Zero Wing

n/a

Zero Wing

Publisher: Toaplan

Developer: Toaplan

Original system(s): Arcade boards

Genre: Shoot-'em-Up

Number of players: 1

Release	Date	RRP	Code
JP	1991-05-31	¥8,0008,000	T-40023
EU	1992-07^[1]		1138-50

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Zero Wing (ゼロウイング) is a 1989 arcade shoot-'em-up video game developed by Toaplan, and ported to the Sega Mega Drive in 1991 for Japan and Europe release. It is one of the few Mega Drive ports developed by Toaplan themselves.

It has a very different-sounding arrange of the original arcade soundtrack, focused around the popular Cube sound driver.

Gameplay

and shoot. fires a suction beam that will trap enemies, allowing the ship to grab certain enemies. Letting go of launches the enemy at high speeds, allowing you to destroy other enemies with it. Some heavy ships will pull the player ship down.

Enemies drop powerups when destroyed; the first powerup per life will always be subships that shoot with you but do not have the suction beam. The collectable items are:

red: spreadshot
blue: laser
green: homing shot
orb: strong bomb that can be releases by pushing
speedup

The game has an autofire option, but a much higher firing rate can be achieved by rapidly tapping the buttons or using an autofire controller. Like a lot of other Toaplan games, this game also strangely defaults to the easy difficulty instead of normal

Versions

While there are no gameplay differences between the arcade version and its ports, the Mega Drive port added an in-game storyline with cutscenes. This is all well and good, but the English translator chosen was the kind of guy who "thought" he knew English. Long story short, the English introduction is ridiculous to the point where "ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US." has become a meme that is far more popular than the game itself ever will be.

Production credits

Zero Wing Original Staff

68k Side: T.Ota, H.Furukawa
Z80 Side: T.Uemura
Graphics: S.Nakaoka, N.Ogiwara, M.Hayashi, S.Nito
Music: T.Uemura, M.Yuge, T.Tomizawa

© Toaplan 1991.

Source:

In-game credits

Magazine articles

Main article: Zero Wing/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-03: "March 1991" (1991-02-08)
also published in:

Mega Drive Fan (JP) #14: "March 1991" (1991-02-08)^[2]

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-05: "May 1991" (1991-04-08)
also published in:

Mega Drive Fan (JP) #16: "May 1991" (1991-04-08)^[3]

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-06: "June 1991" (1991-05-08)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-07: "July 1991" (1991-06-08)
also published in:

Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-08: "August 1991" (1991-07-08)^[4]

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)

80

^[17]

Aktueller Software Markt (DE)

72

^[18]

Beep! MegaDrive (JP)

NTSC-J

80

^[19]

Console XS (UK)

NTSC-J

77

^[20]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

93

^[5]

Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 7 (RU)

40

^[21]

Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)

87

^[22]

Famitsu (JP)

NTSC-J

70

^[23]

Games-X (UK)

92

^[24]

Hippon Super (JP)

NTSC-J

60

^[25]

Hobby Consolas (ES)

86

^[8]

Joypad (FR)

PAL

90

^[9]

Joystick (FR)

86

^[10]

Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)

PAL

72

^[26]

Mega Drive Fan (JP)

NTSC-J

66

^[27]

Mega (UK)

PAL

70

^[28]

Mega Force (FR)

80

^[29]

MegaTech (UK)

82

^[30]

MegaTech (UK)

PAL

82

^[31]

Mean Machines (UK)

91

^[11]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

91

^[32]

Player One (FR)

79

^[12]

Play Time (DE)

68

^[33]

Sega Power (UK)

NTSC-J

100

^[34]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

88

^[35]

Sega Pro (UK)

78

^[13]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

77

^[36]

Sega Force (UK)

PAL

86

^[1]

Sega Opisaniy i sekretov (RU)

66

^[37]

Sega Saturn Magazine (JP)

NTSC-J

75

^[38]

