PyroPlayers Magazine - PPM Reviews

3DO

Creature Shock

Virgin Interactive Argonaut Soft

Shooter Release: March 1996
Age Rating: Teen Challenge: Intermediate

Amid humanity's effort to colonize the galaxy, the Amazon spaceship mysteriously disappears. This, the baseline plot of Creature Shock, is presented to the audience in superb, 3-D rendered, cinematic form. The opening FMV cutscenes transition to a track-based shooting spree in the darkness of space - reminiscent of Solar Eclipse with refined, sprite-based graphics. But, once the player character is tasked with blasting aliens on the surface of an asteroid, the gameplay style shifts dramatically to a point-and-click gallery shooter. The cursor in these scenes move at a snail's pace, dragging down the speed of CS to dreadful lows. Power-ups are sparse, and the monster thrashing becomes routine within minutes. Though it sports flashy visuals, players are better off avoiding this disc and spending their time elsewhere.

3DO

Lost Eden

Virgin Interactive Cryo

Adventure Release: November 1995
Age Rating: All Challenge: Intermediate

Combining stellar animated segments with a collection of fantastic puzzles to work out, Lost Eden is a noteworthy port for 3DO. If you cannot run this on your PC, this version is certainly the way to go. Cryo imagined a totally unique setting for this adventure game, a fantasy world where humans live alongside intelligent dinosaurs. Your mission is to stop an evil, conquering Tyrannosaurus from enslaving the world, doing so step-by-step over the course of several smaller sequences. The computer-generated world is fantastic, complete with brilliant, pre-rendered scenery, rich backgrounds, and a plethora of well-done FMV cinemas. We thoroughly commend the ethereal musical score as well. Lost Eden's interface, a rotating pointer cube, is pleasant enough to use as a mouse-substitute.

3DO

PO'ed

3DO Co. Studio 3DO

3-D Shooter Release: November 1995
Age Rating: Mature Challenge: Inter.

Taking on the role of an outer space astro-janitor, it's your job to clean up a downtrodden metropolis of alien origin. But, wait! Your crew has been annihilated and the inhabitants are out for blood! In this Doom-type shooting bonanza, you will explore forty or so areas set in this bleak, futuristic cityscape all while blasting an intensively aggressive swarm of baddies. The makers of POed added in a nifty flight mechanic, allowing you to rise and glide in any direction as opposed to simple flat-surface running. Additionally, the varied assortment of weaponry is a welcome sight in a sea of similar-looking shooters. Graphically, it's a mixed bag. Scrolling is mostly smooth with the occasional jitter.

3DO

Killing Time

3DO Co. Studio 3DO

3-D Shooter Release: November 1995
Age Rating: Mature Challenge: Hard

Killing Time from Studio 3DO is a first-person half-shooter, half-adventure game that successfully demonstrates the distinct advantage CD-format has over carts: Scope and size. This spooky fare is based within a dilapidated and obviously haunted estate on an abandoned island, and inside leers a genuine mystery to unravel. Fend off all manner of mystical creatures and undead beings, including the dreaded zombie chefs, while collecting pieces of a lost soul. We went wild for the frightful atmosphere and solid game engine - accentuated by an intriguing plot. Movement and weapon aiming are slippery as all heck, though, artificially raising the difficulty and leading to some unfair hits.

3DO

Blade Force

3DO Co. Studio 3DO

3-D Shooter Release: October 1995
Age Rating: Teen Challenge: Intermediate

A nefarious street gang has taken over the futuristic city of Mega Grid. From the burgeoning 3DO Studio, Blade Force is a rocket-powered explosion-filled action game. You control a vigilante who uses a suped-up helicopter to bring to justice a cadre of ex-cons. Buzz your chopper around the texture-mapped landscape, destroying enemy base installations, snagging power-ups and ammo, and generally causing mayhem. Choose from the main machine or some handy missile attacks and fly 360-degrees in a handful of gigantic, open-air levels. Decent FMV sequences profile the downtrodden world and your dastardly foes. BF's soundtrack is fun but can get repetitive.

3DO

Starblade

Panasonic Namco

3-D Shooter Release: January 1995
Age Rating: All Challenge: Intermediate

Back in October, PPM reviewed the Sega-CD version of Starblade from Namco. We concluded that, although a well-made port of the titular arcade game, there was ultimately little meriting a full-on purchase as opposed to a rental. Likewise, this iteration on 3DO is perhaps the greatest home version imaginable. Included is keen texture mapping, superb graphics, and impressive sounds that all easily surpass the powers of the Sega-CD. And yet, the replayability factor is non-existent and the cursor-driven gameplay grows tiring rather fast. These FMV shooters are simply less thrilling after catching a glimpse of the incoming 3-D adventures on 32-Bitters.

