Fantasy Zone II Coming to 3DS

[BulletMagnet]

Seems Sega's next (download-only, of course) 3DS oldie update is none other than Fantasy Zone II, which will come with both the original game and an alternate "Link Loop Land" mode. Here's hoping for an eventual localization.

[Bloodreign]

They list it as the SMS version, but it's the System 16 redux, which is the awesome version.

[Necronom]

Great news, the System 16 redux is indeed awesome. I'm still playing it from time to time via mame.
It's a crime against (western) humanity that we still don't have a western release date for this second batch of sega's 3d classics

[Skyknight]

We had a first? I must not be keeping proper track of Sega's releases. Then again, I never did feel particular interest for their aesthetic, certainly not compared to Konami and Taito. Although I *did* like Fantasy Zone I, both original and the D3 expansion. So...

[Special World]

They list it as the SMS version, but it's the System 16 redux, which is the awesome version.

Seriously? Fuck yes. I guess I shouldn't get too excited since this there's no US release date for now.

Was Link Loop Land already a thing, or is it new for this release? Either way, it looks rad.

[cicada88]

still waiting for a US release of Outrun...I bought Hang On, Space Harrier and Galaxy Force II. Hang On is definitely the one of I've put in the most play on.

[Despatche]

strange... doesn't fantasy zone ii 16 already loop forever? maybe link loop land just gets rid of loop conditions, but what would be the point of that from a score standpoint?

[BrianC]

strange... doesn't fantasy zone ii 16 already loop forever? maybe link loop land just gets rid of loop conditions, but what would be the point of that from a score standpoint?

Telling from the video on the game page, link loop land is a mode with a combo meter and a multiplyer, not a mode that loops forever.

[GSK]

Was Link Loop Land already a thing, or is it new for this release? Either way, it looks rad.

It's new. M2 has added new modes/features to most of the 3D Classics releases--3D Fantasy Zone lets you play as the 2P ship which has its own new systems (on-the-fly multiple weapon switching, money functions as ammo, etc), 3D Afterburner II has a new arrange mode by Hiroshi Iuchi, and so on.

[Despatche]

Wow, this all sounds cool. Once again, I wish I could get a 3DS.

[eatdogs]

I really wish there was a way to play imports on American 3DS's. I want the Kokuga and Karous games...

[LordHypnos]

Kokuga is actually available on the North American 3DS downloadable games marketplace thing (can't remember what it's called). In addition you have Metal Torrent (actually a reg. DS(i?) game, but you can play it with 3DS), Several NES shmups (most notable being Recca, but I've heard that NES Gradius and NES Salamander are both pretty good), 3D Xevious, 3D Twinbee, 3D Space Harrier, Chain Blaster (Is that the right name?). What you're missing out on, really, is the Milestone games (which are apparently not proper shmups, but maybe still fun), and Sagittarius A*, which is definately the main one that I'm sad about.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Sega games eventually get localized (probably all at once), mostly because of the earlier Sega games did, and the fact that I think several of them would probably sell reasonably well in the west, even if FZ probably wouldn't especially. I would be surprised, though, if SA* ever made it to this side of the pacific.

[BrianC]

I would be surprised, though, if SA* ever made it to this side of the pacific.

I don't know. A bunch of DSiWare games came out of nowhere, even if they were mostly Match 3 stuff.

[GSK]

The game is up on the JP eShop now, so I imagine there'll be plenty of footage before long.

The customary Okunari/Horii interview is up, too:

http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/in ... 57868.html

They talk about the origins of Fantasy Zone II DX, why it was chosen as the next 3D Classics game, the advantages of being able to port a game they made themselves as opposed to the "recreations by eye" that make up the rest of the series, the tweaks they made while porting the game to 3DS, the quality of the stereoscopic 3D effect, the concept behind Link Loop Land and some "liner notes" from Namiki about the music.

On Link Loop Land specifically: they wanted to make something with the intensity and short playtime of a caravan game, as well as something that would instantly segue into each wave/boss without any downtime, similar to Geometry Wars. Because they were able to push a lot of sprites, they attempted to create something more reminiscent of a modern shooter, with tons of bullets/enemies on screen at all times. The designer was influenced by NiGHTS when designing the scoring system, hence the name "Link Loop Land". Namiki wrote a new tune for LLL, of course.

