Classic of the Month - Three Wonders

Manufacturer:	Capcom
Developer:	Capcom
Genre:	Platform/Shoot 'em up/Puzzle
Board:	Capcom CPS-1
Year:	1991

It's my birthday this month, so what's better than one classic? Three classics in one, that's what. Capcom's Three Wonders is precisely that, three games on one board, each selectable from the start screen. There's a platformer called Midnight Wanders, a shoot 'em up called Chariot (both staring elves called Lou and Siva) and a puzzle game called Don't Pull. I've never been sure why they weren't separate machines, as far as I can tell they are all complete enough games in their own right, but I'm not arguing. Let's look at each one in turn.

Midnight Wanders: Quest for the Chariot 

The story to Midnight Wanderers is pretty typical. An evil demon called Gaia has kidnapped Lou and Siva's female friend, Sena, and turned her into a statue. You must take control of Lou (or Siva if you're player 2) to rescue her. Despite the Tolkien whimsy, Midnight Wanderers is actually a run 'n' gun game. If you ever played Contra, Bionic Commando, Ghosts 'n' Goblins or Strider the gameplay will be instantly familiar. Lou and Siva run, jump, climb and blast their way through a beautifully drawn fantasy realm. Like any good run 'n' gun game, Midnight Wanderers provides plenty of power-ups to help you defeat its cast of goblins and demonic flora and fauna. Talking of Ghosts 'n' Goblins, just like Arthur, when Lou or Siva take a hit, all their clothes fall off. 

So Midnight Wanderers really wears its in influences on its sleeve, but it's still a fun little game and just part of what the total game Three Wonders has to offer.

Chariot: Adventure Through the Sky 

Despite being on the same board and a different genre, Chariot is the technically the sequel to Midnight Wanderers. It features the same two elves, only now they're flying the Chariots they acquired at the end of the first game, who are now trying to save a princess who's been kidnapped by Gaia's boss, Lar. As shoot 'em ups go, it plays a lot like Gradius, with the same lush aesthetic as Midnight Wanderers. The Chariots can not only be upgraded, but slowly transformed as you collect power ups. This includes a chain of energy orbs, which behave much like the dragon tail in Dragon Breed or St Dragon.

The game is very stingy, only providing one life. However, by collecting hearts dropped by enemies you can eventually get extra lives. It's an interesting mechanic, but it also makes Chariot very hard.

Don't Pull

Don't Pull is a bit of an odd fit and the weak link in Three Wonders. It's a simple puzzle game, which plays almost identical to Pengo. Instead of Lou and Siva, the players get to control a rabbit called Don and a squirrel called Pull (believe it or not). The object of the game it to crush all of the enemies in the level by pushing (not pulling, let's just make that clear), blocks together. The game starts with the enemies (some of which bear a striking similarity to enemies from other games) jumping up out of sewer grates. If you're quick you can stamp on the grates and stop the enemies from emerging. After that you have to either use the blocks or the limited power-ups on the level. It's a fast paced puzzler and you really have to be on your toes, as you try to avoid destroying blocks or pushing them into positions that will make them inaccessible.

The video below is a monster long play of all three games, played from beginning to end. 90 mins (or there abouts) of classic arcade action. Lovely.

MTW