Imagine it – you are the representative rights holder to some obscure dusty old video game system that, for whatever reason, failed to hold its own during its original console generation, tumbling deep into the abyss of eBay obscurity.

Until recently, that was the fate of dozens of systems.  Only video game purists and ultimate researchers know of consoles like the Apple Pippin, the Amiga CD32 or the PC-FX.

I bring all of this up because we live in a time where a very intriguing trend has developed, almost accidentally – companies are finding they can create scaled-down cases of their original hardware, drop a fairly low-cost emulator system inside of the shell complete with a few dozen of the original console’s library and expect to sell units like hotcakes.  In some cases, projected numbers HIGHER than the number of consoles originally taken to market. How can this be possible? The answer is one of timing. Retro games and systems have become a hot commodity to both collectors and gamers alike who long for the simpler interactive experience (check out the proposed Intellivision Amico for more on this concept).

What this means, really, is that these modern “retro mini” consoles are being bought up by a large convergence of individuals; those who owned the original and wish to re-experience the nostalgia on a modern display (in a small form factor, and usually under $100 to boot), those who passed over the system the first time in favor of the more popular choices (explaining precisely why I must have a Turbo-Grafx 16 Mini despite not owning one in the 16-bit days), gamers who were not present the first time around who simply enjoy the unique gaming experience these things offer and of course collectors and completionists who must have one of everything.

In case you’re not following along, this trend is piping hot right now.  So if you were sitting on the rights to a console from the distant past, this would be the optimal time to capitalize.  That brings up today’s column discussion. There were two systems in the early to mid-1990s that, despite forward-thinking and early adoption of the then-advanced CD-ROM media in a time when the world was largely limited by cartridges, failed to make a dent in the industry.  The reason each of them failed was a bit different but in reality, the two concepts had more in common than they did differences. Let’s take a closer look at the CD-i and 3DO; two nearly forgotten entries in the halls of video gamedom’s history that just may be due for the retro mini treatment.

CD-i

Sometimes referred to as the Phillips CD-i on account of the fact that Phillips (Magnovox) was the first brand to release a dedicated CD-i unit to the market, the Compact Disc-Interactive concept wasn’t really so much a “console” as it was a media format.

Originally developed and designed by Phillips and Sony, a CD-i disc, though indistinguishable from a standard CD, could hold up to 744 MiB of digital data (a standard CD is good for 700 MiBs).  Its primary emphasis was to make better use of the potential for interacting with the data on the discs, be it graphics, audio, full motion video etc.

What all of this means is that while a CD-i machine was perfectly able to play standard audio CDs (at the time, a very big selling point), it could also run CD-i software; something a standard CD player could not.  The players included controllers and in time the primary focus of the machines moved away from the prospect of digital encyclopedias and learning exercises to become dedicated game machines. The irony of this is that Phillips was very careful with their initial marketing strategies, going as far as to avoid talking about CD-i’s video game potential to avoid going head to head with giants like Nintendo and Sega.

Regardless, Phillips may have released the first unit but the concept was such that they did not hold exclusivity to hardware production.  In a way, they were trying to do an early version of what Sony would later make successful with the blu-Ray Disc – a new standard that could be played on equipment of varying manufacturers.

As such units began arriving by manufacturers such as Sony, Memorex, Magnavox, LG (just to mention a few).  Pricing was outrageous. Initially a base model CD-i player retailed for $799 in 1991. Yes, that is still a lot of money for a console today but to account for inflation, that was actually closer to dropping $1,506 duckets on a system right now.  Keep in mind that this was in an era where you could pick up a brand new Sega Genesis for $150. The CD-i did drop down to $599 within the first year but it was still largely out of reach for a majority of gamers interested in checking out the potential of the CD-ROM media.

What’s especially interesting is that since CD-i wasn’t a console so much as it was a format, it enjoyed an extremely long support cycle.  Games began hitting store shelves in 1991 and were still being commercially released in 2002. Discounting homebrews, which are of course still being produced by fans of the system, CD-i managed to amass a library of 190 titles in that time frame, a majority of which were published by Phillips Interactive Media despite coming in from a wide variety of developers.

