Reviewed by Jason Meckes

Thought you knew the Vlarion story step for step? Well, I have news for you: the story grew another foot, and now you've got more tracks to follow than you can handle. Aaron Haynes' Alternate Vlarion 3 furthers the story started in Alternate Vlarion 2, and that means that it's now very different from the original series' Vlarion 3. How different, you ask? Like Siskel and Ebert different - One is dead, and the other is still kicking, even if rather bloated. Alternate Vlarion 3 is bigger, badder, and much, much crazier than anything the original series even hinted toward.

Released to very mixed reviews in 2002, Alternate Vlarion 3 woke up to a world that considered itself incomparatively superior to it. Text boxes, MIDIs, turn-based battles, and over-anxious stories: all trademarks of a past this new world rejected and despised. Because of this, and coupled with the fact that most viewers were not even familiar with the original series, Alternate Vlarion 3 remains the most grossly underappreciated and unfairly forgotten 3d movie of all time. Although, I do hear that the director of Godzilla 1998: Platinum Edition might offer to challenge that claim. Still, it is about time that this jumpy new world learned to appreciate what it condemned so long ago.

The story of Alternate Vlarion 3 is epic. Time travel, dimensions, betrayal, love, cataclysm, all these and more are tackled within the movie's duration. The story backs itself up rather well by providing scientific or psychological explanation for each new step. This barrage of facts and ideas can often feel overwhelming, but Haynes does a very good job of commiserating. The characters struggle with the information as well, and it takes the power of all to reinforce each other. We survive, and we are intrigued!

Alternate Vlarion 3 also contains a rather extensive MIDI soundtrack. Many themes heard throughout the series return, but some are remixed to perfectly suit their scenes. Although, due to the 98/XP speed differences, there are several areas of awkward silence; nothing that really destroys any scenes, though. Again, we are told the story through the use of text boxes. Unlike previous installments, this movie seemed to keep the boxes around long enough that I could easily read and comprehend their contents, instead of having to stop and play. That was might appreciated, be it purposeful or not. This often-slow reader is in your debt, Mr. Haynes.

The animation can be considered a milestone in 3dmm history itself. Quality is dispersed throughout, not just thrown in random areas. There are so many new, amazing effects in this movie that it boggles my mind. Just thinking of the training room scene can arouse goosebumps (Though I hear goosebumps'd hit just about anything. Heh.). Full-on animated swordfighting... in front of a giant mirror?! You see, folks, this is the kind of shot that Alternate Vlarion 3 is not afraid to go for, and actually seems to aim toward. The sequence where Dask directs a power burst towards Rosal's castle is likely to be remembered forever. That is, of course, unless there's no room left in your brain after trying to take in the moment where he completely decimates Megoda Hospital, along with a good chunk of the Earth itself. This is the stuff even dreams can't compete with.

The HMCs in this movie are tantalizingly active. They move when attacked, no parts move without a reaction elsewhere, and they just seemed more alive than ever before. While Pikios might've had the cartoonics of handmade animation down, I'm afraid that Aaron Haynes had anatomical realism years before anyone else... that is, of course, assuming someone else has done as well since this movie's release. The scenery moves with as much precision as the characters. When Hirolix II jumps at it's enemies, the camera follows it's path to further bring us into this unique world. Even the handmade props and battle effects are some of the best ever. Kikavex's mondo-sword is one of the coolest things I have ever seen, and I'm sure just about everyone who's seen it agrees.

While confusing at points, Alternate Vlarion 3 stands very sure of itself. There's an incredible amount of information within this work; enough that you'll still be captivated well into your 5th view and beyond. One gets to remembering the differences between Vlarion 3 and 4 after watching this movie. 3 was much more into adventure and story building, while 4 took on the monumental task of creating a worthy massive ending to both the story and the action. Dwelling on this thought, it's easy to get chills when contemplating how grandiose Alternate Vlarion 4 promises to be. There's a heck of a lot to answer in that final Vlarion entry, and knowing Aaron's skills and determination, we'll get that and oh, oh so much more. For now, though, we'll just have to settle with the beauty and epic that is Alternate Vlarion 3. Funny I should say that, as it'll probably be well after the release of Alternate Vlarion 4 that all of the points raised in this movie settle in me.

9.5/10
Watching the entire series before this could be the most rewarding experience in my career as a 3dmm viewer