Maze Hunter 3D

[Melf]

The Master System's SegaScope 3-D glasses are largely considered to be a gimmick, but there is some solid gameplay with most of the titles that use the technology. Maze Hunter 3D is a simple, arcadey maze game that makes great use of the effect for a solid and trippy experience. Read the full review for more details.

[Sik]

I've just realized I've played the game for long enough to get the music stuck in my head as soon as I started reading the article.

[A Black Falcon]

Maze Hunter 3D is okay, it's just kind of boring. I wish they had made the game more fun to actually play... I like mazes, but slowly wandering around, often without weapons, doesn't always stay fun. There aren't many items to find, not enough combat, mazes are not always complex, etc; it's okay and the 3d is nice, but needs better gameplay.

Still, though, it's middle-tier as far as SMS 3D Glasses games go. It's not as good as Missile Defense 3D or Zaxxon 3D, which are both great; maybe similar to Space Harrier 3D, also okay but flawed; and better than Blade Eagle 3D or Poseidon Wars 3D, both of which aren't that good. (I don't have the two Europe-only 3D games, Outrun 3D or that run & gun, but playing it in an emulator Outrun 3D looks okay, but slow like Space Harrier 3D.)

And yes, both of the earpieces are broken off of my 3D glasses, so I have to duct tape them on before using it. The tape doesn't stick long-term, though, unfortunately, but I don't know if there's a better option...

[NeoZeedeater]

I'm looking forward to playing Maze Hunter on 3DS. It doesn't have the most thrilling gameplay but I always loved the old Sega sci-fi atmosphere.

(I don't have the two Europe-only 3D games, Outrun 3D or that run & gun, but playing it in an emulator Outrun 3D looks okay, but slow like Space Harrier 3D.)

And yes, both of the earpieces are broken off of my 3D glasses, so I have to duct tape them on before using it. The tape doesn't stick long-term, though, unfortunately, but I don't know if there's a better option...

Out Run 3D did manage to get released in Canada, in small numbers anyway. Line of Fire is more of a regular shooter than a run 'n gun. If it didn't have a 3d mode, it would be fairly forgettable but at least it plays better than Blade Eagle.

As for the busted glasses, they stupidly designed those only for tiny heads. I usually play Segascope games with the adjustable size Famicom glasses nowadays.

[A Black Falcon]

Seriously, Space harrier 3D runs excruciatingly slow! And I don't only mean the framerate, but general game speed.

I'm looking forward to playing Maze Hunter on 3DS. It doesn't have the most thrilling gameplay but I always loved the old Sega sci-fi atmosphere.

I have Outrun 3d, the 3DS game. It's really cool. I didn't get the others though, so I probably will get that compilation. How they decided to make a 3D Classics collection and not include Outrun I can't imagine, though... that's like the #1 must-have one of them!

Out Run 3D did manage to get released in Canada, in small numbers anyway. Line of Fire is more of a regular shooter than a run 'n gun. If it didn't have a 3d mode, it would be fairly forgettable but at least it plays better than Blade Eagle.

Outrun 3D for SMS got a release in Canada? Really? How odd. As for Line of Fire, I thought it was a run & gun... is it auto-scrolling? "Better than Blade Eagle" isn't saying much, but that is at least something. That game is pretty disappointing; Sega knew how to make a good, or decent, shmup. They just didn't do it that time, for some reason.

As for the busted glasses, they stupidly designed those only for tiny heads. I usually play Segascope games with the adjustable size Famicom glasses nowadays.

The SMS 3D glasses and Virtual Boy are the only 3d things I have, though. But the SMS works with the Famicom glasses? Good to know, those do look better, both in sturdiness and in having a head-strap instead of the awful., uncomfortable earpieces of the SMS one. It looks like it has hooks for some kind of strap, but there isn't one and even if you added one, wouldn't the FC one still be better?

The glasses themselves do work well, though, and the 3d is quite good looking in games that are actually programmed well for it. And then you can play Poseidon Wars and see how badly-done "3D' that barely even looks 3d at all is. Why does that game use the glasses, anyway? The 3d barely even exists!

[Phantar]

As for the busted glasses, they stupidly designed those only for tiny heads. I usually play Segascope games with the adjustable size Famicom glasses nowadays.