On the core game: because this was a port rather than an emulation or recreation, they were able to fully adjust the game for the full screen ratio of the 3DS, unlike 3D Fantasy Zone. They've also made some other small changes in response to feedback they received for 3DFZ--they've changed the bullets to make them a little easier to see on the 3DS' screen, and I think they've magnetised the coins a little to make them easier to collect? The game has all the same options, settings and extra features from 3DFZ including the Coin Stock, so they feel like FZ2 might be more beginner-friendly than the original, but they've also tweaked the higher difficulty settings to give veterans a little more challenge.

(My JP isn't great, so feel free to dispute/correct anything I said that you think is incorrect or inaccurate.)

I would be surprised, though, if SA* ever made it to this side of the pacific.

There's still hope, trust me.

[Mortificator]

Thanks for the info. Caravan, Geometry Wars, Nights... interesting influences for an extra mode.

[LordHypnos]

Oh man, FZIIDX sounds pretty awesome so far I really hope that makes it over. Good thing there's a pretty good chance of that.

Regarding SA*: I hope you guys are right. That game looked pretty cool and also has incredible soundtrack.

[GSK]

Here's some footage of the Link Loop Land game:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAy0Btjc_yM

edit: some decent off-screen NND footage with a better player:
http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm24021558

[Special World]

Link Loop Land looks great.

[LordHypnos]

Here's some footage of the Link Loop Land game:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAy0Btjc_yM

edit: some decent off-screen NND footage with a better player:
http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm24021558

Looks pretty cool. gets pretty manic, actually.

[gatsu25]

I just downloaded the game tonight. I can confirm that the Link Loop mode is indeed awesome! Seriously fun stuff.

[gatsu25]

Apparently there are three separate endings to the main game. Can anyone tell me how they are achieved? I have only gotten the Dark Ending so far.

[BrianC]

From what I read at HG101, it sounds like you have to warp to the dark side and get an item named "drop tears" in order to get the best ending.

[gatsu25]

OK, got the three endings and opened up all the characters for the Loop mode.

Dark Ending - Spend most of your time in the light areas

Light Ending - Spend most of your time in the dark areas

Bright Ending - Spend most of your time in the dark areas. On the last stage you must buy the drop tear. Use this after you defeat dark opa-opa and before he disappears. In order to successfully hit him with it, you need to be above him. Hold the secondary button (default B) until it is charged.

This port is super super awesome.

(Here is hoping for a Gain Ground port)

[Despatche]

Getting the "bright" ending is also what allows you to loop, if I remember correctly.

[gatsu25]

I was able to loop from the Light Ending as well, so it seems like just the Dark Ending does not allow you to.

[GSK]

(Here is hoping for a Gain Ground port)

In the interview I posted, they mention that they have one more 3D Classics game in the pipeline and that it'll probably be the last one they make--they don't say what it is, but they suggest it'll be something special. This second "volume" was only planned to include three games, but they did 3DFZ2 anyway, just because M2 really wanted to do it, and they were able to use that "extra" game as leverage to squeeze out one more.

Gain Ground probably won't happen, purely because it's so difficult to get those sorts of games to play nice with stereoscopic 3D. The M2 director really wants to do Thunder Blade (but the Sega producer keeps vetoing it) and they've also suggested Gunstar Heroes as an example of one of the games they wanted to try once they'd developed the necessary skill to pull it off.

[Mero]

I was able to loop from the Light Ending as well, so it seems like just the Dark Ending does not allow you to.

You can loop from the light ending but to get the big score bonus(X10 on gold, lives=1M) you need to use the drop tear for the true ending.

[Necronom]

(Here is hoping for a Gain Ground port)

In the interview I posted, they mention that they have one more 3D Classics game in the pipeline and that it'll probably be the last one they make--they don't say what it is, but they suggest it'll be something special. This second "volume" was only planned to include three games, but they did 3DFZ2 anyway, just because M2 really wanted to do it, and they were able to use that "extra" game as leverage to squeeze out one more.

Gain Ground probably won't happen, purely because it's so difficult to get those sorts of games to play nice with stereoscopic 3D. The M2 director really wants to do Thunder Blade (but the Sega producer keeps vetoing it) and they've also suggested Gunstar Heroes as an example of one of the games they wanted to try once they'd developed the necessary skill to pull it off.

Next one actually is Thunderblade:
http://archives.sega.jp/3d/tb/
I reeeaally hope it won't take Sega too long to bring the second batch westside. The whole region coding is a serious problem on the 3DS...

[Oniros]

Not just Fantasy Zone II btw, Fantasy Zone as well. FZ is dated for February while FZII for April, $5.99 each.

[Special World]

Is anybody getting the original Fantasy Zone? It's out today. I think I might just wait for Fantasy Zone 2 DX, because that's what I really want. The System-16 version is great and I want to try out Link Loop Land.