The vast majority of the game library consists of high-quality (especially in the audio department) ports of games that were being released for the contemporary hardware of the era.  However, and perhaps most famously, the CD-i would, as a result of an odd but brief collaboration of Phillips with Nintendo, receive three Legend of Zelda and one Mario title available absolutely nowhere else at the time and even to this day (Link: The Faces of Evil, Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon, Zelda’s Adventure, and Hotel Mario).  Perhaps even more intriguing is that Phillips was in the process of developing two more Mario titles (Super Mario’s Wacky Worlds and Mario Takes America) that were canceled before release. Wacky Worlds was intended to be the official sequel to Super Mario World no less. This has bonus game material (like Nintendo did with Star Fox 2 on the SNES Classic Edition) off the charts.

Is the world ready for a CD-i Retro Mini system?  Perhaps! Sales numbers are tricky to pin down on account of the fact that the hardware wasn’t produced by a singular entity but reports place the figure at about 400,000 units by 1996.  I am convinced that even if Phillips filled the hypothetical CD-i Mini with 20 average contemporary ports but managed to include the ultra-rare (and ultra-expensive) Nintendo titles on the system, it would be a massive hit for collectors based on that alone.

Bonus Fact – The CD-i could be viewed as the template for the PlayStation in a very roundabout way.  It literally came into existence when Nintendo sought to work with an audio electronics manufacturer about potentially developing a CD-based system for them.  Nintendo bailed before the hardware came to market but in this case, Phillips fought to retain rights to some of the properties they intended to collaborate on thus resulting in the Nintendo series that were developed entirely outside of N’s control. 

A nearly identical failed collaboration with Sony resulted in Sony, a few years later, deciding to pull a Phillips and enter the video game market with their CD-based hardware without Nintendo. We all know how that turned out.

3DO

Perhaps the most astounding thing about the 3DO is how little the individuals behind its development learned from the CD-i.  Somehow they managed to make nearly identical mistakes and hope that they would succeed where their competition failed. It didn’t work for them either.  But we’ll get to that.

Like CD-i, 3DO is not a video game console so much as it is a format; a set of specs that could be licensed to any manufacturer willing to pay to do so.  Also, like CD-i with Phillips, 3DO wasn’t actually exclusive to Panasonic though they did manufacture the first (and arguably most well known) unit: the FZ-1 R.E.A.L. 3DO Interactive Multiplayer.  Also like CD-i, brands like Sanyo and LG (GoldStar) signed on board to produce players of their own.

3DO hit the scene in October of 1993 and, again, like CD-i, its claim to fame was that it would capitalize on the potential of CD-ROM technology and do so at a cost that was exuberant in comparison to its contemporary competition.  A 3DO player’s 93 MSRP was $699. And even more discouraging is that the system launched with only a single game (Crash ‘n Burn). Unlike CD-i, however, 3DO would have its proverbial hands full due to the lateness of its arrival.

The 4th console generation was just winding down when the 3DO arrived, meaning its only CD-based competition coming from the much weaker Sega CD and Turbo CD were very short-lived.  In fact, it found itself dropped into battle with the 5th generation offerings in short order; two of which were also CD-ROM based, much better supported, and considerably more affordable: The Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation. Suffice to say, the writing was on the wall. The system only lived from late 93 till 1996, moving about 2-million units worldwide.

In roughly three years of existence, the 3DO managed to amass a library of 162 domestic titles.  The bad news is that very few of these games were exclusive to the 3DO platform. As such it became known as a library of ports; many of which boasted superior soundtracks to their cartridge counterparts but again, once the Saturn and PlayStation hit the scene, even that advantage was nullified.

The idea of the concept actually dated back to 1991 when The 3DO Company was formed by Electronic Arts founder Trip Hawkins.  His vision was to alter the way the video game console industry made money; something that seems to happen across nearly every hardware generation only to fall into obscurity while the standard model of hardware manufactured by a single company and sold at a loss to recover profits on the licensing software back end runs away with the success.

Anyway, the Hawkins strategy was that 3DO would collect a very small royalty on each console sold and on each game manufactured. To game publishers, the low US $3 royalty rate per game was a fraction of the royalties paid to Nintendo and Sega when making games for their consoles.  As a result, many publishers signed on to the 3DO platform but with such a relatively small install base, most were reluctant to grant exclusivity.

