Populous

From Sega Retro

n/a

  • Mega Drive
  • Master System

Populous MDTitleScreen.png

Populous SMS Title.png

Populous
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System
Publisher:
Sega Mega Drive
Electronic Arts (US/EU)
Sega Mega Drive
Sega (JP)
Sega Master System
TecMagik
Developer:
Distributor:
Sega Master System
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
Sega Mega Drive
JP
¥6,0006,000 G-4057
Sega Mega Drive
US
701601
Sega Mega Drive
EU
E097SMXI
Sega Mega Drive
UK
£39.9939.99[5] E097SMXI
Sega Mega Drive
SE
(Rental)
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Mega Drive
BR
Sega Master System
EU
27014-50
Sega Master System
UK
£34.9934.99[8][9] 27014-50
Sega Master System
AU
Sega Master System
BR
025040
Non-Sega versions

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Populous (ポピュラス) is an unlicensed 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, and is most known for being one of few commercially-released Sega Mega Drive games to fail the system's TradeMark Security System test (refusing to operate with anything but the earliest Mega Drive hardware.), and for being the first Electronic Arts title released on a Sega game system.

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.

Magazine articles

Main article: Populous/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

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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)[10]
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Master System print advert in Raze (UK) #12: "October 1991" (1991-08-29)
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Master System print advert in Micro News (FR) #49: "Eté 1991" (1991-xx-xx)
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Print advert in Mega Force (FR) #2: "Septembre/Octobre 1991" (1991-09-13)
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Master System print advert in Hobby Consolas (ES) #1: "Octubre 1991" (1991-xx-xx)
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Master System print advert in Game Power (IT) #1: "Dicembre 1991" (1991-1x-xx)
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Artwork

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
60
[11]
ACE (UK)
91
[12]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
75
[13]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
70
[14]
Buzz! Computers (UK)
84
[15]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
94
[16]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK)
94
[17]
Console XS (UK) PAL
75
[18]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
75
[19]
Game Mania (UK)
90
[20]
Game Power (IT)
82
[21]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
60
[22]
Hobbytes (RO)
72
[23]
Joystick (FR)
92
[24]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)
90
[25]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
63
[26]
MegaTech (UK)
91
[27]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
80
[28]
Mean Machines (UK)
93
[29]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
91
[30]
Player One (FR)
96
[31]
Power Play (DE)
86
[32]
Raze (UK) NTSC
89
[33]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
93
[34]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
100
[35]
Sega Pro (UK)
70
[36]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
65
[37]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
60
[38]
Supergame (BR)
80
[6]
Tilt (FR)
95
[39]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
78
[40]
Zero (UK)
85
[41]
Sega Mega Drive
82
Based on
32 reviews

Populous

Mega Drive, JP
Populous MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
Populous MD JP CartTop.jpg
Populous MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Populous MD jp manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, US
Populous MD US BoxBack.jpgPopulous MD US BoxSpine.jpgPopulous MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Populous MD US CartTop.jpg
Populous MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Populous MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
Populous MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
Populous MD US EU Rev D Cart.jpg
Cart
Populous MD EU Manual.jpg
Manual
Mega Drive, SE (Rental)

Mega Drive, AU
Populous MD AU cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, BR
Populous MD BR Box.jpg
Cover
Populous MD BR Cart.jpg
Cart

Master System version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Ação Games (BR)
69
[42]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
75
[13]
Consoles + (FR)
95
[43]
Console XS (UK) PAL
88
[44]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
92
[45]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
94
[46]
Game Mania (UK)
90
[47]
Game Power (IT)
90
[21]
Games-X (UK)
90
[48]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
92
[49]
Joystick (FR)
94
[50]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
75
[51]
Player One (FR)
97
[52]
Raze (UK) PAL
90
[8]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
96
[53]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
100
[54]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
88
[55]
Tilt (FR)
95
[39]
Video Games (DE)
88
[56]
Zero (UK)
90
[57]
Sega Master System
89
Based on
20 reviews

