3D Fantasy Zone II W (Nintendo 3DS) Second Opinion Review

M2, the talented developers also responsible for the other retro-themed 3D Sega titles that have been released thus far, have had some previous experience with this particular entry. The version that appeared on the Sega Ages Vol. 33 Fantasy Zone Complete Collection for PS2 in 2008 was also developed by M2, using a classic System 16 arcade board. For anyone that follows retro remakes and ports, M2 is generally thought of as the best developer to tackle the process of emulating classic games. This port from the PS2 collection to the 3DS has been handled with the same talent and care that fans have come to expect from the developer, with a few additions tossed in.

3D Fantasy Zone II features two modes: story and endless. Story mode encompasses the entire Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa-Opa experience available on the platforms mentioned previously, whereas the endless mode, dubbed Link Loop Land, is completely new for this version. Both modes put players in control of Opa-Opa, the titular, diminutive spacecraft that is essentially the series mascot. The base mechanics require Opa-Opa to move right and left across a slowly scrolling screen, blasting away at waves of eclectic enemies. The end goal, as far as the story mode goes, is to eliminate a number of special foes in order to make a gigantic boss appear, culminating in the end of the stage.

Link Loop Land removes certain functions of the story mode, like the ability to upgrade Opa-Opa via shops, or the newly integrated warp feature, wherein Opa-Opa can switch between dark and light variations of a given stage. Instead Link Loop Land is focused on building up a multiplier through coins collected by defeating enemy waves and destroying the stationary enemies throughout the stage. Waves will become increasingly harder, and bosses will populate the stage at random. It's a challenging mode, but one that offers the best opportunity at earning money, which in turn becomes useful for Story Mode.

M2 has done a fantastic job of porting this experience over to the 3DS. The top screen makes excellent use of the widescreen, not cropping the game into its original aspect ratio, but instead naturally filling the screen with more real estate. With most developers that emulate retro titles, the thought of not presenting something in its original aspect ratio is akin to a mortal sin, but M2 has clearly put in work to prevent skewing or stretching the visuals here. In addition, the use of 3D looks remarkably sharp, with what appears to be three distinct planes of depth that really help the foreground elements stand out.