of limited horizontal movement. When fighting Serpentbeasts at the end of each world, the player is capable of moving Jack freely in all directions. Jack's basic actions consist of jumping, used to dodge canyons and enemies, and firing collectible missiles of various types to destroy enemies. Part of the appeal and selling point of WorldRunner was its "3D mode". and It was the first of three games by Square to feature such an option. To enter or exit 3D mode, players would press the select button. To view the game in 3D, players had to use the included pair of cardboard glasses. When the 3D mode is selected, the game uses computer image processing techniques to combine images from two slightly different viewpoints into a single image, known as anaglyph images. Plot Players assume the role of Jack the WorldRunner, a wild "space cowboy" on a mission to save various planets overrun by serpentine beasts. The game takes place in Solar System #517, which is being overrun by a race of aliens known as Serpentbeasts, who are led by the evil Grax. As WorldRunner, the player must battle through eight planets to find and destroy Grax with fireballs. Development In a 1999 interview with NextGeneration magazine, Sakaguchi admitted that he "liked Space Harrier", but said that his main reason for the development of the game was that Square owner Masafumi Miyamoto wanted to demonstrate Nasir Gebelli's 3D programming techniques for which he had been hired. Reception At the time of release, Cashbox magazine praised the games visual effects and the variety of enemies and obstacles. In retrospective reviews, the game had a mixed reception. Game Informer praises the surrealistic landscape and behind the character running capability, but noted that they were not capable of seeing the 3D effect even with the 3D glasses on. Retro Gamer criticized for being a seeming ripoff of Sega's Space Harrier, noting that even the bosses of both games look similar. they did applaud the soundtrack and the bright visual, comparing the color palette to Fantasy Zone Vito Gesualdi of Destructoid named it among the "five most notorious videogame ripoffs of all time" in 2013. Commercially, the game was met with modest success, selling roughly 500,000 copies worldwide. The sales of this game title and other titles from Square at this time were not enough for Square to stay in business, and the companies fortunes