Zool
Zool: Ninja of the "Nth" Dimension (AGA), developed and published by Gremlin Graphics Software in 1992.
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Player's Review
"HE'S AN INTERSTELLAR COSMOS DWELLER, QUICKER THAN A FLASH AND SHARPER THAN THE 7 SAMURAI... ZOOL - NINJA OF THE "Nth" DIMENSION
Once every year, the games world is rocked by a game so stunning, so fast, so colourful, so big, so demanding, so mega, so awesome, so varied, so incredible, and so full of fabulous features and unexpected treats, that everybody just looks at it and says "THAT'S IT!" This year, ZOOL, THE NINJA FROM THE "Nth" DIMENSION, is definitely "IT!"
The original Zool was released in multiple versions for Amiga 500, 1200 and CD32. Console versions came later and play like Zool 2 with Zool levels. The A1200 version played here is amongst the very first titles adapted with AGA enhancements in this case, an extra background playfield but still using the same 2 disks the A500 game used so something had to give to make room for the extra gfx and it is the loading music. Now that doesnt sound so bad, but the loading times in the A500 game are quite long but at least there is some sound while you wait. But the A1200 version loading times are obnoxiously long. (mostly cut in this video). Like many Amiga games, you get the option of Music of SFX but not both together which can be a mood killer for a game that's meant to be high speed destruction, kind of like sonic.
There are six worlds containing three stages each with a different theme. Some are fairly easy allowing you to pretty much run through it, destroying everything in your way. Others are very maze like requiring some exploration. There is a time limit but that's not a huge issue. To exit a stage you need collect a set amount of collectables scatters throughout the level. Some are hidden behind walls you need to find a way to. The percentage counter is bugged though so you may end up collecting more than you need, but it helps for scoring I guess. There are four secret bonus stages to find which are like shoot em up stages. you only get one shot at them and the collision detection is really bad.
The longlay is played using the default SFX sound. After completing the game I show each music track with some gameplay, Its quite annoying that the game has multiple tunes but you can only choose one that plays throughout the whole game. I show each of the bonus levels where accessible as well as the Gamesmaster bonus at stage 1-3 which requires waiting until timer drops to 70 seconds remaining before the wall can be opened. One thing to note on the sweety level is that I didn't notice any of the blister jumps that pop up on some blocks which are there in the A500 game.
Overall, its not bad game and it's one game that most if Amiga owners would have played or at least known about. But it's not without its issues. The Boss battles whilst as simple as just shooting a specific point is made really annoying by having lots of enemy fire on screen that can be difficult to evade draining you energy in seconds. Then there are the notorious music levels which require you to play a tune on the piano to complete the stage. Now it's not difficult and the solution is only a few screens away but its a show stoper on an otherwise run and gun game.
00:00:00 Title Music
00:02:05 Sweet World 1
00:04:22 Sweet World 2
00:06:08 Sweet World 3
00:11:36 Music World 1
00:12:10 Bonus Level 1
00:14:15 Music World 1
00:16:00 Bonus Level 2
00:18:22 Music World 1
00:20:05 Music World 2
00:25:08 Music World 3
00:29:55 Fruit World 1
00:32:16 Fruit World 2
00:34:20 Fruit World 3
00:37:23 Tool World 1
00:37:41 Bonus Level 3
00:39:40 Tool World 1
00:45:06 Tool World 2
00:48:35 Tool World 3
00:53:55 Toy World 1
00:54:22 Bonus Level 4
00:56:40 Toy World 1
00:58:58 Toy World 2
01:01:36 Toy World 3
01:06:33 Fair World 1
01:10:30 Fair World 2
01:12:25 Fair World 3
01:15:10 Ending
------------------------------
01:17:17 Sweet World 1 (Rock)
01:19:58 Music World 1 (Green
01:24:04 Fruit World 1 (Rave)
01:27:56 Tool World 1 (Funk)
Once every year, the games world is rocked by a game so stunning, so fast, so colourful, so big, so demanding, so mega, so awesome, so varied, so incredible, and so full of fabulous features and unexpected treats, that everybody just looks at it and says "THAT'S IT!" This year, ZOOL, THE NINJA FROM THE "Nth" DIMENSION, is definitely "IT!"
The original Zool was released in multiple versions for Amiga 500, 1200 and CD32. Console versions came later and play like Zool 2 with Zool levels. The A1200 version played here is amongst the very first titles adapted with AGA enhancements in this case, an extra background playfield but still using the same 2 disks the A500 game used so something had to give to make room for the extra gfx and it is the loading music. Now that doesnt sound so bad, but the loading times in the A500 game are quite long but at least there is some sound while you wait. But the A1200 version loading times are obnoxiously long. (mostly cut in this video). Like many Amiga games, you get the option of Music of SFX but not both together which can be a mood killer for a game that's meant to be high speed destruction, kind of like sonic.
There are six worlds containing three stages each with a different theme. Some are fairly easy allowing you to pretty much run through it, destroying everything in your way. Others are very maze like requiring some exploration. There is a time limit but that's not a huge issue. To exit a stage you need collect a set amount of collectables scatters throughout the level. Some are hidden behind walls you need to find a way to. The percentage counter is bugged though so you may end up collecting more than you need, but it helps for scoring I guess. There are four secret bonus stages to find which are like shoot em up stages. you only get one shot at them and the collision detection is really bad.
The longlay is played using the default SFX sound. After completing the game I show each music track with some gameplay, Its quite annoying that the game has multiple tunes but you can only choose one that plays throughout the whole game. I show each of the bonus levels where accessible as well as the Gamesmaster bonus at stage 1-3 which requires waiting until timer drops to 70 seconds remaining before the wall can be opened. One thing to note on the sweety level is that I didn't notice any of the blister jumps that pop up on some blocks which are there in the A500 game.
Overall, its not bad game and it's one game that most if Amiga owners would have played or at least known about. But it's not without its issues. The Boss battles whilst as simple as just shooting a specific point is made really annoying by having lots of enemy fire on screen that can be difficult to evade draining you energy in seconds. Then there are the notorious music levels which require you to play a tune on the piano to complete the stage. Now it's not difficult and the solution is only a few screens away but its a show stoper on an otherwise run and gun game.
00:00:00 Title Music
00:02:05 Sweet World 1
00:04:22 Sweet World 2
00:06:08 Sweet World 3
00:11:36 Music World 1
00:12:10 Bonus Level 1
00:14:15 Music World 1
00:16:00 Bonus Level 2
00:18:22 Music World 1
00:20:05 Music World 2
00:25:08 Music World 3
00:29:55 Fruit World 1
00:32:16 Fruit World 2
00:34:20 Fruit World 3
00:37:23 Tool World 1
00:37:41 Bonus Level 3
00:39:40 Tool World 1
00:45:06 Tool World 2
00:48:35 Tool World 3
00:53:55 Toy World 1
00:54:22 Bonus Level 4
00:56:40 Toy World 1
00:58:58 Toy World 2
01:01:36 Toy World 3
01:06:33 Fair World 1
01:10:30 Fair World 2
01:12:25 Fair World 3
01:15:10 Ending
------------------------------
01:17:17 Sweet World 1 (Rock)
01:19:58 Music World 1 (Green
01:24:04 Fruit World 1 (Rave)
01:27:56 Tool World 1 (Funk)
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