3DO

[tokyochojin]

I am interested in picking up a 3DO because it is a system I have never really played and they are cheap as chips in Japan. What do you think are the games which I should check out? I downloaded an emulator with Cannon fodder and had a lot of fun. Alot of games seem like more polished 16bit games which are cool, and there are a lot of titles which are very much products of their time like cgi games.

Any particular memories of the system and what games might still be enjoyable in 2014?

[Colin]

Just got up to take my brother and his wife to the airport, so will answer this properly later, but my 3DO essentials are -

Return fire
Road rash
Need for speed
Cannon fodder
Samurai shodown
The horde
Slam 'n jam
Wing commander III
Super street fighter II turbo

I can't even begin to say the amount of hours wasted away playing return fire against my mate, absolutely awesome fun, oh the memories of actually playing games against someone in the same room! There are a bunch of other games I would have for the system, but I dare say others would view them as crap (probably my favourite FIFA ever for example) and some of the ones listed above may have dated a bit, but I still think that even today it's a system that you can get a lot of fun out of. Not a lot of people have huge love for it, but I still like it personally. And the FZ-1 was one of my favourite system designs ever.

[Brad]

Colin nailed it with that list but I'd add starblade to the list. Return fire is the best 2 player game ever made.

[jonathan_ingram]

Yes to all of this. Strange system the 3DO, I had a PAL FZ-10 unit when it came out, region free too so I played most of the above and also Policenauts and Yu Yu Hakusho. I've still got a PAL and a US FZ-1 in storage. Return fire is really great, Need For Speed is really good too (i don't normally like driving games). I really like the port of Another World

[Baseley09]

Millionth vote for Return Fire, can't stress how good.

If you like fmv games like dragons lair then Strahl is the best in its genre, pure badass.

[Colin]

I want to play return fire now.

[CMcK]

Return Fire is an essential on the 3DO. Also add Madden, Battlesport, Space Hulk, Gex, Starfighter 3000 and Icebreaker 2 to the games listed above. Phoenix 3 has great space combat sections but iffy platforimg portions. The Wolfenstein port is great too. Bladeforce is good but the levels are too long and it affects the pacing. I quite liked Captain Quazar too.
I bought the system when it launched in the UK and still remember how gobsmacking Total Eclipse looked compared to MD and SNES games of the era. The pseudo 3d era started with the 3DO shame it wasn't too well supported once the Saturn and Playstation appeared.

[jonathan_ingram]

Can't believe I forgot starfighter 3000, absolutely superb game

[nakamura]

You could fly into space on Starfighter! Amazing!

Fifa is really fun on 3DO. The last truly great Fifa until 2006 ish I feel.

Colin's list is spot on. Return Fire so good.

[Digfox]

I know the list above has nailed it, but there is one game missing imo; Space Hulk.

I know it came out on other formats but it's home was on 3DO. Had a soft spot for Madden and Pebble Beach Golf but they have probably aged badly now.

[Colin]

I loved space hulk at the time, so atmospheric, but I don't think the gameplay holds up these days. Just found out 3DO RGB mods are doable now............

[jonathan_ingram]

I loved space hulk at the time, so atmospheric, but I don't think the gameplay holds up these days. Just found out 3DO RGB mods are doable now............

Wow I've never heard of that, I'll have to retrieve my US model.

[Baseley09]

Golf games never got better from when they started using digitised sprites, that was the zenith!

[Colin]

Golf games never got better than MD PGA or Amiga microprose golf!

[speedlolita]

I loved space hulk at the time, so atmospheric, but I don't think the gameplay holds up these days. Just found out 3DO RGB mods are doable now............

Better than that you can get a HDD fitted in place of the CD drive too.