3DO

Immercenary

Action-Strategy Release: May 1995
Age Rating: Teen Challenge: Intermediate

Electronic Arts' Immercenary is a 3-D, first-person shooter created by a new developer exclusively for the 3DO. It all takes place within a dismal virtual world ironically named "Perfect." Desperately hoping to find their way out, residents lash out against one another to reach the SysOp that controls all. The 3DO showcases some of its underrated texture mapping abilities with Immercenary, treating players to realistic terrain from cities to jungles. The 3-D scaling effects are done well, too. Combat is tight, the New Age music is entertaining, and although it is not especially difficult to excel at, the gameplay is addictive enough to keep you playing. High scores for originality, but perhaps more work was needed.

3DO

Return Fire

Prolific

Action-Strategy Release: March 1995
Age Rating: N/A Challenge: Intermediate

Return Fire is an action-strategy title developed by Silent Software for the 3DO. Without delving into the non-existent story elements of this one, this disc can be summed up with one word: "Destroy!" From a 3-D angled, overhead view, players will control various vehicles in a battlefield-like setting and have the enjoyable opportunity to zip around and blow things up. Drive or fly around the map and blast away, then capture the enemy's flag and return it to your base. Operational controls may take a bit to learn for inexperienced players. Trying out two-player mode is a riot, too. As is the case with other experimental 32-Bit games like The Horde, the innovation of RF is wonderful to see.

EA - For 3DO

The Need for Speed

Racing | CD

Release: December 1994

Are you looking for a title similar to Ridge Racer to hold you over until the next generation finally reaches store shelves? For a taste of that magnificence, try out The Need for Speed, a realistic 3-D racer with graphics that are hot, hot, hot! Speed showcases great racing, and even better collisions. Cruise around the track in your choice of exotic sports car, ranging from the Acura NSX to the Ferrari 512TR, and enjoy feeling the subtle changes in shifting, handling, and acceleration between vehicles. The realism is there, just check out that lifelike horizon line. After checking out a snippet of the real car in action through an FMV clip, take on a computer opponent or race against the clock.

CD - For 3DO

Interceptor

Racing | CD

Release: November 1994

For those looking for further proof that Crystal Dynamics is the gasoline fueling the 3DO's engine, here you go! Off-World Interceptor, a 3-D vehicular combat title, is out now for the 3DO. Like Crash 'N' Burn before it, OWI exhibits a bit of an imbalance in terms of righteous graphics versus OK gameplay. After watching an FMV sequence that not-so-subtly rips off the iconic silhouette style of MST3K, players finally gain control over the featured off-road vehicle and are allowed free-rein to explore the desert terrain. Driving atop mountain ranges while blasting apart cacti is exciting for a time, but the real challenge is surviving to the end. The two-player deathmatch mode is the true gem, here.

Panasonic - For 3DO

Burning Soldier

FMV-Shooter | CD

Release: November 1994

Jump headlong into a state-of-the-art strike fighter and fight to save the Earth from an evil alien race in Burning Soldier, the latest shooter developed for the 3DO. Ah yes, the tried-and-true "Save the World!" cliche. We'll skip the dull plot details and move right along. Much like Starblade, players face down swarms of enemies and need only be concerned with the shooting spree. No 3-D control a la Shockwave. BS provides two weapons, a single-shot laser and a charge attack, each controlled with an on-screen cursor. No power-ups? Bummer! At least you'll check out some killer spacecraft and FMV cinematics. This one is far too rudimentary for our taste. The 2600 had more in-depth shooters.

Panasonic - For 3DO

Guardian War

Role-Playing | CD

Release: November 1994

3DO owners have been clamoring for a halfway decent RPG since the console's launch date last year. The folks over at Microcabin have sought to remedy this issue with Guardian War, a quirky tactics game developed from the ground-up for 3DO. Panasonic agreed to publish this title in the U.S. - and we are thrilled they did! In this 70+ hour adventure, you control a golem tasked with saving the Powers Kingdom. Echoing Shining Force, you must use a strategic mind to conquer battle areas. Use spells and even equip different bodies to outsmart the opponent. These 3-D cinemas and battle animations are like nothing you've seen before. Killer music, too. Worth it.

Capcom - For 3DO

Super SF2 Turbo

Fighter | CD

Release: November 1994

Street fighting finally crawled its way to the world of 32-Bit, and it is about dang time! Capcom's translation of the hottest SF2 iteration, Super Street Fighter II Turbo, is undoubtedly the absolute best version for home consoles. This disc utilizes the superior processing power of the 3DO to ensure lightning-quick gameplay and far faster access times than any fighter for Sega-CD. The graphical display is arcade-perfect in all regards without a single compromise made to downgrade the presentation. Using the six-button controller (Sold separately, of course! -Jet) is a must. Players who risk trying this one with the dreadful squishiness of the stock joypad will be left in tears.