That works? I'm curious, do you need some kind of adapter for that, or can you just use the Famicom Glasses right out of the box?

[Melf]

I like Poseidon Wars. It was the closest we got on a console to Sub Roc, which was amazing in the arcades.

I think my overall favorite of the 3D games has to be Missile Defense, since it has the best 3D effect and is the most engaging. MH3D was the first one I played though, and it has a major soft spot in my heart. I just find it to be so much fun, despite its simplicity.

[NeoZeedeater]

I have Outrun 3d, the 3DS game. It's really cool. I didn't get the others though, so I probably will get that compilation. How they decided to make a 3D Classics collection and not include Outrun I can't imagine, though... that's like the #1 most-have one of them!

Out Run's on the first compilation that came out in Japan. North America's getting the second compilation. Hopefully we will end up getting both but I doubt it.

Outrun 3D for SMS got a release in Canada? Really? How odd.

It is rare for the two countries to have any market release differences but it happened with a bunch of later SMS games for some reason: Battle Outrun, Ultima IV, Assault City, Dynamite Dux, Basketball Nightmare, Tennis Ace, Scramble Spirits, Impossible Mission, World Games. Some of them were covered by American magazines back then. I imagine a few specialty stores in the US managed to get some.

You can tell them apart from the European releases by the bar codes. I don't know why Sega bothered making one code for all of Europe but separate codes for the US and Canada. Some games I bought in Canada have US bar codes anyway so if they did it to track sales data, it wouldn't be very accurate.

As for Line of Fire, I thought it was a run & gun... is it auto-scrolling? "Better than Blade Eagle" isn't saying much, but that is at least something. That game is pretty disappointing; Sega knew how to make a good, or decent, shmup. They just didn't do it that time, for some reason.

It is auto-scrolling although you can control the speed a little bit by going to the top or bottom. It's odd how they didn't really advertise the 3d aspect of the game. It's a drab looking game for colour but the 3d effect is quite good.

That works? I'm curious, do you need some kind of adapter for that, or can you just use the Famicom Glasses right out of the box?

You still need the card slot adapter that comes with the SMS glasses if you want to do it directly. I was told that works but on my system it doesn't so I use another method: powering up both the NES and SMS.

One thing better about Sega's glasses is that they block out more light on the sides. The Nintendo one is more of a visor that sticks out in front so it's a little less immersive.

I like Poseidon Wars. It was the closest we got on a console to Sub Roc, which was amazing in the arcades.

I like it, too. Subroc was the first 3d image game I played back in the early '80s, and Poseidon Wars felt like having that at home.

[A Black Falcon]

I like Poseidon Wars. It was the closest we got on a console to Sub Roc, which was amazing in the arcades.

Poseidon Wars 3-D isn't awful, it's okay. I just think that it's a bit below average overall. The game is simplistic, the 3d effect so weak you can barely even notice that things are at different depths, and it feels like it should have light-gun support but it doesn't. As for "Sub Roc", though, I don't know that game.

I think my overall favorite of the 3D games has to be Missile Defense, since it has the best 3D effect and is the most engaging. MH3D was the first one I played though, and it has a major soft spot in my heart. I just find it to be so much fun, despite its simplicity

It's fine, sure, but what makes it fun for you? Beyond nostalgia I mean.

As for the best SMS 3D game, my favorite is Zaxxon 3D. Great game! Missile Defense 3D is good as well, but the game is simpler and the difficulty level gets frustrating, in a game with no continues...

Out Run's on the first compilation that came out in Japan. North America's getting the second compilation. Hopefully we will end up getting both but I doubt it.

Ah. Sega's being dumb again, then. Unsurprising I guess.

It is rare for the two countries to have any market release differences but it happened with a bunch of later SMS games for some reason: Battle Outrun, Ultima IV, Assault City, Dynamite Dux, Basketball Nightmare, Tennis Ace, Scramble Spirits, Impossible Mission, World Games. Some of them were covered by American magazines back then. I imagine a few specialty stores in the US managed to get some.

You can tell them apart from the European releases by the bar codes. I don't know why Sega bothered making one code for all of Europe but separate codes for the US and Canada. Some games I bought in Canada have US bar codes anyway so if they did it to track sales data, it wouldn't be very accurate.

