Platform: Sega Master System

Developer: Sega

Publisher: Sega

Release Date (NA): December 31, 1987

Genre: Run and Gun, Platformer

Nerd Rating: 7 out of 10

Reviewed by Nerdberry

Not a million. Not a billion. Not a kajillion. This is… Zillion! Whatever the heck that means. Have you ever wanted to plug in your Sega Master System and play a 35 year old game on your day off work? No? Okay so maybe I’m alone. With a small library of 20 games, and FINALLY getting my hands on a CRT television, I’m back in the Master System game. Sure, we could go for perennial “Best Master System” hits like Sonic, Fantasy Zone, R-Type, Space Harrier, and other arcade ports. But that’s not fun. It’s much more fun to dive into games that I [and maybe you] have never heard of or seen, such as Zillion, the sci-fi game with possibly the most boring box-art I’ve ever seen. So without keeping you in suspense… Are you ready for the ultimate danger?

Speaking of Box-Art

The 1980s definitely represented an interesting time for video games. With great box-art but few publications and resources for information, gamers were often left to make decisions simply by analyzing the cover of the game box! Few companies could compete with Nintendo’s penchant for eye-catching cover-art. Especially Sega as their boxes were a little basic and bland. While this is not the only reason for Sega failing to even compete with Nintendo in the 8-bit market (talking strictly North America), it’s definitely one of many indicators that Sega just didn’t quite understand the American market.

What is Zillion

Zillion is directly related to a single 31-episode anime show of the same name. The show seemed to be a heavy promotional piece for Sega’s Mark III system (AKA The Master System) as evidenced by the anime characters’ guns being identical to Master System light-guns, not to mention various other crossover tidbits. According to a seriously great and informative video on YouTube, I discovered all of this and more.

The Ultimate Danger

You’re alone, outnumbered, and there’s no guarantee you’ll make it alive. You’re JJ. Your objective: Secretly infiltrate the underground labyrinth of The Norsa Empire and steal their plans for domination.

Armed with the ultra speed and power of the Zillion Laser (ah, that’s what Zillion means), your mission is complex. And sheer strength will not win this one alone.

You’ll need more brains than brawn in this sophisticated operation. So, how will you think your way to victory?

With cunning strategy and memory to guide you successfully through the maze which awaits. Where once inside, you’ll find the information needed to destroy the Norsas and restore peace forever.

The Norsas are an organization hellbent on worldwide domination. Their entire plan for domination is on… wait for it… 5 floppy disks. HA! Anyway. JJ is part of the White Knights, a peace-keeping organization – powered with Zillion laser guns – out to defeat the Norsas.

I gots ta say… I dig the story. I mean, the way it’s written on the back of the box is a little weird, but it does have me somewhat curious… As does the odd TV thingy on the front of the box. Let’s see what’s going on here and what in the heck makes the entire game named after a laser.

A Zillion Ways to Be Kinda Cool

Zillion kicks off with some cool stuff. I immediately love the music and find the graphics to be absolutely spectacular considering its age. A planetary space rover of sorts rolls onto the grassy field of Planet X with a starlit sky draped across the upper 4/5th of the screen. Simple yet elegant. Here we see a man exit the rover and we are presented with our mission:

Steal the confidential information stored in the 5 floppy disks from the Norsa Forces’ base on Planet X. After successfully obtaining the disks, input the command “explode” in the base’s main computer and destroy the base. Champ and Apple are already in the base, but it looks like they’ve been captured. Rescue them and then work together to accomplish your mission. Good luck! – Director Gord

I gotta say, I’m digging this (yes, I said that earlier too). It sounds cool as hell. I mean, c’mon, I wish I worked with someone named Champ or Apple. Visually, Zillion is pretty great. It doesn’t have anything about it that makes it stand out and force your jaw on the floor, but at the same time, it doesn’t make you cringe either. It is loaded with identical enemies, similar-looking stages, and a lack of variety. But this was fairly commonplace. What makes Zillion stand out is its focus on memory and strategy, and the more I play it, the more I feel like it is some cross-hybrid between a video game and a board game.

 

To progress through the game, you mainly use computers to enter commands that will help you advance in the game. Rooms contain various capsules, some of which are not available to you until you upgrade your weapons and such. Entering commands may sound easy, but it requires memorizing some of the symbols and using them properly. It’s a bit of a chore at first… Until you realize, “hey, this game is going to require a pen and pad.”

Gameplay – inside AND outside of the game

Zillion isn’t your average run-n-gun platformer, eschewing guns-a-blazin’ battle scenes for something a little deeper. Armed with a Zillion laser on the TV and pen and paper on the table next to your gaming chair, you’re in for a treat. In today’s world, the year of our Lord 2021, Zillion requires a bit of patience and a desire for the days of yore. Although not required, I can’t imagine progressing through Zillion without a pen and a pad. It’s definitely an antiquated way of playing video games, but isn’t almost any form of gaming from the 1980s? We walk down this memory lane for more than just the outdated gameplay, we do it for the whole experience. At least I do. That’s why I very rarely will review anything emulated or from digital-download. If it ain’t the real deal, I ain’t interested.

Conclusion

If you’ve got the patience and you love the idea of keeping track of all your game notes on a yellow legal pad, then Zillion is just the game for you. Long gone are the days of writing down notes, keeping track of mazes, jotting down passwords and keywords and such. But in 1987, when Zillion was yours for the taking, this wasn’t uncommon. Zillion skirts the line between video game and interactive board game (sans a real board). I found myself drawing out little mazes to remember elevators and capsules and symbols. Maybe if I had the game manual I could have saved some time, but sure-enough….. I do not have the manual.

Overall, Zillion is quite unique and good for a few hours of straight up brainy action. But unfortunately, it starts to feel like a chore and a task instead of pure “fun,” if you will, and loses its luster as it wears on. I was admittedly not prepared for the pen and paper style of gaming when I first booted it up, and it’s not quite my cup of tea. Upon viewing the back of the game’s box, I thought for sure it was some Contra-wannabe game. After wandering around aimlessly, I just HAD to look the manual up online, which is where I discovered that pen and paper was recommended. It changed a few things for me, but my overall experience was not very fun. I was frustrated with having to accomplish tasks instead of feeling like I could just play the game. I had to write down this stuff and keep track of various 4-symbol combinations to complete some tasks. Needless to say, I have little-to-no-desire to play again.

But I’m not going to tear into the game or say there’s anything wrong with it. Games have come a long way since 1987, and this game was fairly cutting edge in its complexity. We have to remember that modern 2-button controller games were in their infancy during this period, and it’s important to keep that in mind. During these early 8-bit days, Zillion set out to be unique and bring the at-home gamer something the arcades could not. In that area, they were successful. Unfortunately, the game was on the [North American] ill-fated Master System, and considering its antiquated gameplay, I’m not sure the world will ever see a Zillion reboot or re-release.

Nerd Rating: 7 out of 10

Reviewed by Nerdberry