ALG - For 3DO

Johnny Rock

FMV-Shooter | CD

Release: September 1994

Johnny Rock, a famous nightclub singer, has been murdered! It's up to you to delve into this mess and crack the case wide open. Who Shot Johnny Rock? is a classic FMV shooter from American Laser Games released in arcades several years back. Set in film noir-like rendition of 1930s Chicago, players will investigate the local, criminal underworld to find out who might be the mysterious culprit. Take aim with your powerful Tommy gun (sold separately!) and take out any villains standing in your way. Survival will likely depend on memorization like other such video shooters, but luckily no need to reload here. Overall, we found this interactive experience worth renting.

CD - For 3DO

Star Control II

Strategy-RPG | CD

Release: August 1994

Calling all science fiction fans: Star Control II demands your attention! It is your job to learn how to remove a slave shield placed around our planet by a hostile alien race. Follow a thrilling story chock full of exploration, problem-solving, and some deadly skirmishing. This title features some superb graphical renderings and animations to accompany the engaging gameplay and expectation-defying storyline. Choose from either the standard role-playing mode or a bare-bones melee combat experience, in which one or two players can duke it out in space dogfights. Great CD-quality sound as well, despite some subpar voicework. A surefire recommended purchase.

Naughty Dog - For 3DO

Way of the Warrior

Fighter | CD

Release: August 1994

Way of the Warrior truly had all the ingredients for a good fighting game. As we covered in last month's CES Preview article, we felt this premier title from Naughty Dog presented astoundingly lifelike digitized graphics and fluid animation. Add in a mix of fatalities and as pure spectacle this blows away MK. Plus, you have the killer White Zombie soundtrack! Yet, gameplay is what matters most in games, and it is on this front we were let down. Controls are awfully sluggish to the point that jumping forward is a chore. Special moves are way too tough to pull off due to the stiff 3DO joypad, and the fighter roster is woefully imbalanced. 3D gore cannot make up for that!

Tetragon - For 3DO

Gridders

3-D Puzzle | CD

Release: August 1994

Available now on the ultra-powerful 3DO is Tetragon's rather one-dimensional Gridders. This puzzler boils down to collecting special key items by outsmarting a horde of moving cubes. Block these boxes in just the right fashion without getting squashed, then quickly skip over to the level exit! Not unlike another grid-based puzzle game, Klax, the core gameplay of Gridders could run on the Game Boy, but it still manages to use 3-D space effectively. Swapping from a far-out view to a close-up perspective transition quite well. Those repetitive rhythms were a bit rough, however. Tetris nerds itching for a brain-busting experience will adore this addictive disc.

EA - For 3DO

Road Rash

Racing | CD

Release: July 1994

Ah, racing as it was always meant to be. Road Rash was one of our most hyped 3DO games, and for good reason. The glorious combo of driving down a California highway while kicking competitors into the dust is fun as it ever was. On this refreshed disc of RR, EA has evolved its graphical engine to show off stunningly realistic visuals, far above even fellow 3-D marvels on 3DO. It feels like a true-to-life arcade game with a high framerate and tons of fast action. Screaming down the asphalt going 100 MPH, bashing skulls, and jamming out to Soundgarden and Paw never brings a dull moment. RR is a must-buy for system owners.

Origin - For 3DO

Wing Commander

Flight Sim | CD

Release: May 1994

Looking for a space-themed dogfight simulator? Super Wing Commander has you covered! SWC from Origin Systems is an exclusive to the 3DO with a array of improvements to the 1990 MS-DOS original. This disc's graphics have been thoroughly upgraded with a fully decked-out cockpit view and refined enemy ship detail. This 3DO version also adds a bit more immersion to the space combat thanks to an awesome sampling of voice clips, not to mention an introductory sequence with full speech. Wing Commander is great arcade fun packed into an engaging interactive movie. LucasArts should hire these folks!

EA - For 3DO

Shock Wave

Flight Sim | CD

Release: June 1994

Throughout its rather long development, Shock Wave was categorized by Electronic Arts as an "interactive movie." Having endured more than our fair share of FMV during the early days of the SEGA-CD, our reviewers met this idea with skepticism. But fret not 3DO fans! Shock Wave is, in fact, a game! You steer a prototype, 21st-century space fighter from a first-person view, blasting apart baddies Star Fox-style. Fly over 3-D rendered landscapes, avoid enemy blasts, and stop those aliens! The FMV is not too distracting, either. Controls are not the most intuitive, but aside from that we were overall delighted.

