James Pond: Underwater Agent

n/a

James Pond: Underwater Agent
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Millennium Interactive, Vectordean
Distributor: Tec Toy (BR)
Sound driver: Electronic Arts/Rob Hubbard
Genre: Action
Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code US 1991-04 $49.9549.95 705301 EU 1991-04 E174SMXI DE 1991-04 DM 100100 E174SMXI UK 1991-04 £34.9934.99 E174SMXI SE (Rental) 199x AU 199x BR 199x
Non-Sega versions Amiga Archimedes Atari ST

James Pond: Underwater Agent is first in a series of games developed by Millennium Interactive. It was first released on the Commodore Amiga and Atari ST in 1990, then it was ported to the Sega Mega Drive and Acorn Archimedes in 1991.

Story

A nefarious supervillain named Doctor Maybe (a play on Dr. No) has overtaken the ruthless megacorporation Acme Oil Company. He is filling the oceans with radiation and toxic waste and threatening all the world from his underwater lair. The protagonist of the story and player character of the game is an intelligent, mutated anthropomorphic mudskipper named James Pond and hired by the British Secret Service to protect the seas and take out the bad guys in underwater areas.

The game spoofs the James Bond movies, with level names mimicking their titles.

Gameplay

James Pond's home

In the game, the player controls a fish named James Pond, who needs to complete a series of missions in order to stop the evil Doctor Maybe from polluting the world's oceans. Unlike later games in the series, James Pond is not a traditional platform game, as most of the game takes place underwater (similar to Ecco the Dolphin). Before each mission, Pond is given mission criteria, typically collecting items or escorting animals. Missions often consist of multiple areas, which Pond can traverse by entering crevices in the walls and floors. Enemies include other sea creatures and some humans.

Pond can swim in any direction using the D-Pad. He can shoot bubbles by pressing or to trap enemies, then swim into the enemies while they are trapped to turn them into collectible items. Enemies eventually break out of the bubbles if left alone. Power-ups and bonus items can be picked up by simply swimming into them. Pond can pick up and drop keys and other mission-critical collectibles by pressing +/. When near the surface of the water, Pond can jump out of the water by pressing , which can be used to reach dry land for more items. While on dry land, he jumps by pressing or .

There is a set amount of time to complete the mission objectives, then find an exit pipe and enter it by holding while floating over it. The exit pipes are locked until Pond completes the objectives. Usually, additional objectives can be completed for bonus points if the player has time. The time remaining is shown on the left side of the bottom status area. Two counters beside the timer show the number of objectives completed (on top) and the number of objectives remaining (on bottom).

The "Fishometer" is a meter on the right side of the bottom status area that represents Pond's health. It goes down as he takes damage from enemies, and he loses a chance if he loses the entire Fishometer (but revives in place if he has extra chances remaining). The Fishometer also decreases when Pond is out of the water or in a bonus room, but it is replenished when it returns to the water or leaves the room. The game ends if Pond loses all of his chances or if he fails to complete a mission in time, but it can be continued up to two times. Extra chances are given every 100,000 points until reaching 500,000 points, then only at 10,500,000, 11,000,000, 20,500,000, 21,000,000, and 30,500,000 points (but only up to a maximum of four chances at any time).

Pond starts each mission at a home pipe. He can re-enter the home pipe by holding while floating over it, which takes him to his house. The player can store special items at the house or retrieve them to use at later missions. Returning home also heals Pond, though the mission timer continues to tick down while he is home.

Items

Good

These items have a good effect.

	Fairy Wand
	Causes a sea nymph to dance around Pond, rendering him invulnerable to damage for a duration.
	Heart
	Give Pond an extra chance (up to a maximum of 4 at a time).

Bad

These items have a bad effect.

	Bomb
	Explodes multiple times after being touched by Pond, harming him. Pond can run away to try to avoid the explosions.
	Skull Potion
	Makes the enemies on the screen move faster and act more aggressively.
	Cod Liver Oil Bottle
	Temporarily makes Pond dizzy and unable to control.
	Glue Pot
	Temporarily sticks Pond in place. He can still attack while stuck.

Bonus

These items can be collected for points.

