3DO- Best Model and must-have games?

[Tupin]

Okay, I want to get a 3DO soon. But which model is the overall best, the FZ-1, the FZ-10, or the Goldstar? I think I can find an FZ-1 pretty easily, ditto for the Goldstar, but is the FZ-10 worth looking for?

Secondly, outside of Gex, Street Fighter II, and Need for Speed, is there anything else that's either really good on the 3DO?

[Soviet Conscript]

Okay, I want to get a 3DO soon. But which model is the overall best, the FZ-1, the FZ-10, or the Goldstar? I think I can find an FZ-1 pretty easily, ditto for the Goldstar, but is the FZ-10 worth looking for?

Secondly, outside of Gex, Street Fighter II, and Need for Speed, is there anything else that's either really good on the 3DO?

i hear the goldstar version has problems, mostly unreliable.

the FZ-10 is more reliable simply because its a top loader and you don't have to worry about the front loading tray crapping out. but honestly i never had a problem with any of my FZ-1's. i acually prefer it. mostly because of space issues. my snes fits just fine on top of it.

as for games, Star Control II. excellent game.

[j_factor]

Games worth your time:

Star Control II
Hell: A Cyberpunk Thriller
Escape From Monster Manor
Burning Soldier
Super Wing Commander
Syndicate
Cannon Fodder
Night Trap
Road Rash
Return Fire
Lost Eden
Novastorm
Lucienne's Quest
The Incredible Machine
CPU Bach

[Rickstilwell1]

I have the tactical RPG, Guardian Heroes and it's fun even though it has a cliche story. I like my 3DO FZ-10 better than my FZ-1 and it seems to have an easier time reading discs.

[Tupin]

Those games look incredible. One question though. How do you save a game? Or do you not save games, and they all use passwords?

[Soviet Conscript]

Those games look incredible. One question though. How do you save a game? Or do you not save games, and they all use passwords?

save ram is built into the machine. like on the sega cd. i don't think its alot though.

[todesengel]

I say go with the FZ-10 mainly because the memory manager is built in to that model unlike the others. Also the 3DO port of Bust-A-Move is really good.

[Dangerboy]

If you can stand the frame rate and occasional annoying level layout, Killing Time was pretty cool. If you're looking fro a challenge...Blade Force (sp?) I think. That bastard was INSANE.

Deck wise, I'm a sucker for launch models, so it's FZ-1, but if I had to go back and re-buy, I'd do FZ-10 for the wish-I-were-a-Duo shell. :)

[vintagegamecrazy]

I'll never get why there's so much liking for Monster Manor.

[Shadow Kisuragi]

I second some of the suggestions made here:
FZ-10 (I have an FZ-1, and memory management sucks)

Lost Eden
Incredible Machine
Lucienne's Quest (if you can get it)
Road Rash
Night Trap
Super Wing Commander
MegaRace (not sure how this controls on 3DO)

I haven't had much of a chance to use my 3DO recently. Last time I used it, we played through Daedalus Encounter. Interesting puzzle/FMV game in the vein of 7th Guest (another great game). I would stay away from Twisted!...horrible party game.

[MF_Luder]

I have the tactical RPG, Guardian Heroes and it's fun even though it has a cliche story. I like my 3DO FZ-10 better than my FZ-1 and it seems to have an easier time reading discs.


I think you're referring to Guardian War, Rick (Guardian Heroes was a Saturn games). I also prefer the FZ-10. It's not much harder to find, and it's really worth the little extra money or effort you might expend.

Gex and Road Rash got the most playtime on my 3DO by far. Despite sharing the same name as the Genesis original, "Road Rash" on the 3DO is a completely different game, and some fans consider it the best in the series (I'm partial to RR2 on the Genny because it's the one I grew up playing, but the 3DO version is definitely worthy of the praise it gets).

Crash N Burn (pack-in game with the system) was pretty good too, and Star Control II, BladeForce, and Return Fire all would have been considered very good games even if released on a mainstream console. But I can't offer my personal opinion on how well those three hold up today, as they remain in my enormous pile of unplayed games.

[chrisbid]

3DOs are so hard to find in the wild, that i would pretty much get whatever (working) model that is cheapest.

[MF_Luder]

I agree with chrisbid on that. When looking in the wild, you take whatever you can find. In terms of performance, you'll get the same gaming experience from all 3.

But if you're searching on eBay, it's worth it to focus your search on the FZ-10, unless another package overwhelmingly sells you based on the games it's offering or the price it's going for.

[j_factor]

Is there anything special about the Sanyo 3DO?

