James Pond 3: Operation Starfish

From Sega Retro

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  • Mega Drive
  • Game Gear

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James Pond 3: Operation Starfish
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear
Publisher:
Sega Mega Drive
Electronic Arts
Sega Game Gear
U.S. Gold
Developer:
Genre: Action[1]

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US
$49.9549.95[2] 716601
Videogame Rating Council: GA
Sega Mega Drive
EU
E234SMXI
Sega Mega Drive
DE
DM 110110[6] E234SMXI
Sega Mega Drive
UK
£44.9944.99[4][5] E234SMXI
Sega Mega Drive
SE
(Rental)
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Mega Drive
BR
046300
Sega Game Gear
EU
79158-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Sega Game Gear
DE
DM 79.0079.00[8] 79158-50
Sega Game Gear
UK
£29.9929.99[7] 79158-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Non-Sega versions

James Pond 3: Operation Starfish (sometimes spelt James Pond 3: Operation Starfi5h, in reference to the in-game F.I.5.H. secret service), is the third and last game in the James Pond series and is a direct sequel to James Pond II: Codename RoboCod. The working title for the game was James Pond 3: Splash Gordon, a pun on Flash Gordon.

Initially programmed for the Sega Mega Drive, it was ported to the Commodore Amiga, Amiga CD32, Super Nintendo and Sega Game Gear.

Story

Following his defeat in James Pond II: Codename RoboCod, the evil Dr. Maybe learns of the high quality cheese that lies on the Moon. Hiring a workforce of rats, Dr. Maybe begins mining the moon for cheese so he can conquer the global markets and fund his operations. In order to stop Dr. Maybe, James Pond, along with his new sidekick, Finnius Frog, journey to the Moon in order to put a stop to Dr. Maybe's mining operations.

Gameplay

Like its predecessor, the game is a platformer, this time set in space and contains elements of non-linear stage progression. The gameplay seems to be inspired by both Sonic the Hedgehog and Super Mario World. The Robocod suit from the prequel was completely dropped for a new system that allows to carry, throw and use objects. A new playable frog character was also introduced, although he needs to be rescued first.

The game employs a highly complicated password system, using colored symbols instead of letters and numbers.

Through clever programming the game simultaneously zooms and rotates text and logos during the title sequence, operations normally not supported by the Mega Drive.

Production credits

  • Design: Chris Sorrell
  • Main Programming: Chris Sorrell
  • Additional Programming: Alan McCarthy
  • Graphics: Sean Nicholls, Leavon Archer, Chris Sorrell
  • Music: Richard Joseph
  • Sound Effects: Richard Joseph
  • Level Design: Philip Bak, Katie Lea, Rupert Easterbrook, Gary Richards, Stuart Burrows, Stuart Green
  • In‑game Text: Martin Oliver, Chris Sorrell
  • Producer: Kevin Shrapnell
  • Associate Producer: Rupert Easterbrook
  • Game Testing: Nick Goldsworthy, Graham Harbour, David Bowry, Jamie Bradshaw, Darren King
  • Special Thanks To: Ian Saunter, Michael Hayward, all friends of Pond


Magazine articles

Main article: James Pond 3: Operation Starfish/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in (FR) #21: "Octobre 1993" (1993-10-08)
also published in:
  • (DE) #1994-01: "01/94" (1993-12-22)[9]
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
78 [10]
Sega Mega Drive
78
Based on
1 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
(RU)
50
[11]
(DE)
83
[12]
(FR)
94
[13]
(UK) PAL
75
[14]
(US) NTSC-U
84
[15]
(RU)
60
[16]
(RU)
40
[17]
(US) NTSC-U
78
[2]
(UK) PAL
93
[18]
(AU)
87
[19]
(FR) PAL
89
[20]
(HU)
88
[21]
(DE)
75
[22]
(UK) PAL
90
[5]
(UK) PAL
88
[23]
(FR)
90
[24]
(DE) PAL
85
[25]
(UK) PAL
85
[26]
(UK) PAL
89
[27]
(FR)
90
[28]
(UK)
83
[29]
(DE) PAL
87
[30]
(UK) PAL
87
[31]
(UK) PAL
83
[32]
(UK) PAL
91
[33]
(UK) PAL
83
[34]
(UK) PAL
87
[35]
(ES)
78
[36]
(RU)
78
[37]
(DE) PAL
64
[38]
Sega Mega Drive
81
Based on
30 reviews