Additionally, the reason for the ultra-high hardware MSRPs was that the manufacturers, who had absolutely no way of recovering capital on the software side of things, had to make their profits on the hardware itself.  No taking a loss on the system to make money on the games later on here. It should be noted that lesser manufacturing costs in subsequent incarnations did make the hardware cost come down considerably. The GoldStar model, for example, launched at a much more realistic $399 and within the first year, the price of the flagship Panasonic FZ-1 had dropped to $499.

All in all the entire tower of cards collapsed under its own weight just shy of three years and in the process once again reminded that regardless of how noble the intent, the standard video game manufacturing, and distribution process works.

So is the world ready for a 3DO mini?  Possibly. The 3DO lacks the appeal of CD-i’s rare Nintendo collection, there are about 35 titles that really can’t be found elsewhere (Captain Quazar, Blade Force, Tip’D, Soccer Kid).  Many of the ports were strong as well. Gex, for example, sold a whopping 1-million copies for the 3DO. Since there were only ever 2-million systems sold, that means it graced 1 of every 2 libraries.

Conclusions

All told nearly half a million CD-i players graced the world in a time where the generation leaders (SNES) moved 49.1 million units and (Genesis) 30.75-million.  The 3DO managed to fair slightly better in the following hardware generation with 2-million units out there though actually had a smaller market share comparatively as the leaders managed to post far more imposing figures:  PlayStation with 102.49-million, Nintendo 64 at 32.9 million, and Sega Saturn at 9.2 million.

What this means in terms of how well retro mini versions would do today – CD-i could actually plan to equal if not exceed original sales figures and 3DO actually managed a nearly double install base over the Neo Geo (980,000 units) the first time around.

If I had to choose one, though, I suppose the rarity of those Nintendo titles would make me lean toward the CD-i side of the equation.  While generally regarded as poor games in terms of technical merit, their sheer collectibility is such that it isn’t uncommon for the games to command several hundred dollars each on the secondary market (and keep in mind there are 4 of them).

While there is no official word of either console yet – Phillips actually had this to say regarding a tweet requesting a retro mini of the CD-i: Thank you for your love, encouragement and interest! We will try our best to fulfill your dreams and release something you suggest, but cannot promise anything yet. Please be a bit patient and stay tuned. Thank you in advance.

Here’s hoping!

The post RETROSPECTIVE: CD-i & 3DO – Two More Classics Ready For The Mini Treatment appeared first on Old School Gamer Magazine.

Here are some of the consoles we would have loved to see get the high def mini, form factor, plug & play treatment:

N64 Mini

When Nintendo quickly followed up the NES Classic Edition with the SNES, many of us hoped we were witnessing the birth of a new trend.  Perhaps they’d go back into the archives and create retro mini consolized Game Boy units, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Virtual Boy.  The possibilities were endless.

The most exciting of these of course would be an N64 Mini.  When Sony went ahead and released a Playstation Classic in 2018, it seemed the 5th generation of home consoles were ready for a new war of living room supremacy.  Unfortunately neither Nintendo nor Sega took the bait, leaving Sony’s entry into the classic edition segment the most recent console to receive such treatment.

As for Nintendo, it makes sense why they didn’t go all in with an N64 Mini – and the reason is their own Nintendo Switch Online service, which hopes to attract gamers of all disciplines to their Switch platform through the availability of abundant retro titles (many from the N64).  It’s a shame too because an N64 Mini would have been spectacular.

CD-i

While CD-i refers to a media format more than a single piece of hardware, Phillips replied to Tweets from users begging for a CD-i Mini with a response that sounded like such an announcement might actually follow.  Sadly, at present, it never has.

The CD-i library is surprisingly robust – with 214 total games released from 170 different developers.  Perhaps most famous among these coming in the form of the officially licensed Nintendo titles:  Hotel Mario, Link: The Faces of Evil, Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon, and Zelda’s Adventure.

3DO

From afar 3DO is remarkably similar to CD-i; it refers to a media format that could be licensed so that actual console hardware could be manufactured and distributed by a wide variety of brands.

