Fantasy Zone/Gameplay

Controls

 * Joystick: Use the joystick to control and direct Opa-Opa throughout the screen. You can move Opa-Opa in eight different directions.  As Opa-Opa moves around the screen, it will scroll to follow Opa-Opa and the action surrounding him.  Opa-Opa starts out moving at the slowest speed possible, but engine boosts can be purchased at the shop to improve his speed.
 * Fire: Press the fire button to utilize your primary air-to-air weapon. It starts out as a single shot and it can be upgraded for a limited time by purchasing alternate weapons at the shop.
 * Bomb: Press the bomb button to utilize your secondary air-to-ground weapon. It starts out as a single small bomb, but it can be upgraded for a limited number of uses by purchasing alternate bombs at the shop.
 * 1-2 Players: Press either button to begin a one or two player game.

Opa-Opa
Throughout the game, you are in control of Opa-Opa, the hero of the Fantasy Zone series. Opa-Opa can best be described as a sentient space craft. He has wings, and he also has feet which he normally tucks underneath himself like a bird, and only sticks out when he must walk around on the ground. Opa-Opa is extremely maneuverable and is capable of flying at very high speeds if equipped with expensive engines. Opa-Opa is very honorable, and only fights to correct injustices that occur throughout the galaxy. He fights against evil forces with two kinds of weapons; an air-to-air gun and an air-to-ground bomb. They both start out very simple, yet effective. Like his engine, they can be upgraded with purchases from the shops. In order to afford these purchases, Opa-Opa must be sure to collect coins that are dropped by defeated enemies. Opa-Opa's goal is to clear each level of all enemy generators distributed across each stage. After defeating all eight of them, the boss of the level appears to challenge Opa-Opa. If Opa-Opa defeats the boss, it will shatter in a rain of coins which he will have a limited amount of time to collect before being whisked off to the next stage. Opa-Opa does not have a high level of defense, and is defeated by one collision with an enemy or their bullets. If Opa-Opa loses a life, all of his upgrades are lost. If all of Opa-Opa's lives are lost, the game is over.

Cameos
Since the time of his introduction in 1986, Opa-Opa has become something of a mascot of Sega's, much like Sonic the Hedgehog. As a result, he has made cameo appearances in several games. Below is a thorough, yet incomplete list.
 * Opa-Opa appeared in the Japanese anime series called Zillion. The video-game Zillion that was based on this anime series was available on the Sega Master System console. This game also featured Opa-Opa, where it served as an item that boosted your character's abilities.
 * One of the downloadable contents for Sonic Adventure 2 on the Dreamcast using its own Internet homepage was a new Kart Racing track named Fantasy Zone, a nod to the series. Omochao was also playable for this race, driving an Opa-Opa-shaped kart (which was the first and probably last time Omochao was ever playable in any Sonic game).
 * One of the Gear in Sonic Riders is named the Opa-Opa, a reference to this game.
 * In the Dreamcast game Shenmue, several capsule toys can be collected, including the Opa-opa, shop balloon and the stage 3 boss.
 * In the arcade and Sega Master System versions of the game Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars, the goal of the second stage is to find Opa-Opa.
 * In the sound test screen for the Sega Master System adaptation of Quartet, Opa-opa can be seen flying horizontally across the top of the screen. You can also see Teddy Boy, Pit Pot and Alex Kidd in this screen as well.
 * Several of the enemies from Fantasy Zone II appear as attack waves for the final boss in the cult Dreamcast game Segagaga.
 * Intentionally making over one hundred strokes in the Sega Genesis game Arnold Palmer's Tournament Golf allows the player to play a short, one-screen-long version of Fantasy Zone as an Easter egg, albeit one which continually loops until the console is either reset or turned off. The Opa-Opa also appears as a cursor in some selection screens within the game.
 * Phantasy Star IV has a remix of "Pao-Pao" playing when a group of dancing girls come on a stage in the Hunters Guild in Aiedo.
 * In Phantasy Star Online, Opa-Opa is a rare mag.
 * In Phantasy Star Universe, Opa-Opa appears in one of the random attacks from the cast SUV "Ascension Gift".
 * In Phantasy Star Portable, Opa-Opa is a rare RCSM.
 * The game Space Harrier, also by Sega and released the previous year, supposedly takes place in "the Fantasy Zone" as well (Space Harrier begins the phrase "Welcome to the 'Fantasy Zone'! Get Ready!"). It includes the same bright pastel color scheme, although the game scrolls into the screen as opposed to horizontally.
 * In the arcade game Planet Harriers, Opa-Opa appears above the head of the killed player while being queried on whether to continue or not. Opa-Opa is also a playable character after enabling a certain code at the character select screen.
 * Opa-Opa appears to be a playable character in Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing.