Difference between revisions of "James Pond 3: Operation Starfish"

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Revision as of 11:47, 28 April 2021

n/a

  • Mega Drive
  • Game Gear

JP3 Title.png

JamesPond3 GG Title.png

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
Official in-game languages:

  • English
  • Français
  • Deutsch
  • Español
    • 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[5] E234SMXI
    Sega Mega Drive
    UK     		£44.9944.99[3][4] E234SMXI
    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[7] 79158-50
    Sega Game Gear
    UK     		£29.9929.99[6] 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 Commodore Amiga, it was ported to the Amiga CD32, Super Nintendo, Sega Mega Drive and Sega Game Gear.

    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 Mega Force (FR) #21: "Octobre 1993" (1993-10-08)
    also published in:
    Logo-pdf.svg

    Physical scans

    Mega Drive version

    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Score Source
    83
    94 №25, p108-110
    75 [9]
    78 [10]
    93 №11, p76/77
    89 [11]
    75 [12]
    78 №16
    90 №14, p41
    88 №6, p26/27
    90
    85 №23, p66-68
    89 [13]
    90 №36, p88-90
    87 №49, p54/55
    83 №26, p36/37
    91 №13, p42-44
    83 [14]
    87 №25, p10/11
    Sega Mega Drive
    		 86
    Based on
    19 reviews
    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Version Score
    1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
    50
    		[15]
    Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
    83
    		[16]
    Console Mania (IT) PAL
    90
    		[17]
    Consoles + (FR)
    94
    		[18]
    Computer & Video Games (UK) PAL
    75
    		[9]
    Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
    84
    		[19]
    Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
    60
    		[20]
    Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 7 (RU)
    40
    		[21]
    GamePro (US) NTSC-U
    78
    		[2]
    GamesMaster (UK) PAL
    93
    		[22]
    Hyper (AU)
    87
    		[23]
    Joypad (FR) PAL
    89
    		[24]
    Joypad (HU)
    88
    		[25]
    MAN!AC (DE)
    75
    		[26]
    Mega (UK) PAL
    90
    		[4]
    Mega Action (UK) PAL
    88
    		[27]
    Mega Force (FR)
    90
    		[28]
    Mega Fun (DE) PAL
    85
    		[29]
    MegaTech (UK) PAL
    85
    		[30]
    Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
    89
    		[31]
    Player One (FR)
    90
    		[32]
    Power Up! (UK)
    83
    		[33]
    Sega Magazin (DE) PAL
    87
    		[34]
    Sega Power (UK) PAL
    87
    		[35]
    Sega Pro (UK) PAL
    83
    		[36]
    Sega Zone (UK) PAL
    91
    		[37]
    Sega Force Mega (UK) PAL
    83
    		[38]
    Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL
    87
    		[39]
    Todo Sega (ES)
    78
    		[40]
    Tricks 16 bit (RU)
    78
    		[41]
    Video Games (DE) PAL
    64
    		[42]
    Sega Mega Drive
    		 81
    Based on
    31 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
    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
    JP3 MD EU case.jpg
    Case & sticker
    Mega Drive, FR

    James Pond III MD FR Manual.pdf
    Manual
    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
    Consoles + (FR) PAL
    87
    		[43]
    Digitiser (UK)
    87
    		[44]
    Hobby Consolas (ES)
    76
    		[45]
    Mega Fun (DE) PAL
    67
    		[46]
    Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
    88
    		[6]
    Player One (FR) PAL
    87
    		[47]
    Play Time (DE)
    65
    		[48]
    Power Unlimited (NL)
    79
    		[49]
    Sega Power (UK) PAL
    76
    		[50]
    Todo Sega (ES)
    79
    		[51]
    Top Consoles (FR)
    60
    		[52]
    Video Games (DE) PAL
    74
    		[53]
    Sega Game Gear
    		 77
    Based on
    12 reviews

    James Pond 3: Operation Starfish

    Game Gear, EU
    JamesPond3 GG EU Box Back.jpgNospine.pngJamesPond3 GG EU Box Front.jpg
    Cover
    JamesPond3 GG EU Cart.jpg
    Cart