While CD-i encompassed a wide variety of multimedia applications (encyclopedias on CD, edutainment titles, etc.), 3DO was more game-centric.  Over 200 titles were officially released by the end of its run, including some very faithful ports of arcade titles like Super Street Fighter II Turbo.

Amiga CD-32

Did you know that back in 1993 Commodore tried its hand at a 32-bit console to do battle with the likes of Sony, Nintendo and Sega?  The CD-32 was based upon their Amiga computer line but failed to make much of a dent in the market.

Now here’s where things get interesting from a Mini perspective.  Retro Games Ltd. has already done all the heavy lifting in creating an HDMI mini version in their Amiga A500 Mini.  All they would need to do to drive we console gamer types crazy with desire is develop a second shell shaped like the CD-32 and give the A500 controller a black paint job.  Here’s hoping they’ll consider it.

PC Classic

Back in 2019 a company called Unit-e announced a PC Classic console, one that would come chock full of games from the DOS era of home computing.  Despite a very strong public reaction, the PC Classic has yet to manifest and even updates from the company have gone cold.

Of all the possible mini classic editions, the PC would certainly be the easiest to achieve as there would be no licensing to procure from a hardware or branding standpoint.  The only licensing involved would be that of the games themselves and with tens of thousands to choose from even from a single era, finding a few dozen titles interested in participating is all but a given.

Here’s hoping Unit-e sees this one through to fruition.

Sega Saturn

We’ll end this list with what is perhaps the system most likely to see the light of day.  When Sega threw its hat in the classic edition ring with the Genesis Mini back in 2019, the talk of where they could go from there was immediate.  After all, why not go on with a Sega CD Mini, a Saturn Mini, a Dreamcast Mini?  To the surprise and delight of many, Sega listened and, in 2022, followed up with the Genesis Mini 2, a unit packed with different Genesis and some Sega CD titles (and a 6-button controller rather than the 3-button of the original Genesis Mini).

All of this to say, Sega clearly gets the demand here and, of all the brands mentioned on this list, has everything needed (including the massive back catalog of titles) to continue producing these things.  And, unlike Nintendo, doesn’t have any current hardware on the market to be concerned with competing against.

The post A Look At Those Mini Classic Editions We (Probably) Won’t Be Getting appeared first on Old School Gamer Magazine.

Starting in 1993, Panasonic was easily the biggest producer of 3DO’s (at the same time they were invested in the CD-i) but there were also variants available by Sanyo and GoldStar (which was later known as LG). While the 3DO was similar to the CD-i in some respects (like FMV video being common) the 3DO was much more a gaming machine, rather than focusing on a broad ‘multimedia’ spread.

Unfortunately, the 3DO was released during a period where there was a large scope of consoles available. With so much competition, it was hard for something new to gain ground – heavyweights like Sega and Nintendo instead reigned supreme with Sony later solely enjoying their newfound success.

While the 3DO had decent hardware for the time period, it saw discontinuation in 1996. This was due to a mix of a high price (it launched for $700 in the US), lacklustre software support compared to the competition and manufacturing woes due to the fact that there was no central producer. This caused issues with things like marketing too, and likely consumer confusion. Ultimately, it was an interesting experiment to licence out the design but not one that could succeed in a mid-nineties gaming world.

So, what was the final game? Well, for this episode of The Last Official Release, I’m going to do something a bit different. The actual final game differs from the one I’ve referenced in the title. Ide Yosuke Meijin no Shin Jissen Mahjong was the real final release – experiencing daylight on the 28th of June, 1996 – but an obscure Japanese-only mahjong game doesn’t make for that interesting of an article. I assume that most of the audience here is Western too (although a big hello to the readers who are not!) so with that noted, I’ll focus on the final European and American releases instead.

Europe was the first to knock-off; Shockwave 2: Beyond the Gate was released on the 5th of January, 1996 (although many sources claim December, 1995 instead). A sequel to a 1994 game with the same name, Beyond the Gate was again a flight combat title based in open-world environments. The player takes control of either a ‘fighter’, a hovercraft or a fixed turret and the aim is to blast alien scum and steal their technology so your crew can escape from an uncharted star system. As with most 3DO releases, there is plenty of FMV with questionable acting integrated throughout the game. You can check out a gameplay video here.

Sadly, Beyond the Gate didn’t do very well in the real world. The game didn’t sell, so EA cancelled all ports it had planned for other systems. However, the Mac version was all but complete, so EA sold the publishing rights to Aztech New Media. It never saw its own release but was part of a compilation called the Mac Pack Blitz.

Travelling across the pond, the final 3DO game to see release in America was Creature Shock, shipping on the 19th of March. Based in a future where Earth is overpopulated, humanity starts contemplating colonization options. Skipping the often-considered Mars, a spaceship named the Amazon instead investigates Jupiter and Saturn only to go missing at the end of its mission – leaving nothing but a distress beacon. You play as the rescue mission, and bam – aliens. Obviously, the aim is to then kill as many as possible – pretty standard 90’s sci-fi fair.

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Released on all the big platforms at the time starting in 1994, the CD-i, Saturn, PlayStation and MS-DOS all saw ports. Another port planned for the Jaguar was also in development but was eventually cancelled due to low interest. Evidently, Creature Shock shocked hardly anyone and received lukewarm reviews across all systems. Relying heavily on FMV, the on-rails shooting segments were considered slow and boring. These were split between controlling a spaceship and being on foot, but it was a textbook example of a game relying too much on pretty visuals. The 3DO version was particularly criticised for the slow mouse pointing which was how the game controlled. This led to frustrating combat as the player couldn’t aim at the enemies quickly enough.

It’s a surprise it was released on so many consoles then, and kind of sad that it was the 3DO’s swansong if we’re not including the Japanese mahjong game. Although, it appears many would have rathered that over Creature Shock if the reviews are to be believed.

Previously, on The Last Official Release:

CD-i – Solar Crusade (1999)
Atari Lynx – Super Asteroids & Missile Command (1995)
N-Gage – Civilization (2006)
Fairchild Channel F – Alien Invasion (1981)
Atari Jaguar – Worms (1998)
Virtual Boy – 3D Tetris (1996)
Sega Saturn – Undefined Japanese Game (2000)
Intellivision – Spiker! Super Pro Volleyball (1989)
Super Nintendo Entertainment System – Metal Slader Glory: Director’s Cut (2000)
Sega Genesis – Frogger (1998)
Sega Master System – Mickey’s Ultimate Challenge
Game & Watch – Mario the Juggler
PS1 – Schnappi: 3 Fun-Games
N64 – Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3
Game Gear – The Lost World: Jurassic Park
NES – The Lion King
Atari 2600 – Klax
Game Boy – Shikakei Atama o Kore Kusuru: Kanji/Keisan no Tatsujin
Dreamcast – Karous

The post The Last Official Release: 3DO – Creature Shock (1996) appeared first on Old School Gamer Magazine.

The original FZ-1 model of the 3DO console with disc tray.

The early ’90s were something of a second coming for the wild west of video game console manufacturing.
The early ’80s saw a number of console manufacturers trying to make a go of it after the success of the Atari VCS. Then there was the crash of ’83 and companies shied away from developing new gaming hardware.

Nintendo would eventually re-pave that broken and beat up road while also making a tollway to try and discourage competition. Then Sega knocked the tollways down and re-opened the road for any number of upstarts that believed they had the tech and the talent to grab a portion of that sweet, sweet video game money. Enter the 3DO Company. Founded by Electronic Arts’ very own Trip Hawkins, 3DO had the technology to be a game changer in the early ’90s, they just needed someone to manufacture it. That’s where Panasonic, Sanyo and Goldstar came in. Reputable companies in their own right and fully capable of taking the specs from 3DO and making a disc-based video game console that would offer high resolution 3D graphics, interactive video games and full motion video.

Unfortunately, while the 3DO did offer impressive 3D graphics, CD quality sound and forward-thinking games, the initial price of the machine, $700 U.S. (about the equivalent of $1200 today) meant that a number of gamers would be priced out of owning the machine. The price of the console would eventually drop, but the glut of other available options, including the near equivalent Sega/Mega CD, the Atari Jaguar and the Super Nintendo, would provide stiff competition, and the arrival of the Sega Saturn and the game-changing Sony Playstation would eventually see the console discontinued.

The second version of Panasonic’s 3DO, the FZ-10 along with a handful of titles from my collection.

