James Pond: Underwater Agent

From Sega Retro

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James Pond Title.png

James Pond: Underwater Agent
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer:
Sound driver: Electronic Arts/Rob Hubbard
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US 		$49.9549.95[3][4] 705301
Sega Mega Drive
EU 		E174SMXI
Sega Mega Drive
DE 		DM 100100 E174SMXI
Sega Mega Drive
UK 		£34.9934.99[5][6] E174SMXI
Sega Mega Drive
SE
(Rental)
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Mega Drive
BR
Non-Sega versions

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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, and was ported to the Sega Mega Drive and Acorn Archimedes in 1991. In the game, the player controls a fish named Pond, who needs to complete a series of rescue missions and 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).

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. He is also suave enough to seduce numerous attractive mermaids, some of whom act as double agents. The game spoofs the James Bond movies with levels mimicking their titles.

Gameplay

Before each level, James Pond is given mission criteria. A and B shoot bubbles to trap enemies. B will also pick up and drop keys and other mission-critical collectibles. Power-ups and bonus items can be picked up by simply swimming into them. Holding Up and reaching the surface will cause James Pond to jump out of the water and back in — use this to reach dry land for more items. While on dry land, C jumps high. In each level, there is a set amount of time to complete the mission objectives and go into an exit (holding Down while over a tube).

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
James Pond MD US Manual.pdf
[7]

Magazine articles

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

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
50
[8]
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
50
[9]
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
40
[10]
Ação Games (BR)
58
[11]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
78
[12]
Console XS (UK) PAL
70
[13]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
43
[1]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
63
[14]
Game Power (IT)
74
[15]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
72
[4]
Games-X (UK)
80
[16]
Joystick (FR) PAL
75
[17]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
79
[18]
Mega Action (UK)
83
[19]
MegaTech (UK)
77
[20]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
80
[21]
Mean Machines (UK) PAL
79
[22]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
77
[23]
Player One (FR)
87
[24]
Power Play (DE)
71
[25]
Raze (UK) PAL
86
[5]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
83
[26]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
50
[27]
Sega Pro (UK)
73
[28]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
70
[29]
Supergame (BR)
85
[30]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
60
[31]
Video Games (DE)
66
[32]
Zzap! (IT)
90
[33]
Sega Mega Drive
 71
Based on
29 reviews

James Pond: Underwater Agent

Mega Drive, US
JamesPond MD US backcover.jpgNospine.pngJamesPond MD US Box.jpg
Cover
JamesPond MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
James Pond MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
James Pond MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
JamesPond MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
James Pond UAgent MD EU Manual.jpg
Manual
Mega Drive, FR

James Pond MD FR Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, SE (Rental)

Mega Drive, AU

James Pond Underwater Agent Megadrive AU Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, BR
JamesPond MD BR Box.jpg
Cover

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Mega Drive
✔
CRC32 d0e7b466
MD5 aacf7533fd8e45b95321a57b01fb3ac8
SHA-1 b4e1c945c3ccea2e76b296d6694c0931a1ec1310
512kB 1991-03 Cartridge (US/EU)

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Electronic Gaming Monthly, "May 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 18
  2. ↑ https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/pO-7yTGzrcE/m/1EyQDXwRRX0J
  3. ↑ VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "May 1991" (US; 1991-0x-xx), page 43
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 GamePro, "June 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 49
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Raze, "June 1991" (UK; 1991-04-25), page 54
  6. ↑ Sega Power, "May 1991" (UK; 1991-04-04), page 11
  7. ↑ File:James Pond MD US Manual.pdf, page 9
  8. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 100
  9. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 101
  10. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 102
  11. ↑ Ação Games, "Julho 1991" (BR; 1991-07-xx), page 42
  12. ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "Juni 1991" (DE; 1991-05-31), page 120
  13. ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 131
  14. ↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 60
  15. ↑ Game Power, "Febbraio 1992" (IT; 1992-0-xx), page 52
  16. ↑ Games-X, "3rd May 1991" (UK; 1991-04-26), page 21
  17. ↑ Joystick, "Avril 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 114
  18. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 92
  19. ↑ Mega Action, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 65
  20. ↑ MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 78
  21. ↑ Micromanía (segunda época), "Septiembre 1991" (ES; 1991-0x-xx), page 28
  22. ↑ Mean Machines, "May 1991" (UK; 1991-05-01), page 16
  23. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 139
  24. ↑ Player One, "Mai 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 39
  25. ↑ Power Play, "5/91" (DE; 1991-04-12), page 136
  26. ↑ Sega Power, "May 1991" (UK; 1991-04-04), page 10
  27. ↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 53
  28. ↑ Sega Pro, "Christmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-12), page 61
  29. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 66
  30. ↑ Supergame, "Junho 1992" (BR; 1992-06-xx), page 21
  31. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 92
  32. ↑ Video Games, "2/91" (DE; 1991-06-07), page 94
  33. ↑ Zzap!, "Luglio 1991" (IT; 1991-xx-xx), page 65


James Pond: Underwater Agent

James Pond 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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