Zillion II: The Tri Formation
Zillion II: The Tri Formation — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is Zillion II: The Tri Formation on?
- Zillion II: The Tri Formation was released on Sega Master System/Mark III.
- When did Zillion II: The Tri Formation release?
- Zillion II: The Tri Formation was first released on December 13, 1987.
About Zillion II: The Tri Formation
They're at it again. The dreaded Norsa Empire is back... and stronger than ever before. This time they won't make any mistakes. Others have tried to stop them and all have failed. The evil Baron Ricks knows you are coming. And it's a trap! But you're the galaxy's last hope. Can you do what's never been done before?
Summary via IGDB.
Zillion II: The Tri Formation on Wikipedia
Zillion II: The Tri Formation, known as Tri Formation in Japan, is a horizontal platform video game created in 1987 by Sega and released on the Master System. It is a sequel to the game Zillion.
Source: Wikipedia (text under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Game details
- Developer
- Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
- Publisher
- Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
- Game modes
- Single player
- Themes
- Action, Science fiction
Details via IGDB.
Reception
Every version compared
Prices, contemporary reception and the studio credited for each release
| Platform | Year | Loose | Complete | Sealed | Period reviews | Fake risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sega Master System | 1988 | $12 | $33 | $89 | 2 reviews | Low (look-alike) |
Also released on: Sega Master System/Mark III. We haven’t priced or authenticated that version yet.
Collector value & authenticity
Sega Master System · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-28
Other releases and variants
| Release | Loose | Complete | Sealed |
|---|---|---|---|
| European (PAL) release | $17 | $39 | — |
| Japanese release (Tri Formation) | $30 | $53 | $54 |
How often it sells
- Loose: about once a month
- Complete: about 2 times a month
- Sealed: about once a year
Prices marked “few sales” rest on about one recorded sale a year, so treat them as a rough guide: the next copy could sell well above or below. Expect to wait for one to come up.
Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-10-28.
Price over time
- Loose
- Complete
A loose copy sold for about $3.50 in Jul 2009, $16.50 five years ago, and $11.66 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2010 | $5.50 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $2.00 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $7.99 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $7.20 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $6.27 | $14.90 |
| Jan 2015 | $9.99 | $13.00 |
| Jan 2016 | $8.07 | $14.95 |
| Jan 2017 | $17.50 | $18.79 |
| Jan 2018 | $9.05 | $19.99 |
| Jan 2019 | $12.51 | $17.08 |
| Jan 2020 | $9.69 | $19.95 |
| Jan 2021 | $15.20 | $23 |
| Jan 2022 | $17.85 | $25 |
| Jan 2023 | $12.99 | $26 |
| Jan 2024 | $11.81 | $25 |
| Jan 2025 | $10.26 | $25 |
| Jan 2026 | $15.00 | $33 |
| Oct 2026 | $11.66 | $33 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date |
|---|---|
| North America | July 1988 |
| Europe / PAL | August 1988 |
| Japan | 13 December 1987 |
- Region
- NA+EU+JP
- Released
- 1988
- Authenticity
- Low
A sequel to Zillion with a gun that became a design model for the Light Phaser, at an ordinary price.
Zillion II: The Tri Formation is a horizontal platform game created by Sega in 1987 as a sequel to Zillion. It reached Japan on December 13, 1987 as Tri Formation, North America in July 1988 and Europe in August 1988. Computer Entertainer listed it among Sega's titles to watch for in 1988.
As in the first game, the hero JJ carries a gun, which was used as a design model for the Master System's Light Phaser.
What the press said at the time
| Mean Machines Games Guide | May 1992 | OVERALL 74% |
| Sega Pro Issue 23 | September 1993 | 85% |
“As a fast-action shooting game, ZILLION II is a good one, but we missed the strategic elements of the first game. Those who liked ZILLION primarily for its strategy/adventure emphasis may not enjoy thc sequel as much as the original.”
“Similar to Zillion, but with loads of add-on weapons, an added jet-bike sequence and some nifty beat 'em up action.”
“You’ll háve great difficulty telling the difference between the 16-bit originál and this version. Great stuff, but there are some dodgy collisions.”
Before you buy
Three releases exist: the US cart, the European cart and the Japanese cart. The European cart costs more than the US one, both loose and complete. The Japanese cart costs much more still loose, and a good deal more complete, and it is a different, smaller shape that does not fit a Western console without an adapter. The US cart is below the typical price for its year, and the look-alike risk is low. Check the manual is there on a complete copy.
Zillion II: The Tri Formation screenshots
Watch on YouTube
Listings on The Game Traders
No active listings for Zillion II: The Tri Formation yet.
Be the first to list →Buyers looking for this
No active want ads for Zillion II: The Tri Formation yet.
Post a want ad →More games like Zillion II: The Tri Formation
Latest news mentioning Zillion II: The Tri Formation
No recent news mentions in our 30-day feed window.