I was a student during the 1990s and wasn’t exactly flush with disposable income to spend on video game consoles. I owned a used Super Nintendo that I bought around 1993, and then a PlayStation once I graduated college, so the 3DO was completely off my radar during it’s short lifespan. It’s possible I was aware of it tangentially but it never resonated like the dominant companies of the era. The 3DO machine I finally bought was the original front loader manufactured by Panasonic. Also dubbed the FZ-1 model, the full name was R.E.A.L 3DO Interactive Multiplayer. You can see why everyone shortened this to 3DO. The name of the console implies that there were lofty goals for these machines as not just a video game console, but a CD player and interactive learning machine with boundless add-ons and expansions. The system came with a demo disc and one controller, but Panasonic made the curious decision to include only one controller port.

In order to play 2-player games, the second player would need to plug their controller into player 1’s controller, which was plugged into the console. Player 3 would have to plug into player 2 and so on and so forth for as many players and controllers as the games would allow. What a weird design decision, and just one of a myriad of reasons why the 3DO would ultimately fail. Poor Trip Hawkins. The man had been wildly successful as the head of Electronic Arts, but by the early 1990’s it was clear he had greater ambitions than leading a software company to prominence. With the idea of combining cutting edge video gaming with multi-media add-ons, he recruited individuals (Dave Needle, RJ Mical) with high pedigrees and visions that matched his own. After the announcement of the creation of the 3DO Company, there was a lot of industry buzz thanks to the success rate of those in charge.

Nevertheless, questions began to pop up as details of what was being worked on emerged. Nintendo was for kids. Sega was for teens and young adults. What was the target audience for the 3DO console? Families? Adult gamers? I believe the intent was for the console to appeal to everyone thanks to its unrealized versatility, but that is only my best guess. The console’s print ads tended to lean towards the “radical and extreme” concepts so prevalent in the 1990s. However, unless you were a very well-paid pizza delivery boy or drug dealer, the 3DO was somewhat beyond the “radical” and “extreme” gamer’s price range at launch. $699 U.S. in 1993….ouch.

Mr. Hawkins has since admitted that outsourcing initial console production to Panasonic was probably the biggest mistake the 3DO company made. It meant that Panasonic, Goldstar and Sanyo (in Japan only) had to sell at a profit (after 3DO’s cut) since they couldn’t take a loss on console sales with the assumption they would make up the difference with software sales, which was done through 3DO Co and other third party manufacturers. By the time the second iteration of the Panasonic-manufactured 3DO console, the FZ-10, and the Goldstar manufactured version were released in 1995 at a significantly reduced cost, it was too late. Sony and Sega had already either released or were about to release their own CD-ROM-dedicated consoles and Nintendo’s Project Reality was close to becoming a reality in stores. In the minds of consumers, the 3DO didn’t have enough must-own exclusives to warrant the risk.

On paper, the 3DO should have been successful. It was a cutting edge disc-based system, the only one readily available at the time. CD-ROMs could offer amazing music and in-game sounds, full motion video, 3D graphics, cut scenes and a whole plethora of bells and whistles one could dream up. The original FZ-1 model had a very clean, solid look and feel, the perfect addition to a multi-media TV stand. The 3DO Company had visions of being more than just a toy, marketing itself as an all-encompassing form of family entertainment. The game library contained family-friendly games meant to replace the outmoded board games sitting on your shelf. It contained high-concept shooters and futuristic titles that were intended to appeal to a more sophisticated gaming audience, while an early partnership with Electronic Arts provided top-notch sports and racing titles.

Star Control II, one of the best and most original games available for the 3DO.

3DO wanted to be everything to everyone, an ambition that would prove detrimental. Was it just a console? If so, why was it so expensive compared with other consoles? Was it not only a console, but also a CD player and multi-media receiver? Was all the stuff they wanted to be the reason why it was so expensive? If so, I certainly wasn’t the target audience. I already had a CD player. I had no use for CD-ROM- based learning discs. I didn’t recognize many of the games that were available for the system. I was the wrong gamer at the wrong age with the wrong socio-economic status, and I don’t believe I was alone. Today, the 3DO is considered one of those widely derided oddball consoles (see Phillips CD-I and Atari Jaguar) from a time when everyone seemed to be throwing their hat into the video game arena. There doesn’t appear to be a widespread documented community of 3DO archivists, fans or game reviewers, which is a shame. I am an avid listener of retro gaming-related podcasts and there is ZERO 3DO presence out there that is either dedicated to talking about the 3DO or at least covering it in part.

