Populous

n/a

NTSC-U
PAL/NTSC-J
Master System

Populous

System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System

Publisher:

Electronic Arts (US/EU)

Sega (JP)

TecMagik

Developer:

Bullfrog Productions

Code To Go

Distributor:

Electronic Arts (Australia)

Original system(s): Amiga

Developer(s) of original games: Bullfrog Productions

Genre: Simulation^[1]^[2], Action^[3]

Number of players: 1

Release	Date	RRP	Code
JP	1991-08-09^[2]	¥6,0006,000	G-4057
US	1990-07^[4]		701601
EU	1990-12^[5]		E097SMXI
UK	1990-11^[6]	£39.9939.99^[5]	E097SMXI
SE (Rental)	199x
AU	199x
BR	1992-05^[7]
EU	1991-10^[8]		27014-50
UK	1991-10^[8]^[9]	£34.9934.99^[10]^[11]	27014-50
AU	199x
BR	199x		025040

Non-Sega versions
No results

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Populous (ポピュラス) is a Sega Mega Drive strategy simulation game developed by Bullfrog Productions and published by Electronic Arts. A port of the developer's titular 1989 Amiga computer game Populous, it was first released in the United States later that year. Alongside Budokan: The Martial Spirit and Zany Golf, it was among the first batch of Mega Drive games Electronic Arts developed, and was initially intended to be released as an unlicensed game; Sega's last-minute negotiations prevented this, but US copies of the game were not updated to comply with Sega's licensed ROM requirements, rendering American copies of the game incompatible with TMSS and only compatible with early Genesis units. European and Japanese copies were recoded to comply and work on all systems. (Sega would also publish the game in Japan, as this game predated the establishment of Electronic Arts Victor.)

The game was ported to the Sega Master System courtesy of developer Code To Go and publisher TecMagik, and first released in Europe in October 1991.

Gameplay

In Populous, players play as a deity who controls land to affect peoples's lives in the hopes of crushing followers of another deity. The game is played from an isometric perspective, although unlike later attempts at simulations (such as Sim City 2000), there is no scrolling.

History

Legacy

Populous' sequel, Two Tribes: Populous II (a renamed version of Populous II: Trials of the Olympian Gods) was also released for the Mega Drive, as well as the more combat-orientated Power Monger.

Production credits

Game Design: Peter Molyneux, Glenn Corpes, Kevin Donkin, Les Edgar
Programming: Peter Molyneux, Glenn Corpes
Additional Programming: Luc Barthelet, Kevin McGrath, Jim Nitchals
Game Graphics: Glenn Corpes, Andy Jones, Sean Cooper, Dan Wheeler
Additional Graphics: Connie Braat, Cynthia Hamilton
Game Music and Sound: David Hanlon
Producers: Jocelyn Ellis, Richard Hilleman
Associate Producer: Kevin Shrapnell, Bob Henderson
Technical Directors: Tim Rance, Scott Cronce
Product Manager: Susan Goerss
Documentation: Eric Lindstrom

Source:

US manual^[12]

Digital manuals

Mega Drive Mini 2 US manual
Mega Drive Mini 2 EU manual
Mega Drive Mini 2 JP manual

Magazine articles

Main article: Populous/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Master System print advert in The Complete Guide to Sega (UK) #1 (1991-05-xx)
also published in:

Raze (UK) #11: "September 1991" (1991-07-25)^[13]

Master System print advert in Raze (UK) #12: "October 1991" (1991-08-29)

Master System print advert in Micro News (FR) #49: "Eté 1991" (1991-xx-xx)

Print advert in Mega Force (FR) #2: "Septembre/Octobre 1991" (1991-09-13)

Master System print advert in Hobby Consolas (ES) #1: "Octubre 1991" (1991-xx-xx)

Master System print advert in Game Power (IT) #1: "Dicembre 1991" (1991-1x-xx)

Artwork

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)

60

^[14]

ACE (UK)

91

^[15]

Aktueller Software Markt (DE)

75

^[16]

Beep! MegaDrive (JP)

NTSC-J

70

^[17]

Buzz! Computers (UK)

84

^[18]

Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)

94

^[19]

The Complete Guide to Sega (UK)

94

^[20]

Console XS (UK)

PAL

75

^[21]

Famitsu (JP)

NTSC-J

75

^[22]

Game Mania (UK)

90

^[23]

Game Power (IT)

82

^[24]

Hippon Super (JP)

NTSC-J

60

^[25]

Hobbytes (RO)