	Bonus Items
	These items give bonus points and recover a small amount of health when collected.
	Super Bonus Items
	These are especially valuable bonus items that are usually hidden. The Golden Coin awards 5,000 points, the Golden Trophy awards 10,000 points, and the Golden Chest awards 20,000 points.
	Letters
	Letters can be collected in the "bad" secret rooms. Pond receives 50 points for collecting a letter. If he collects all of the letters to spell out "JAMES POND" and returns home, the player is rewarded with 10,000,000 points.

Special

These items give Pond enhanced abilities. Each item can be stored in Pond's house so it can be used on a later mission. Pond can only use one special item at a time, and he cannot use a special item and carry an object (such as a key) at the same time.

	Top Hat
	Reduces the amount of damage that Pond takes from enemies.
	Goldfish Bowl
	Reduces the amount of health that Pond loses while out of the water.
	Pair of Shades
	Allows Pond to see jellyfish, which are normally invisible.
	Ray Gun
	Allows Pond to attack enemies with a ray gun, which works both in and out of the water. Enemies shot with the gun are eliminated immediately, rather than encased in bubbles that need to be popped, and this is Pond's only means of defeating enemies on land. This item does not appear when the game is played on a North American console.

Creatures

Most undersea creatures are hostile to Pond, but a few are helpful.

	Mushrooms
	Instantly teleports Pond to another location (usually to another mushroom). These are essential for navigating the missions as they become larger and more maze-like, and some areas can only be reached by teleporting.
	Red Starfish
	Gives Pond "super speed," which makes him move faster. Collecting 7 red starfish gives him "hyper speed," which makes him move even faster. Lasts until Pond loses a chance.
	Yellow Starfish
	Replenishes the Fishometer.
	Green Starfish
	Enhances Pond's bubbles so that that bubbles can float up after being fired, increasing the likelihood that they capture an enemy. Lasts until Pond loses a chance.
	Dark Starfish
	Temporarily inhibits Pond's movement.
	Oyster
	Follows Pond around and attacks the next 8 enemies that come close enough to it.
	Pelican
	Grabs Pond and carries him a distance if he is close to the surface of the water.
	Squid
	Temporarily blinds Pond if he touches one (causing the screen to go black). Pond can still be attacked by enemies while he is blinded.
	Jellyfish
	These enemies are invisible and can only be seen with the Pair of Shades item.

Missions

Some missions have multiple exits that lead to different missions or have exit pipes that lead somewhere other than the next mission, so the missions are not necessarily played in order. Entering a pipe that leads to an already completed mission goes to an empty version of that mission with no enemies or objectives, where Pond can swim straight to the exit pipe.