Super Gaming (US)

67

^[39]

Supersonic (FR)

85

^[14]

Tilt (FR)

80

^[40]

Video Games (DE)

67

^[41]

	78
Based on 34 reviews

Zero Wing

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, SE (rental)

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 File:SegaForce UK 07.pdf, page 72 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaForce UK 07.pdf_p72" defined multiple times with different content
↑ Mega Drive Fan, "March 1991" (JP; 1991-02-08), page 99
↑ Mega Drive Fan, "May 1991" (JP; 1991-04-08), page 42
↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1991" (JP; 1991-07-08), page 16
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 File:CVG UK 117.pdf, page 60 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 117.pdf_p60" defined multiple times with different content
↑ File:BeepMD_JP_1991-05.pdf, page 29
↑ File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf, page 85
↑ ^8.0 ^8.1 File:HobbyConsolas ES 011.pdf, page 48 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:HobbyConsolas ES 011.pdf_p48" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^9.0 ^9.1 Joypad, "Juin 1992" (FR; 1992-05-1x), page 158
↑ ^10.0 ^10.1 Joystick, "Juillet/Août 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 182
↑ ^11.0 ^11.1 File:MeanMachines UK 10.pdf, page 74 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachines UK 10.pdf_p74" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^12.0 ^12.1 File:PlayerOne FR 020.pdf, page 70 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:PlayerOne FR 020.pdf_p70" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^13.0 ^13.1 File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf, page 41 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf_p41" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^14.0 ^14.1 Supersonic, "Mai/Juin 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 6
↑ File:Tilt FR 093.pdf, page 51
↑ File:VideoGames DE 1992-07.pdf, page 44
↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 349
↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "November 1991" (DE; 1991-10-11), page 139
↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "May 1991" (JP; 1991-04-08), page 27
↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 137
↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 7, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 291
↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 118
↑ Famitsu, "1991-xx-xx" (JP; 1991-06-14), page 19
↑ Games-X, "21st-26th June 1991" (UK; 1991-06-21), page 36
↑ Hippon Super, "May 1991" (JP; 1991-04-04), page 42
↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 95
↑ Mega Drive Fan, "August 1991" (JP; 1991-07-08), page 123
↑ Mega, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 21
↑ Mega Force, "Mai 1992" (FR; 1992-05-05), page 76
↑ MegaTech, "May 1992" (UK; 1992-04-20), page 32
↑ MegaTech, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 93
↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 143
↑ Play Time, "(8/9)/92" (DE; 1992-07-08), page 94
↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 55
↑ Sega Power, "August 1992" (UK; 1992-07-02), page 34
↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 68
↑ Sega Opisaniy i sekretov, "14000 Opisaniy i sekretov" (RU; 2003-03-11), page 236
↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
↑ Super Gaming, "Fall 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 8
↑ Tilt, "Septembre 1991" (FR; 1991-09-xx), page 53
↑ Video Games, "7/92" (DE; 1992-06-24), page 46

NEC Retro has more information related to Zero Wing

[:File:SegaForce_UK_07.pdf_p72-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 File:SegaForce UK 07.pdf, page 72 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaForce UK 07.pdf_p72" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:Megadrive_Fan_1991-03.pdf_p99-2] Mega Drive Fan, "March 1991" (JP; 1991-02-08), page 99

[:File:Megadrive_Fan_1991-05.pdf_p42-3] Mega Drive Fan, "May 1991" (JP; 1991-04-08), page 42

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1991-08.pdf_p16-4] Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1991" (JP; 1991-07-08), page 16

[:File:CVG_UK_117.pdf_p60-5] 5.0 ^5.1 File:CVG UK 117.pdf, page 60 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 117.pdf_p60" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1991-05.pdf_p29-6] File:BeepMD_JP_1991-05.pdf, page 29

[:File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf_p85-7] File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf, page 85