[-hellvin-]

All of the aforementioned games are great but I've always quite enjoyed Flashback and Out of this World on the 3DO. Probably my favorite version of each. I would also recommend checking out Icebreaker. It's quite a neat little puzzle game.

[horseboy]

Star Control II is one of the finest video games on any platform.

[DDCecil]

The FZ-10 I owned wouldn't play Quarantine (Probably not a big loss to anyone here, but I like it), but my FZ-1 plays it just fine.

Icebreaker is my favorite game on the system. I was lucky to buy Icebreaker II when it was available from oldergames.com, and it's worth tracking down if you liked the first one.

[tom]

Best model...
http://www.videogamecollectors.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=241731&g2_serialNumber=1

well, ok...not best, because you'll need an old PC, but still pretty cool.

[bitrate]

These are nice models :)
Five disk changer with VCD peripheral.



http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/bitrate_photos/DSC05763_25.jpg

[ghostangelofcky]

To the best of my knowledge the Sanyo model was for Japan. Also, you all should be ashamed of yourselves for not recommending Killing Time. That game was by far a unique FPS for that platform.

Also, the FZ-1 required a special pack in disc to access the memory manager on the system. I think it was the only model to do it that way.

[PapaStu]

If you can stand the frame rate and occasional annoying level layout, Killing Time was pretty cool.


Also, you all should be ashamed of yourselves for not recommending Killing Time. That game was by far a unique FPS for that platform.



He beat you by like 2 hours ;)

[Tupin]

Also, the FZ-1 required a special pack in disc to access the memory manager on the system. I think it was the only model to do it that way.

Thank goodness I can just download it and burn it to a disc...:angel:

[LiquidPolicenaut]

I personally have the original FZ-1 since its original release day oh-so-many years ago and it still works perfectly. I also like the FZ-10 just because it looks a lot like a Turbo Duo :)

Some games I would recommend are:
Snowjob
Night Trap
Twisted
Wolfenstein 3D
Burning Soldier
Shockwave
The Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes

Import:
Policenauts
Pyramid Intruder

[bombman]

Shockwave 2, Immercenary, and D.

Everything else (including Gex) is skippable.



Edit: Not too familiar with 3do imports, just speaking for the US release side.

[betamax001]

Plumbers Don't Wear Ties! (http://www.gametrailers.com/video/angry-video-screwattack/52921)

[Oldskool]

I have an FZ-1 but don't have the memory manager disc. Does anyone know how I can aquire it? I can never seem to find the ISO for it either. HELP! Also, I have like 65 games or so on the console, does anyone know if any may have a built in memory manager? I have overheard that some of the games do, but have not had the opportunity to check it out because the console is in storage.

[Jisho23]

The Wolfenstein port is damn good. I also like the port of "Space Ace," and its cool to have since I'm not sure what other systems have a port of the game.

Return Fire is really good multiplayer but not for much else.

[j_factor]

To the best of my knowledge the Sanyo model was for Japan.

It was, but the system is region-free.

[William_the_Saint]

@Oldskool: Gex has a memory manager.

[Ed Oscuro]

I'll never get why there's so much liking for Monster Manor.
It's an FPS.

[mobiusclimber]

The 3DO is region free BUT some Japanese games require kanji that is not available on US systems and so the game won't work.

Which is why I suggest getting a Japanese 3DO over a US one. They aren't much more expensive either, from what I've seen.

[CRV]

@Oldskool: Gex has a memory manager.

The demo discs do, too.

[Rickstilwell1]

I think you're referring to Guardian War, Rick (Guardian Heroes was a Saturn games). I also prefer the FZ-10. It's not much harder to find, and it's really worth the little extra money or effort you might expend.

Gex and Road Rash got the most playtime on my 3DO by far. Despite sharing the same name as the Genesis original, "Road Rash" on the 3DO is a completely different game, and some fans consider it the best in the series (I'm partial to RR2 on the Genny because it's the one I grew up playing, but the 3DO version is definitely worthy of the praise it gets).

Crash N Burn (pack-in game with the system) was pretty good too, and Star Control II, BladeForce, and Return Fire all would have been considered very good games even if released on a mainstream console. But I can't offer my personal opinion on how well those three hold up today, as they remain in my enormous pile of unplayed games.

Yeah it's Guardian War. I got the title mixed up with the Saturn game because I wasn't looking at them when I posted the comment.

[SamuraiSmurfette]

I still crack out Zhadnost every now and then for the sheer silliness of it.
Probably shameful that I've spent more time on it than any other 3DO game...

(It's a communist-themed game show)

[Oldskool]

Oh good, I do have Gex, problem solved then. Whew! I also have Guardian War, I LOVE that game. The magic animation was WAAAAY ahead of it's time, it's FF7 like.

I think the 3D0 is one of the most under-rated, most trash talked about consoles ever made. :mad:


Gex is not skippable! Gex is an EXCELLENT game.

[nate1749]

I like the fz-10, but I haven't found a game worth recommending yet...

[Flashback2012]

Best model...
http://www.videogamecollectors.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=241731&g2_serialNumber=1

well, ok...not best, because you'll need an old PC, but still pretty cool.

Man....I ALWAYS wanted that card/drive combination. I always thought how cool it would be to play console games through a PC. :drinking:

I have the FZ-1 model that I got from EB. I remember paying $179.99 for it used with a couple of games. I can recall the transaction clear as day because the EB manager had a hard time with one of the games out of it's case (Jurassic Park Interactive I think). He pulled and bended the disc by it's sides to the point where it almost formed a U-shape...I thought for sure that he was going to snap the disc in half. :o


Anyways, as for the recommended games, most of the bases have been covered by others already though I'll second the following....

Lucienne's Quest
Guardian War
Return Fire/Return Fire: Maps O' Death
Lost Eden
Star Control II

[Lemmi_Is_God]

Oh good, I do have Gex, problem solved then. Whew! I also have Guardian War, I LOVE that game. The magic animation was WAAAAY ahead of it's time, it's FF7 like.
I think the 3D0 is one of the most under-rated, most trash talked about consoles ever made. :mad:
Gex is not skippable! Gex is an EXCELLENT game.

i totally agree about being underrated and the trash talk can get on your nerves after awhile

but if you want a stand alone mem manager try this (if you have CDRs laying around to burn this to) its a very small mem manager only
http://cid-3fe60e063b48cac2.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Public/Various%20Stuff


oh and i like the FZ10 unit the best but then i like all the top loading systems better then the cd tray versions

[geelw]

Doesn't the 3DO Game Guru have a memory manager/compression function?

Alos, I'm surprised no one here has mentioned "D" as a game recommendation! It's short as hell, yes, but it's a pretty darn important game for the time period.

BTW, the best FPS on the console has to be PO'ed, if only because it's so weird and the level design is near brilluant. Kung fu flips, a jetpack, using a flamethrower to burn melt gurgling, acid-spitting jello monsters, a dead Elvis hanging in a meat freezer (finding the King opens up one of the more insane bonus stages I've seen in any game)... what's not to love?

Killing Time is great fun, Return Fire & RF: Maps O' Death are great two-player vs games, Battlesport is a fine blast for multiplayer action and anything MicroCabin did for the console is worth playing.

I liked AD & D Slayer for its dungeon creating function (endless fun, even if you're doing the same thing over and over), but Deathkeep was an acquired taste - it looks better, but the first area is a pain (with the ice and later, the jumping sections), as is the save system that forces you to play from the start of a stage if you die.

Demolition Man is pure cheese, but it's fun to see all the extra work Stallone and co. put into making the game. I still think that opening is one of the best character intros in an action movie (until Sly ruins it by screaming like an escaped lunatic when he jumps from the chopper to the roof... ah well).

Hated the character art, but Captain Quazar is cool, Phoenix 3 is annoying until you get the controls down and get through the first few levels (too bad about the limited lives, though).

There are also a bunch of fun imports (yup, Pyramid Intruder is a pretty nice find), but to get the most out of some of the RPGs and adventure games, a bit of Japanese is required. (Doctor Hauzer might look awful these days, but it's interesting to play and compare to both Alone in the Dark and Resident Evil)

but yup, a few won't run on anything but a Japanese 3DO (Twinkle Knights and Blue Forest Story, are two off the top of my head). Still, a lot of US and import games are inexpensive if you know where to track them down...

[mobiusclimber]

I got the Japanese 3DO specifically for Blue Forest Story and Sword & Sorcery (the JPN version of Lucienne's Quest).

[Thrillo]

There's not enough mention of Samurai Shodown and Street Fighter II in this thread. They're not quite perfect, but they're the best ports of their time.

Best model...
http://www.videogamecollectors.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=241731&g2_serialNumber=1

well, ok...not best, because you'll need an old PC, but still pretty cool.
I saw one of those at a thrift store years ago...and it wasn't bare, it was inside a 486 so it was ready to go...and on top of that, it was a DEV UNIT! It had a few switches-of-mystery on the outside, a SCSI card, and all the other fancy stuff you'd expect to see in a PC-based dev unit. Except for the case, it was the epitome of generic but that's probably because the unit was hand-built by a small dev studio.

Unfortunately, I didn't have enough money to buy it (20 freaking dollars cash) and I wasn't a 3DO fan at the time, so I just said "fuckit" and left. Of course, I now realize my folly and I wish I begged for/scrounged up enough hard cash to buy it, but hindsight is 20/20 :( .

