Zool - Fan Thread to the Nth degree!!

Doctor Clu · 05 January 2021, 14:31

This thread is for Zool fans as we would like to hear from you on anything related to Zool. Pictures, merchandise, collections, etc!

And inviting all to check out and add articles to the Zool fan wiki...

https://zool-the-alien-ninja-from-th...Dimension_Wiki

chip · 05 January 2021, 14:54

Easy

Zool was the first game i tried on Amiga !

Doctor Clu · 05 January 2021, 15:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by chip

Easy

Zool was the first game i tried on Amiga !

That is awesome! Love hearing from other fans. What did you like about him or the games?

So I attend an Amiga User Group here in Dallas, but also an Atari Jaguar gamer. I think the Jaguar has some good mascot platformers, and some infamous ones, but has Zool 2 which is difficult but fun.

But yeh, Zool was the zippy platformer for the Amiga so figured I would find some Zool fans and those that liked his games here.

Oh BTW, shout out to this thread on here about the Zool mini-van.

https://eab.abime.net/showthread.php...48#post1450348

chip · 05 January 2021, 15:47

Easy again !

I really liked the colors used and the action of the game

Anyway i always found it a little difficult for my skills

Gilbert · 05 January 2021, 16:17

I had heard bad things about this game - as a poor man's Sonic. And I already had played Sonic 1 on the Megadrive. But when I got it for my CD32 I did enjoy it (Zool 1) a lot. I liked that you could climb up walls and it was good fun. I want to get Zool 2 next.

I heard there was an arcade machine. I'l like to see that if anyone has any pics or video. Was it the same as the Amiga or enhanced?

DamienD · 05 January 2021, 16:29

Watch dreamkatcha's YouTube video then:

[ Show youtube player ]

Superman · 05 January 2021, 16:51

Gamesmaster Challenge from the early 90's

[ Show youtube player ]

Doctor Clu · 05 January 2021, 18:11

Loved the last two video links. Keep it coming!

Superman · 05 January 2021, 19:10

Zool arcade being tested on the UK TV show Bad Influence from the early 90's (skip to 18:30 at the end)

[ Show youtube player ]

Doctor Clu · 05 January 2021, 20:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superman

Zool arcade being tested on the UK TV show Bad Influence from the early 90's (skip to 18:30 at the end)

[ Show youtube player ]

That was cool seeing the Zool cabinet. And I'll have to agree, looks like he was just "playing" the intro screen in that video. But nice cabinet.

I'm sure someone at this point has wired an Amiga or CD32 into a cabinet at this point and played Zool with the arcade stick. We are nerds and geeks, that is how we roll.

Attached is a picture of the Zool books used for some of the Zool Fan wiki entries.

gimbal · 06 January 2021, 01:18

Zool A1200/CD32 is pretty good, I just wish it didn't have that really busy background which makes it hard to see what is going on in the foreground. I was stuck with the A500 version though and that version is really rough. You have to choose between sound and music and the sounds are pretty much terrible in that version. It makes it hard to keep the attention while playing it for extended periods of time.

But it's a game with plenty of secrets to discover and then I'm pretty much sold on it; if I can do secret hunting, I'm happy. I don't know why but I have a thing for games with really big bonus pickups too, like giant donuts and such. Zool and Prehistorik 2 are just good by default because they have tons of them to find

d4rk3lf · 06 January 2021, 15:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by gimbal

Zool A1200/CD32 is pretty good, I just wish it didn't have that really busy background which makes it hard to see what is going on in the foreground.

Yeah, that's exactly the reason why I like A500 version much more.
They wanted to show a lot's of stuff, parallax, but it hurt's the eye.

One perfect example where "Less is more".

Bren McGuire · 06 January 2021, 15:54

I hated Zool
I loved Zool 2

The slowdowns are really bad though, wish there was a version without any in it.

Doctor Clu · 06 January 2021, 16:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by d4rk3lf

Yeah, that's exactly the reason why I like A500 version much more.
They wanted to show a lot's of stuff, parallax, but it hurt's the eye.

One perfect example where "Less is more".

I think a switchable option for background or no background would have been nice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bren McGuire

I hated Zool
I loved Zool 2

The slowdowns are really bad though, wish there was a version without any in it.

Have to see how much in the way of slow downs there are on the Jaguar version. Will play it and note when it happens.

Really liked this video for comparisons of the various ports of the first Zool:

[ Show youtube player ]

gimbal · 07 January 2021, 09:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by d4rk3lf

Yeah, that's exactly the reason why I like A500 version much more.
They wanted to show a lot's of stuff, parallax, but it hurt's the eye.

One perfect example where "Less is more".

It's just poorly done. Take a look at the SNES/Megadrive version, the background is far easier on the eyes there.

I'd prefer the Megadrive version... but that version is just too darned fast which seems to be a theme for Megadrive ports. Take a look at Gods for the Megadrive, it's ridiculous.

d4rk3lf · 07 January 2021, 14:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by gimbal

It's just poorly done.