Populous

Master System, EU
Populous SMS EU Box.jpg
Cover
Populous SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, BR
Populous SMS BR Box.jpg
Cover
Populous SMS BR Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, AU (Hotline sticker)
Populous SMS AU hotline cover.jpg
Cover
Populous SMS AU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, AU (Hotline/NIAL stickers)
Populous SMS AU nial cover.jpg
Cover
Populous SMS AU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, AU (EA sticker)
Populous SMS AU ea cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, AU (Classics)
Populous SMS AU classics cover.jpg
Cover

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Master System
 ?
CRC32 c7a1fdef
MD5 cc694ca94c4d74b487983332facc8b86
SHA-1 d6142584b9796a96941b6a95bda14cf137b47085
256kB Cartridge (EU)

References

  1. File:Populous MD JP Box.jpg
  2. 2.0 2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-20 09:51)
  3. File:Populous SMS EU Box.jpg
  4. https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/UfEfYdi7j_U/m/zx4nRFOk-1AJ
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 ACE, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-xx), page 165
  6. 6.0 6.1 Supergame, "Maio 1992" (BR; 1992-05-xx), page 30
  7. 7.0 7.1 Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 9
  8. 8.0 8.1 Raze, "September 1991" (UK; 1991-07-25), page 28
  9. Sega Power, "August 1991" (UK; 1991-07-04), page 11
  10. Raze, "September 1991" (UK; 1991-07-25), page 83
  11. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 178
  12. ACE, "November 1990" (UK; 1990-10-xx), page 86
  13. 13.0 13.1 Aktueller Software Markt, "Dezember 1991" (DE; 1991-11-15), page 152
  14. Beep! MegaDrive, "September 1991" (JP; 1991-08-08), page 35
  15. Buzz! Computers (UK) (+0:00)
  16. Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 34
  17. The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 49
  18. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 133
  19. Famitsu, "1991-08-23,30" (JP; 1991-08-09), page 1
  20. Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 80
  21. 21.0 21.1 Game Power, "Dicembre 1991" (IT; 1991-1x-xx), page 34
  22. Hippon Super, "September 1991" (JP; 1991-08-03), page 90
  23. Hobbytes, "1/1994" (RO; 1994-xx-xx), page 31
  24. Joystick, "Décembre 1990" (FR; 1990-1x-xx), page 144
  25. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 62
  26. Mega Drive Fan, "November 1991" (JP; 1991-10-08), page 91
  27. MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 79
  28. Micromanía (segunda época), "Febrero 1991" (ES; 1991-0x-xx), page 26
  29. Mean Machines, "November 1990" (UK; 1990-10-29), page 50
  30. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 140
  31. Player One, "Décembre 1990" (FR; 1990-xx-xx), page 30
  32. Power Play, "11/90" (DE; 1990-10-12), page 138
  33. Raze, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-10-25), page 70
  34. Sega Power, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-11-01), page 30
  35. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 54
  36. Sega Pro, "March 1992" (UK; 1992-02-20), page 21
  37. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 66
  38. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
  39. 39.0 39.1 Tilt, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 75
  40. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 21
  41. Zero, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-06), page 122
  42. Ação Games, "Setembro 1993" (BR; 1993-09-01), page 37
  43. Consoles +, "Tilt Hors-Serie" (FR; 1991-07-xx), page 48
  44. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 143
  45. Computer & Video Games, "September 1991" (UK; 1991-08-15), page 104
  46. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 149
  47. Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 81
  48. Games-X, "12th-18th September 1991" (UK; 1991-09-12), page 36
  49. Hobby Consolas, "Diciembre 1991" (ES; 1991-1x-xx), page 36
  50. Joystick, "Juillet/Août 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 189
  51. Micromanía (segunda época), "Diciembre 1991" (ES; 1991-1x-xx), page 73
  52. Player One, "Juillet/Août 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 40
  53. Sega Power, "August 1991" (UK; 1991-07-04), page 10
  54. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 58
  55. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72
  56. Video Games, "2/91" (DE; 1991-06-07), page 84
  57. Zero, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 85
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