The Masked Rider: Kamen Rider ZO

Last updated
The Masked Rider: Kamen Rider ZO
Sega CD The Masked Rider - Kamen Rider ZO cover art.jpg
North American cover art
Developer(s) Telenet Japan
Publisher(s)
Director(s) Keita Amemiya
Producer(s) Eric Quakenbush
Hori Nagafumi
Satoshi Kubo
Artist(s) Takahashi Akihiko
Writer(s) Merle Kessler
Noboru Sugimura
Shotaro Ishinomori
Composer(s) Kawamura Eiji
Platform(s) Sega CD
Release
Genre(s) Interactive movie
Mode(s) Single-player

The Masked Rider: Kamen Rider ZO [a] is a video game developed by Telenet Japan and published by Toei Video in Japan and Sega in North America for the Sega CD.

Contents

Gameplay

The Masked Rider: Kamen Rider ZO uses video footage ported from the film Kamen Rider ZO . [3] It is an Interactive film game.

Development and release

The Masked Rider: Kamen Rider ZO was developed by Telnet Japan (also known as Wolf Team) as part of the Sega CD TruVideo line of interactive film games. [4] It is an adaptation of the 1993 movie of the same name, which itself was the 13th iteration of the long-running Kamen Rider media franchise from Toei Company. [5] The Masked Rider contains extra footage that was either cut from the original 48-minute feature or shot specifically for the adaptation. [6] The game was released in Japan by Toei on May 13, 1994. [1] A North American version featuring English-dubbed voice acting and translated text was published by Sega around November 1994. [2] [7]

Reception

Review scores for The Masked Rider were very mixed. Critics disagreed on the overall quality of the game due to its reliance on full-motion video and its limited playability as an interactive movie. Many writers compared it to the Sega CD version of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, another interactive movie based on Super Sentai . Chris Bieniek of the magazine VideoGames was complimentary of the monster footage and of Sega of America's willingness to release a localized version of the Kamen Rider adaptation for the franchise's North America fanbase. However, he stated that like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, The Masked Rider was not as much fun to play as it was to watch. [11] The Brazilian magazines VideoGame and Gamers were both highly complimentary of its visuals and sound though the latter publication subtracted praise for the game's lack of challenge. [13] [15] Likewise, GamePro , Sega Pro , and AllGame all commended its presentation as an FMV game but felt it lacked replay value due to its cinematic structure. [5] [8] [10]

Laurie Yates of Electronic Games conversely criticized its FMV sequences as "visually tired and fuzzy" but similarly concluded that that this aspect was "sloppy and haphazard for a piece of software that is more movie than game." [12] Next Generation proclaimed, "It's guy-in-rubber suit action at the "Ultraman" level which has a certain appeal to some folks I know. But as a game, it's almost worthless." [3] The French magazine Joypad found the costumes cheesy, the special effects tasteless, and its stupidity proportional to its fun factor. The reviewer assumed the game would be a hit in Japan and that it would never be released in Europe. [14]

Notes

  1. ↑ Also known as Kamen Rider ZO (Japanese: 仮面ライダーZO, Hepburn: Kamen Raidā ZO) in Japan.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sega CD</span> Video game console add-on

The Sega CD, known as Mega-CD in most regions outside North America and Brazil, is a CD-ROM accessory and format for the Sega Genesis produced by Sega as part of the fourth generation of video game consoles. Originally released in November 1991, it came to North America in late 1992, and the rest of the world in 1993. The Sega CD plays CD-based games and adds hardware functionality such as a faster CPU and a custom graphics chip for enhanced sprite scaling and rotation. It can also play audio CDs and CD+G discs.

Full-motion video (FMV) is a video game narration technique that relies upon pre-recorded video files to display action in the game. While many games feature FMVs as a way to present information during cutscenes, games that are primarily presented through FMVs are referred to as full-motion video games or interactive movies.

<i>Night Trap</i> 1992 interactive movie

Night Trap is a 1992 interactive movie developed by Digital Pictures and published by Sega for the Sega CD. Presented primarily through full-motion video (FMV), Night Trap has the player observe teenage girls having a sleepover visiting a house which, unbeknownst to them, is infested with vampires. The player watches live surveillance footage and triggers traps to capture anyone endangering the girls. The player can switch between different cameras to keep watch over the girls and eavesdrop on conversations to follow the story and listen for clues.

