Remembering Fortified Zone: A Classic Game Boy Commando Duo
Step back in time to the early days of Nintendo's iconic handheld, the Game Boy. Amidst the Tetris craze and Super Mario Land adventures, a different kind of mission awaited players: infiltrating enemy territory in the overhead action title, Fortified Zone. Released by Jaleco in 1991, this game offered a unique twist on the commando genre, letting you switch between two distinct characters on the fly.
For many, Fortified Zone was a memorable, if sometimes frustrating, part of their Game Boy library. It threw you into a hostile base, tasking you with navigating labyrinthine corridors, collecting keys, and taking down foes with simple, directional shooting.
Meet the Duo: Masato and Mizuki
One of the most distinctive features of Fortified Zone was the ability to swap between two protagonists: the male commando Masato and the female agent Mizuki. This wasn't just a cosmetic choice; they each brought different skills to the mission:
- Masato: Your go-to for firepower. He could utilize special weapons found throughout levels, adding some punch beyond the standard machine gun.
- Mizuki: The agile operative. Her unique ability was a jump, allowing access to areas Masato couldn't reach.
The idea was to use their abilities in tandem to overcome obstacles. Need to grab an item on a ledge? Switch to Mizuki and jump. Facing a tough group of enemies? Maybe Masato's special weapon is the answer. While the execution could sometimes feel clunky, the concept of a two-person infiltration team on a tiny Game Boy screen was genuinely cool for its time.
Gameplay: Simple Controls, Complex Challenges
Fortified Zone adopted a top-down perspective, similar in view to early Metal Gear titles, though its gameplay was purely action-focused rather than stealth. Movement was straightforward, and shooting was limited to the four cardinal directions (up, down, left, or right) – no diagonal shots here!
Levels were designed as interconnected rooms and passages, often requiring you to find keys to unlock doors and progress. You'd encounter various hazards, from ground spikes to moving floors, and even need to flip switches to turn on lights in dark areas.
However, like many games of the era, Fortified Zone came with its share of quirks and frustrations that retro gamers fondly (or not so fondly) remember:
- Hit Detection: Sometimes, bullets seemed to miss enemies they clearly should have hit, or vice-versa.
- Low Health: Both characters had minimal health bars, making encounters risky.
- The Death Penalty: Losing a character was permanent for that level. If your second character fell, you were sent all the way back to the beginning of the stage, potentially undoing significant progress. This could be particularly brutal in later, longer levels.
- Limited Shooting: The lack of diagonal fire sometimes made lining up shots against certain enemies or bosses tricky.
These elements combined to create a challenging experience that demanded patience and careful movement, often leading to moments of triumph mixed with bouts of controller-gripping frustration.
Enemies and Encounters
As you delved deeper into the enemy base, the variety of foes increased. You'd face standard soldiers, turrets, and even some more unusual adversaries like bats or unique mini-bosses, including a memorable giant crab. Boss fights were often puzzles in themselves, requiring you to figure out patterns while wrestling with the game's mechanics, like the infamous Level 2 boss on a moving platform.
The Verdict: Is Fortified Zone Worth Revisiting?
Looking back at Fortified Zone, it's clear it wasn't a perfect game. Its technical limitations and sometimes unforgiving design could make it a tough play. Yet, there's a certain charm to its simplicity and the unique character-switching mechanic.
For fans of early Game Boy titles or those curious about the roots of handheld action games, Fortified Zone offers an interesting glimpse into the past. It's a game that embodies the era's mix of innovation and technical constraint. While perhaps not an all-time classic, it holds a spot in the hearts of some retro enthusiasts who navigated its challenging levels with Masato and Mizuki.
If you're feeling nostalgic, you might find ways to revisit this title through emulation or potentially on retro-focused platforms, experiencing its particular brand of handheld commando action for yourself.
Quick Q&A
- What platform is Fortified Zone on? Fortified Zone was originally released for the Nintendo Game Boy.
- Can you play as both characters? Yes, you can switch between Masato and Mizuki at almost any time using the Select button.
- Is Fortified Zone a hard game? Due to factors like low health, sometimes inconsistent hit detection, and a harsh death penalty (restarting the level if both characters die), many players found Fortified Zone quite challenging.