72

^[26]

Joystick (FR)

92

^[27]

Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)

90

^[28]

Mega Drive Fan (JP)

NTSC-J

63

^[29]

MegaTech (UK)

91

^[30]

Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)

80

^[31]

Mean Machines (UK)

93

^[32]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

91

^[33]

Player One (FR)

96

^[34]

Power Play (DE)

86

^[35]

Raze (UK)

NTSC

89

^[36]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

93

^[37]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

100

^[38]

Sega Pro (UK)

70

^[39]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

65

^[40]

Sega Saturn Magazine (JP)

NTSC-J

60

^[41]

Supergame (BR)

80

^[7]

Tilt (FR)

95

^[42]

Tricks 16 bit (RU)

78

^[43]

Zero (UK)

85

^[44]

	82
Based on 32 reviews

Populous

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU (Softbox Case)
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU (Hardbox Case)
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, SE rental (HENT black)
Cover

Mega Drive, AU
Cover

Mega Drive, BR
Cover
Cart

Master System version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Ação Games (BR)

69

^[45]

Aktueller Software Markt (DE)

75

^[16]

Consoles + (FR)

95

^[46]

Console XS (UK)

PAL

88

^[47]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

92

^[48]

Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)

94

^[49]

Game Mania (UK)

90

^[50]

Game Power (IT)

90

^[24]

Games-X (UK)

90

^[51]

Hobby Consolas (ES)

92

^[52]

Joystick (FR)

94

^[53]

Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)

75

^[54]

Player One (FR)

97

^[55]

Raze (UK)

PAL

90

^[10]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

96

^[56]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

100

^[57]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

88

^[58]

Tilt (FR)

95

^[42]

Video Games (DE)

88

^[59]

Zero (UK)

90

^[60]

	89
Based on 20 reviews

Populous

Master System, EU
Cover
Cart

Master System, BR
Cover
Cart

Master System, AU (Hotline sticker)
Cover
Cart

Master System, AU (Hotline/NIAL stickers)
Cover
Cart

Master System, AU (EA sticker)
Cover

Master System, AU (Classics)
Cover

Technical information

Main article: Populous/Technical information.

ROM dump status

System

Hash

Size

Build Date

Source

Comments

✔

CRC32	bd74b31e
MD5	23495b29851e9d495939a88b627ce2cd
SHA-1	89907c4ba4fd9db4e8ef2271c0253bb0e4b6d52d

512kB

Cartridge (US)

No header.

✔

CRC32	83d56f64
MD5	ac95a7a539f4fcb5cd6ca01e0edf2e28
SHA-1	fe388caefbad7c08b699ed2d0e8a62ff1d697a16

512kB

1990-07

Cartridge (EU)

✔

CRC32	97c26818
MD5	4c960f022be09f667e3b2d21be21a018
SHA-1	9abd1806c6e921a6df0f71361aee8024d5c3f049

512kB

1990-07

Cartridge (JP)

✔

CRC32	c7a1fdef
MD5	cc694ca94c4d74b487983332facc8b86
SHA-1	d6142584b9796a96941b6a95bda14cf137b47085

256kB

Cartridge (EU/BR)