I think the general consensus of the retro gaming community is that the 3DO’s library is a bit daunting (over 200 worldwide titles) and there are a lot of junk titles available thanks to the relative ease of making a game for the system. There are a few titles available for the 3DO that are widely considered the best or one of the best versions (Road Rash, Out of This World, Flashback, Need for Speed, Samurai Showdown, Super Street Fighter 2), which can be considered reason enough to pick up one of the console iterations. Because there is so little information out there on some of the more obscure 3DO titles, this is one of the few consoles that fits the “Hidden Gem” description, but there just aren’t enough compelling reasons to own a 3DO over a Saturn or PlayStation. Unfortunate, in my opinion.

The post System Spotlight – 3DO appeared first on Old School Gamer Magazine.

The goal of the game is quite simple, you race using one of 3 camera views (I prefer the one farther back behind the car) against a friend, a computer opponent named X-man or you simply race against the clock. X-man is a radically cheesy 90s bro with one liners, feathered hair, attitude and racing related platitudes for days. He can be a douche at times when trying to hype you up during the race at checkpoints as well if he beats you but he will also give you props when deserved. X-man’s presence tends to provoke a love him or hate him response in players but I personally think he gives the original 3DO version of the game a uniqueness that is endearing since he was nowhere to be found on any of the other ports of the game (PC, PlayStation, Saturn).

With three tracks to choose from, Alpine, Coastal, and City, the Need for Speed offers a nice scenic variety. I really enjoy looking at what Electronic Arts did in providing details to the track scenery, which is very impressive for a 1994 game. Alpine track starts you closer to sea level and you’ll wind your way up into the mountains with each successive checkpoint until the last section of the race takes place at a high enough elevation for there to be snow on the ground. The Pacific Coastal track is another winding course with gorgeous scenery of both the ocean as well as small beachside communities. At one point, you race through dozens of hot air balloons being released, which is awesome. The City course is my least favorite but that’s likely due to the fact that I live in a city so this is everyday scenery for me.

Each car comes with its own unique attributes and you simply need to try them all out in order to come up with the one that best suits your skill level and racing preferences. During the races, you’ll need to contend with other drivers from both directions since they are not closed courses by default. With other cars on the road, the biggest concern is crashing into them at high speed which will take away one of your reserve cars. You can build up more reserves the longer you drive without crashing but I’ve never come close to running out of cars and I’m far from an expert driver.

You’ll also need to contend with the police. They might be sitting along side of the road just waiting for you to pass them by doing 100 mph, or they might be driving, going the opposite way. You have a fuzz-buster sensor that informs you when you’re coming up on a cop, giving you the opportunity to slow down if you want, but I can’t imagine taking this approach. The key is to outrun them but that’s easier said than done especially if you slow down for any reason (crash, hit an obstacle, go off the road) because that’s their opportunity to nail you with a ticket. It can get dicey when they are in hot pursuit and you know if they get in front of you, it’s all over. X-man is a tough enough opponent to beat even if you don’t crash or get a speeding ticket. One or two tickets and you’re not going to win. Three tickets and you’re going to jail.

The Need for Speed is a quintessential early 90s racer and an important title for advancing the genre past the 16 bit era into the 3D 32-bit age. The game’s menu is a bit of a mess but the features of the game scream 90s and I say this with nostalgia and love. Each car has it’s own music video with era defining score (Kenny G like jazz, hair metal cock rock) that shows off the cars and their features all with real CD quality video and music. The game also features 3 different skill levels and with higher skill levels come the option to switch from automatic shift to manual. There is even a superfluous option to show replays from various camera angles. The Need for Speed offers just enough variety and depth to keep an experienced racing game fan interested but not too much depth that it can intimidate a novice racing fan (cough, Gran Turismo 2, cough). Come for the car porn videos, stay for the awesome courses and smooth gameplay.

Grade: A-

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