![\"Fantasy](\"https:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7716\/17067345862_278561bc41.jpg\")
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Time to smash those world records again. \u00a0The lads over on Ten Pence Arcade<\/a> this week have chosen Fantasy Zone II by Sega. \u00a0All together now, hands in the air. \u00a0Let me be your fantasy!<\/a> (…erm Zone…ahem…) \u00a0This is the very game that inspired Baby D to write and release the smash number one hit, only to be knocked off the top spot by East 17 with saccharine Christmas hit stay another day. \u00a0True story. Well some of it.<\/p>\n Developed by Sega, Fantasy Zone II is a sequel to, yes you guessed it Fantasy Zone. Whereas the original was an arcade hit ported to the console market, namely the Sega Master System, the sequel was a console original which was ported to the arcades. \u00a0Playchoice-10 aside it’s not often the way of things so it must be pretty special right…?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Set 10 years after Fantasy Zone you take control of Opa-Opa who once again has to fight of hordes of random albeit cute looking enemies to save the titular zone from Nenon forces. \u00a0The game is a horizontal shooter in which the player can scroll from side to side at will in the manner of Defender. \u00a0Destroying the enemies leads to them dropping coins and notes which you can spend at the shop to get all kinds of snazzy upgrades. \u00a0Weapons, wings, extra lives and so on. \u00a0In addition to the free moving waves of enemies, there are also stationary bases which once destroyed leave behind warps to allow you to move to different screens full of fresh enemies and bases. \u00a0This is the key to progressing through the game. \u00a0The amount of bases you have to destroy per level are detailed in a bar at the top of the screen. \u00a0Defeat the required quota, you can then travel thorough a final warp to the end of level boss.<\/p>\n Strangely there’s no MAME or Arcade high score over on Twin Galaxies, just the Master System version so perhaps we need to get onto them and propose a new high score track guys?<\/p>\n 11300<\/strong> – First attempt. \u00a0Level 1 -Pastaria. \u00a0Despite all you’ve read above, that was written after I’d done any kind of read up on this game. \u00a0I initially thought the boss quota level was a health bar. \u00a0So I wandered around aimlessly, bought some wings at the shop, walked about at the bottom of the screen (yes the ship has feet…) and then died. \u00a0Several times.<\/p>\n 24400<\/strong> – Now I’ve worked out that in order to progress you have to clear the bases, I can forge forward with a sense of purpose. \u00a0Begone you Nenon blighters!<\/p>\n 28300<\/strong> – Ah. \u00a0The first level is made up of a total of three “screens” \u00a0destroy all the bases on each of them and you can enter to the warp to face the end of level boss. \u00a0Which is a tree trunk. With eyes. \u00a0Obviously. \u00a0There’s no free moving from screen to screen here. \u00a0Just dodging logs whilst shooting at the tree trunk. \u00a0I die…<\/p>\n 54600<\/strong> – I’ve developed a strategy. \u00a0Whether it’s a good one only time will tell however. \u00a0Before taking on the final boss, make a trip to shop, get yourself tooled up and unleash merry hell on old wood ‘ead. \u00a0Mission accomplished and I progress to the next level, Sarcand. \u00a0The enemies move in different patterns here. \u00a0I die. \u00a0Immediately. \u00a0My last solitary life snuffed out in an attack of immense cuteness.<\/p>\n 172700<\/strong> – Now we’re getting somewhere. \u00a0I make it onto level 3 I’ve abandoned my aforementioned tooled up strategy already. \u00a0When you have enough cash head straight for the shop and buy a standard engine ($2000) and Twin Bomb ($1200). \u00a0The engine upgrade is a must so you don’t feel like you’re flying through treacle. \u00a0The end of level boss is a totem pole with a moustache that fire hammers out of it’s mouth. \u00a0So all normal there then… \u00a0Destroy each segment of the pole and the head eventually falls out of the screen.<\/p>\n 223000<\/strong> – Just as with level 2, the enemies step it up a level. \u00a0On one of the screens there is a secret shop hidden away at the bottom of the screen. \u00a0It’s the level with the icebergs and fairly obvious where it should be, \u00a0Shoot the empty space a few times and it appears. \u00a0In there is a shield which comes in handy but at 30000 it’s a pricey beggar.<\/p>\n 312000<\/strong> – And I make it to level 4. After destroying a huge block of ice with an eyeball in the centre that shoots the occasional boulder it’s easy enough to get past. \u00a0Once on level 4, it all gets a bit frantic and if you manage to carry the shield over from level 3 it’s a god send. \u00a0The end of level boss here is a dragon that strongly resembles Sega’s Space Harrier dragon. \u00a0I THINK you have to shoot it in the head but I just lose my shit and fire at anything that moves. \u00a0In the end I think the game thought I was taking too long and just killed me anyway. \u00a0So Sull’s top tip for level 4 boss. \u00a0Don’t hang abart!<\/p>\n 338900<\/strong> – Have that Dragon features. \u00a0I progress to level 5, manage past the first screen and die… \u00a0Game over!<\/p>\n And with that it’s the two weeks up. \u00a0All things considered it’s a pretty admirable shooter if somewhat basic. \u00a0An odd choice to port from home console to the arcade and for a shooter there’s a distinct lack of bullets flying about but it does certainly offer a challenge as you progress. \u00a0Even if that challenge is after losing a life struggling valiantly on at a snails pace to the nearest shop to buy an engine upgrade. \u00a0As is typical of shooters of this era, you amass plenty upgrades throughout the levels, some great, some plop but should you perish and lose them in a later level you’re screwed. \u00a0The ship is far too slow to cope with the things thrown at you. \u00a0 All in all though I’ve had fun playing this but from now on I’m renaming it The Treacle of Opa Opa because it’s initially slow and that. \u00a0Did I mention treacle?<\/p>\n