Game Over II

{{Infobox video game

|image = Game Over II Cover.jpg

|image_size = 256px

|caption = Cover art by Luis Royo

|developer = Dinamic Software

|publisher = Dinamic Software

|designer = Carlos Abril
Javier Cubedo

|artist = Luis Royo

|series = Game Over

|released = {{vgrelease|EU|1987}}

|genre = Scrolling shooter, platform

|modes = Single-player

|platforms = ZX Spectrum, MSX, IBM PC, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, Atari ST

}}

Game Over II (known as Phantis in Spain) is a combination scrolling shooter and platform game developed and published by Dinamic Software in 1987 for the ZX Spectrum, MSX, MS-DOS, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and Atari ST.

Gameplay

Game Over II is a mix between a scrolling shooter (similar to R-Type) and a platform game (similar to Turrican). There are four "phases" with six levels each. Some versions of the game were split into two parts due to size restrictions.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}

Plot

In the original Spanish version (Phantis), the player controls Commander Serena on a mission to rescue her expedition partner captured on Moon 4 of the SOTPOK System, better known as the world of Phantis. The English-language version (Game Over II) takes place immediately after the events of Game Over, where Arkos, the hero of the rebellion, is nowhere to be found. After it has been discovered that he has been imprisoned on the jail planet Phantis by the heirs of the empress Gremla, Major Locke is chosen for the rescue mission. Other than the graphical change of a female player character to a male player character, the game itself is largely identical in both versions.

Release

Although originally released as an independent game under the title Phantis, it was retitled as a sequel to Game Over. The Atari ST version was never published in Spain and only exists with the Game Over II title. The game's promotion included an appearance of a model dressed up as Queen Gremla at the trade convention PC Show '88.{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/MSXClub/MSX%20Club%2046#page/n5/mode/2up/|title=MSX Club|access-date=26 November 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/microhobby-magazine-179.pdf|title=MicroHobby Magazine Issue 179|publisher=|via=Internet Archive}}

Reception

The game was given generally mediocre reviews. It received the scores of 69% from Amstrad Action,{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/amstrad-action-038/Amstrad_Action_038#page/n39/mode/1up/|title=Amstrad Action Issue 038|access-date=26 November 2014}} 55% from Commodore User,{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/commodore-user-magazine-63|title=Commodore User Magazine Issue 63|date=1 December 1988|publisher=|via=Internet Archive}} 60-63% from The Games Machine,{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/thegamesmachine-12/TheGamesMachine_12_Nov_1988#page/n63/|title=The Games Machine Magazine Issue 12|date=November 1988 |access-date=26 November 2014}} and 62% from Sinclair User.{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/sinclair-user-magazine-080/SinclairUser_080_Nov_1988#page/n49/mode/2up/|title=Sinclair User Magazine Issue 080|date=November 1988 |access-date=26 November 2014}} Amstrad Computer User gave it a 17/20.{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/AmstradComputerUser200786|title=Amstrad Computer User 01-90 (Aug 84 - May 92)|publisher=|via=Internet Archive}}

Legacy

A spiritual successor to Phantis featuring a modern take of the characters and setting, titled Ultionus: A Tale of Petty Revenge, was released in 2014.{{cite web | url=https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/Ultionus-A-Tale-of-Petty-Revenge-2193155.html | title=Ultionus: A Tale of Petty Revenge}}{{cite web | url=https://www.moddb.com/games/ultionus-tale-of-petty-revenge/reviews/532318 | title=Review by wolfman11983 - Ultionus: A Tale of Petty Revenge | date=12 December 2013}}{{cite web | url=https://darkfalzx.itch.io/ultionus | title=Ultionus: A Tale of Petty Revenge by darkfalzx | last=Bado | first=Andrew | website=itch.io | access-date=2 August 2020}}{{cite web | url=https://mashthosebuttons.com/review/ultionus-a-tale-of-petty-revenge-review/ | title=Ultionus: A Tale of Petty Revenge [Review] | date=27 December 2013}}