References

NEC Retro has more information related to Populous

↑ File:Populous MD JP Box.jpg
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-20 09:51)
↑ File:Populous SMS EU Box.jpg
↑ https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/UfEfYdi7j_U/m/zx4nRFOk-1AJ
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 ACE, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-xx), page 165
↑ File:BristolEveningPost UK 1990-11-15 Page 75.jpg
↑ ^7.0 ^7.1 Supergame, "Maio 1992" (BR; 1992-05-xx), page 30
↑ ^8.0 ^8.1 Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 9
↑ Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1991-09-16), page 17
↑ ^10.0 ^10.1 Raze, "September 1991" (UK; 1991-07-25), page 28
↑ Sega Power, "August 1991" (UK; 1991-07-04), page 11
↑ File:Populous MD US MDMini2 manual.pdf, page 17
↑ Raze, "September 1991" (UK; 1991-07-25), page 83
↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 178
↑ ACE, "November 1990" (UK; 1990-10-xx), page 86
↑ ^16.0 ^16.1 Aktueller Software Markt, "Dezember 1991" (DE; 1991-11-15), page 152
↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "September 1991" (JP; 1991-08-08), page 35
↑ Buzz! Computers (UK) (+0:00)
↑ Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 34
↑ The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 49
↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 133
↑ Famitsu, "1991-08-23,30" (JP; 1991-08-09), page 1
↑ Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 80
↑ ^24.0 ^24.1 Game Power, "Dicembre 1991" (IT; 1991-1x-xx), page 34
↑ Hippon Super, "September 1991" (JP; 1991-08-03), page 90
↑ Hobbytes, "1/1994" (RO; 1994-xx-xx), page 31
↑ Joystick, "Décembre 1990" (FR; 1990-1x-xx), page 144
↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 62
↑ Mega Drive Fan, "November 1991" (JP; 1991-10-08), page 91
↑ MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 79
↑ Micromanía (segunda época), "Febrero 1991" (ES; 1991-0x-xx), page 26
↑ Mean Machines, "November 1990" (UK; 1990-10-29), page 50
↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 140
↑ Player One, "Décembre 1990" (FR; 1990-xx-xx), page 30
↑ Power Play, "11/90" (DE; 1990-10-12), page 138
↑ Raze, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-10-25), page 70
↑ Sega Power, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-11-01), page 30
↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 54
↑ Sega Pro, "March 1992" (UK; 1992-02-20), page 21
↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 66
↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
↑ ^42.0 ^42.1 Tilt, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 75
↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 21
↑ Zero, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-06), page 122
↑ Ação Games, "Setembro 1993" (BR; 1993-09-01), page 37
↑ Consoles +, "Tilt Hors-Serie" (FR; 1991-07-xx), page 48
↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 143
↑ Computer & Video Games, "September 1991" (UK; 1991-08-15), page 104
↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 149
↑ Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 81
↑ Games-X, "12th-18th September 1991" (UK; 1991-09-12), page 36
↑ Hobby Consolas, "Diciembre 1991" (ES; 1991-1x-xx), page 36
↑ Joystick, "Juillet/Août 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 189
↑ Micromanía (segunda época), "Diciembre 1991" (ES; 1991-1x-xx), page 73
↑ Player One, "Juillet/Août 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 40
↑ Sega Power, "August 1991" (UK; 1991-07-04), page 10
↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 58
↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72
↑ Video Games, "2/91" (DE; 1991-06-07), page 84
↑ Zero, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 85

Populous
	Main page \| Comparisons \| Hidden content \| Magazine articles \| Video coverage \| Reception \| Region coding \| Technical information \| Bootlegs No results

[:File:Populous_MD_JP_Box.jpg_p-1] File:Populous MD JP Box.jpg

[https:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20200720095133.2Fhttps:.2F.2Fsega.jp.2Fhistory.2Fhard.2Fmegadrive.2Fsoftware.html-2] 2.0 ^2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-20 09:51)

[:File:Populous_SMS_EU_Box.jpg_p-3] File:Populous SMS EU Box.jpg

[https:.2F.2Fgroups.google.com.2Fg.2Frec.games.video.2Fc.2FUfEfYdi7j_U.2Fm.2Fzx4nRFOk-1AJ-4] ttps://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/UfEfYdi7j_U/m/zx4nRFOk-1AJ

[:File:ACE_UK_40.pdf_p165-5] 5.0 ^5.1 ACE, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-xx), page 165

[:File:BristolEveningPost_UK_1990-11-15_Page_75.jpg_p-6] File:BristolEveningPost UK 1990-11-15 Page 75.jpg

[:File:Supergame_BR_10.pdf_p30-7] 7.0 ^7.1 Supergame, "Maio 1992" (BR; 1992-05-xx), page 30

[:File:SegaPro_UK_01.pdf_p9-8] 8.0 ^8.1 Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 9

[9] Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1991-09-16), page 17

[:File:Raze_UK_11.pdf_p28-10] 10.0 ^10.1 Raze, "September 1991" (UK; 1991-07-25), page 28

[:File:SegaPower_UK_21.pdf_p11-11] Sega Power, "August 1991" (UK; 1991-07-04), page 11

[:File:Populous_MD_US_MDMini2_manual.pdf_p17-12] File:Populous MD US MDMini2 manual.pdf, page 17

[:File:Raze_UK_11.pdf_p83-13] Raze, "September 1991" (UK; 1991-07-25), page 83

[14] 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 178

[:File:ACE_UK_38.pdf_p86-15] ACE, "November 1990" (UK; 1990-10-xx), page 86

[:File:ASM_DE_1991-12.pdf_p152-16] 16.0 ^16.1 Aktueller Software Markt, "Dezember 1991" (DE; 1991-11-15), page 152

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1991-09.pdf_p35-17] Beep! MegaDrive, "September 1991" (JP; 1991-08-08), page 35