[Soviet Conscript]

I got the Japanese 3DO specifically for Blue Forest Story and Sword & Sorcery (the JPN version of Lucienne's Quest).

is the japanese version of Lucienne's Quest better in some way then the english version? or just cheaper and easier to find?

[geelw]

is the japanese version of Lucienne's Quest better in some way then the english version? or just cheaper and easier to find?

in terms of visual content and gameplay, both versions are the same. in terms of story, lucienne is a bit of a dopey mage in training in the US translation, while in the import, she's more of an annoyingly scrappy mage in training. if you can't read the language in the import, you're not missing much, as the game is fairly easy and linear. on the other hand, there's humor to be found in both versions along with some interesting party members.

overall, it's a "light" rpg in terms of difficulty and overall length. the import might be less expensive (depending on where you look), but if you don't mind digging up a walkthrough somewhere, it's worth a buy.

also, if you can't locate either 3DO version, consider the Saturn import of Sword & Sorcery which has a new anime intro. The bad news: the frame rate is chuggier and i think it doesn't look as clean as the original. I need to replay it again one day...

[Soviet Conscript]

in terms of visual content and gameplay, both versions are the same. in terms of story, lucienne is a bit of a dopey mage in training in the US translation, while in the import, she's more of an annoyingly scrappy mage in training. if you can't read the language in the import, you're not missing much, as the game is fairly easy and linear. on the other hand, there's humor to be found in both versions along with some interesting party members.

overall, it's a "light" rpg in terms of difficulty and overall length. the import might be less expensive (depending on where you look), but if you don't mind digging up a walkthrough somewhere, it's worth a buy.

also, if you can't locate either 3DO version, consider the Saturn import of Sword & Sorcery which has a new anime intro. The bad news: the frame rate is chuggier and i think it doesn't look as clean as the original. I need to replay it again one day...

thanks gee. I have the us version but never played it so i wasn't aware if there was diffrences. somehow i lucked out when i bought my 3do lot many years ago on ebay not knowing the games on the system. it pretty much came with all the noteworthy 3do games.

[CDiablo]

Im suprised no one mentoned The Horde. Very interesting town building/defense game starring Christian whackjob Kirk Cameron. Ive had a 3do since launch and cant reccomend too much. I enjoyed most of the lightgun shooters including the system exclusive Demolition Man, which was a blast. The light gun is very expensive though. Return Fire and Road Rash were good, but both are available on PS1. THe system has the best non NEO-GEO console port of Samurai Showdown. Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo was great for the time if you enjoy old school SF.

Overall I feel that there is no real reason to get a 3DO as you can get 99% of the games on PC-CD or for PS1/Saturn. The only US released games I can think of that are exclusive to the platform are Demolition Man and Jurassic Park Interactive. There may be some import gems out there, but I do not know of them.

[geelw]

Im suprised no one mentoned The Horde. Very interesting town building/defense game starring Christian whackjob Kirk Cameron. Ive had a 3do since launch and cant recommend too much. I enjoyed most of the lightgun shooters including the system exclusive Demolition Man, which was a blast. The light gun is very expensive though. Return Fire and Road Rash were good, but both are available on PS1. THe system has the best non NEO-GEO console port of Samurai Showdown. Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo was great for the time if you enjoy old school SF.

Overall I feel that there is no real reason to get a 3DO as you can get 99% of the games on PC-CD or for PS1/Saturn. The only US released games I can think of that are exclusive to the platform are Demolition Man and Jurassic Park Interactive. There may be some import gems out there, but I do not know of them.

The Horde is indeed, a really fun game. I'd forgotten about it only because I've only played it once - and that was back around 1995.

Well, I'm one of those folks who thinks that the 3DO version of Road Rash is actually superior to the PS1 version, as are a few other games that eventually popped up on other platforms. Granted, a few 3DO to PS or Saturn translations were better ( WARP's D had extra content and cleaner visuals on the second disc, Off Road Interceptor was tweaked even more to be better balanced, et cetera). As far as exclusives or PC to 3DO/other console translations, games such as Dragon Lore, Lost Eden, Star Control II, The Daedalus Encounter and a few other titles make the system worth owning if one is a fan of these types of games.

Like any console, it's easy to point out the bad titles and say a system isn't worth owning. On the other hand, a good 3DO collection will have both a selection of US and import games. On the other hand, even the worst 3DO games out there are at least checking out if your tastes run toward the unusual. Pure junk such as Virtuoso, AutoBahn Tokio, Shadow; War of Succession, Cyberdillo and Mazer can all make you laugh like a hopped-up hyena (provided you didn't pay much for them)...

