Exploring Vectrex Game: 3D MineStorm

Released exclusively with the 3D Imager, 3D MineStorm (also written 3D Mine Storm) is a reimagined version of the classic game built into the Vectrex console. But here, the experience is very different. Thanks to the 3D accessory, the minefields gain depth, almost turning the game into a simulation.

A fully stereoscopic experience

3D Minestorm came bundled with the 3D Imager, a kind of headset that brought stereoscopic technology to the Vectrex. To start the game, you had to connect the Imager to controller port 2, then insert the specific color wheel for this title. Once in place, the disc would spin and project the game world with a 3D effect, in color and depth.

Visually, this version stands out immediately from the original Minestorm. The mines are spread across three depth layers and can only be hit when they’re on the same 3D plane as the ship. They appear successively in the foreground, midground, then background. This system introduces a new way to read danger and control your ship.

Faithful gameplay

The controls are the same as the 2D version. The ship can rotate, move forward, shoot and teleport. Teleportation is still risky and can help you escape a trap… or land right on a mine. As with the classic Minestorm, it’s best used cautiously.

The objective remains simple: destroy all the mines in a field to move on to the next. You start with 12 large mines spread across three planes. Each destroyed mine splits into two smaller ones, then makes way for the ones in the background. Once all three planes are cleared, the next field begins without pause.

Varied enemies

 As in the original version, the minefields become increasingly complex. You encounter:

• Floating mines: basic, slow and passive.
• Fireball mines: launch a projectile when hit.
• Magnetic mines: actively pursue the player.
• Magnetic fireball mines: combine the last two, they hunt and shoot.

At regular intervals, the minelayer reappears to sow new threats, even charging at the player. It must be shot down mid-flight to avoid collision. Difficulty ramps up as mine combinations grow more complex, and the depth of the image demands heightened focus.

A classic corrected

The game uses the original Minestorm engine, but avoids its flaws. The first version had a bug at level 13 that prevented the game from continuing properly. 3D Minestorm doesn’t have this issue and runs smoothly up to the final field. It’s often compared to Asteroids, but its handling of depth and gravity gives it a very different feel.

What Stands Out

A classic reinvented in three dimensions

3D Minestorm shows how far the Vectrex could push its own limits. It’s a rework of the original game, designed to make full use of the immersive power of the 3D Imager. Every plane, every shot, every movement becomes different to read and the sense of depth is impressive for its time.

For more, check out this fan video on YouTube :