    Technical information

    ROM dump status

    System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
    Sega Mega Drive
    ✔
    CRC32 26f64b2a
    MD5 0a72b5846ff1766662809318cf000c22
    SHA-1 df7fca887e7988e24ab2d08b015c6db2902fe571
    		2MB 1993-09-20[54] Cartridge (US/EU)
    Sega Game Gear
     ?
    CRC32 68bb7f71
    MD5 1c88d6f7784efb05d2548f9f903889f3
    SHA-1 53790edee813a0a444b0369fd15672bb2a343780
    		512kB Cartridge (EU)

    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 Force Mega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-16), page 86
    4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Mega, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-21), page 41
    5. ↑ MAN!AC, "12/93" (DE; 1993-11-10), page 59
    6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Mean Machines Sega, "May 1995" (UK; 1995-03-28), page 78
    7. ↑ Games World Magazin, "" (DE; 1995-0x-xx), page 85
    8. ↑ Mega Fun, "01/94" (DE; 1993-12-22), page 8
    9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Computer & Video Games, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-15), page 81
    10. ↑ GamePro, "January 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 61 (65)
    11. ↑ Joypad, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 160/161 (160)
    12. ↑ Joypad, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 58/59 (58)
    13. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-10-xx), page 80-82 (80)
    14. ↑ Sega Force Mega, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-16), page 58-60 (58)
    15. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 101
    16. ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "Avril 1994" (DE; 1994-03-07), page 112
    17. ↑ Console Mania, "Febbraio 1994" (IT; 1994-0x-xx), page 76
    18. ↑ Consoles +, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 108
    19. ↑ Electronic Games (1992-1995), "January 1994" (US; 1993-12-21), page 82
    20. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 322
    21. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 7, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 171
    22. ↑ GamesMaster, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-21), page 76
    23. ↑ Hyper, "February 1994" (AU; 199x-xx-xx), page 38
    24. ↑ Joypad, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 160
    25. ↑ Joypad, "1/1995" (HU; 1995-xx-xx), page 22
    26. ↑ MAN!AC, "12/93" (DE; 1993-11-10), page 58
    27. ↑ Mega Action, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-07), page 7
    28. ↑ Mega Force, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-11-10), page 120
    29. ↑ Mega Fun, "11/93" (DE; 1993-10-20), page 84
    30. ↑ MegaTech, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-20), page 66
    31. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-10-xx), page 80
    32. ↑ Player One, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 88
    33. ↑ Power Up!, "Saturday, January 08, 1994" (UK; 1994-01-08), page 1
    34. ↑ Sega Magazin, "September/Oktober 1993" (DE; 1993-09-01), page 60
    35. ↑ Sega Power, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-xx), page 54
    36. ↑ Sega Pro, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-11), page 36
    37. ↑ Sega Zone, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-28), page 42
    38. ↑ Sega Force Mega, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-16), page 84
    39. ↑ Sonic the Comic, "May 13th 1994" (UK; 1994-04-30), page 10
    40. ↑ Todo Sega, "Enero 1994" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 66
    41. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 93
    42. ↑ Video Games, "3/94" (DE; 1994-02-23), page 82
    43. ↑ Consoles +, "Juin 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 78
    44. ↑ Digitiser (UK) (1995-05-15)
    45. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Agosto 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 94
    46. ↑ Mega Fun, "06/95" (DE; 1995-05-24), page 66
    47. ↑ Player One, "Juin 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 100
    48. ↑ Play Time, "7/95" (DE; 1995-06-07), page 114
    49. ↑ Power Unlimited, "Jaagang 3, Jul/Aug 1995" (NL; 1995-06-28), page 27
    50. ↑ Sega Power, "June 1995" (UK; 1995-04-20), page 65
    51. ↑ Todo Sega, "Julio 1995" (ES; 1995-0x-xx), page 54
    52. ↑ Top Consoles, "Juin 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 106
    53. ↑ Video Games, "6/95" (DE; 1995-05-17), page 108
    54. ↑ File:JamesPond3 MD SoundTest.png


    James Pond 3: Operation Starfish

    JP3 Title.png

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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)
    Retrieved from "https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=James_Pond_3:_Operation_Starfish&oldid=671989"