James Pond 3: Operation Starfish

Mega Drive, US
JP3 MD US Box.jpg
Cover
JamesPond3 MD US-EU Cart Top.jpg
JamesPond3 MD US-EU Cart Back.jpgJP3 MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
James Pond 3 MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU (4 Language Manual)
JP3 MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
JamesPond3 MD US-EU Cart Top.jpg
JamesPond3 MD US-EU Cart Back.jpgJP3 MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
JamesPond3 MD EU 4Lang Manual.jpg
Manual
JP3 MD EU case.jpg
Case & sticker
Mega Drive, EU (5 Language Manual)
JP3 MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
JamesPond3 MD US-EU Cart Top.jpg
JamesPond3 MD US-EU Cart Back.jpgJP3 MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
JamesPond3 5Lang Manual.jpg
Manual
Mega Drive, FR

James Pond III MD FR Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, SE rental (HENT orange)
JamesPond3 MD SE Box Rental.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, BR
JamesPond3 MD BR Box.jpg
Cover

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
(FR) PAL
87
[39]
(UK)
87
[40]
(ES)
76
[41]
(DE) PAL
67
[42]
(UK) PAL
88
[7]
(FR) PAL
87
[43]
(DE)
65
[44]
(NL)
79
[45]
(UK) PAL
76
[46]
(ES)
79
[47]
(FR)
60
[48]
(DE) PAL
74
[49]
Sega Game Gear
77
Based on
12 reviews

James Pond 3: Operation Starfish

Game Gear, EU
JamesPond3 GG EU Box Back.jpgJamesPond3 GG EU BoxSpine.jpgJamesPond3 GG EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
JamesPond3 GG EU Cart.jpg
Cart
JamesPond3 GG EU Manual.jpg
Manual

Technical information

Main article: James Pond 3: Operation Starfish/Technical information.

References

  1. File:JamesPond3 GG EU Box Back.jpg
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 GamePro, "January 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 65
  3. Sega Pro, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-09-09), page 34
  4. Sega Force Mega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-16), page 86
  5. 5.0 5.1 Mega, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-21), page 41
  6. MAN!AC, "12/93" (DE; 1993-11-10), page 59
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Mean Machines Sega, "May 1995" (UK; 1995-03-28), page 78
  8. Games World Magazin, "" (DE; 1995-0x-xx), page 85
  9. Mega Fun, "01/94" (DE; 1993-12-22), page 8
  10. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx)
  11. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 101
  12. Aktueller Software Markt, "Avril 1994" (DE; 1994-03-07), page 112
  13. Consoles +, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 108
  14. Computer & Video Games, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-15), page 81
  15. Electronic Games (1992-1995), "January 1994" (US; 1993-12-21), page 82
  16. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 322
  17. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 7, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 171
  18. GamesMaster, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-21), page 76
  19. Hyper, "February 1994" (AU; 199x-xx-xx), page 38
  20. Joypad, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 160
  21. Joypad, "1/1995" (HU; 1995-xx-xx), page 22
  22. MAN!AC, "12/93" (DE; 1993-11-10), page 58
  23. Mega Action, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-07), page 7
  24. Mega Force, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-11-10), page 120
  25. Mega Fun, "11/93" (DE; 1993-10-20), page 84
  26. MegaTech, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-20), page 66
  27. Mean Machines Sega, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-10-xx), page 80
  28. Player One, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 88
  29. Power Up!, "Saturday, January 08, 1994" (UK; 1994-01-08), page 1
  30. Sega Magazin, "September/Oktober 1993" (DE; 1993-09-01), page 60
  31. Sega Power, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-xx), page 54
  32. Sega Pro, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-11), page 36
  33. Sega Zone, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-28), page 42
  34. Sega Force Mega, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-16), page 84
  35. Sonic the Comic, "May 13th 1994" (UK; 1994-04-30), page 10
  36. Todo Sega, "Enero 1994" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 66
  37. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 93
  38. Video Games, "3/94" (DE; 1994-02-23), page 82
  39. Consoles +, "Juin 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 78
  40. Digitiser (UK) (1995-05-15)
  41. Hobby Consolas, "Agosto 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 94
  42. Mega Fun, "06/95" (DE; 1995-05-24), page 66
  43. Player One, "Juin 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 100
  44. Play Time, "7/95" (DE; 1995-06-07), page 114
  45. Power Unlimited, "Jaagang 3, Jul/Aug 1995" (NL; 1995-06-28), page 27
  46. Sega Power, "June 1995" (UK; 1995-04-20), page 65
  47. Todo Sega, "Julio 1995" (ES; 1995-0x-xx), page 54
  48. Top Consoles, "Juin 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 106
  49. Video Games, "6/95" (DE; 1995-05-17), page 108


James Pond 3: Operation Starfish

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James Pond games for Sega systems
Sega Mega Drive
James Pond: Underwater Agent (1991) | James Pond II: Codename RoboCod (1991) | The Aquatic Games Starring James Pond and The Aquabats (1992) | James Pond 3: Operation Starfish (1993)
Sega Master System
James Pond II: Codename RoboCod (1993)
Sega Game Gear
James Pond II: Codename RoboCod (1993) | James Pond 3: Operation Starfish (1995)