<i>Dr. Robotniks Mean Bean Machine</i> 1993 video game

Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine is a falling block puzzle game developed by Compile and published by Sega. It was released for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive in North America and Europe in November 1993, and ported to the Game Gear in 1993 and Master System in 1994.

<i>Masked Rider</i> (TV series) 1995 multi-national TV series or program

Masked Rider is an American live-action superhero television series produced by Saban Entertainment and Toei Company, Ltd. It is an American adaptation of the 1988 Japanese television series Kamen Rider Black RX, It aired on Fox as part of the Fox Kids program block from September 16, 1995, to August 31, 1996, and then in syndication from September 9, 1996, to August 1997.

<i>Corpse Killer</i> 1994 video game

Corpse Killer is a horror-themed rail shooter developed and published by Digital Pictures for the Sega CD, Sega CD 32X, 3DO, Sega Saturn, Windows 95 and Macintosh computers. An interactive variation on the zombie film genre, it utilizes live-action full motion video in a format similar to other games developed by Digital Pictures. Reviews for the game were mixed, generally criticizing the repetitive gameplay and low video quality, though many reviewers enjoyed the campy nature of the cutscenes. Corpse Killer was the first CD game released for the Sega 32X. It was later remastered for Steam, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch.

<i>Kamen Rider ZO</i> 1993 Japanese film

Kamen Rider ZO, translated Masked Rider ZO, is a 1993 Japanese tokusatsu biopunk superhero movie produced by the Toei Company as part of their Kamen Rider Series. Directed by Keita Amemiya, it was the first joint production of Toei and Bandai. A Sega CD interactive movie was released for ZO in 1994, and was distributed in the United States as The Masked Rider: Kamen Rider ZO.

<i>Rad Mobile</i> 1991 video game

Rad Mobile is a racing arcade game developed by Sega AM3 and published by Sega. It was first published in Japan in October 1990, followed by an international release for arcades in February 1991. Rad Mobile was Sega's first 32-bit game, using Sega's System 32 arcade system board. It was also the first ever appearance of Sonic the Hedgehog, who appears as an ornament hanging from the driver's rearview mirror.

<i>Light Crusader</i> 1995 RPG video game

Light Crusader is an action-adventure game developed by Treasure and published by Sega for their Sega Genesis console in 1995. The game was included in the Sega Genesis Classics collections on Steam and other platforms in 2011. It was also included on the Sega Genesis Mini in North America and Sega Mega Drive Mini in PAL regions.

<i>Time Gal</i> 1992 interactive movie video game

Time Gal is an interactive movie video game developed and published by Taito and Toei Company, and originally released as a laserdisc game in Japan for the arcades in 1985. It is an action game which uses full motion video (FMV) to display the on-screen action. The player must correctly choose the on-screen character's actions to progress the story. The pre-recorded animation for the game was produced by Toei Company.

<i>Mighty Morphin Power Rangers</i> (Sega CD video game) 1994 video game

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is a video game for the Sega CD console. It was produced by Sega TruVideo and released by Sega in North America in 1994 and then Europe a year later. The game consists mostly of footage from nine episodes of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers TV series, which featured footage from Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger.

<i>Supreme Warrior</i> 1994 video game

Supreme Warrior is a full-motion video (FMV) beat 'em up game developed by Digital Pictures. It was released for the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer and Sega CD in November 1994 in North America and in early 1995 in Europe, with subsequent releases in 1995 for the 32X, Macintosh, and Windows. The game is themed as a kung fu film where the player has to fight off opponents to protect half of a magical mask.

<i>Ninja Hayate</i> 1984 video game

Ninja Hayate (忍者ハヤテ) is a 1984 laserdisc video game first developed and released by Taito and Malone Films for arcades in Japan and the United States. The game was later ported to the Sega CD video game console as Revenge of the Ninja in 1994.

<i>Jurassic Park</i> (Sega CD video game) 1994 video game

Jurassic Park is a 1994 point-and-click adventure game developed and published by Sega for the Sega CD. The video game is based on the 1993 film of the same name, and includes elements from Michael Crichton's 1990 novel Jurassic Park, which the film is based upon.

