Completed another goal (56k beware)
I got the final game in this subset today and wanted to share my joy:
This one was pretty special to me because I my first system was the SMS. I always drooled over the SegaScope games, but could never have them. Yes, it was and still is a gimmick, but it really works and was a childhood wish I was able to finally satiate almost 20 years later. Sure beats the hell out of R.O.B.
Paid too much for OutRun 3-D, but got a fair deal on the glasses themselves after a long, frustrating time of either missing or being outbid on glasses-only auctions [already had half the games by the time I got the glasses and extra copies of Missile Defense 3-D are tough to get rid of (have 2 already), so I didn't want to get them in a lot]. Didn't want a game as mediocre as OutRun 3-D to drive me nuts either, so I ponyed up. Very satisfied.
Rather than just gloat over a completed goal, I thought I'd do some screens and write-ups (shots taken through emulation of course). Forgive me if I am annoying anyone, but I'm pretty excited.
Blade Eagle 3-D
Well, the best thing I can say about this game is that, no matter how much I wanted to like it, I have to admit that it totally sucks. The 3D doesn't work too well with this one, resulting in occasional double images. It is clearly a vertical shmup, but it works within two planes on the z-axis. The biggest problem is that it is incredibly difficult to distinguish which enemies are in which plane. The idea is sound, but it wasn't really pulled off until Vertical Force on the Virtual Boy, and even then it was mediocre and harder than it needed to be. The absolute worst of the SegaScope 3-D games.
Maze Hunter 3-D
From the real stinker to quite possibly the best SegaScope game. This is an overhead maze action game in the vein of Gauntlet, though it feels a bit more like Zelda in terms of control. The main differences being that it is stage based, more action-oriented, and has a jump button. Jumping is actually one of the coolest 3D effects within any of the games as it really seems like your avatar is coming at you. Very cool. All of the purple walls in the shots have actual depth, so you work your way further into the screen through the use of tunnels. Very cool and would have been truly awesome as a two-player game.
Missile Defense 3-D
The pack-in for the SegaScope SMS set is a decent Light Phaser game that is limited in scope, but makes good use of the 3D effect. You are required to shoot every missile in each stage to avoid nuclear holocaust. The backgrounds are stationary 3D images with missiles that erratically fly over them, toward and even away from the player. There are three substages to each level which allow you to try again for any missiles missed in the prior substage. If you get hit 3 times by the missiles that come at the screen, or allow even one missile to get away after playing through the three substages, its game over. Not the greatest game, but a good choice as a pack-in demo of the technology.
OutRun 3-D
The "rare" of the group that I don't think saw a US release. OutRun 3-D is exactly what OutRun.org describes it as: A watered-down version of the original SMS game that has different stages, new tunes, less exciting graphics and the by now unmistakeable SegaScope 3-D effect. I had played it via emulation a long time before attempting to get the set and knew it was a bit of a stinker, but it really gets a far worse rap than it deserves. It plays a good game of SMS OutRun, and the 3D works pretty well, even though there could be more pseudo-scaling objects to add to any WOW factor that remains. The music is a step down from the original, only containing Magical Sound Shower, Last Wave and 3 new tracks.* Not worth what it goes for unless you want them all, but nowhere near as bad as something like Blade Eagle.
*(edited because the music is not in OutRun 2. I'm a moron.)
Poseidon Wars 3-D
An obscure one I hadn't heard of until shopping at Joe's store after acquiring the glasses. He had it in stock and mentioned that it was pretty cool, so I grabbed it (at that point OutRun 3-D was scaring me out of completing the subset). It turns out that it is one of the best games available for the glasses. Poseidon Wars is a rail shmup that requires you to move a reticule around the screen and fire at enemy planes and ships, acting as your ship's gunner. The 3D effect is very cool, as the water kind of does a line scrolling thing as you continuously move to the right. This would be a decent game in 2D, but the glasses take it to the next level. Worth every cent.
Space Harrier 3-D
Not necessarily the best game of the lot, but certainly my absolute favorite. Just as the title says, it is a version of Space Harrier in 3D. Fantastic. The problem is that when you start playing, the game is very, very framey. The original SMS version is a better game, but the 3D is incredibly cool and adds to the experience exponentially. The large spikes that come from both the top and bottom of the screen in level 2 alone are worth the price of admission. It also has pretty good music with different tracks, as opposed to a single track throughout the entire game, outside of boss battles, in the original. Not perfect by any means, but it is the main reason I wanted to get the glasses. Had to play this one.
Zaxxon 3-D
The other reason I wanted the glasses. Zaxxon is a 3D version of the arcade game that uses the z-axis intstead of an isometric view. It is broken into two types of play: space sections where enemies come at you, requiring you to adjust your altitude to hit them using a reticule that pops up when aligned; and corridor section not unlike the original arcade game filled with 3D walls, turrets and fuel drums you must shoot to stay aloft. Unfortunately, only the latter really works well, and the game is plagued a bit by double image issues that are especially prevalent in the space sections. On the bright side, the 3D is really quite cool in the corridor sections and definitely shows the power of the SMS. The frame rate makes you wonder by Space Harrier is so choppy. I am also a fan of the music. Sticks with you.
That about does it. In classic Sega tradition, the SegaScope library is heavy on arcade action and low on substance. On a whole, the games and glasses are more of a conversation piece than a great gaming experience, but it was truly ahead of its time and sadly under-supported. AfterBurner, Galaxy Force, or any other super-scaler conversion would have been a cool addition. As it stands, it is a missed opportunity, but worth the time and effort for a Sega fan.
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Originally Posted by nate1749
