James Pond 3: Operation Starfish

From Sega Retro

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James Pond 3: Operation Starfish
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer:
Genre: Action

















Release Date RRP Code
Sega Game Gear
EU 		79158-50

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, SNES, 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

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
83
94 №25, p108/109/110
78 №54, p61[1]
93 №11, p76/77
89 №25, p160/161
78 №16
90 №14, p41
88 №6, p26/27
90
85 №23, p66-68
89 №14, p80-82[2]
90 №36, p88/89/90
87 №49, p54/55
83 №26, p36/37
91 №13, p42/43/44
83 №6, p58-60[3]
87 №25, p10/11
Sega Mega Drive
 87
Based on
17 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
50
[4]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
83
[5]
Console Mania (IT) PAL
90
[6]
Consoles + (FR)
94
[7]
Computer & Video Games (UK) PAL
75
[8]
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
84
[9]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
60
[10]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 7 (RU)
40
[11]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
78
[1]
GamesMaster (UK) PAL
93
[12]
Hyper (AU)
87
[13]
Joypad (FR) PAL
89
[14]
Joypad (HU)
88
[15]
MAN!AC (DE)
75
[16]
Mega (UK) PAL
90
[17]
Mega Action (UK) PAL
88
[18]
Mega Force (FR)
90
[19]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
85
[20]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
85
[21]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
89
[2]
Player One (FR)
90
[22]
Power Up! (UK)
83
[23]
Sega Magazin (DE) PAL
87
[24]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
87
[25]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
83
[26]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
91
[27]
Sega Force Mega (UK) PAL
83
[28]
Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL
87
[29]
Todo Sega (ES)
78
[30]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
78
[31]
Video Games (DE) PAL
64
[32]
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
Mega Drive, BR

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
87 №44, p78
88 №31, p78/79[33]
87 №54, p100/101
76 №67, p65
Sega Game Gear
 85
Based on
4 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Consoles + (FR) PAL
87
[34]
Digitiser (UK)
87
[35]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
76
[36]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
67
[37]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
88
[33]
Player One (FR) PAL
87
[38]
Play Time (DE)
65
[39]
Power Unlimited (NL)
79
[40]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
76
[41]
Todo Sega (ES)
79
[42]
Top Consoles (FR)
60
[43]
Video Games (DE) PAL
74
[44]
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

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 File:GamePro US 054.pdf, page 65 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamePro US 054.pdf_p65" defined multiple times with different content
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 File:MeanMachinesSega14UK.pdf, page 80 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega14UK.pdf_p80" defined multiple times with different content
  3. ↑ File:SegaForceMega UK 06.pdf, page 58
  4. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 101
  5. ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "Avril 1994" (DE; 1994-03-07), page 112
  6. ↑ Console Mania, "Febbraio 1994" (IT; 1994-0x-xx), page 76
  7. ↑ Consoles +, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 108
  8. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-15), page 81
  9. ↑ Electronic Games (1992-1995), "January 1994" (US; 1993-12-21), page 82
  10. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 322
  11. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 7, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 171
  12. ↑ GamesMaster, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-21), page 76
  13. ↑ Hyper, "February 1994" (AU; 199x-xx-xx), page 38
  14. ↑ Joypad, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 160
  15. ↑ Joypad, "1/1995" (HU; 1995-xx-xx), page 22
  16. ↑ MAN!AC, "12/93" (DE; 1993-11-10), page 58
  17. ↑ Mega, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-21), page 41
  18. ↑ Mega Action, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-07), page 7
  19. ↑ Mega Force, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-11-10), page 120
  20. ↑ Mega Fun, "11/93" (DE; 1993-10-20), page 84
  21. ↑ MegaTech, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-20), page 66
  22. ↑ Player One, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 88
  23. ↑ Power Up!, "Saturday, January 08, 1994" (UK; 1994-01-08), page 1
  24. ↑ Sega Magazin, "September/Oktober 1993" (DE; 1993-09-01), page 60
  25. ↑ Sega Power, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-xx), page 54
  26. ↑ Sega Pro, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-11), page 36
  27. ↑ Sega Zone, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-28), page 42
  28. ↑ Sega Force Mega, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-16), page 84
  29. ↑ Sonic the Comic, "May 13th 1994" (UK; 1994-04-30), page 10
  30. ↑ Todo Sega, "Enero 1994" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 66
  31. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 93
  32. ↑ Video Games, "3/94" (DE; 1994-02-23), page 82
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 File:MeanMachinesSega31UK.pdf, page 78 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega31UK.pdf_p78" defined multiple times with different content
  34. ↑ Consoles +, "Juin 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 78
  35. ↑ Digitiser (UK) (1995-05-15)
  36. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Agosto 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 94
  37. ↑ Mega Fun, "06/95" (DE; 1995-05-24), page 66
  38. ↑ Player One, "Juin 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 100
  39. ↑ Play Time, "7/95" (DE; 1995-06-07), page 114
  40. ↑ Power Unlimited, "Jaagang 3, Jul/Aug 1995" (NL; 1995-06-28), page 27
  41. ↑ Sega Power, "June 1995" (UK; 1995-04-20), page 65
  42. ↑ Todo Sega, "Julio 1995" (ES; 1995-0x-xx), page 54
  43. ↑ Top Consoles, "Juin 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 106
  44. ↑ Video Games, "6/95" (DE; 1995-05-17), page 108
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