[Kid Ice]

Pure junk such as Virtuoso, AutoBahn Tokio, Shadow; War of Succession, Cyberdillo and Mazer can all make you laugh like a hopped-up hyena (provided you didn't pay much for them)...

In thirty years of gaming, only three games have caused me to shed tears....Robinson's Requiem, Plumbers Don't Wear Ties, and Virtuoso actually brought tears of laughter to my eyes (Plumbers more than once).

Not only are there games like these that are just all out funny, there are a number of average/mediocre games on the system that have completely hilarious elements (usually voice acting, music, or FMV).

[bombman]

The Horde was okay, it had hilarious cutscenes which is really the only thing that kept me playing. I played it on Saturn though.

[bombman]

Im suprised no one mentoned The Horde. Very interesting town building/defense game starring Christian whackjob Kirk Cameron. Ive had a 3do since launch and cant reccomend too much. I enjoyed most of the lightgun shooters including the system exclusive Demolition Man, which was a blast. The light gun is very expensive though. Return Fire and Road Rash were good, but both are available on PS1. THe system has the best non NEO-GEO console port of Samurai Showdown. Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo was great for the time if you enjoy old school SF.

Overall I feel that there is no real reason to get a 3DO as you can get 99% of the games on PC-CD or for PS1/Saturn. The only US released games I can think of that are exclusive to the platform are Demolition Man and Jurassic Park Interactive. There may be some import gems out there, but I do not know of them.

Immercenary is a really engrossing exclusive. As I mentioned, that, Shockwave 2, and D and Alone In The Dark are the only games out of... 20 or so that I enjoyed playing on the 3DO I used to have.
I had all the top recommended games: Wing Commander 3, Space Hulk, Cyberia, Gex... wasn't at all impressed with any of them.

[mobiusclimber]

is the japanese version of Lucienne's Quest better in some way then the english version? or just cheaper and easier to find?

It's cheaper and easier to find. I don't shell $100 for any single game, ever. I'd love to have the US version some day, but probably my only chance is to luck out like you did, or to get it through trading.

[geelw]

Immercenary is a really engrossing exclusive. As I mentioned, that, Shockwave 2, and D and Alone In The Dark are the only games out of... 20 or so that I enjoyed playing on the 3DO I used to have.
I had all the top recommended games: Wing Commander 3, Space Hulk, Cyberia, Gex... wasn't at all impressed with any of them.


Immercenary is a pretty under appreciated (and really quirky) game, as is Space Hulk (which isn't as quirky, but it can scare the crap out of you at times). If someone wanted to make a FPS that actually mattered, they'd snap up the license from EA and Games Workshop and cook up a game that combined FPS/RTS and RPG elements...

[Keranu]

Here's my FZ-10 in action. (http://www.lazerdorks.org/stunningarticles/3docook/index.html)

[Oldskool]

i totally agree about being underrated and the trash talk can get on your nerves after awhile

but if you want a stand alone mem manager try this (if you have CDRs laying around to burn this to) its a very small mem manager only
http://cid-3fe60e063b48cac2.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Public/Various%20Stuff


oh and i like the FZ10 unit the best but then i like all the top loading systems better then the cd tray versions

Hey thanks, I'll try that out and burn a copy as soon as possible (no need until the console is out of storage). Is that like a homebrew memory manager? Speaking of homebrew, is there ANY for the 3DO? Also, there shouldnt be a special way to burn a 3DO disk right, just use an ISO burning software like NERO and burn away?

[Oldskool]

One game that I don't think anyone has mentioned, that is really good, and I know I spent many hours playing it was Theme Park. Yeah it's probably on every other system out there, but I loved that game. Lot's of fun actually.

Another good game not sure if anyone mentioned was Pataank. I mastered that game, when you first play it, it seems real odd, especially with the camera angles, but once you get used to it it's FUN! Best pinball game on the 3DO.

[Lemmi_Is_God]

Hey thanks, I'll try that out and burn a copy as soon as possible (no need until the console is out of storage). Is that like a homebrew memory manager? Speaking of homebrew, is there ANY for the 3DO? Also, there shouldnt be a special way to burn a 3DO disk right, just use an ISO burning software like NERO and burn away?


heh i forgot how to burn an iso its been atleast 4 years since i last burned something in iso form but nero should handle it because its the only burning software ive ever used. that mem manager is the 3DO Storage Manager CD v2.1 for the FZ-EM256 Memory Unit. if you use that mem manager on a sanyo 3do system the text should display in all japanese
i got that manager from the 3dozero forums

[Oldskool]

Sweet deal, I am itching to see what all is saved onto it. I wonder if there is a format feature on the disk. Also, what is this someone mentioned about a memory compression utility? Does this allow you to store more save games? Or is this a different piece of software?