	License to Bubble
	There are six lobsters trapped in cages, and Pond must rescue at least four of them before they are abducted by a diver. Pond needs a key to open each cage. The first exit pipe goes to mission 2 and the second exit pipe goes to mission 3.
	From Three Mile Island with Love
	A pond has been polluted with radioactive waste. There are seven pink fish in the pond, and Pond must rescue at least four of them. These fish follow Pond when he touches them; he must lead them, one at a time, to the home pipe at the start of the mission. The exit pipe goes to mission 4.
	A View to a Spill
	An oil platform is leaking oil into the ocean. Pond must blow it up by collecting bundles of dynamite and dropping them at either of the platform's base legs. The mission timer does not start ticking down on this mission until the first bundle of dynamite is planted. There are seven bundles of dynamite, and Pond must place at least five of them to complete the mission. The exit pipe goes to mission 4.
	The Fish with the Golden Bar
	Pond must investigate a shipwreck. There are eight gold bars that were on the ship when it sank, and Pond must recover at least five of them and take them to a rowboat at the surface. The shipwreck is located in a deep cavern below the starting area. The first exit pipe goes to mission 2 and the second exit pipe goes to mission 3. The third exit pipe only unlocks after the player has completed missions 2 and 3, and it goes to mission 5.
	For Your Fins Only!
	Acme Oil is polluting the Mediterranean coast. Pond must find at least six toxic waste containers and take them to one of the beaches at the surface for the "tough guys" to walk into them and be knocked unconscious. The first exit pipe goes to mission 6 and the second exit pipe goes to mission 7.
	Fishfingers
	Smugglers are hiding their contraband in the English Channel. Pond must find at least seven of the ten bags of "swag" and drop them in front of a "beach bum" on the surface to be destroyed. Some of the brick walls underwater have segments that disappear momentarily on regular intervals. The exit pipe goes to mission 8.
	They Only Live Once
	Arctic trappers are hunting seals. There are eight seals on the land above, and Pond must rescue at least five of them. Seals follow Pond when he touches them; he must lead them, one at a time, to the home pipe at the start of the mission. The exit pipe goes to mission 8.
	Leak and Let Die
	Two Acme Oil tankers are leaking oil into the sea. Pond must use sponges to plug all ten leaks in the tankers. The second exit pipe goes to mission 6 and the third exit pipe goes to mission 7. The first exit pipe only unlocks after the player has completed missions 6 and 7, and it goes to mission 9.
	Orchids Are Forever
	A rainforest is being threatened by construction workers. Pond must save the trees by finding poisonous orchids and planting them next to the trees. There are nine trees, and Pond must protect at least eight of them. Orchids are found both underwater and on the surface. The exit pipe goes to mission 10.
	Moneyraker
	The lost city of Atlantis has been found. Pond must recover at least seven of the ten priceless vases from its ruins and take them to the rowboats at the surface before the criminals can steal them. The exit pipe goes to mission 11.
	The Mermaid Who Loved Me
	Mad scientists are trying to capture and experiment on mermaids. Pond must rescue at least seven of the nine mermaids. Mermaids follow Pond when he gives them a comb; he must lead them, one at a time, to the home pipe at the start of the mission. The exit pipe goes to mission 12.
	Dr. Maybe
	Human agents have found Pond's secret base. Pond must collect eight of the ten pears to eat, deposit each in the home pipe, and escape. The mission automatically ends when the objective is fulfilled, with no exit pipe.

Secret rooms

Missions contain three kinds of hidden rooms, accessed by swimming into crevices: "bad" rooms, which contain monsters and a bonus letter; "neutral" rooms, which contain treasure chests that release good and bad items; and "good" rooms, which are filled with bonus items as well as a yellow starfish for restoring health. Leaving a room and re-entering it always returns to a bad room.

Bad room

Neutral room

Good room

Production credits

• Game Design: Chris Sorrell
• Graphics: Chris Sorrell
• Programmer: Steve Bak
• Original Music and Sound Effects: Richard Joseph
• Music and Sound Effects Translation: Michael Barlow
• Producer: Christopher Erhardt
• Associate Producer: Roland Kippenhan III
• Product Management: Lesley Mansford, Robert Sears
• Art Director: Nancy L. Fong
• Package Illustration: Mark Nightingale
• Documentation: Michael Humes
• Documentation Layout: Jennie Maruyama
• Game Testers: Ed Gwynn, Michael Meischeid, Jeffrey Lee, Michael A. Lubuguin
• Quality Assurance: Michael C. Prince

Source:

US manual

Magazine articles

Main article: James Pond: Underwater Agent/Magazine articles.

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 50 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 50 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 40 Ação Games (BR) 58 Aktueller Software Markt (DE) 78 Console XS (UK) PAL 70 Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U 43 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK) 63 Game Power (IT) 74 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 72 Games-X (UK) 80 Joystick (FR) PAL 75 Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL 79 Mega Action (UK) 83 MegaTech (UK) 77 Micromanía (segunda época) (ES) 80 Mean Machines (UK) PAL 79 Mean Machines Sega (UK) 77 Player One (FR) 87 Power Play (DE) 71 Raze (UK) PAL 86 Sega Power (UK) PAL 83 Sega Power (UK) PAL 50 Sega Pro (UK) 73 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 70 Supergame (BR) 85 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 60 Video Games (DE) 66 Zzap! (IT) 90

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James Pond: Underwater Agent

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, FR
Manual

Mega Drive, SE (Rental)

Mega Drive, AU
Manual

Mega Drive, BR
Cover

Technical information

Main article: James Pond: Underwater Agent/Technical information.