[buzz1991-02-15-18] Buzz! Computers (UK) (+0:00)

[:File:CGtC_UK_04.pdf_p34-19] Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 34

[:File:TheCompleteGuideToSega_UK.pdf_p49-20] The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 49

[:File:Console_XS_UK_01.pdf_p133-21] Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 133

[22] Famitsu, "1991-08-23,30" (JP; 1991-08-09), page 1

[:File:GameMania_UK_05.pdf_p80-23] Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 80

[:File:GamePower_IT_01.pdf_p34-24] 24.0 ^24.1 Game Power, "Dicembre 1991" (IT; 1991-1x-xx), page 34

[25] Hippon Super, "September 1991" (JP; 1991-08-03), page 90

[26] Hobbytes, "1/1994" (RO; 1994-xx-xx), page 31

[:File:Joystick_FR_011.pdf_p144-27] Joystick, "Décembre 1990" (FR; 1990-1x-xx), page 144

[:File:MDAG_UK_05.pdf_p62-28] Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 62

[:File:Mdfan_JP_1991-11.pdf_p91-29] Mega Drive Fan, "November 1991" (JP; 1991-10-08), page 91

[:File:MegaTech_UK_01.pdf_p79-30] MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 79

[:File:Micromania2_ES_033.pdf_p26-31] Micromanía (segunda época), "Febrero 1991" (ES; 1991-0x-xx), page 26

[:File:MeanMachines_UK_02.pdf_p50-32] Mean Machines, "November 1990" (UK; 1990-10-29), page 50

[:File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf_p140-33] Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 140

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_004.pdf_p30-34] Player One, "Décembre 1990" (FR; 1990-xx-xx), page 30

[:File:PowerPlay_DE_1990-11.pdf_p138-35] Power Play, "11/90" (DE; 1990-10-12), page 138

[:File:Raze_UK_02.pdf_p70-36] Raze, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-10-25), page 70

[:File:SegaPower_UK_13.pdf_p30-37] Sega Power, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-11-01), page 30

[:File:SegaPower_UK_23.pdf_p54-38] Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 54

[:File:SegaPro_UK_05.pdf_p21-39] Sega Pro, "March 1992" (UK; 1992-02-20), page 21

[:File:SegaPro_UK_18.pdf_p66-40] Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 66

[:File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf_p87-41] Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87

[:File:Tilt_FR_097.pdf_p75-42] 42.0 ^42.1 Tilt, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 75

[43] Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 21

[:File:Zero_UK_15.pdf_p122-44] Zero, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-06), page 122

[:File:AcaoGames_BR_042.pdf_p37-45] Ação Games, "Setembro 1993" (BR; 1993-09-01), page 37

[:File:ConsolesPlus_FR_000.pdf_p48-46] Consoles +, "Tilt Hors-Serie" (FR; 1991-07-xx), page 48

[:File:Console_XS_UK_01.pdf_p143-47] Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 143

[:File:CVG_UK_118.pdf_p104-48] Computer & Video Games, "September 1991" (UK; 1991-08-15), page 104

[:File:MeanMachinesEssentialSegaGuide_Book_UK.pdf_p149-49] Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 149

[:File:GameMania_UK_05.pdf_p81-50] Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 81

[:File:GamesX_UK_21.pdf_p36-51] Games-X, "12th-18th September 1991" (UK; 1991-09-12), page 36

[:File:HobbyConsolas_ES_003.pdf_p36-52] Hobby Consolas, "Diciembre 1991" (ES; 1991-1x-xx), page 36

[:File:Joystick_FR_018.pdf_p189-53] Joystick, "Juillet/Août 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 189

[:File:Micromania2_ES_043.pdf_p73-54] Micromanía (segunda época), "Diciembre 1991" (ES; 1991-1x-xx), page 73

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_011.pdf_p40-55] Player One, "Juillet/Août 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 40

[:File:SegaPower_UK_21.pdf_p10-56] Sega Power, "August 1991" (UK; 1991-07-04), page 10

[:File:SegaPower_UK_23.pdf_p58-57] Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 58

[:File:SegaPro_UK_18.pdf_p72-58] Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1991-02.pdf_p84-59] Video Games, "2/91" (DE; 1991-06-07), page 84

[:File:Zero_UK_24.pdf_p85-60] Zero, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 85

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Populous

From Sega Retro

Contents

Gameplay

History

Legacy

Production credits

Digital manuals

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Artwork

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Master System version

Technical information

ROM dump status

References