Let's Be Fair Here
It seems like no matter where you go on the internet to read information about the PS3, you can't escape some jackass's comparison of the PS3 to the old 3DO. I doubt that most (if any) of the people who make these idiotic comments have ever actually played anything on the 3DO. Most likely, these people simply read an article in some poorly written game magazine in which the article's author thought it would be clever to bash an obscure game system. These readers, also desiring to appear clever, think they will be clever if they parrot such comments. As a result, we end up with morons all over the internet giving us such clever sayings as "... (The) PS3 will fail just like the Dreamcast or 3DO," and "The PS3 is $600? Can you say 3DO?"
Let's be fair here, the 3DO was an unsuccessful system, but its better than what people say. Yes, it has its share of poor games, and yes, the system was originally priced at $700 (in 1993 mind you, when all CD hardware was expensive), but that doesn't mean the system is horrible and deserves to placed at the bottom of the console totem-pole. If you cut through all the lame jokes, comments, and anecdotes about the system and actually play it, you'll find some nice games on an old system that can be had for cheap (assuming you can find a 3DO and some games for it), and while most of the games can be had on other systems, the 3DO usually ended up with the nicest versions. Here are some of the better games that I've played:
Star Control 2:
This game alone makes buying a 3DO worthwhile. This is an enhanced port of the PC game. Its an excellent space exploration game, and includes voice acting for all the characters and aliens you meet (instead of text), a CD soundtrack, and CGI cutscenes. The best game I've played on the 3DO.
Wolfenstein:
The Jaguar may have also had a port of Wolfenstein but it was a custom version with modified levels placed in a completely different order. The 3DO has the only accurate console port of the PC game. It has CD music and plays very well.
Out of This World:
This is the best looking version of the game. The backgrounds look like paintings instead of blocky shapes like on the other console versions. The sound has also been cleaned up (except for the voices), and the game has been given CD-quality music. The game is incredibly hard, but still very fun.
Samurai Shodown:
This is the nicest version of the game you can get short of buying a Neo Geo. It has the scrolling that was taken out of other console versions of the game and plays very well.
Bust-A-Move:
Another excellent port of a fun game. I had enjoyed Bust-A-Move on the SNES, but when I played this on 3DO, I was amazed by how much better it looked and sounded.
Strahl:
To my knowledge this game is only available on the 3DO. It?s a Dragon's Lair-type game that is actually pretty fun. The footage used for its animation was used for another game called "Triad Stone" (a title for the Pioneer LaserActive) . The game is very fun and according to the back of the case offers you a different ending for each order you beat the levels in.
Blade Force:
A fun 3D game exclusive to the 3DO. Your character fights crime and shoots things while flying around with a helicopter backpack.
Trip'D:
Another fun puzzle game that is exclusive to the 3DO.
Let's be fair here, the 3DO was an unsuccessful system, but its better than what people say. Yes, it has its share of poor games, and yes, the system was originally priced at $700 (in 1993 mind you, when all CD hardware was expensive), but that doesn't mean the system is horrible and deserves to placed at the bottom of the console totem-pole. If you cut through all the lame jokes, comments, and anecdotes about the system and actually play it, you'll find some nice games on an old system that can be had for cheap (assuming you can find a 3DO and some games for it), and while most of the games can be had on other systems, the 3DO usually ended up with the nicest versions. Here are some of the better games that I've played:
Star Control 2:
This game alone makes buying a 3DO worthwhile. This is an enhanced port of the PC game. Its an excellent space exploration game, and includes voice acting for all the characters and aliens you meet (instead of text), a CD soundtrack, and CGI cutscenes. The best game I've played on the 3DO.
Wolfenstein:
The Jaguar may have also had a port of Wolfenstein but it was a custom version with modified levels placed in a completely different order. The 3DO has the only accurate console port of the PC game. It has CD music and plays very well.
Out of This World:
This is the best looking version of the game. The backgrounds look like paintings instead of blocky shapes like on the other console versions. The sound has also been cleaned up (except for the voices), and the game has been given CD-quality music. The game is incredibly hard, but still very fun.
Samurai Shodown:
This is the nicest version of the game you can get short of buying a Neo Geo. It has the scrolling that was taken out of other console versions of the game and plays very well.
Bust-A-Move:
Another excellent port of a fun game. I had enjoyed Bust-A-Move on the SNES, but when I played this on 3DO, I was amazed by how much better it looked and sounded.
Strahl:
To my knowledge this game is only available on the 3DO. It?s a Dragon's Lair-type game that is actually pretty fun. The footage used for its animation was used for another game called "Triad Stone" (a title for the Pioneer LaserActive) . The game is very fun and according to the back of the case offers you a different ending for each order you beat the levels in.
Blade Force:
A fun 3D game exclusive to the 3DO. Your character fights crime and shoots things while flying around with a helicopter backpack.
Trip'D:
Another fun puzzle game that is exclusive to the 3DO.
Note: views and opinions expressed in this article are the author's and are not necessarily those of Wolverine Soft.