This early 3D platformer uses sprite characters on top of a 3D level, and has an appealing look. It came out the year before genre-defining 3D platformers Super Mario 64 and Crash Bandicoot.
Image source: mobygames.com
Analysis
It's interesting that Realtime Associates solved the 3D platforming problem by having traditional 2D gameplay when moving in the X axis, and the Z-axis is mostly used to move between different layers of 2D levels, mostly without enemies. I can speculate that this choice also helps with saving memory on enemy sprite data by not having them face forwards or backwards, only needing a single sideways animation that can be mirrored.
Log entries
I played through the first level. The zoomed-in camera makes you miss action off-screen, and the cardinal direction-based movement is a bit hard to get used to.
2023-11-16
MiSTer Saturn