Play James Pond 3 - Operation Starfish on Snes Online

James Pond 3: Operation Starfish came out for the Super Nintendo in 1993, developed by Millennium Interactive. It was one of those platformers that felt a bit different from the usual mascot fare of the era, trading polished precision for a kind of goofy, elastic charm. You don't see many games where the main character is a secret agent fish, and it definitely stood out on the shelf.

You control James Pond, a fish with a stretchy body that you can extend to latch onto hooks and fling yourself across the screen. The main goal is to explore levels screen by screen, collecting items and defeating enemies like robotic starfish. A signature mechanic is using your elastic body as a slingshot to navigate the environment, which requires some practice to aim properly. The pacing is uneven, with some frustrating jumps and occasional mini-games that break up the action. It feels like a game that doesn't take itself too seriously, and that looseness is part of its appeal.