James Pond 3 - worst Sonic clone?

Mr Creosote · 07 August 2022, 21:29

https://www.goodolddays.net/game/id%...-Starfish.html

Horrible level design, lazy port... the one good thing which could be said about it is that it isn't a "more of the same" sequel. Though then, I would have enjoyed "more of Robocod" much more!

Galahad/FLT · 07 August 2022, 21:35

Huh? Yeah, worst Sonic clone, in the same way Mahjong is the worst Sonic clone.

They don't play alike and James Pond doesn't try to either.

Zool is the worst Sonic clone as it directly tried to copy (badly) what Sonic was, James Pond series is its own thing.

saimon69 · 07 August 2022, 21:39

However Robocod was trying to be a bit Super Mario WORLD: lots of levels and interactions

gimbal · 07 August 2022, 22:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by saimon69

However Robocod was trying to be a bit Super Mario

It is very hard for a platformer to not look like the very generic Super Mario. But you have to really overlook a giant pile of features that Robocod adds to the table that make the comparison quite unfair.

jbenam · 07 August 2022, 22:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galahad/FLT

They don't play alike and James Pond doesn't try to either.

Maybe you're thinking of James Pond 1 and 2?

I can see some very marked Sonic influences in James Pond 3. And IMHO it does a better job at it than Zool ever did.

TCD · 07 August 2022, 23:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by saimon69

However Robocod was trying to be a bit Super Mario

Okay? So the stretch mechanic and the toy/chocolate factory theme gave that impression?

kremiso · 07 August 2022, 23:03

aga non aga?

the previous chapter seems more colorful (the first too!), and it runs on ocs
what happened?

Torti-the-Smurf · 07 August 2022, 23:17

Kid Chaos would be the closest thing to a "Sonic Clone" on AMIGA, especially if you use the password

HARDASNAILS to open up the exit door

(its so annoying to destroy the flowers

)

I play it always like this and i rather enjoy it; but that is Off Topic, i guess

Never really got into James Pond 3; it did not "catch me"

gimbal · 07 August 2022, 23:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torti-the-Smurf

Kid Chaos would be the closest thing to a "Sonic Clone" on AMIGA, especially if you use the password

No doubt. But I like how it still has that Amiga platformer vibe to it. It might try to be Sonic very much (and quite successfully so, IMO), it does not try to be Sega at all.

Aladin · 08 August 2022, 03:09

The background is especially missing. like the adams family.

[ Show youtube player ]

Megadrive:
[ Show youtube player ]

SNES:
[ Show youtube player ]

saimon69 · 08 August 2022, 03:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by gimbal

It is very hard for a platformer to not look like the very generic Super Mario. But you have to really overlook a giant pile of features that Robocod adds to the table that make the comparison quite unfair.

Am thinking at the Super Mario World for Nintendo 64 more than the NES one, i did a brainfart

TCD · 08 August 2022, 07:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by saimon69

Am thinking at the Super Mario World for Nintendo 64 more than the NES one, i did a brainfart

Super Mario World is SNES

saimon69 · 08 August 2022, 08:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by TCD

Super Mario World is SNES

Double brainfart!!! -_-

gimbal · 08 August 2022, 10:31

The same for Starfish to be honest... it is such a crock to say that it wants to be sonic. Why? Because you can go fast?

No it tries to be a feature rich platformer that has stuff in it that the kids liked to play and at the time what the kids wanted to play was Super Mario and Sonic... so many platformers copied what those games did to make them at least familiar. In Starfish you see the headbutting blocks from SMB, the speed from Sonic and I would actually say that the way you kind of cling to the geometry when you go fast is more like something out of Strider... The way all games handle secrets, its all exactly as what the most popular games had at the time.

But it still tries to be unique and recognisably James Pond. The ground slam from Robocod for example. And the way you pickup items and carry around items to use them. It's a valiant attempt, it just falls a little short on the gameplay department.

kremiso · 08 August 2022, 14:45

everything seems made of... swiss cheese
emmental everywhere

the gameplay is also riddled with holes

dreamkatcha · 08 August 2022, 15:05

Without the CD32 joypad with its multiple buttons, many people have no idea you're able to run in Operation Starfish so spend five minutes getting frustrated, turn it off and never look back. Bit of a show-stopper since you can't get beyond level one without running to climb over the steep inclines.

