An excellent second Fantasy Zone entry that some prefer to the original. The pastel universe is as charming as ever with tighter level design. A shooter that has aged beautifully.
Your verdict
Category
Shooter1 player3+
Description
Second Fantasy Zone featuring Opa-Opa Jr. exploring new colorful zones with new bosses. Published by Sega, released in North America in 1990. Opa-Opa Jr. with new weapons and fantastic colorful zones and creative bosses. Second Fantasy Zone classic on Master System.
Fantasy Zone II review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
The visual novelty lies in the portals: each zone contains passages leading to sub-spaces, and the artwork has to make these openings identifiable without their blending into the floral setting. The solution runs through luminous frames and a permanently rotating animation, the only mobile element in otherwise motionless tableaux.
Each sub-space receives a variation on the theme of the zone it depends on, transposed and lightened by one voice, a device that tells the ear you are in an annexe rather than in a new place. Returning to the main level brings back the full version, and that breathing structures an exploration that would otherwise be hard to situate.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Opa-Opa's return enriches the formula with interconnected levels and better-stocked shops, without losing any of the pastel charm and multidirectional frenzy. Choosing weapons on the fly and tracking down secret passages adds a delightful layer of strategy. Colourful, generous and as welcoming as ever, this mischievous shooter charms from the very first shots.
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Short"
Technical info
💾0,15 MB📅01/01/1990
Published by Sega
Fantasy Zone II (Master System) price, value & rarity
The North American sequel to Fantasy Zone where Opa-Opa Jr. explores new colourful zones against new bosses, in Sega's cult horizontal shooter. Its desirability rests on the series' place in the console's visual imagination and its distribution across the North American market. Collectors seek this edition to complete the Fantasy Zone diptych and for the lasting value of a franchise emblematic of the Master System catalogue.
Is Fantasy Zone II still worth playing in 2026?
A direct sequel to Sega's cult shooter, Fantasy Zone II brings back Opa-Opa Jr. in new pastel zones full of adorable enemies and inventive bosses, adding a portal system linking sub zones. The formula keeps its enchanting visual charm, its weapon shop and its free scrolling, while expanding exploration and strategy. The result stays demanding but rewarding. For a retro shooter fan, a Fantasy Zone series fan or someone curious about the cute em up, the title keeps an intact visual sweetness and play pleasure.