All of those games have Canadian versions but not US? I've never heard this, do you have proof? I've never heard of this, and the major listing sites like wikipedia, gamefaqs, mobygames, and such don't list North American versions of many of those games as existing...

It is auto-scrolling although you can control the speed a little bit by going to the top or bottom. It's odd how they didn't really advertise the 3d aspect of the game. It's a drab looking game for colour but the 3d effect is quite good.

Ah.

You still need the card slot adapter that comes with the SMS glasses if you want to do it directly. I was told that works but on my system it doesn't so I use another method: powering up both the NES and SMS.

One thing better about Sega's glasses is that they block out more light on the sides. The Nintendo one is more of a visor that sticks out in front so it's a little less immersive.

It's cool that the two glasses are entirely compatible, I've wondered about that. So could I play, say, Highway Star in 3d mode on my NES (with FC cart adapter) with my SMS 3d glasses connected to the SMS, by running both systems at once?

[NeoZeedeater]

All of those games have Canadian versions but not US? I've never heard this, do you have proof? I've never heard of this, and the major listing sites like wikipedia, gamefaqs, mobygames, and such don't list North American versions of many of those games as existing...

I have seen more games listed than that. I just listed some I saw back in the day.

RevQuixo at the digitpress forums was trying to make a record of all them at vgrebirth.org. The site no longer works. I still have a private message at digitpress from 2006 where I sent him the barcode from my Battle Out Run box: 0 69044 07033 2

A bunch are listed here - http://www.smspower.org/Development/...-Uncategorised

For first-party games:

European codes start with 4 974365
US codes start with 0 10086 (like I mentioned before, lots of these were sold in Canada, too)
Canadian codes 0 69044 (sometimes they say "UPC Canada" on the sticker, *edit - found some pics http://segaage.com/forum/messageview...4&StartRow=151)

It's cool that the two glasses are entirely compatible, I've wondered about that. So could I play, say, Highway Star in 3d mode on my NES (with FC cart adapter with my SMS 3d glasses connected to the SMS, by running both systems at once?

It should work. Highway Star looks great in 3d but unfortunately most of 3d FC games don't look as good as SMS ones.

[Melf]

Poseidon Wars 3-D isn't awful, it's okay. I just think that it's a bit below average overall. The game is simplistic, the 3d effect so weak you can barely even notice that things are at different depths, and it feels like it should have light-gun support but it doesn't. As for "Sub Roc", though, I don't know that game.

I misspelled it, actually. It's "Subroc." It was Sega's first 3D game, and I think the first one overall (might be wrong about that). It came in the deluxe version (pictured) and an upright cab, which is the one I used to play. You looked through the visor, like a submarine periscope, and it played very similarly to Poseidon Wars.

It's fine, sure, but what makes it fun for you? Beyond nostalgia I mean.

I love the presentation, first off. The colors and music are great. I also have a fondness for simple "find the exit" games. I love games like Flicky and MH3D. They're easy to get into, and I like the slower pace.

As for the best SMS 3D game, my favorite is Zaxxon 3D. Great game! Missile Defense 3D is good as well, but the game is simpler and the difficulty level gets frustrating, in a game with no continues...

I have Zaxxon but haven't really played it. I'll have to give it some time this week. I agree that Missile Defense gets really hard very quickly, but the 3D effect is awesome, one of the most convincing on the system, I think.

[Sik]

Zaxxon 3D looks more 3D than many games in the later generation and that should say a lot. (talking about the perspective, not the stereo effect) And you can play without glasses if that's a problem for you (you have to press Start in the title screen I think?)

[maxi]

Zaxxon 3D looks more 3D than many games in the later generation and that should say a lot. (talking about the perspective, not the stereo effect) And you can play without glasses if that's a problem for you (you have to press Start in the title screen I think?)

Yes, just press start at the title.
About the glasses, I don't play Maze Hunter and Zaxxon with them since my 5/6yrs. Is there any topic in these forums teaching how to proper adapt third party or the Nes ones without these gadgets like turn on the other console? The originals are expensive as hell today.

[Scooter]

I just wish I could play these games and my light gun games on a modern TV. The only tube TV I have left is an average 19" one but it is out in my garage.