Heir of Zendor

Last updated
Heir of Zendor: The Legend and The Land
Heir of Zendor.jpg
Developer(s) Micronet co., Ltd.
Publisher(s) Koei
Platform(s) Sega Saturn, PlayStation
Release
Genre(s) Strategy
Mode(s) Single-player

Heir of Zendor: The Legend and The Land, released in Japan as Gotha II, is a strategy video game developed by Micronet and published by Koei. It is the sequel to Gotha: Ismailia Seneki. [3] It was an exclusive for the Sega Saturn in North America, while in Japan it also appeared on the PlayStation.

Contents

Plot

In contrast to the historical settings of Koei's previous strategy games, Heir of Zendor is set in a science fiction milieu. The planet of Zendor is rich in anti-gravity ore. In the past, pirates grew so strong that they formed a faction called The Guild. The Guild and the Alliance of City States fought for control of the skies for years until accidentally awakening giant battleships. These ships were programmed to protect Terra Sancta (the Sacred Land), a floating continent. The power of the automated battleships was enough to wipe out entire continents, thus ending the war.

One man managed to get past the battleships and their defenses at Terra Sancta, and now controls the last of the major water sources in the world. He allows the water to be controlled and distributed by five of his allies, the "Five Kings". As the population grows and water becomes more scarce, eventually war breaks out between the forces of the Kings, the Alliance of City States, and various rebel factions. The player takes on the role of a Prince of the Royal Alliance Expeditionary Forces in service to the Five Kings. [4]

Gameplay

Heir of Zendor: The Legend and The Land is a turn-based strategy game. [5] At the beginning of each mission, the player can view information on all ships in play and select the ships which will accompany the flagship into battle and their weapons payloads. [5] During battle, each side moves all their ships in turn. In addition to maneuvering and attacking, ships can be moved in formation and be set to automatically retaliate against attacks. [5] The game supports the Saturn Mouse in addition to the standard controller. [6]

Heir of Zendor features multiple story branches. After completing the game, the player can start over with the upgraded ships from the last game.

Reception

Heir of Zendor: The Legend and The Land received mixed to negative reviews from video game critics. Critics generally praised the refined and involving strategic gameplay, [8] [9] but criticized the spartan graphics, especially the use of static screens for cutscenes. [7] [8] [9] Koei's decision to break from their forte of historical settings was also disapproved of by some critics, [7] [8] though Bonehead of GamePro found the story "deep". [9] GameSpot concluded, "it's hard to believe anyone at Sega or Koei let a product this bad onto the market", [7] while Next Generation felt that though Dragon Force would be a better choice for the typical gamer, war simulation enthusiasts would find Heir of Zendor very enjoyable. [8]

Related Research Articles

<i>Croc: Legend of the Gobbos</i> 1997 video game

Croc: Legend of the Gobbos is a platform game developed by Argonaut Software, published by Fox Interactive and distributed by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment in North America and Electronic Arts internationally for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation and Sega Saturn. Taking place in the fictional setting of the Gobbo Valley, Croc: Legend of the Gobbos follows a young crocodile named Croc, who sets out to rescue a group of furry creatures known as Gobbos from the evil magician Baron Dante.

<i>Nobunagas Ambition</i> Video game series

Nobunaga's Ambition is a series of turn-based grand strategy role-playing simulation video games. The original game was one of the first in its genre, being released in March 1983 by the Japanese video game developer Koei. Nobunaga's Ambition takes place during the Sengoku period of feudal Japan. The player is tasked with achieving the ultimate goal of warlord Oda Nobunaga: the conquest and unification of Japan. Selecting Oda Nobunaga is optional, however, as the player is also able to choose from a variety of other regional daimyōs of the time.

<i>NBA Live 98</i> 1997 basketball video game

NBA Live 98 is a basketball video game based on the National Basketball Association and the fourth installment of the NBA Live series. Its cover art features Tim Hardaway of the Miami Heat. The game was developed by EA Sports in 1997 for Windows, PlayStation, and Sega Saturn, while also being the final NBA Live game released for the Super NES, Genesis, and Sega Saturn.