[Lemmi_Is_God]

Sweet deal, I am itching to see what all is saved onto it. I wonder if there is a format feature on the disk. Also, what is this someone mentioned about a memory compression utility? Does this allow you to store more save games? Or is this a different piece of software?

the memory compression utility is called the Game Guru
from game faq


Within the confines of your favorite 3DO title resides a wealth of power. Power that's within your grasp, when you summon the 3DO Game Guru. The 3DO Game Guru taps into the secret codes of each game to reveal more of what you play for: More lives. More weapons. More game cheat codes. More money! Built in codes for 30+ hot titles and you can enter additional 3DO Game Guru codes to unlock the secrets of many more titles. Need we say more? The 3DO Game Guru. Discover what you've been missing

Also it compresses your game memory allowing for more storage capacity on your 3do
more info
http://www.gamewinners.com/3DO/GameGuru.htm

[Oldskool]

That looks cool and all but where can I get it? Is that an ISO or something? Something I have to buy?

Thanks for the link to the memory manager. Noticed you have a bunch of 3DO manuals in there as well, that's really cool that someone is archiving that kind of stuff.

[Lemmi_Is_God]

That looks cool and all but where can I get it? Is that an ISO or something? Something I have to buy?

Thanks for the link to the memory manager. Noticed you have a bunch of 3DO manuals in there as well, that's really cool that someone is archiving that kind of stuff.

there is an iso out there somewhere ;) or you could buy it, the last 2 complete ones on ebay i saw were between $30 and $99

i started the scanning and i was going to submit the manuals to replacementdocs.com but since it took 5 months for the 10 i submitted to be posted there (and only 3 were posted) i stopped and just posted all my scans at 3dozero forums instead. they also might be posted here if they are good enough for the guy who is asking for manual scans in another thread

i would have more scans but alot of my games are still sealed or have already been posted at replacement docs

[TheCaptain]

I have the Panasonic FZ-1 and the smaller and more flat Panasonic model, the reason I have both is because the Panasonic model is a quality product and to me it's the more classic of the two models I own, the other Panasonic I have because it has more internal memory and can hold a lot more games than the FZ-1 deck. As far as games go, I have about 45 games for the system and the following are titles I would reccomend (mainly because I like them personally).....

Gex
Theme Park
Escape from Monster Manor
Slam N' Jam 95
Alone in the Dark
Alone in the Dark 2
Jurrassic Park 3D
Killing Time
Lost Eden
Guardian War
Captain Quasar
Balls the Directors Cut
Hell
Samurai Showdown
Myst
Street Fighter 2 Turbo
Total Eclipse
Mazer
AD&D Slayer (one of my favorite games of all-time, I know...I'm weird)
AD&D Deathkeep
Off World Interceptor
Luchiennes Quest

There are other games too that I can't think of at this time, I will post more once I can think of them, but all in all there are a ton of fantastic 3DO games out there!

[A Black Falcon]

I have the Panasonic FZ-1 and the smaller and more flat Panasonic model, the reason I have both is because the Panasonic model is a quality product and to me it's the more classic of the two models I own, the other Panasonic I have because it has more internal memory and can hold a lot more games than the FZ-1 deck. As far as games go, I have about 45 games for the system and the following are titles I would reccomend (mainly because I like them personally).....

Gex
Theme Park
Escape from Monster Manor
Slam N' Jam 95
Alone in the Dark
Alone in the Dark 2
Jurrassic Park 3D
Killing Time
Lost Eden
Guardian War
Captain Quasar
Balls the Directors Cut
Hell
Samurai Showdown
Myst
Street Fighter 2 Turbo
Total Eclipse
Mazer
AD&D Slayer (one of my favorite games of all-time, I know...I'm weird)
AD&D Deathkeep
Off World Interceptor
Luchiennes Quest

There are other games too that I can't think of at this time, I will post more once I can think of them, but all in all there are a ton of fantastic 3DO games out there!

I've thought about getting a 3DO, and probably will someday, but really, one real problem with it is the number of exclusives. I mean, like, I look at that list, and a majority of those titles are either ports or games that were later ported...

