Virtua Cop 3

Virtua Cop 3 retains the same gameplay as its predecessor with players shooting onscreen enemies using a gun controller. The game introduces a slow-motion "bullet time" mechanic, "ES mode", which allows players to slow down time by stepping on a foot pedal. During ES mode, time slows down as the player's ES meter is depleted, allowing the player to shoot projectiles. The meter can be replenished by shooting more enemies.

Virtua Cop 3 also allows players to toggle between different weapons by pressing a button on the gun instead of having to use just one weapon, as in previous entries in the series. The alternative weapons include the Smith & Wesson Model 629, Benelli M4 Super 90, H&K MP7 and the H&K G36C. Like the previous installments, players progress through the game choosing between three missions which vary in difficulty. The newly designed gun used in the game is named the Guardian II, and was designed by Tokyo Marui, famous for their model guns.

Virtua Cop 3 has three chapters (referred to as Missions) which can be played in any desired order. The game follows Michael "Rage" Hardy, James "Smarty" Cools and Janet Marshall, as they investigate three crimes performed by Virtua City's new crime syndicate, the ECM.

The ECM has taken over a large pharmacy building. Rage and Smarty are dispatched by the VCPD to apprehend the invaders and secure the building. During the pharmacy mission, Rage and Smarty encounter a mysterious man known as "Gale", a ninja with unknown intentions. Proceeding deeper inside the pharmacy research lab, Rage and Smarty encounter a man named "Glitter", who masterminded the invasion. While the VCPD manages to secure the pharmacy building, Janet receives disturbing information that the pharmacy's genetic cloning sample is missing.

In early 1997 Electronic Gaming Monthly reported that "[Virtua] Cop 3 is in development but it won't make its debut until the September JAMMA show". It was later reported that Virtua Cop 3 would be released in 1998 and use the Sega Model 3 arcade hardware.