<i>The Legend of Oasis</i> 1996 video game

The Legend of Oasis, released as The Story of Thor 2 in Europe and as Thor ~Seirei Ou Kiden~ in Japan, is a 1996 action role-playing game developed by Ancient and published by Sega for the Sega Saturn. It is the successor and prequel to the 1994 title Beyond Oasis for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. The player takes the role of Leon, who must find the six elemental spirits and use their powers to fight the evil wizard Agito and his legions of creatures.

<i>MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat</i> 1995 video game

MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat is a vehicle simulation game developed and published by Activision, released in 1995 as part of the MechWarrior series of video games in the BattleTech franchise. The game is set in 3057, and is played as a tactical simulation that incorporates aspects of real-time first-person combat and the physical simulation of the player's mech. It is a game recreation of the "Refusal War." The player can join one of the clans, Clan Jade Falcon or Clan Wolf while engaging in up to 32 missions.

<i>NHL 97</i> 1996 video game

NHL 97 is an ice hockey video game by EA Sports. It was released in 1996 and was the successor to NHL 96. It is the sixth installment of the NHL series and the first to be released on both PlayStation and Saturn. A Panasonic M2 version was in development and slated to be one of the launch titles for it, but never happened due to the cancellation of the system.

<i>NHL 98</i> 1997 video game

NHL 98 is an ice hockey video game developed by EA Canada. It was released in 1997 and was the successor to NHL 97. It was the last installment of the NHL series to be released on the SNES, Sega Genesis, or Sega Saturn. It is based on the 1997-98 NHL season.

<i>Amok</i> (video game) 1996 video game

Amok is a 1996 mech-themed action video game for Windows and Sega Saturn. Players guide a robot called "Slambird" through nine different scenarios to complete several objectives. The game was noted for its use of voxel-based graphics for its environments rather than the polygonal models which were standard at the time of its release. Developed by Lemon, Amok began as a technology demo for the Sega 32X, but was reworked for the Saturn after Sega discontinued support for the 32X.

<i>Madden NFL 97</i> 1996 American football video game

Madden NFL 97 is a football video game released in 1996. It was the first multiplatform Madden game released for the 32-bit consoles, being released on both the PlayStation and Sega Saturn. 16-bit versions were also made for the established Super NES and Genesis platforms, as well as a portable version for the Game Boy.

<i>Scorcher</i> (video game) 1996 video game

Scorcher is a futuristic racing video game by Danish developer Zyrinx, released in 1996 for the PC and in 1997 for the Sega Saturn. Originally announced under the name "Vertigo", the game focuses on special motorcycles that reach up to 450 km/h racing through dangerous tracks in a dystopian year 2021.

<i>NBA Live 97</i> 1996 basketball video game

NBA Live 97 is the third installment of the NBA Live video games series. The cover features Mitch Richmond of the Sacramento Kings. The game was developed by EA Sports and released in 1996. The MS-DOS, Sega Saturn and PlayStation versions featured polygonal models for the on-court players, thus marking it as the first 3D EA Sports Basketball sequel for the series. It was also the first NBA Live released for the Sega Saturn. The game received mostly positive reviews for its advanced graphics and wide array of available moves and plays, though the Saturn conversion was reviled for numerous technical deficiencies. NBA Live 97 is followed by NBA Live 98.

<i>Krazy Ivan</i> 1996 video game

Krazy Ivan is a mecha first-person shooter video game developed and published by Psygnosis. It was released for Windows, Sega Saturn and PlayStation in 1996.

<i>Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV: Wall of Fire</i> 1994 video game

Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV: Wall of Fire is the fourth in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms series of turn-based strategy games produced by Koei and based on the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV: Wall of Fire was the last game in the series to be released on the PC in the United States until Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI. This was also the last Romance of the Three Kingdoms game to be released on the SNES.