Off-World Interceptor -- ported to PSX and Saturn as Off-World Interceptor Extreme.
Total Eclipse -- ported to PSX as Total Eclipse Turbo
Super Street Fighter II Turbo -- later also ported to PSX and Saturn, now also on GBA, PS2, Xbox, Xbox 360 (HD Remix), and PS3 (HD Remix). Maybe PSP as well?
Captain Quazar -- was later ported to PC
Theme Park -- originally a PC game, was on numerous other consoles as well as 3DO (PSX, Genesis, Sega CD, Jaguar, Mac, Amiga, SNES, now the DS too...)
Gex -- was later ported to PC, PSX, and Saturn. PSX and Saturn versions are password save only, though.
Alone in the Dark -- PC port (also on Mac, etc). 3DO did have the only console version.
Alone in the Dark 2 -- PC port also also on Mac. Also released on PSX and Saturn. (Alone in the Dark 3, by the way, was PC/Mac only)
Myst -- PC port of course... also on other CD-based consoles -- PSX, Saturn, Jaguar CD...
Balls -- originally a SNES/Genesis title
Samurai Shodown -- on everything at the time... Neo-Geo originally though.


It makes me think a bit of the Dreamcast, the system had a short life, a lot of ports, and a lot of its exclusives were then ported to other systems after it died. Of course the Dreamcast is an amazing system anyway, so that doesn't mean the system isn't worth getting anyway... but it is something I at least have thought about, for sure. How many of its games that I want actually aren't available anywhere, or are really better on 3DO (Gex having hard save doesn't count, that's on PC too and passwords aren't that bad)... Star Fighter for sure, having a gradually fading background instead of a black wall is a MASSIVE difference. 3DO really bungled the PSX, Saturn, and PC ports of that game... and it's a game I remember liking a lot on the PC, so if I wanted a 3DO that really would be one of the top reasons why. But so many games were ported...

[awbacon]

Killing Time is my all time favorite 3DO game, and one of my favorite games of all time

Don't quite know why...just something about it (story, setting, and especially SOUNDTRACK) make me play and beat it once a year....probably since I got it when I was a kid, and back then the game was just insane compared to what it was up against console wars wise

[Shou]

Best choice is the Japanese FZ-1 since it has the memory manager built-in, region free and has the kanji buffer for certain Japanese games.

[Tupin]

Anyone know where I can download the Memory Manager? I just looked and I saw that Hell: A Cyberpunk Thriller has it, that's what I need, right?

*coughcoughalsolookatmywantthreadcoughcough*

[TheCaptain]

I've thought about getting a 3DO, and probably will someday, but really, one real problem with it is the number of exclusives. I mean, like, I look at that list, and a majority of those titles are either ports or games that were later ported...

Off-World Interceptor -- ported to PSX and Saturn as Off-World Interceptor Extreme.
Total Eclipse -- ported to PSX as Total Eclipse Turbo
Super Street Fighter II Turbo -- later also ported to PSX and Saturn, now also on GBA, PS2, Xbox, Xbox 360 (HD Remix), and PS3 (HD Remix). Maybe PSP as well?
Captain Quazar -- was later ported to PC
Theme Park -- originally a PC game, was on numerous other consoles as well as 3DO (PSX, Genesis, Sega CD, Jaguar, Mac, Amiga, SNES, now the DS too...)
Gex -- was later ported to PC, PSX, and Saturn. PSX and Saturn versions are password save only, though.
Alone in the Dark -- PC port (also on Mac, etc). 3DO did have the only console version.
Alone in the Dark 2 -- PC port also also on Mac. Also released on PSX and Saturn. (Alone in the Dark 3, by the way, was PC/Mac only)
Myst -- PC port of course... also on other CD-based consoles -- PSX, Saturn, Jaguar CD...
Balls -- originally a SNES/Genesis title
Samurai Shodown -- on everything at the time... Neo-Geo originally though.


It makes me think a bit of the Dreamcast, the system had a short life, a lot of ports, and a lot of its exclusives were then ported to other systems after it died. Of course the Dreamcast is an amazing system anyway, so that doesn't mean the system isn't worth getting anyway... but it is something I at least have thought about, for sure. How many of its games that I want actually aren't available anywhere, or are really better on 3DO (Gex having hard save doesn't count, that's on PC too and passwords aren't that bad)... Star Fighter for sure, having a gradually fading background instead of a black wall is a MASSIVE difference. 3DO really bungled the PSX, Saturn, and PC ports of that game... and it's a game I remember liking a lot on the PC, so if I wanted a 3DO that really would be one of the top reasons why. But so many games were ported...

It didn't have a lot of exclusives but a lot of those games were exclusive at first and then the 3DO began to really die out as far as retail goes. The 3DO also had a couple cockpit style Stars Wars games that were exclusive and well recieved by critics and fans, but I never found them to be much fun. For most of those games that you mentioned though I could never imagin myself playing on another system, my memories with those games are with the 3DO and I am loyal enough to return to my 3DO for those titles when I decide I want to play them. I'm stubborn like that, lol.