[:File:HobbyConsolas_ES_011.pdf_p48-8] 8.0 ^8.1 File:HobbyConsolas ES 011.pdf, page 48 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:HobbyConsolas ES 011.pdf_p48" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:Joypad_FR_009.pdf_p158-9] 9.0 ^9.1 Joypad, "Juin 1992" (FR; 1992-05-1x), page 158

[:File:Joystick_FR_018.pdf_p182-10] 10.0 ^10.1 Joystick, "Juillet/Août 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 182

[:File:MeanMachines_UK_10.pdf_p74-11] 11.0 ^11.1 File:MeanMachines UK 10.pdf, page 74 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachines UK 10.pdf_p74" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_020.pdf_p70-12] 12.0 ^12.1 File:PlayerOne FR 020.pdf, page 70 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:PlayerOne FR 020.pdf_p70" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:SegaPro_UK_06.pdf_p41-13] 13.0 ^13.1 File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf, page 41 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf_p41" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:Supersonic_FR_01.pdf_p6-14] 14.0 ^14.1 Supersonic, "Mai/Juin 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 6

[:File:Tilt_FR_093.pdf_p51-15] File:Tilt FR 093.pdf, page 51

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1992-07.pdf_p44-16] File:VideoGames DE 1992-07.pdf, page 44

[17] 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 349

[:File:ASM_DE_1991-11.pdf_p139-18] Aktueller Software Markt, "November 1991" (DE; 1991-10-11), page 139

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1991-05.pdf_p27-19] Beep! MegaDrive, "May 1991" (JP; 1991-04-08), page 27

[:File:Console_XS_UK_01.pdf_p137-20] Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 137

[21] Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 7, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 291

[:File:MeanMachinesEssentialSegaGuide_Book_UK.pdf_p118-22] Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 118

[:File:Famitsu_JP_0133.pdf_p19-23] Famitsu, "1991-xx-xx" (JP; 1991-06-14), page 19

[:File:GamesX_UK_09.pdf_p36-24] Games-X, "21st-26th June 1991" (UK; 1991-06-21), page 36

[25] Hippon Super, "May 1991" (JP; 1991-04-04), page 42

[:File:MDAG_UK_05.pdf_p95-26] Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 95

[:File:Megadrive_Fan_1991-08.pdf_p123-27] Mega Drive Fan, "August 1991" (JP; 1991-07-08), page 123

[:File:Mega_UK_09.pdf_p21-28] Mega, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 21

[:File:MegaForce_FR_06.pdf_p76-29] Mega Force, "Mai 1992" (FR; 1992-05-05), page 76

[:File:MegaTech_UK_05.pdf_p32-30] MegaTech, "May 1992" (UK; 1992-04-20), page 32

[:File:MegaTech_UK_18.pdf_p93-31] MegaTech, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 93

[:File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf_p143-32] Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 143

[:File:PlayTime_DE_1992-0809.pdf_p94-33] Play Time, "(8/9)/92" (DE; 1992-07-08), page 94

[:File:SegaPower_UK_23.pdf_p55-34] Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 55

[:File:SegaPower_UK_33.pdf_p34-35] Sega Power, "August 1992" (UK; 1992-07-02), page 34

[:File:SegaPro_UK_18.pdf_p68-36] Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 68

[:File:14000_opisaniy_i_sekretov_SEGA.pdf_p236-37] Sega Opisaniy i sekretov, "14000 Opisaniy i sekretov" (RU; 2003-03-11), page 236

[:File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf_p85-38] Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85

[:File:SuperGaming_US_02.pdf_p8-39] Super Gaming, "Fall 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 8

[:File:Tilt_FR_093.pdf_p53-40] Tilt, "Septembre 1991" (FR; 1991-09-xx), page 53

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1992-07.pdf_p46-41] Video Games, "7/92" (DE; 1992-06-24), page 46

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Zero Wing

From Sega Retro

Contents

Gameplay

Versions

Production credits

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Physical scans

References