Zool
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| Zool | |
|---|---|
| File:Zool Cover.png Zool cover for Sega Game Gear | |
| Developer(s) | Gremlin Graphics |
| Publisher(s) | Gremlin Graphics |
| Platform(s) | Amiga, Atari ST, Game Boy, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, SNES, Master System, Sega Game Gear, Amiga CD32, PC, Acorn Archimedes, Jaguar, Arcade |
| Release | October 1992 |
| Genre(s) | Platformer |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
Zool is a computer game originally produced for the Amiga by Gremlin Graphics as a rival to Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog. It was heavily hyped upon its initial release in 1992, including being bundled with the newly launched Amiga 1200, although not the AGA version with enhanced graphics which followed later.
Initially the character was regarded by many as a 'mascot' for the Amiga, in the same sense that Sonic and Mario were for their respective consoles. This did not stop Gremlin releasing console versions of the game, however.
Overview
Zool is a "Ninja Of The "Nth" Dimension" who is forced to land on Earth. In order to gain ninja ranking he has to pass six lands. Gremlin has asserted that the name "Zool" did not refer to the supernatural entity Zuul from the film Ghostbusters.
The game is a pure arcade platform game, relying on smooth, fast moving gameplay, colorful graphics and a popular soundtrack by Patrick Phelan which overlaps with the Lotus 3 soundtrack and has inspired several modern electro/techno remixes. The game also contains a number of embedded minigames, including several arcade games, a scrolling space shooter and a game accessible only by making Zool play a certain tune on an in-game piano.
Zool was also ported to the Atari ST, Game Boy, Sega Mega Drive, SNES, Master System, Sega Game Gear, Amiga CD32, PC, Acorn Archimedes and Jaguar. A Zool coin-op was released in 1993 to cash in on the hype surrounding the Amiga release, but was not well distributed and is now not widely remembered. Zool was also ported to the RISC OS platform.
Reviews for the Amiga version of the game were extremely positive. However some criticism was aimed at the blatant and pervasive product placement in the game for lollipop company Chupa Chups, in the first three levels (known as 'Sweet Zone'). Another frequent criticism of the game was that it was allegedly excessively difficult. Some contemporary reviewers complained of not being able to get further than the second level (Music Zone).
In the early 1993 after Zool become the Amiga's 1992 best-selling game (Almost beating Sonic 2 sales) Commodore then was very interested with the character and wanted the upcoming new Zool game to be bundled with the new Commodore Amiga CD32, However the game was 40% finished 3 months before the release of the Amiga CD32 and Gremlin cound't make the deadline in time, So as a last minute decision by Commodore they decided to bundle the console with Flair's Oscar and Millennium's Diggers.
Zool 2
The sequel, entitled Zool 2, was very similar gameplay-wise, but with more cartoonish and detailed graphics and an attempt at a plot. The nemesis in the game was named Mental Block, and his goal was to stifle the world's imagination, causing rampant boredom.
Zool 2 added the option to play as Zool's female counterpart, Zooz. The two characters played similarly, although there were some subtle differences in their abilities. Most notably, Zool could destroy parts of the scenery that Zooz couldn't, and vice versa, resulting in a slightly different route through the level. Zool 2, like the original, also featured several mini games. The most common was a version of Breakout which used Zool's two-headed pet dog as a paddle.
Zool 2 also received generally high review scores, but did not make an impact the way its predecessor had despite arguably being the better game as the difficulty level had been curbed and the controls were more responsive. A possible reason for the game's relative lack of attention was that by this stage the system that Zool was most associated with, the Amiga, was in decline as a gaming format.[original research?]
The Amiga remained the lead format for the second game, but unlike the first it was not widely converted. The only console version was released on the Atari Jaguar.
The ending contained a hint at a possible sequel...
"Krool is all powerful. I fear we will need to call on your services again someday!"
Unreferenced
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (November 2009) |
External links
- A picture of the little-known Zool coin-op
- Zool Amiga version info page
- Zool 1 Reviews from Amiga Format, Amiga Joker and CU Amiga
- Zool 2 Reviews from Amiga Format, Amiga Joker, Amiga Power and CU Amiga
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