The MZ-1200 is a continuation of the MZ-80K series, following the MZ-80K2E and proceeding the MZ-700. A similar model was released in the western world as the MZ-80A. It has double the RAM (now 64KB) and a much more standard-looking keyboard. Interestingly, it's not necessarily a better keyboard. It still has the same problems that the MZ-80K2 has, no real number pad, and you have to type at a controlled pace or it will drop input.

It was a handsome machine when it was brand new, and somehow, 41 years have been very kind to this machine, it still looks all but new to my eye, but judge for yourself.

One thing that pushed me on this one as opposed to finding a cheaper one was the inclusion of the original manuals and tapes. The Owner's Manual is still in pretty decent shape but has definitely seen better days, with a bit of discoloration and warping. The BASIC Manual is in overall great shape still. The tapes are... as good as they need to be, I guess? Pretty sure they never came with covers so I guess this is about as good as they get?

A lot of these manual sets seem to take a serious tone in the owner's manual but have a lighter feeling in the BASIC reference, perhaps to keep readers engaged.

How about some MZ-1200 gaming? There are a lot of games. Perhaps it is the most compatible of these three systems because while the MZ-1200 software can be run on the MZ-700, there's no guarantee that the necessary keys exist on the MZ-700 keyboard. In my experience, it's been no problem to run MZ-700 games on the MZ-1200, although if the game depends on color, it might be a challenge.

Here are a few screenshots from Balloon Bomber, a budget but entirely decent title based on the unique concept of shooting things. Avoiding the dropping bombs is better than not, but if you expect to get far in the game, you had better shoot them, at least the ones in the middle of the screen, because detonated bombs restrict your movement due to the holes they leave in the ground. I no longer have the tape, but I think this was originally programmed for the MZ-80K2.

Next are Pac-Man and Galaxian, not knock-offs but officially ported games. But only a couple of screenshots here because they have their own game introductions impending.