"Boom!"

Missile Command is an arcade classic that appeared in the early eighties and started a trend of simple to play games that featured difficulty above all other aspects. In Missile Command 3D, you return to the days of simplistic game play, but now with two additional modes that make it almost show stopping to play. With constant incoming enemy fire and a ton of different stages that you can select, it’s hard to find anything wrong with this title aside from the control. As with most classic games, there isn’t much of a story that you have to worry about and all you have to do is keep yourself alive while defending your bases.

-The Game Play-

Missile Command 3D is actually a game that is split up in between three different styles of gaming that will attach itself to all modes of gamers out their on the market. As with most of the updated games, you’ll always have a version of the classic arcade game that features the ageless and mindless destruction of the incoming missiles from all directions. When the stages move on, the more missiles come at you until you’re trying to blast everything from every direction. If you falter at any given point and you allow your bases to be blasted out of existence, then you’ll find that the game comes to an abrupt end and you’re returned to the game mode selection screen.

The next game mode that you have to work with is the 3D mode that allows you to have more control over your gun turrets, but also brings the world of Missile Command to life with plenty of visuals and more intricate control. You’ll find that the game difficulty is the same as the Classic Missile Command, but you have a wider range of guns to control and aim at the enemies. If you can get into this mode, then you’ll see that the only upgrade that you have is of the computer difficulty, which ramps itself up to a higher level each and every time you play.

The key mode that Missile Command 3D offers you is the Virtual Mode, which is the best game play mode that you can play with in this title. You have control over three different turrets, but you have to switch in between them and blast the enemy missiles out of the sky. Three different waves of enemies come at you as well as some pretty impressive boss characters, all of which tend to change up the speed of the game and might leave you a little disoriented at first. However, if you can get into this mode, then you’ll find that there is plenty here that sets it apart from the original Missile Command.

The control is pretty simple to work with in any of the modes, though once you get into the 3D mode, you’ll find that the game just doesn’t seem to have too much to offer a beginning gamer. In fact, in the Virtual Mode, it gets so difficult, that you might have trouble targeting the enemies that are coming at you, simply because the cursor you use to aim and fire has little or no give to it. For the most part, you’ll find that once your thumb pad leaves the directional portion of the controller, the game takes on a completely different aspect. Not only that, you have to learn how to lead your targets and fire your artillery at the right moments to be successful.

-The Visuals-

Visually, all of the modes have a certain feel for them, with the Classic Mode having the most tie in with the original game. The 3D mode has some pretty impressive visuals with the way that the enemies and missiles come at you, but the Virtual Mode really takes the cake. In the Virtual Mode, you have complete control over what you view and all of the texture mapping that takes place throughout that mode is something that you’ll remember well after you’ve shut the game off. The boss characters are huge and expansive as well as very detailed, but you’ll find that it tends to detract from the rest of the game.

-The Audio-

Unfortunately there isn’t much of an audio portion to Missile Command 3D and you might find that the lack of music tracks is a little disheartening. You’ll also find that the sound effects haven’t been upgraded much and you’ll be left with little to listen to while you play. Some of the more interesting effects that you’ll hear come with the boss battles and it takes a little getting used to if you’re not ready to hear roaring or otherwise. Aside from that and the explosions, little if anything has really been added to the overall sound options that you find here.

-The Verdict-

Missile Command 3D is a game that has plenty of upgrades and makes it to the top of my Jaguar list. With the additional modes and the difference that you can find in the game play options, you’ll find hours of enjoyment in just one little cart. However, you might find that the improvements on the game play are hindered by the small quirks that seem to penetrate the way that the game is played and the way that it is presented. If you like the classic Missile Command, then you’ll love this rehash of the arcade classic, but you’ll find that the game doesn’t have much going for it in the eyes of hardcore action game fans.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 09/30/02, Updated 09/30/02