Fantasy Zone II

Fantasy Zone II

Overview & History

Released by Sega in 1987, Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa-Opa originally debuted on the Sega System E arcade board before receiving a critically acclaimed, heavily customized port for the Sega Master System. Serving as a direct sequel to the iconic 1986 pastel-colored shooter, this title advanced the genre by introducing a bidirectional, stage-linking mechanic rather than a simple linear progression. Players once again control Opa-Opa, the sentient, winged spaceship of the titular Fantasy Zone. The storyline darkens slightly from its predecessor, tasking Opa-Opa with purging the lingering remnants of the Menon forces across eight surreal, living planets before confronting the ultimate tragedy of the inner core. Unlike the arcade version, the Master System adaptation was built from the ground up to maximize the 8-bit console's hardware, offering expansive levels and vibrant, candy-colored sprites that pushed the system to its visual limits.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike standard horizontal shoot-'em-ups, Fantasy Zone II requires players to navigate stages divided into interconnected zones using Warp Gates. Each level features a series of enemy-spawning generators called "Entry" bases. Destroying all bases on a sub-screen triggers a frantic boss battle. A unique dual-plane mechanic allows Opa-Opa to slip into a background layer to avoid hazards or discover hidden secrets. Defeated enemies drop gold coins, which are spent at the Shop balloon that occasionally drifts onto the screen. Here, players can upgrade Opa-Opa’s engine speed, purchase time-limited weapons like twin bombs or wide lasers, and acquire extra lives. Managing your currency is vital for survival against the relentless onslaught of whimsical yet lethal biomechanical foes.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move Opa-Opa in all directions
• Action Keys: Attack / Jump
• Enter: Start / Pause