Three Wonders
Three Wonders, released in Japan as Wonder 3 (ワンダー3), is a 1991 video game developed and published by Capcom and originally released for the arcades using the Capcom Play System (CPS1) platform. The game is a collection of three related titles: Midnight Wanderers: Quest for the Chariot, known in Japan as Roosters: Chariot wo Sagashite (ルースターズ ~チャリオットを探して~), Chariot: Adventure through the Sky, known in Japan as Chariot: Tenkuu he no Tabi (チャリオット ~天空への旅~)), and Don't Pull (ドンプル); a platformer, a scrolling shooter, and a puzzle video game respectively. It was ported in 1998 to the PlayStation and Sega Saturn and published by Xing Entertainment. Three Wonders was also included in the 2006 Capcom Classics Collection Vol. 2 on the PlayStation 2 and Xbox and Capcom Classics Collection Remixed on the PSP.
Three Wonders | |
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Three Wonders arcade flyer | |
Developer(s) | Capcom |
Publisher(s) | Arcade: Capcom PS1, Saturn: Xing Entertainment |
Director(s) | Kihaji-O |
Designer(s) | Udatoshi |
Programmer(s) | Koma Chan |
Composer(s) | Masaki Izutani |
Platform(s) | Arcade, PlayStation, Sega Saturn |
Release | Arcade May 20, 1991 PlayStation, Saturn 1998 |
Genre(s) | Platformer, scrolling shooter, puzzle |
Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Arcade system | CP System |
Gameplay
Midnight Wanderers
A platform game that sees the player control a hobbit named Lou and his travelling companion, Siva, to run, climb, and shoot at enemies.
Chariot
A scrolling shooter game featuring the characters from Midnight Wanderers, but in a Gradius-esque game.
Don't Pull
A puzzle game similar to games like the Eggerland series, Pengo and Capcom's own puzzle game Pirate Ship Higemaru that involves you controlling either a rabbit named Don (Player 1) or a squirrel called Pull (Player 2), pushing blocks to crush monsters.
Plot
Midnight Wanderers
The two Midnight Wanderers Lou and Siva go on a rampage through their enemy infested kingdom as an evil widespread magic is turning their people into wooden statues. The Midnight Wanderers infiltrate the castle to defeat Gaia, who orchestrated the invasion and to liberate the chariots which will help restore their people.
Chariot
Lou and Siva fly in their chariots across the Celestial planes to battle the evil elements led by Lar that threaten their home planet and rescue the princess of Asthra.
Don't Pull
The rabbit Don and the squirrel Pull navigate through numerous mazes to rid the place of monsters.
Development and release
Three Wonders was released in the arcades on May 20, 1991. A version for the Capcom Power System Changer was planned and previewed but never released.[1] The game was ported to the PlayStation and Sega Saturn in 1998 and published by Xing Entertainment.
Reception
In Japan, Game Machine listed Three Wonders on their August 1, 1991 issue as being the fifth most-successful table arcade unit of the year.[2] Retro Gamer regarded 3 Wonders as a good alternative to Biomechanical Toy.[3] GameFan reviewed the PlayStation version as inferior to the original arcade game due to bad quality converted graphics.[4]
References
- "カプコン アーケードオリジナルボード CPSシリーズ+CPSチェンジャー 限定販売決定!!". Club Capcom (in Japanese). No. 2. Capcom. Spring 1994.
- "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 408. Amusement Press, Inc. 1 August 1991. p. 25.
- "Converted Alternative - 3 Wonders". Retro Gamer. No. 74. Imagine Publishing. p. 20.
- "R Review - Three Wonders". Retro Gamer. Vol. 6 no. 6. June 1998. p. 91.