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1990s gaming mascot Zool to return in ‘Zool Redimensioned’

Bullet Club

Member

1990s gaming mascot Zool to return in ‘Zool Redimensioned’​


Let's do the time warp, again

KvMIqlR.jpg


Classic 1990s platforming hero Zool is set for a comeback, with a surprise remake of the original Amiga game coming to PC.

Zool Redimensioned will arrive on Steam from August 18, developed by Sumo Digital Academy and published by Secret Mode. The project is the result of Sumo’s talent development programme, which focuses on providing more routes into the games industry, with the team receiving guidance from the developers who worked on the original.

Half of Secret Mode’s revenue from Zool Redimensioned will go back to the Sumo Digital Academy, to support further student initiatives.

Redimensioned is shaping up to be a classic, or ‘old school’, platforming experience. Secret Mode described the game, saying “Help Zool jump, spin, and shoot his way across eight alien worlds, taking down menacing bosses and saving the universe from the nefarious influence of Krool.”

Redimensioned is further described as having been “rebuilt from the ground up for modern audiences”. The game will feature 28 platforming challenges, seven “completely redesigned” boss fights, and “new secrets, challenges, and extras” to uncover. The game will also support achievements on Steam, with 25 to unlock.




For players who might remember the original version – which was notoriously tough – Redimensioned will feature two game modes. The eponymous “Redimensioned” offers a more accessible modern experience, while “Ultimate Ninja” maintains a “true hardcore” challenge.

There are also quality of life enhancements, including level select, progress checkpoints, and accessibility options. There will be the option to play the original Mega Drive version of the game as well.

The original Zool game was developed by the now-defunct Gremlin Graphics, and was first launched on the Amiga in 1992. Described as the “Ninja from the Nth Dimension!” Zool himself looked rather more like an anthropomorphic ant. Nevertheless, his debut proved popular and the game was ported to almost a dozen platforms, including the Mega Drive and Super Nintendo.

Source: NME


The Ninja of the Nth Dimension is back!

Originally released by Gremlin Graphics in 1992 on the Amiga to critical acclaim, iconic gaming mascot Zool returns in Zool Redimensioned!

This brand-new reimagining of the classic action platforming adventure has been rebuilt from the ground up for modern audiences. Help Zool jump, spin and shoot his way across eight alien worlds, taking down menacing bosses and saving the universe from the nefarious influence of Krool.

Zool’s old school platforming action will challenge the most hardcore gamers, with modern enhancements that bring the game into the 21st century. Beat your speed run times, discover secrets hidden across every level, or go back in time and play the original classic game. Re-live the legend of the ninja that started it all!

Features​

  • Over 28 retro platforming challenges, all enhanced for the best possible experience
  • Choose between two main game modes: Redimensioned for a more accessible modern experience, or Ultimate Ninja to experience a true hardcore challenge
  • Trade blows with the dimension's most dangerous creatures in seven completely redesigned boss fights
  • Discover new secrets, challenges and extras across your adventure, with over 25 achievements to unlock
  • Enhanced quality-of-life options, including a level select screen, checkpoints, accessibility options and more
  • Play the original Mega Drive version for a truly authentic retro adventure
 
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Dr. Suchong

Member
No one asked for this.

Zool was a not very good game designed to sell candy. This remake looks weird too, zoomed out instead of higher res.
Chupa chups candy.
Agreed, I feel emboldened to concur.
Wasn't sure if there was a voracious Zool fanbase on Gaf, waiting to jump on me.
It was pretty awful iirc.
Calling it a rival to Sonic/Mario back in the day, bordered on madness.
 

Dr. Suchong

Member
Not a Zool zealot but am an Amiga one.

Was only compared to Sonic due to its speed and I don’t ever remember it being compared to anything in relation to Mario.
Yeah, I'm probably misremembering the Mario thing.
Probably got it from rabid fans of Zool at secondary school, making outrageous claims like "Mario killer" etc.
 

SkylineRKR

Member
Zool was awful. It wasn't half as good as Sonic and Mario and the likes of Mr.Nutz were probably better too. But Amiga fans clamored for it. The games were nearly impossible to play because of the zoom, the speed and unfair difficulty. Those Amiga magazines my brother read back in the day gave it 95% scores, it showed how biased they were.
 

Saber

Gold Member
Looks lowly interesting to say the least...but what version is that? Is this the megadrive version?
 
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NeoIkaruGAF

Gold Member
It’s amazing how many games I know about that I’ve never played. I read those video game magazines way too much back then.

Never saw Zool in person, but yep, that’s an Amiga platformer.
This remake doesn’t sound too exciting, but may be better than a lot of trash if it comes at the right price.
 

Clear

CliffyB's Cock Holster
Zool was overrated and frankly not particularly good. Harlequin (also from Gremlin in '92) was way better and more creative, it just stood out less because of its average performance.

Zool was basically one of the first titles to use the pointer-scroll technique to accelerate scrolling on the Amiga to near console levels, but beyond that was a fairly bog-standard Sonic clone, and far from the best or most technically accomplished efforts on the platform/
 

amigastar

Member
tenor.gif


I remember Zool, just can't recall if he was a good platformer. Wasn't Zool a Chupa Chups mascot?
And yeah, Superfrog on Amiga was also nice.
 
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Kuranghi

Member
I too am nostalgic for this but it wasn't very good yeah, its not bad or anything, just not great.

I'm sure you can watch him air riffing during the "attract mode" and he does a Michael Jackson style crotch grab at one point lol, what a weird game. I bet most of the time involved in porting this was removing the hundreds of chupa chups logos :messenger_tears_of_joy:

Zool was overrated and frankly not particularly good. Harlequin (also from Gremlin in '92) was way better and more creative, it just stood out less because of its average performance.

Zool was basically one of the first titles to use the pointer-scroll technique to accelerate scrolling on the Amiga to near console levels, but beyond that was a fairly bog-standard Sonic clone, and far from the best or most technically accomplished efforts on the platform/

Oh man Harlequin flashbacks, I did NOT understand how to progress in that game as a child so I just played the same area over and over, I think one time I progressed by accident and I was blown away. Will need to check out that longplay and see how far I got and where I went wrong, I bet I only saw the first 10 mins of the game.

James Pond: Robocod 2 was better, but Zool was certainly an enjoyable game.

Totally, James Pond was great. That music ha.
 
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GrayFoxPL

Member
- zool guys, how do we name our new game?
- three?
- third?
- redimensioned
...

- boss we had a survey about the games name and...
- take whatever third one said and be done with it!
- I..uhh...okay...



But seriously this is awesome! Zool is good shit!
 
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