3D Fantasy Zone -or 3D Fantasy Zone: OPA-OPA BROS. with added capitalisation as StreetPassed to my EU 3DS- is the tenth overall of Sega’s 3D Classic series. Originally released in the arcades in 1986: fortunately M2 have chosen to use the arcade version as the main source of inspiration as opposed to the inferior Master System and Family Computer ports. Typically it comes with all the amazing options of the previous nine games including the option to play the Japanese or North American versions of the game.
As a cute-em-up; Fantasy Zone is closely compared to Konami’s TwinBee series although as a shoot-em-up the classic Williams Defender is the closer game comparison where you move both left and right (as opposed to left-to-right) in order to annihilate the colourful and cute competition. The objective is to destroy ten enemy bases before moving onto the (huge) end-of-level boss. With just eight levels, Fantasy Zone isn’t the largest game although shortness should not be mistaken for easiness.
Initially starting with just a (pathetic) Twin Shot and Single Bomb, power-ups are obtained the Super Mario way by collecting coins from defeated bases! After ¥2,000 collected a balloon floats away from the fight and enables you to do the necessary upgrade although upgrades are lost upon death and most have limited ammo. The graphics are excellent highlighting the awesomeness of late 80’s arcade games when pushing their respective hardware.
The 3D works well although unlike say the amazing Space Harrier isn’t as necessary as what maybe assumed but it never detracts. The soundtrack is where Fantasy Zone really excels with Stage One featuring one of the all-time greatest videogame tunes. While graphics and sound are a bonus: it’s gameplay that really matters and fortunately 3D Fantasy Zone mostly plays very well. Mostly does imply limitations however.
And its limitations ultimately lead to its downfall and one cannot help but feel that the time M2 spent perfecting the 3D effect of Fantasy Zone should’ve been spent correcting the original’s one huge flaw that being the non-centralisation of Opa Opa (your ship) resulting in when turning quickly during combat you often fly beak first into a deluge of both enemy and gunfire with subsequent huge frustration from the unfortunate player.
3D Fantasy Zone: Opa-Opa Bros. is far from a bad game and is often delightful with it easy to fall in love with the beautiful colourful graphics, fantastic soundtrack, impressive 3D, huge bosses, tactical gameplay and the typical M2 huge array of options but with the non-centralisation of Opa-Opa combined with the often tricky controls, terrible initial power-ups and speed, and a serious lack of continues; this love soon becomes non-reciprocal.
6/10
