Red Zone (1994 video game)

Red Zone is a 1994 shoot 'em up, developed by Zyrinx and published by Time Warner Interactive for the Sega Genesis. The player switches between piloting a helicopter and walking around on foot, both from a top-down view.

Red Zone Game
North American cover art
Developer(s)Zyrinx
Publisher(s)Time Warner Interactive
Designer(s)Mikael Balle
Jesper Vorsholt
Programmer(s)David Guldbrandsen
Karsten L. Hvidberg
Jens Albretsen
Thomas Risager (hidden mini game)
Composer(s)Jesper Kyd
Platform(s)Sega Genesis
Release
Genre(s)Scrolling shooter
Mode(s)Single-player

The game is notable for its use of several technologies that were not prevalent at the time on the Genesis/Mega Drive, such as fullscreen rotation, 3D vectors, real-time zoom, and full-motion video.[2]

The developer released a beta version of the game into the public domain.[3][4]

Plot

A military takes over a small fictional country called Zystrian. Mass deportation and torture are occurring in the country during the annexation. Zystrian invades a small neighboring country in response to the annexation. Meanwhile, a dictator threatens the world with nuclear missiles shot at one country at a time.[3]

Reception

Electronic Gaming Monthly rated the game 6.8 out of 10, praising its combat and aerial sequences as "innovative" while noting its difficulty and learning curve. They also mentioned the amount of weapons and missions available to the player.[5]

GamePro praised the helicopter handling and graphical intro, but concluded that the poor controls when maneuvering characters on the ground effectively killed any potential enjoyment.[6]

Next Generation rated the game 3 out of 5 stars, stating that "While Red Zone's plot and gameplay are known as 'rip-offs' from Urban Strike, the enormous challenges fundamentally make this title a viable alternative to the ongoing success of the Strike series."[7]

References
  1. Red Zone at GameFAQs
  2. "Fullscreen Rotation on the SEGA Genesis? How this game does the impossible - Coding Secrets". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-19. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  3. Nick Gibson (September 1, 2006). "Developer's Den: Zyrinx". Sega-16.com. Retrieved September 28, 2010. In a move that was certainly unorthodox at the time, Zyrinx [released] the beta of Red Zone into the public domain
  4. "Freeware Genesis ROMs". Eidolon's Inn. Archived from the original on 7 November 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2010.
  5. "Review Crew: Red Zone". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 65. Sendai Publishing. December 1994. p. 44.
  6. "ProReview: Red Zone". GamePro. No. 76. IDG. January 1995. p. 48.
  7. "Finals". Next Generation. No. 2. Imagine Media. February 1995. p. 101.
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