Snail Maze
Encyclopedia
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
, part of the Sega Master System
Sega Master System
The is a third-generation video game console that was manufactured and released by Sega in 1985 in Japan , 1986 in North America and 1987 in Europe....
. Instead of being released on a cartridge, it was built into the system's BIOS
BIOS
In IBM PC compatible computers, the basic input/output system , also known as the System BIOS or ROM BIOS , is a de facto standard defining a firmware interface....
and could be played by starting the system without a game cartridge inserted and holding Up and buttons 1 and 2 simultaneously. The later "Master System II" model did not include Snail Maze. Snail Maze was never released in cartridge or card format.
Gameplay
A very simple game, Snail Maze involves navigating a small orange snail with a yellow shell through a blue maze. A goal area is clearly marked, which players must attempt to reach within a time limit. Despite its relative simplicity compared to other games of its era, Snail Maze could be quite challenging. Subsequent levels reduce the time available, giving a progressively lower margin for error.Recent releases
Snail Maze fans have worked to keep the game from becoming an obscure footnote in video game history. For example, in 2004 a port of Snail Maze was made for the Japanese MSXMSX
MSX was the name of a standardized home computer architecture in the 1980s conceived by Kazuhiko Nishi, then Vice-president at Microsoft Japan and Director at ASCII Corporation...
computer platform. The port included enhanced graphics as well as a new title screen. A version of Snail Maze was included on the Coleco Sonic
Coleco Sonic
The Coleco Sonic is a handheld game console released in 2006 by Coleco, also marketed as PlayPal in Canada & United Kingdom and Pocket Gear in Europe. It features 20 built-in games from the Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear. All the games can be played either on the integrated 2.4" TFT LCD...
handheld system, created in 2006, as well.