Super 3D Noah's Ark
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It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Wisdom Tree. (Discuss) |
| Super Noah's Ark 3D / Super 3D Noah's Ark | |
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 Super Noah's Ark 3D for SNES, title screen |
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| Developer(s) | id Software |
| Publisher(s) | Wisdom Tree |
| Distributor(s) | Wisdom Tree |
| Engine | Wolfenstein 3D |
| Platform(s) | SNES / DOS |
| Release date | 1994 |
| Genre(s) | First-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Media | Dongle cartridge |
| Input methods | Joystick |
Super 3D Noah's Ark is a video game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and for DOS. It was released by the biblical video game producer Wisdom Tree in 1994. On the SNES it was known as Super Noah's Ark 3D, and it was the only commercial SNES game that was not officially sanctioned by Nintendo. In order to bypass the SNES lockout chip, Wisdom Tree devised a system whereby the player had to insert an officially-licensed SNES game into a cartridge slot in the top of Super Noah's Ark 3D. The cartridge thus resembled a Game Genie.
The game itself is a straightforward port of Wolfenstein 3D, with altered graphics and sounds. Instead of killing Nazi soldiers in a castle, the player takes the part of Noah, wandering the ark, throwing fruit and grain at stray animals in order to pacify them. There is an urban legend that id Software, fed up with Nintendo of America's censorship in the SNES version of Wolfenstein 3D, gave the source code for that game to Wisdom Tree for them to make an unofficial clone. The game was not a commercial success, suffering from the lack of major marketing common to other Wisdom Tree titles. It was most commonly found in Christian bookstores.
The level layouts, weapons, and enemy behaviors in the SNES version is identical to Wolfenstein 3D, but the graphics were changed to reflect a non-violent theme, with enemies simply going to sleep instead of dying. It is unclear whether or not the game was actually officially licensed from id Software, or simply an illegal bootleg.
The gameplay is aimed at younger children. Noah's Ark includes secret passages, food, weapons, and extra lives. There are secret levels, and shortcut levels as well. The player eventually comes across a slingshot, and flings cantaloupe and watermelon at the larger bosslike animals, such as Ernie the Elephant and Carl the Camel.