EA - For 3DO

Syndicate

Strategy | CD

Release: June 1994

EA hits 3DO once again with Syndicate, a welcome port of an exhilarating action-strategy title originally available for PC DOS and Amiga. This game is set in a worn-down cyberhacker world rife with crime and corporate malfeasance. Not too unlike Shadowrun on SNES, Syndicate is viewed from an isometric angle and grants players an assortment of missions to learn more about this mixed-up society. EA boasts of this disc's high-definition graphics and the vast complexity of its gameplay. This marketing lingo is code for a great gaming experience, and we say it's about accurate. Mature audiences only, folks.

Universal - For 3DO

Jurassic Park

Action | CD

Release: May 1994

Look out behind you! There's a Tyrannosaurus breathing down your neck! Dare to take on the extinct come-again in Universal Interactive Studios' Jurassic Park, a 3DO exclusive project and, in our view, the best depiction of these dinos yet on console. It's actually tough to compare this to the Jurassic offerings on Genesis and SNES. This disc ain't no platformer, nor is it some odd-ball dungeon crawler. Your objective is to save all five characters, doing so in a mishmash of mini games and more grandiose action segments. Excellent graphics on the whole and a true shake-up of your standard gameplay elements. We recommend it!

Psygnosis - For 3DO

Microcosm

FMV-Shooter | CD

Release: April 1994

Psygnosis, the British game developers best known for bestowing Lemmings upon the Earth, are back with Microcosm on 3DO. Originally a FM Towns computer game, Microcosm has since been ported to the SEGA-CD and 3DO with an Amiga CD32 version on the way. This title is a 3-D shooter that takes place entirely within a human body. The player's ship stays on-rails for the duration of the game, a side effect of using computerized FMV backgrounds, so just fly, aim and shoot! Decent tunes and FMV, but the gameplay turns stale within minutes. Maybe worth a weekend rental.

CD - For 3DO

The Horde

Action-Strategy | CD

Release: April 1994

From the makers of Total Eclipse and Crash 'n' Burn is a whole new strategic adventure with a loony type of humor. The Horde opens with an FMV sequence to establish the light-hearted Medieval setting just before tossing you to the Shimto Plains. Build-up a feudal township and establish various defenses before the game suddenly shifts to the attack of the Horde! Now the player character appears on-screen, and you fight off the Horde on your own! Holy Whiplash! Once you get used to its oddity, The Horde is very enjoyable and rather addictive. CD does it again, and very much so in spades.

CD - For 3DO

Total Eclipse

3-D Shooter | CD

Release: March 1994

Crystal Dynamics claims Total Eclipse is a video game you can feel, "barrel-rolling through the atmosphere," at 24 (!) frames p/s. Our team tends to agree! This spacefighter combat simulator really demonstrates the power of 32-Bit. Hurtling into lava-filled canyons and dark tunnels was never so fun and re-playable! The player must shoot blimps and energy cannisters, strike down an alien swarm, and avoid environmental obstacles too. Total Eclipse features excellent lighting effects and detailed textures, making for a superior graphical showpiece to the Jag. Difficult as heck, but worthy of this advanced hardware.

Virgin- For 3DO

Night Trap

Interactive | CD

Release: January 1994

Congressmen beware! It's the stuff of nightmares! Night Trap, an FMV action title originally released on Sega-CD, has launched on 3DO consoles worldwide. The good news is that the 3DO iteration is superior in a thousand ways to its Sega relative, from a crisper, full-screen picture to tighter play control. Your objective is to monitor security cameras to protect Kelly and her teenage cohorts from the slithery Augers. While viewing a camera's feed, spring traps on the Augers to lock them away, then -quick!- move to the next feed. It's nothing special in '94 and the gimmick ages fast. Way overrated.

Interplay - For 3DO

BattleChess

Chess | CD

Release: December 1993

Tired of watching lifeless, boring rounds of chess? Battlechess is a change of pace - well, more or less. This title has been a long-time favorite of computer players, and now you can check out an updated iteration of the game on 3DO consoles. Interplay's entry to the 32-Bitter brings top notch graphics, color and dramatic scenes, and a plethora of animations to the forefront. The fun of Battlechess boils down to observing the interactivity of the various pieces as they come in conflict with one another. It's a dazzling show accompanied by a tough-as-nails computer player. With all that said, the core game remains simple chess.

CryDyn - For 3DO

Crash 'N' Burn

Racing | CD

Release: October 1993

Buckle-in and prepare to zoom down the track in this premier title available to the 3DO REAL Multiplayer at launch. Crystal Dynamics' high-speed racing game has some spectacular graphics in tow, including realistic 3-D horizons with long-range viewing distance that puts Super Off Road to shame. Each race is exhilarating and a touch dangerous, and afterward the player can purchase new gear and weaponry. We especially enjoyed the Hellfire Rotogun! Game controls are not as tight as we hoped and unlike F-Zero there's no chance of drifting off-road. The music also kind of stinks. Looking forward to an improved (theoretical) Crash 2!

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