on the above bar to choose whether you wish to read comments from visitors who have posted on Facebook, or from registered site users who have left feedback on the forums. Please leave a comment of your own if you have anything to say!


Info | Help | Privacy Policy | Contact | Advertise

eXTReMe Tracker
© 1998-2012 HonestGamers
None of the material contained within this site--from reviews, guides, cheats and editorials to message board posts--may be reproduced in any conceivable fashion without permission from the author(s) of said material. This site is not sponsored or endorsed by Nintendo, Sega, Sony, Microsoft, or any other such party. Super Fantasy Zone is a registered trademark of its copyright holder. This site makes no claim to Super Fantasy Zone, its characters, screenshots, artwork, music, or any intellectual property contained within. Opinions expressed on this site do not necessarily represent the opinion of site staff or sponsors.