<i>Sega Worldwide Soccer 98</i> 1997 video game

Sega Worldwide Soccer '98, known in North America as simply Worldwide Soccer '98 and in Europe as Sega Worldwide Soccer '98 Club Edition, is a video game developed and published by Sega for the Sega Saturn in 1997 and Windows in 1998. It is the third game in its series, following Victory Goal and Sega Worldwide Soccer 97.

<i>P.T.O. II</i> 1993 video game

P.T.O. II, released as Teitoku no Ketsudan II (提督の決断II) in Japan, is a Koei strategy video game that depicts the conflict between the US and Japan during World War II. The video game is a sequel to P.T.O. It was originally released in 1993 for the NEC PC-9801 and had been ported to various platforms since, such as the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.

<i>Andretti Racing</i> 1996 racing video game

Andretti Racing is a video game developed by American studios High Score Productions and Stormfront Studios and published by EA Sports for the PlayStation and Sega Saturn in 1996, and for Windows in 1997. The game's title refers to legendary racing drivers Mario Andretti and Michael Andretti.

<i>Winning Post</i> Video game series

Winning Post is a thoroughbred horse racing simulation game series from Koei Tecmo debuting in 1993. The series is distinct from Koei's other horse-racing franchise, G1 Jockey, and Tecmo's Gallop Racer series. To date, the only version of the game to be released outside of Japan was the Sega Saturn port of Winning Post EX, released in North America as Winning Post. All of the other games have only been released in Japan.

<i>NBA Fastbreak 98</i> 1997 video game

NBA Fastbreak '98 is a basketball simulator released for the Sony PlayStation in 1997. It takes place during the 1997-98 National Basketball Association season. It was published by Midway Games and GT Interactive. Originally announced under the title "Hardwood Heroes", the game was released with minimal changes as NBA Action 98 on Sega Saturn and Microsoft Windows, published by Sega. Another version was being developed by Z-Axis for the Nintendo 64 under the title "NBA Fast Break 64", with a prospective November 1997 release, but it was cancelled.

<i>Gotha</i> (video game) 1995 strategy video game

Gotha: Ismailia Seneki is a 1995 turn-based strategy video game developed by Micronet and published by Sega exclusively in Japan for the Sega Saturn. The game was followed by the sequels Heir of Zendor: The Legend and The Land in 1996 and Soukuu no Tsubasa: Gotha World in 1997.

<i>NHL Powerplay 98</i> 1997 sports video game

NHL Powerplay 98 is a sports video game developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Virgin Interactive and Sega for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, and Sega Saturn in 1997. It is the sequel to NHL Powerplay '96; there was no "'97" entry in the NHL Powerplay series. After Virgin opted not to release the game for the Sega Saturn, Sega acquired the rights and published the Saturn version under the title NHL All-Star Hockey 98 so as to make it a continuation of Sega's own NHL All-Star Hockey series.

References

  1. ↑ "Software List (Released by Soft Licensees)". セガ 製品情報サイト (in Japanese). Sega. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Heir of Zendor". 1997-06-06. Archived from the original on 1997-06-06. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  3. ↑ https://psxdatacenter.com/games/J/G/SLPS-00422.html
  4. ↑ "File:HeirofZendor Saturn US Box Back.JPG". 24 August 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 "Heir of Zendor: Fight to Control the Future". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 90. Ziff Davis. January 1997. pp. 174–5.
  6. ↑ Edwards, Benj (February 28, 2017). "7 Retro Console Games Best Played With a Mouse". PCMag . International Data Group . Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 4 GameSpot staff (January 14, 1997). "Heir of Zendor Review". GameSpot . CBS Interactive . Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Heir of Zendor". Next Generation . No. 29. Imagine Media. May 1997. p. 152. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  9. 1 2 3 Bonehead (May 1997). "Saturn ProReview: Heir of Zendor: The Legend and The Land". GamePro . No. 104. International Data Group. p. 95. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.