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

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Revision as of 11:57, 4 June 2024

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
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.

Development

A Sega Master System version game was planned, but eventually cancelled.

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
78 [10]
Sega Mega Drive
 78
Based on
1 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
50
[11]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
83
[12]
Console Mania (IT) PAL
90
[13]
Consoles + (FR)
94
[14]
Computer & Video Games (UK) PAL
75
[15]
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
84
[16]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
60
[17]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 7 (RU)
40
[18]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
78
[2]
GamesMaster (UK) PAL
93
[19]
Hyper (AU)
87
[20]
Joypad (FR) PAL
89
[21]
Joypad (HU)
88
[22]
MAN!AC (DE)
75
[23]
Mega (UK) PAL
90
[5]
Mega Action (UK) PAL
88
[24]
Mega Force (FR)
90
[25]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
85
[26]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
85
[27]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
89
[28]
Player One (FR)
90
[29]
Power Up! (UK)
83
[30]
Sega Magazin (DE) PAL
87
[31]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
87
[32]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
83
[33]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
91
[34]
Sega Force Mega (UK) PAL
83
[35]
Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL
87
[36]
Todo Sega (ES)
78
[37]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
78
[38]
Video Games (DE) PAL
64
[39]
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 (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
Consoles + (FR) PAL
87
[40]
Digitiser (UK)
87
[41]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
76
[42]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
67
[43]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
88
[7]
Player One (FR) PAL
87
[44]
Play Time (DE)
65
[45]
Power Unlimited (NL)
79
[46]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
76
[47]
Todo Sega (ES)
79
[48]
Top Consoles (FR)
60
[49]
Video Games (DE) PAL
74
[50]
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. ↑ Console Mania, "Febbraio 1994" (IT; 1994-0x-xx), page 76
  14. ↑ Consoles +, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 108
  15. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-15), page 81
  16. ↑ Electronic Games (1992-1995), "January 1994" (US; 1993-12-21), page 82
  17. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 322
  18. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 7, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 171
  19. ↑ GamesMaster, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-21), page 76
  20. ↑ Hyper, "February 1994" (AU; 199x-xx-xx), page 38
  21. ↑ Joypad, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 160
  22. ↑ Joypad, "1/1995" (HU; 1995-xx-xx), page 22
  23. ↑ MAN!AC, "12/93" (DE; 1993-11-10), page 58
  24. ↑ Mega Action, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-07), page 7
  25. ↑ Mega Force, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-11-10), page 120
  26. ↑ Mega Fun, "11/93" (DE; 1993-10-20), page 84
  27. ↑ MegaTech, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-20), page 66
  28. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-10-xx), page 80
  29. ↑ Player One, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 88
  30. ↑ Power Up!, "Saturday, January 08, 1994" (UK; 1994-01-08), page 1
  31. ↑ Sega Magazin, "September/Oktober 1993" (DE; 1993-09-01), page 60
  32. ↑ Sega Power, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-xx), page 54
  33. ↑ Sega Pro, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-11), page 36
  34. ↑ Sega Zone, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-28), page 42
  35. ↑ Sega Force Mega, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-16), page 84
  36. ↑ Sonic the Comic, "May 13th 1994" (UK; 1994-04-30), page 10
  37. ↑ Todo Sega, "Enero 1994" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 66
  38. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 93
  39. ↑ Video Games, "3/94" (DE; 1994-02-23), page 82
  40. ↑ Consoles +, "Juin 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 78
  41. ↑ Digitiser (UK) (1995-05-15)
  42. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Agosto 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 94
  43. ↑ Mega Fun, "06/95" (DE; 1995-05-24), page 66
  44. ↑ Player One, "Juin 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 100
  45. ↑ Play Time, "7/95" (DE; 1995-06-07), page 114
  46. ↑ Power Unlimited, "Jaagang 3, Jul/Aug 1995" (NL; 1995-06-28), page 27
  47. ↑ Sega Power, "June 1995" (UK; 1995-04-20), page 65
  48. ↑ Todo Sega, "Julio 1995" (ES; 1995-0x-xx), page 54
  49. ↑ Top Consoles, "Juin 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 106
  50. ↑ Video Games, "6/95" (DE; 1995-05-17), page 108


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)
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