Jeremy Parish

Segaiden #050: Zillion & Sega Challenge/Team Sega (Patreon)

Published:

2023-05-10 11:56:24

Imported:

2026-06

Tags:

Sega Visions Zillion light phaser master system sega segaiden

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Content

We hit the big 5-0 this week with a breakout title for the Master System: Zillion, a proper, 1987-style exploratory action-platform-combat game that hints at—yes—the metroidvania genre to come in the years ahead. This is not, however, the Metroid equivalent that people like to paint it as; it instead takes its inspiration from Atari. Well, Epyx, before Atari devoured and destroyed them.

Also this week, I realized it's time to start engaging with Sega's own internal marketing efforts, so a new recurring segment makes its debut here to touch on the company's promotional newsletters and magazines.

Files

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Holstered and bolstered: Zillion & Sega Challenge | Segaiden #050

This week brings us to our 50th (!) episode of Segaiden, which suggests that the "gaiden" part of the name has become a lie. And what more fitting subject with which to violate this semantic sanctity than with Zillion, the game whose title and license implies it should make use of the Light Phaser—but which doesn't? Yes, there is no truth in advertising when it comes to video games. Pretty good game, though, if unusually derivative of someone else's work. Sega usually works more discreetly with their clean room reverse-engineering. Speaking of advertising, this episode also bring us to parity with NES Works as we begin to take into consideration Sega's promotional efforts with its own in-house promotional newsletter (Sega Challenge/Team Sega) that would eventually evolve into a proper magazine (Sega Visions). Production notes: Why watch when you can read? Check out the massive hardcover print editions of NES Works, Super NES Works, and Virtual Boy works, available now at Limited Run Games (https://limitedrungames.com/collections/books)! Look forward to SG-1000 Works: Segaiden Vol. I, due July 2023. Video Works is funded via Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/gamespite) — support the show and get access to every episode up to two weeks in advance of its YouTube debut! Plus, exclusive podcasts, eBooks, and more! Master System footage captured from U.S. carts running through a cart adapter on Sega Mark III hardware with FM Sound Unit and RGB bypass modification by iFixRetro. Most arcade and Light Phaser footage captured from MiSTer, with thanks to MiSTerAddOns. Video upscaled to 720 with xRGB Mini Framemeister. RGB cables courtesy of StoneAgeGamer.com and Allie Bellrose.