Three Wonders

Three Wonders

Overview & History

Released by Capcom in 1991 for the CP System arcade hardware, Three Wonders (known in Japan as Wonder 3) is a brilliant anthology game that offers three completely distinct video game genres in a single cabinet. Instead of a single continuous plot, the game serves as an arcade storybook featuring three heroes—Lou, Siva, and Ru—who stumble upon a celestial crisis. In the first chapter, the trio must stop the evil Gaia from plunging their fantasy realm into eternal darkness. Subsequent chapters shift tones entirely, exploring a futuristic planetary rescue and a frantic action-platformer escape. Director Yoshiki Okamoto and his team utilized Capcom's peak 16-bit aesthetic, delivering vibrant, hand-drawn sprite work and memorable chiptune compositions that made the cabinet a legendary quarter-muncher.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

The true genius of Three Wonders lies in its multifaceted gameplay, letting players select from three entirely different titles at the main menu. Midnight Wanderers: Mahō no Daisankoku is a fast-paced, side-scrolling run-and-gun platformer where Lou and Siva wield magical boomerangs, bombs, and collectible dragon mounts while scaling towering structures. Chariot: Adventure through the Sky shifts the perspective into a vertical-scrolling shoot 'em up (shmup), allowing players to pilot whimsical flying chariots equipped with tethered shield-pods that can be detached to blast enemies or block incoming bullets. Finally, Don Doko Don plays as a charming, grid-based puzzle-platformer heavily reminiscent of Bubble Bobble, requiring characters to daze whimsical forest monsters with hammers and hurl them across platforms to clear single-screen stages. Each game boasts unique power-up systems, distinct boss encounters, and localized scoring mechanics that reward aggressive playstyles, weapon management, and skillful exploitation of environmental hazards.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move
• Action Keys: Attack / Jump
• Enter: Start / Pause