3D Worldrunner
Reviewed by Brian Mulholland
3D Worldrunner is a pretty basic Mario Bros. style action game where
you have to dodge, leap, shoot, and react to obstacles as you go through
levels competing both with not being killed and with a clock. The thing
that separates 3D Worldrunner from most of it's contemporaries is
that as the name implies it's the same psuedo-first person perspective
that so many N64 games have fallen in love now. And this game is easily
a decade or more old!
Graphics 8.5 out of 10
As mentioned above the game uses a 3D look though unlike modern games
the users only had to worry about forward motion as there is no direction
change allowed. The enemies are rather simplistic with most being simple
spheres with eyes. But the graphics are functional, and if one takes into
account the era in which they came out, they were fabulous for the time.
The terrain is a chessboard that scrolls endlessly towards you and there
are only a few static background images, but as you play, none of this matters.
Music and Sound 8 out of 10
I'm not a big music and sound lover in video games. Like graphics it bothers
me that most games spent so much time on their music and graphics that
they ignore gameplay. So like most 8 bit NES games 3D features rather
simply music and sound, but the music is a catchy little tune. The effects
are mostly non-existent. The sound of your character bumping into pillars
and shooting are the only effects and they're pretty lame. Other effects are
more musically produced. it sounds bad but is done effectively.
Game Challenge 8.5 out of 10
Once you get used to this game you'll find yourself driving clear into the
later levels before you start losing any lives at all, but this game is
sufficiently dangerous at all levels that if your concentration wanders
you can be dead at any point. As long as you stay focussed you should be in
for a pretty easy run up to a point but once you get to level 7 or 8 you'll
find you really are hard pressed to play perfectly to avoid death. The end of
level baddies are jokes. It's the levels that offer the challenge. This is quite
a departure from most games where the levels are just ways to prepare
you for gimmick laden end of level baddies.
Game Play-Fun 9 out of 10
Being short of attention span I hate how constant the danger is in this one
since one can't really multi-task with this game very well, but the game
is very fun and enjoyable, and in my experience even those who are not video
game buffs love it. The action is intense, but it feels like a video game so
there is no taste-specific carnage. It's good clean fun.
Frustration
There aren't to many spots that will raise your blood pressure. The difficulty
is really spread out pretty well such that you aren't likely to reach some hard
ceiling where you can't advance. Usually when you die you have to admit that
the game got you fair and square. There's a few tricky spots later in the levels
such as a spot where you have to think outside the box and bounce from column
to column while holding the jump button down, but such moments are few
and far between.
Replayability 9 out of 10
This is a game that isn't built on you learning a specific trick or tactic to
master and then you over-run the game for the rest of your life. It's pure
hand-eye coordination the whole way and as such the game will provide the
same level of challenge 5 years from now as it does today. Of course I'm
assuming you don't play it CONSTANTLY since after all, practice is
supposed to make perfect.
Game Value 10 out of 10
This game is a lot of fun for a wide range of people, not just stereotype
video game junkies. You can sit your girlfriend in front of this one and
she'll be as likely as you to enjoy it. Not sure what the going rate for this
is, but if they charge $7 or less scoop it up.
Overall 9 out of 10
Great, simple, fundamental action game with a lot of fast-paced nonstop
action that requires good hand-eye coordination and reflexes.