[InsaneDavid]

I got the Japanese 3DO specifically for Blue Forest Story and Sword & Sorcery (the JPN version of Lucienne's Quest).


is the japanese version of Lucienne's Quest better in some way then the english version? or just cheaper and easier to find?

It won't work on a USA 3DO, it gives an error message after the splash screen. I came upon a copy of Sword & Sorcery in a large mixed assortment of 3DO games from a dealer I've done business with for years. No dice on my FZ-1.

Lots of great recommendations in this thread but my pick for the system is Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S. Solid 2D fighting game using the anime graphics (as opposed to the garbage CG used in the Saturn and PlayStation Sailor Moon fighting games) and just a touch of scaling. The Super Famicom Sailor Moon fighting games were pretty decent for the platform but the 3DO entry is excellent.

[Hawksmoor]

All of the best 3DO games have been mentioned numerous times, save for one - Slam and Jam. A fantastic arcade basketball game reminiscent of Run N Gun. It was a 3DO original later ported to the PS1 and Saturn, with Kareem Abdul Jabbar's name in the title. IMO the 3DO version is far and away the best of the three. Still a great game to this day.

[TheCaptain]

All of the best 3DO games have been mentioned numerous times, save for one - Slam and Jam. A fantastic arcade basketball game reminiscent of Run N Gun. It was a 3DO original later ported to the PS1 and Saturn, with Kareem Abdul Jabbar's name in the title. IMO the 3DO version is far and away the best of the three. Still a great game to this day.

I mentioned Slam N' Jam 95 in my first post within this thread, it is a fantastic basketball game that makes it playable to this day due to having non NBA players, if it had NBA players then the game would be seriously dated and almost unplayable. This usually is the same for most sports games, in my view anyway....

[Mason P.]

i just pulled out my FZ-10 and it doenst seem to read disks. thats a bummer. I have never used it. I got it used from a store and stored it away for many years still shrunkwrapped. Is there place I can go to get new lasers??

Oh yea Road Rash and Captain Quazar are 2 great games.

[Oldskool]

Many times when a laser is not used often it's a problem with the motor that moves it back and forth. The lubrication will gunk up and sometimes even solidifies which basically glues the laser in place. Do you know if the motor is working? Can you hear the laser moving back and forth? Does the laser look like it returns to neutral when the system is powered down? I am thinking that if it's been shrink wrapped the laser itself is probably clean.

[Steve W]

Gex has a memory manager.
I'm glad to know that. Especially considering when I bought my FZ-1 (in a thrift store for $4.99 - I feel bad for whoever paid $700 for it originally) it had a copy of Gex inside it. I also bought a copy of Hell: A Cyberpunk Thriller, which I've only played for a short while before giving up. So I have two discs to manage memory. But... how exactly do I use them? Is there an option in the game menu? I haven't played either in a long time, so I don't recall too much about them.

I have around 20 or so games for my 3DO, mainly the easy to find stuff like Mad Dog McCree and Dragon's Lair. Strangely, the first thing I'll play when I plug my 3DO in is Star Blade. I don't have the PS1 version and the Sega CD version is a bit lacking, with its wireframe graphics (doesn't the Genesis/Sega CD combo have two 68000 processors together, and it can only do wireframes?). I've always loved the arcade game, so it's nice to have a copy that looks the part.

[Oldskool]

Maybe you didn't catch the link earlier in the thread for a standalone file manager? Might be easier than booting up a game to mess around with it.

[Oldskool]

Small memory manager ISO posted earlier.

http://cid-3fe60e063b48cac2.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Public/Various%20Stuff

[A Black Falcon]

I have around 20 or so games for my 3DO, mainly the easy to find stuff like Mad Dog McCree and Dragon's Lair. Strangely, the first thing I'll play when I plug my 3DO in is Star Blade. I don't have the PS1 version and the Sega CD version is a bit lacking, with its wireframe graphics (doesn't the Genesis/Sega CD combo have two 68000 processors together, and it can only do wireframes?). I've always loved the arcade game, so it's nice to have a copy that looks the part.

I have Starblade for Sega CD. I don't mind the wireframes, but it sure would be nice to have a version that has more than two continues... it's a fun game, but with such a strict continue limit it's nearly impossible. I know the PSX version (Starblade Alpha) has infinite continues (saw a copy of that game in a store once last year, complete with the longbox and everything, for cheap... didn't get it because I had no idea it went for so much online. Regretted that later, but oh well...), but is it the same on 3DO? The two versions are pretty much the same, right?

[Tupin]

Small memory manager ISO posted earlier.

http://cid-3fe60e063b48cac2.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Public/Various%20Stuff
Gives me an error when I try to open up the folder after I download it. Error processing .iso image.