NES Works 149: Fantasy Zone
Added 2025-07-09 12:00:43 +0000 UTCThankfully, this is not the final Fantasy (Zone). If nothing else, I can justify doing a Turbo Works side episode on the tragically canceled (but illegally uploaded for the sake of history!!) Space Fantasy Zone for PC Engine. And good thing, too, because the Fantasy Zone series is too good and cool for this to be the channel's final word on the franchise. I mean, this isn't the worst thing ever to hit the NES, but Tengen's version of Fantasy Zone utterly pales in comparison to the releases we saw on Sega's system. And the really weird part is that a better adaptation of Fantasy Zone existed for Famicom well before Tengen even existed. And instead of bringing that one over, they commissioned a much shakier rendition of the game. It's pretty weird! But still, it's Fantasy Zone on NES. And mis-tuned enough that you actually could make it to the end of the game pretty easily, unlike the way things usually go with Fantasy Zone. That's kind of neat.
Comments
I've been really enjoying this little catch-up with Tengen, and I hope that it will keep going long enough to get to Klax before you shift gears again. That port has always fascinated me for its sheer address, with things like adding music (including an all-time banger in "Led Fut") into a game whose arcade spec specifically omitted it and the "stuff" menu. Fun episode as always.
Zach Adams
2025-07-09 18:59:54 +0000 UTCThe Simpsons clip at the beginning is quite small, not sure if that was done intentionally to avoid copyright bots but thought it was worth mentioning
Tirgo
2025-07-09 12:25:43 +0000 UTC