Not sure if it's technical possible, but if they only "dimmed" BG clouds and stuff (far away stuff) to the the color more closer to the sky color, it would be drastic visual improvement....

Here's a quick Photoshop sketch.

gimbal · 07 January 2021, 15:00

Now I can't unsee that enemy which is half clipped into the wall. Hot garbage!

Dastardly · 07 January 2021, 15:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by d4rk3lf

Not sure if it's technical possible, but if they only "dimmed" BG clouds and stuff (far away stuff) to the the color more closer to the sky color, it would be drastic visual improvement....

Here's a quick Photoshop sketch.

That does improve it over the original AGA, but I still think it's too much. Some simple faint clouds would have worked fine. If it's a choice between the over the top AGA version and nothing then I definitely prefer the simpler original.

gimbal · 07 January 2021, 15:21

Yeah but the A1200 version has both sound and music (plus the sounds are slightly better) and that does add a lot of flavour. I'll take the eyesore myself

Dastardly · 07 January 2021, 15:42

All the more reason why the hideous background is a shame. It could have had the best of everything. I see junior designers make the mistake of throwing the kitchen sink at a layout just because they can. Sometimes less it more

05 January 2021, 14:31	#1
Doctor Clu Registered User Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Dallas, TX- USA Posts: 48	Zool - Fan Thread to the Nth degree!! This thread is for Zool fans as we would like to hear from you on anything related to Zool. Pictures, merchandise, collections, etc! And inviting all to check out and add articles to the Zool fan wiki... https://zool-the-alien-ninja-from-th...Dimension_Wiki Last edited by Doctor Clu; 05 January 2021 at 15:22.

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05 January 2021, 14:54	#2
chip Registered User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Italy Age: 49 Posts: 2,942	Easy Zool was the first game i tried on Amiga !

05 January 2021, 15:47	#4
chip Registered User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Italy Age: 49 Posts: 2,942	Easy again ! I really liked the colors used and the action of the game Anyway i always found it a little difficult for my skills

05 January 2021, 16:17	#5
Gilbert Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 318	I had heard bad things about this game - as a poor man's Sonic. And I already had played Sonic 1 on the Megadrive. But when I got it for my CD32 I did enjoy it (Zool 1) a lot. I liked that you could climb up walls and it was good fun. I want to get Zool 2 next. I heard there was an arcade machine. I'l like to see that if anyone has any pics or video. Was it the same as the Amiga or enhanced?

05 January 2021, 16:29	#6
DamienD Banned Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: London / Sydney Age: 47 Posts: 20,420	Watch dreamkatcha's YouTube video then: [ Show youtube player ]

05 January 2021, 16:51	#7
Superman Super Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Wakefield Age: 48 Posts: 1,334	Gamesmaster Challenge from the early 90's [ Show youtube player ]

05 January 2021, 18:11	#8
Doctor Clu Registered User Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Dallas, TX- USA Posts: 48	Loved the last two video links. Keep it coming!

05 January 2021, 19:10	#9
Superman Super Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Wakefield Age: 48 Posts: 1,334	Zool arcade being tested on the UK TV show Bad Influence from the early 90's (skip to 18:30 at the end) [ Show youtube player ]

06 January 2021, 01:18	#11
gimbal cheeky scoundrel Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Spijkenisse/Netherlands Age: 42 Posts: 6,908	Zool A1200/CD32 is pretty good, I just wish it didn't have that really busy background which makes it hard to see what is going on in the foreground. I was stuck with the A500 version though and that version is really rough. You have to choose between sound and music and the sounds are pretty much terrible in that version. It makes it hard to keep the attention while playing it for extended periods of time. But it's a game with plenty of secrets to discover and then I'm pretty much sold on it; if I can do secret hunting, I'm happy. I don't know why but I have a thing for games with really big bonus pickups too, like giant donuts and such. Zool and Prehistorik 2 are just good by default because they have tons of them to find

06 January 2021, 15:54	#13
Bren McGuire Registered User Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Croydon Posts: 580	I hated Zool I loved Zool 2 The slowdowns are really bad though, wish there was a version without any in it.

07 January 2021, 15:00	#17
gimbal cheeky scoundrel Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Spijkenisse/Netherlands Age: 42 Posts: 6,908	Now I can't unsee that enemy which is half clipped into the wall. Hot garbage!

07 January 2021, 15:21	#19
gimbal cheeky scoundrel Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Spijkenisse/Netherlands Age: 42 Posts: 6,908	Yeah but the A1200 version has both sound and music (plus the sounds are slightly better) and that does add a lot of flavour. I'll take the eyesore myself

07 January 2021, 15:42	#20
Dastardly Into the Wonderful Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: England Age: 49 Posts: 2,335	All the more reason why the hideous background is a shame. It could have had the best of everything. I see junior designers make the mistake of throwing the kitchen sink at a layout just because they can. Sometimes less it more

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