Comix Zone
Windows - 1995
Also released on: Windows 3.x - Genesis
Description of Comix Zone
One of the most underrated platform conversions of all time and one of the least known SEGA games, Comix Zone is an innovative platform game that turns the typical side-scrolling format into a cool interactive comic book, where each scene is a panel.
In contrast to mundane hero-saves-the-world plot of countless other platform games, the story in Comix Zone is unique, and fits in perfectly with the game's presentation. You are comic book artist Sketch Turner, who is sucked into his own comic book world and must fight numerous baddies to escape back to the real world.
While Comix Zone is in many ways a typical punch-everyone-in-sight-and-move-to-next-screen platform game, the innovative comic-book style presentation sets it above and beyond other games of this ilk. Word balloons appear when Sketch talks to someone, and once he knocks down an end-level "boss," he'll leap out of the page and back down into the next panel, or even shortcut to the panels below. This inside / outside dichotomy of a comic book is used to excellent results. For example, Sketch can rip loose chunks of the page itself (i.e. where he is in) to make deadly paper airplanes. He can also punch baddies through the ink boundaries of a panel. These effects greatly enhance the atmosphere, and each new level comes with surprising new effects.
Fans of the Commodore 64 classic Dan Dare (based on the British comic hero) will immediatley recognize Comix Zone as being a true spiritual descendant, and a great one at that. The only downsides I can think of are: a) the game is a tad too short, and b) it lacks any save feature of any kind-- a curious absence inherited from the console version that should have been fixed.
Still, Comix Zone is well worth the time for fans of superheroes comics, and platform fans in general. Despite its shorter-than-average length, the game offers multiple paths (via different panels you can go to) so that the replay value is somewhat high.
With innovative concepts, smooth controls, and vibrant graphics, Comix Zone is a must-have. Two thumbs up!
Review By HOTUD
External links
Comments and reviews
Lehnemann 2023-04-22 0 point
There's a way to make it work: the information about putting in the System32 was quite right... if you are running a 32-bit Windows. For a 64-bit Windows, like windows 10 and 11, the file should be put in the C:\Windows\SysWOW64 directory.
But the game has another problem... it hangs after a few minutes of play. I search a little and They say that It is a sound problem, turn it off fix it.
I didn't try running with DXwnd though...
CrostDaergon 2023-03-07 0 point Windows version
The "buy on Steam" page redirects to the Genesis version. The best version perhaps but not the one we're talking about here.
pc gamer83 2020-11-16 3 points Windows version
wow cant believe it's as far as from '95, it was a nice game
RFS 2017-03-27 -1 point
This game is for Win95 if you want to run this do it with WinE (windows emulator)
Ben 2016-06-25 -1 point
Can't get the game to work. It wants WinG32.dll in the System 32 dir, so I moved it there, then it complained WinG32.dll wasn't on my computer. So I made a copy and had it both in the install folder AND in Sys 32, but then it just told me the file is in the wrong place again. Has anyone got this game to run?
It won't run in Dosbox either.
Juggernaut 2014-06-27 0 point Windows version
I tries running comix.exe on the dosbox. received error: This program cannot be run in DOS mode. I guess it is a windows exe and not a dos exe. Anybody can think of a workaround? I'll probably install this on my PC and then run the installed game file through dosbox.
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Buy Comix Zone
Comix Zone is available for a small price on the following website, and is no longer abandonware. You can read our online store guide.
Other Releases
Comix Zone was also released on the following systems:
Windows 3.x
- Year: 1995
- Publisher: SEGA Enterprises Ltd.
- Developer: Sega Technical Institute
Genesis
- Year: 1995
- Publisher: SEGA Enterprises Ltd., SEGA of America, Inc., Tec Toy Indústria de Brinquedos S.A.
- Developer: Sega Technical Institute
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