Super Noah’s Ark 3-D

Super Noah’s Ark 3-D is a first-person shooter with a biblical twist, where players take on the role of Noah navigating through the Ark to feed restless animals and put them to sleep. Using a variety of hand catapults to fire feed as ammunition, the game is a reskin of Wolfenstein 3D, featuring similar gameplay mechanics but with a non-violent, educational theme. The SNES version closely mirrors Wolfenstein 3D, while the PC version includes enhanced graphics, MIDI music, floor textures, and Bible-themed trivia questions that reward players with ammo and points.

Super Noah’s Ark 3-D: A Biblical Oddity in the World of First-Person Shooters

Introduction

In the annals of video game history, few titles are as bizarrely fascinating as Super Noah’s Ark 3-D. Released in 1994 by Wisdom Tree, this unlicensed Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) game is a first-person shooter that repurposes the Wolfenstein 3D engine to tell a non-violent, biblical story. It’s a game that defies expectations, blending the fast-paced action of a shooter with the wholesome themes of Noah’s Ark. This review will delve deep into the game’s development history, narrative, gameplay mechanics, artistic design, reception, and lasting legacy, offering a comprehensive analysis of this unique title.

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Development History & Context

The Birth of an Unlicensed Oddity

Super Noah’s Ark 3-D began its life under vastly different circumstances. Originally conceived as a licensed game based on the horror film Hellraiser, the project was spearheaded by Wisdom Tree founder Dan Lawton, a fan of the franchise. Wisdom Tree acquired the rights to Hellraiser for $50,000 and licensed the Wolfenstein 3D engine from id Software, believing the fast-paced, violent action of Wolfenstein would complement the film’s dark themes.

Development initially started on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), with plans to use a special cartridge equipped with a co-processor to enhance the system’s capabilities. However, the NES’s limited color palette and the prohibitive cost of the co-processor cartridge (estimated at $100 per unit) led to the project’s abandonment. According to Vance Kozik of Wisdom Tree, the NES version was little more than a “barely up-and-running demo.”

The project then shifted to the PC, but by the time a prototype was completed, Doom had been released, making Hellraiser seem outdated. Additionally, Wisdom Tree’s management felt that a horror-themed game clashed with their family-friendly, Christian image. Thus, the Hellraiser license was allowed to expire, and development moved to the SNES, where the game was reimagined with a biblical theme.

The Wolfenstein Connection

Wisdom Tree’s acquisition of the Wolfenstein 3D engine is often shrouded in rumor. A popular myth suggests that id Software licensed the engine to Wisdom Tree as a form of “revenge” against Nintendo for the censorship imposed on the SNES version of Wolfenstein 3D. However, this rumor is unfounded. In reality, Wisdom Tree offered id Software lucrative terms for the engine, which id regarded as outdated by that point. John Romero, one of the creators of Wolfenstein 3D, later stated that the idea of using the engine for a religious game was simply amusing to the team at id Software.

The Unlicensed SNES Release

One of the most notable aspects of Super Noah’s Ark 3-D is its status as the only commercially released unlicensed SNES game in North America. Due to Nintendo’s strict licensing policies, which required all SNES games to be officially sanctioned, Wisdom Tree devised a clever workaround. The game’s cartridge featured a pass-through system similar to the Game Genie, requiring players to insert a licensed SNES game into a slot on top of the Super Noah’s Ark 3-D cartridge to bypass the console’s copy protection. This ingenious solution allowed the game to be sold primarily through Christian bookstores, circumventing traditional retail channels.

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Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

A Biblical Twist on the First-Person Shooter

Super Noah’s Ark 3-D takes the familiar story of Noah’s Ark and infuses it with the mechanics of a first-person shooter. The game’s premise is simple yet absurd: Noah must navigate the Ark, feeding restless animals to put them to sleep. The animals, which include goats, sheep, ostriches, and even bears, have escaped their cages and are now roaming the Ark’s corridors, attacking Noah by kicking or spitting at him.

The narrative is minimal, with the game’s manual providing the backstory: after 40 days and nights of flooding, the animals have become restless, and it’s Noah’s job to calm them down before the Ark reaches dry land. The game’s levels are structured as different sections of the Ark, with Noah progressing through them to restore order.

Themes of Non-Violence and Faith

At its core, Super Noah’s Ark 3-D is a non-violent game. Instead of guns, Noah uses a slingshot to fire food at the animals, rendering them unconscious rather than killing them. This mechanic aligns with the game’s Christian themes, emphasizing compassion and care for God’s creatures. The game’s manual and promotional materials highlight this aspect, positioning it as a family-friendly alternative to the violent shooters of the era.

The game’s Christian themes are further reinforced in the DOS version, which includes a unique feature: question mark pickups. When collected, these pause the game and present the player with a multiple-choice question about the Bible. Answering correctly rewards the player with ammo and points, blending gameplay with religious education.

The Absurdity of the Premise

While the game’s themes are earnest, the execution is often unintentionally humorous. The idea of Noah navigating a maze-like Ark, firing food at aggressive animals with a slingshot that operates at the speed of a machine gun, strains suspension of disbelief. The animals’ behavior—such as bears spitting at Noah—adds to the game’s surreal charm. Despite these oddities, the game’s premise is consistent, and players quickly adapt to its quirky logic.

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Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

A Reskin with a Twist

Super Noah’s Ark 3-D is, at its core, a reskin of Wolfenstein 3D. The SNES version, in particular, is nearly identical to the SNES port of Wolfenstein 3D, with the primary differences being the replacement of Nazi soldiers with animals and guns with slingshots. The level layouts, while not identical, are heavily inspired by Wolfenstein 3D, and the gameplay mechanics remain largely unchanged.