Pyromania · 08 August 2022, 16:16

I remember all of the James Pond games being fun.

saimon69 · 09 August 2022, 19:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by kremiso

everything seems made of... swiss cheese
emmental everywhere

the gameplay is also riddled with holes

Even Spongebob, first time i saw it i thought was a walking emmenthaler ^^

saimon69 · 09 August 2022, 19:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pyromania

I remember all of the James Pond games being fun.

Aquabatics is VERY underrated imo, especially in multiplayer!
I remember one evening plating it with friends and was tremendously funny

acidbottle · 12 August 2022, 12:36

Thought James Pond 3 was fuppin awesome! I was not a fan of the original James Pond, however.

Zool definitely the worst sonic clone, did nothing better than the spikey git and console owning friends would just point and laugh!

07 August 2022, 21:29	#1
Mr Creosote Evil Mastermind Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Home Posts: 740	James Pond 3 - worst Sonic clone? https://www.goodolddays.net/game/id%...-Starfish.html Horrible level design, lazy port... the one good thing which could be said about it is that it isn't a "more of the same" sequel. Though then, I would have enjoyed "more of Robocod" much more!

07 August 2022, 21:39	#3
saimon69 J.M.D - Bedroom Musician Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: los angeles,ca Posts: 3,516	However Robocod was trying to be a bit Super Mario WORLD: lots of levels and interactions Last edited by saimon69; 08 August 2022 at 08:03. Reason: punctualized what super mario

08 August 2022, 03:09	#10
Aladin Registered User Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: France Posts: 853	The background is especially missing. like the adams family. [ Show youtube player ] Megadrive: [ Show youtube player ] SNES: [ Show youtube player ] Last edited by Aladin; 08 August 2022 at 03:16.

08 August 2022, 14:45	#15
kremiso Registered User Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Italy Posts: 1,898	everything seems made of... swiss cheese emmental everywhere the gameplay is also riddled with holes Last edited by kremiso; 08 August 2022 at 14:52.

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07 August 2022, 21:35	#2
Galahad/FLT Going nowhere Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: United Kingdom Age: 50 Posts: 8,986	Huh? Yeah, worst Sonic clone, in the same way Mahjong is the worst Sonic clone. They don't play alike and James Pond doesn't try to either. Zool is the worst Sonic clone as it directly tried to copy (badly) what Sonic was, James Pond series is its own thing.

07 August 2022, 23:03	#7
kremiso Registered User Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Italy Posts: 1,898	aga non aga? the previous chapter seems more colorful (the first too!), and it runs on ocs what happened?

07 August 2022, 23:17	#8
Torti-the-Smurf Registered User Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Earth Posts: 1,058	Kid Chaos would be the closest thing to a "Sonic Clone" on AMIGA, especially if you use the password HARDASNAILS to open up the exit door (its so annoying to destroy the flowers ) I play it always like this and i rather enjoy it; but that is Off Topic, i guess Never really got into James Pond 3; it did not "catch me"

08 August 2022, 10:31	#14
gimbal cheeky scoundrel Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Spijkenisse/Netherlands Age: 42 Posts: 6,905	The same for Starfish to be honest... it is such a crock to say that it wants to be sonic. Why? Because you can go fast? No it tries to be a feature rich platformer that has stuff in it that the kids liked to play and at the time what the kids wanted to play was Super Mario and Sonic... so many platformers copied what those games did to make them at least familiar. In Starfish you see the headbutting blocks from SMB, the speed from Sonic and I would actually say that the way you kind of cling to the geometry when you go fast is more like something out of Strider... The way all games handle secrets, its all exactly as what the most popular games had at the time. But it still tries to be unique and recognisably James Pond. The ground slam from Robocod for example. And the way you pickup items and carry around items to use them. It's a valiant attempt, it just falls a little short on the gameplay department.

08 August 2022, 15:05	#16
dreamkatcha I've got a new byline Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 1,219	Without the CD32 joypad with its multiple buttons, many people have no idea you're able to run in Operation Starfish so spend five minutes getting frustrated, turn it off and never look back. Bit of a show-stopper since you can't get beyond level one without running to climb over the steep inclines.

08 August 2022, 16:16	#17
Pyromania Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 3,375	I remember all of the James Pond games being fun.

12 August 2022, 12:36	#20
acidbottle Registered User Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Scotland Posts: 821	Thought James Pond 3 was fuppin awesome! I was not a fan of the original James Pond, however. Zool definitely the worst sonic clone, did nothing better than the spikey git and console owning friends would just point and laugh!

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