The third of the Doraemon games on N64, this goes back to being more of a Mario style platformer, only with absolutely no platforming challenge. There are plenty of jumps to make, but not a single one that you’ll struggle with in any way, not even in the big platforming “challenges” at the end of each world. The game is more about unlocking objects and using them in certain locations.

The unlock method is rather strange, though. All of the weapons and items are already in your inventory, just covered in goop. To unlock them, you collect spray cans that respawn whenever you re-enter an area, so that part of it is extremely trivial. The problem it causes, is that there are a lot of potential items to use with no indication of where you can even use objects. There’s some vague hints in the text, but it just means that trial and error is a very time consuming option.

The game overall is just quite boring. Enemies are very easy to shoot down, and even bosses are just a case of avoiding attacks while shooting as much as possible, so the entire game is just casually walking through levels, having to use very random items in very random locations. There are also multiple villages with some nice little areas, but once again, it’s just using items in odd ways. There’s not much to this one.

Fine

Tehnically, Doraemon 3 is a pretty shameful affair. Attempts at digusising the horrendous pop-up have failed, and the textures are strikingly similar to Mario’s, only much worse. Your characters, although cute to look at, handle like wounded pigs, particularly when they get near water. Add to this a wobbly camera – a sure sign of a sloppy 3D platformer – and you get an unplesant blend indeed.

Alan Maddrell, N64 Magazine #46. Review Score: 54%

Remake or remaster?

Only in a comprehensive Doraemon game collection.

Official ways to get the game.

There’s no official way to get Doraemon 3