The player controls Noah from a first-person perspective, navigating through the Ark’s corridors, which are rendered in a grid-based, 2.5D style. The controls are straightforward: the D-pad moves Noah, and the A and B buttons are used to fire the slingshot and open doors, respectively. The game features an auto-mapping system, allowing players to track their progress through the Ark’s labyrinthine levels.

Weapons and Ammunition

Noah’s arsenal consists of various slingshots, each firing different types of food. The basic slingshot fires seeds, while more powerful versions fire coconuts and watermelons. These weapons function identically to the guns in Wolfenstein 3D, with the coconut and watermelon slingshots serving as the game’s equivalents to shotguns and machine guns.

Ammunition is scattered throughout the levels, often hidden in secret passages or behind breakable walls. The game’s resource management is a key aspect of its challenge, as players must carefully ration their food supply to progress through the levels.

Enemy Behavior and AI

The animals in Super Noah’s Ark 3-D exhibit different behaviors based on their species. Goats, the most common enemy, can only kick Noah and are unable to open doors. Other animals, such as sheep and ostriches, can shoot spittle at Noah from a distance and are capable of opening doors. This variation in enemy behavior adds a layer of strategy to the gameplay, as players must adapt their tactics based on the animals they encounter.

Boss encounters are a highlight of the game, featuring larger animals such as Ernie the Elephant and Carl the Camel. These battles require players to use their most powerful slingshots and carefully manage their ammunition to emerge victorious.

Difficulty and Progression

The game’s difficulty curve is one of its most polarizing aspects. Early levels are relatively easy, with sparse enemy placement and ample ammunition. However, as the game progresses, the challenge ramps up significantly. Later levels are filled with aggressive animals that can quickly deplete Noah’s health, and ammunition becomes scarce. The game’s difficulty is exacerbated by the lack of a save system in the SNES version, requiring players to rely on passwords to continue their progress.

The DOS version introduces additional features that mitigate some of these challenges. It includes floor textures, higher-resolution graphics, and MIDI music support, making it a more polished experience. The inclusion of Bible trivia questions also adds a unique educational element, rewarding players for their knowledge of scripture.

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World-Building, Art & Sound

Visual Design: A Wholesome Reskin

Super Noah’s Ark 3-D retains the visual style of Wolfenstein 3D, with its grid-based levels and sprite-based enemies. The SNES version, in particular, suffers from the same technical limitations as its predecessor, including a lack of floor and ceiling textures. The animals are well-drawn and distinct, with each species having its own unique sprite. The Ark’s corridors are rendered in muted tones, giving the game a somewhat sterile appearance.

The DOS version improves upon the SNES version’s visuals, featuring higher-resolution graphics and floor textures similar to those found in Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold. These enhancements make the DOS version more visually appealing, though it still retains the blocky, pixelated aesthetic of early first-person shooters.

Sound and Music

The game’s soundtrack, composed by Vance Kozik, is a mix of upbeat and atmospheric tracks. The SNES version’s music is notable for its use of sampled instruments, giving it a richer sound than many of its contemporaries. The tracks range from lighthearted tunes that accompany the game’s early levels to more intense compositions that play during boss battles.

The sound effects are similarly well-crafted, with the slingshot’s firing sound and the animals’ various noises adding to the game’s immersive atmosphere. The DOS version’s MIDI music support allows for a more dynamic soundtrack, though some players prefer the SNES version’s sampled instruments for their authenticity.

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Reception & Legacy

Critical and Commercial Reception

Super Noah’s Ark 3-D received mixed reviews upon its release. Critics praised the game’s unique premise and non-violent gameplay but criticized its repetitive level design and high difficulty. The game’s unlicensed status and Christian themes also made it a niche product, limiting its commercial success.

Player reception has been similarly divided. Some players appreciate the game’s charm and novelty, while others find its difficulty and repetitive gameplay frustrating. The game’s cult following has grown over the years, with retro gamers and fans of unlicensed SNES games embracing it as a quirky relic of the 16-bit era.

Influence and Legacy

Despite its mixed reception, Super Noah’s Ark 3-D has left a lasting impact on the gaming industry. It stands as a testament to the creativity of developers who sought to push the boundaries of what was possible on the SNES. The game’s use of the Wolfenstein 3D engine also highlights the versatility of early first-person shooter technology, demonstrating how it could be adapted to fit a wide range of themes and narratives.

The game’s re-release in 2014, coinciding with its 20th anniversary, introduced it to a new generation of players. The “20th Anniversary Edition” included modern features such as widescreen support and updated controls, making it more accessible to contemporary audiences. The re-release also included digital copies of the original SNES and DOS versions, preserving the game’s legacy for future generations.

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Conclusion

Super Noah’s Ark 3-D is a fascinating oddity in the world of video games. It’s a game that defies easy categorization, blending the fast-paced action of a first-person shooter with the wholesome themes of a biblical story. While its gameplay and visuals are dated by modern standards, its unique premise and historical significance make it a worthwhile experience for retro gaming enthusiasts.

The game’s development history, from its origins as a Hellraiser tie-in to its final form as a Christian-themed shooter, is a testament to the adaptability of game developers in the face of technological and market challenges. Its status as the only unlicensed SNES game in North America further cements its place in gaming history.

Ultimately, Super Noah’s Ark 3-D is a game that rewards players who embrace its absurdity. It’s not a masterpiece by any stretch, but its charm, novelty, and historical significance make it a memorable entry in the annals of video game history. For those willing to overlook its flaws, it offers a unique and entertaining glimpse into the creativity of the 16-bit era.

Final Verdict: 6.5/10 – A quirky, flawed, but undeniably fascinating relic of gaming’s past.