3DO ZONE Forums

Hi there,

I'm a game collector, well more precisely, a serial collector, meaning that I like to focus of games by franchises and I buy to systems to play them. One of these franchises are the Sailor Moon games and counting out the Playdia and SEGA PICO titles, I have all the Japanese released ones including the 3DO version. Now I don't have a 3DO and I wouldn't buy one just for 1 game because even if I can find the system for peanuts, the shipping will be just as expensive and also, the console itself is rather large and room to spare in my retro corner I have little.

Now I know that the 3DO is more of an American system, but since it was released in Japan, I was wondering if it had any good Japanese titles for it? Now before you go and say titles like Super Street Fighter II and Samurai Showdown, please keep in mind that I'm looking for exclusive titles, games that cannot be played on a Genesis, SNES, Saturn or PSone.

Thank you for your time

The system is (almost) entirely region free. That said, a lot of Japanese games can be played without needing to understand Japanese language.

- Dr Hauzer a sort precursor to Resident Evil / clone of Alone in the dark.
- Yu Yu hakusho a pretty neat 2D fighter.
- The Tower - a bit more effort required because it does use a lot of Japanese language
- Short Warp - a collection of small puzzle games.
- Taiketsu! Rooms - A kind-of Bomberman game but with water.

That's about it.

3DOKid.

the_importer wrote:Now I know that the 3DO is more of an American system, but since it was released in Japan, I was wondering if it had any good Japanese titles for it? Now before you go and say titles like Super Street Fighter II and Samurai Showdown, please keep in mind that I'm looking for exclusive titles, games that cannot be played on a Genesis, SNES, Saturn or PSone.

My 3DO collection is pretty small so far, so I can only make a couple suggestions. Foremost is Guardian War a.k.a. Powers Kingdom, a Tactical RPG from Micro Cabin. One of the first 3D RPGs, it has aged remarkably well. Great locales, great music, and solid challenge.

Strahl isn't 3DO exclusive, strictly speaking, but the only other platforms it's been released for are the LaserActive w/Sega module (a much bigger waste of space than a 3DO would be) and the Saturn (which doesn't offer the game in English). And it's good fun if you like quick time event games.

To be honest, I think if you're only interested in Japanese platform exclusives, the 3DO doesn't have enough to make it worth buying. But again, my 3DO collection is too small for me to make a qualified judgment on the matter.

3DOKid wrote:- The Tower - a bit more effort required because it does use a lot of Japanese language

Not exclusive, either. It's been released for both the Saturn and the GBA (including a North American release!), and it wouldn't surprise me to hear there's a PlayStation version as well.

3DOKid wrote:The system is (almost) entirely region free. That said, a lot of Japanese games can be played without needing to understand Japanese language.

- Dr Hauzer a sort precursor to Resident Evil / clone of Alone in the dark.
- Yu Yu hakusho a pretty neat 2D fighter.
- The Tower - a bit more effort required because it does use a lot of Japanese language
- Short Warp - a collection of small puzzle games.
- Taiketsu! Rooms - A kind-of Bomberman game but with water.

That's about it.

3DOKid.

Yikes, guess the original XBOX wasn't the first Western console get the cold shoulder from Japanese gamers

What about Western games, any exclusives that aren't FPS or FMV games?

There are far more more exclusive Japanese 3DO releases, however, I'm betting people are tossing out recommendations on the assumption you do not speak or read Japanese.

To add to 3DOkid's Short Warp suggestion, there is also Flopon World which revolves around a pseudo Galaga styled shooter.

Battle Pinball is another, although I don't remember it being great and I think it was released on another system.

I forgot, Tower of Puzzle is another. This one consists of a lot of mind teaser styled puzzle games.

I believe it's a Japanese exclusive. Strangely, it's in English for the most part, even the spoken dialogue. It seems to be relatively obscure though.

Austin wrote:There are far more more exclusive Japanese 3DO releases, however, I'm betting people are tossing out recommendations on the assumption you do not speak or read Japanese.

Nah, I'm just not familiar with any 3DO games which you'd need to understand Japanese to enjoy. I don't understand Japanese, and I'm not a collector, so I avoid games driven by Japanese text and/or speech.

Right, as most of us do.

the_importer wrote:

3DOKid wrote:The system is (almost) entirely region free. That said, a lot of Japanese games can be played without needing to understand Japanese language.

- Dr Hauzer a sort precursor to Resident Evil / clone of Alone in the dark.
- Yu Yu hakusho a pretty neat 2D fighter.
- The Tower - a bit more effort required because it does use a lot of Japanese language
- Short Warp - a collection of small puzzle games.
- Taiketsu! Rooms - A kind-of Bomberman game but with water.

That's about it.

3DOKid.

Yikes, guess the original XBOX wasn't the first Western console get the cold shoulder from Japanese gamers

What about Western games, any exclusives that aren't FPS or FMV games?

3do was a good deal more popular in japan than the list suggests. they got a bunch of Japan only 3DO games but without speaking/reading Japanese, you don't stand a chance.

Thanks for all of your inputs guys, I think I got enough suggestions for 2 or 3 more titles, so this should do. Now for the system, I was going to buy one online, but I found someone locally who would sale me an FZ-10 in good condition for $100, what do you guys think (I'm in Canada BTW, so these things aren't a dime a dozen).

I guess depending on condition, that's not too bad.

3DOKid wrote:I guess depending on condition, that's not too bad.

Here's a pic that I got from the seller:

Looks pretty good.

Is it worth investigating 3DO emulation (such as 4DO) before taking the plunge and spending your hard earned cash? I know the experience won't be exactly the same but you'll be able to try a few titles and get a feel for the games.

Check out http://www.fourdo.com

Yeah, I was going to mention that as well. 3DO emulation is probably a good place to start to see if the system is interesting to you or not.

3DO Si wrote:Is it worth investigating 3DO emulation (such as 4DO) before taking the plunge and spending your hard earned cash? I know the experience won't be exactly the same but you'll be able to try a few titles and get a feel for the games.

Check out http://www.fourdo.com

Bah, you're talking to a game collector here, you know how much junk I own that I'll never play?
I own a freaking Virtual Boy with over half the games for the system

the_importer wrote:

3DO Si wrote:I own a freaking Virtual Boy with over half the games for the system

i have only 2 words to say about that

Im Sorry

LOL

the_importer wrote:Bah, you're talking to a game collector here, you know how much junk I own that I'll never play?
I own a freaking Virtual Boy with over half the games for the system

Same here.

My VB is broken.

I shamefully sold my complete Virtual Boy a couple years ago and I am kicking myself for it. I really like that system.

I have one CIB and another loose. Both had line problems; the loose one I've fixed still need to take care of my boxed one. Mind you it's not in the box at the moment, it's in the game room upside down with the screws out and the box is on the bedroom TV with the console's bag sitting on it getting all dusty.

3DO Experience wrote:Both had line problems; the loose one I've fixed

Did you do the oven technique?

Yes, had to go to 300°F. The hardest part is pressing down on it at that temp. I use an Ove Glove and my finger still gets really hot.