<i>Midnight Raiders</i> 1994 video game

Midnight Raiders is a live-action, full-motion video game developed by American studio Stargate Productions and published by Sega for the Sega CD in North America in 1994 and PAL regions in 1995.

<i>Yu Yu Hakusho Makyō Tōitsusen</i> 1994 video game

Yu Yu Hakusho Makyō Tōitsusen is a 1994 fighting game developed by Treasure and published by Sega for the Mega Drive. It is based on the manga series Yu Yu Hakusho by Yoshihiro Togashi. The plot follows the protagonist Yusuke Urameshi, who is tasked by the ruler of the afterlife with solving detective-style cases involving both humans and demons threatening the living world. The story begins to focus heavily on martial arts battles as it progresses.

<i>The Terminator</i> (Sega CD video game) 1993 video game

The Terminator is a 1993 platform shoot 'em up game developed and published by Virgin Games for the Sega CD. It is based on the 1984 film of the same name, and includes full motion video from the film. The game was praised for its graphics and its soundtrack performed by Tommy Tallarico, although the film footage was considered low quality. The gameplay also received some criticism.

<i>Power Strike II</i> (Game Gear video game) 1993 video game

Power Strike II is a 1993 vertically scrolling shooter video game developed by Compile and published by Sega for the Game Gear. An entry in the Aleste series, it is a follow-up to GG Aleste (1991). The game follows Alice Waizen piloting the Lance Bird space fighter craft to stop an unknown parasitic object attached to the armored defense satellite Algo. Its gameplay is similar to the previous Aleste entry on Game Gear, with the player fighting enemies and bosses, while avoiding collision with their projectiles and other obstacles.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Beep! MegaDrive staff (June 1994). "Be Mega Dog Race" (PDF). Beep! MegaDrive (in Japanese). SB Creative. p. 18.
  2. 1 2 EGM staff (December 1994). "Fact File: Masked Rider". Electronic Gaming Monthly . Vol. 7, no. 11. Sendai Publishing. pp. 306–7. ISSN   1058-918X.
  3. 1 2 3 Next Generation staff (January 1995). "Finals". Next Generation . No. 1. Imagine Media. p. 99. ISSN   1078-9693.
  4. ↑ Sega Visions staff (December 1994). "Sneak Peek: The Masked Rider: Kamen Rider ZO". Sega Visions . No. 22. Infotainment World. p. 54. OCLC   794192137.
  5. 1 2 3 Hill, Mark (August 1994). "Review: Masked Rider ZO". Sega Pro . No. 35. Paragon Publishing. p. 53. ISSN   0964-2641.
  6. ↑ Horvath, George (November 29, 2010). "Masked Rider: Kamen Rider ZO". Sega-16.com. Archived from the original on April 12, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  7. ↑ Game Players staff (December 1994). "First Glimpse: Masked Rider". Game Players . No. 66. Imagine Media. p. 24. ISSN   1087-2779.
  8. 1 2 Baker, Christopher Michael (2014). "Review: The Masked Rider: Kamen Rider ZO". AllGame . Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  9. ↑ Famitsu staff (May 20, 1994). "NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW". Famitsu (in Japanese). No. 285. ASCII Corporation. p. 38.
  10. 1 2 Uggs the Bugg (February 1995). "ProReview: The Masked Rider: Kamen Rider ZO". GamePro . No. 67. IDG. p. 54. ISSN   1042-8658.
  11. 1 2 Bieniek, Chris (February 1995). "Power Reviews: The Masked Rider: Kamen Rider ZO". VideoGames: The Ultimate Gaming Magazine . No. 73. Larry Flynt Publications. p. 63. ISSN   1059-2938.
  12. 1 2 Yates, Laurie (March 1995). "Reviews: Masked Rider". Electronic Games . Vol. 3, no. 6. Decker Publications. p. 62. ISSN   0730-6687.
  13. 1 2 Gamers (1995). "Masked Rider: Kamen Rider ZO". Gamers (in Portuguese). No. 5. Editora Escala. pp. 32–3.
  14. 1 2 Joypad staff (July 1994). "Import: Masked Rider ZO". Joypad . No. 33. Yellow Media. p. 39. ISSN   1163-586X.
  15. 1 2 VideoGame staff (April 1995). "Review: The Masked Rider: Kamen Rider ZO". VideoGame (in Portuguese). No. 48. Editora Sigla. p. 8.
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.