Classic Home Video Games (1985-1988)
Page 13
is the key to success, since feeding him jelly
BreakThru
beans turns him into various helpful shapes,
PUBLISHER: Data East. DEVELOPER: Data East.
such as a ladder, a bridge, a rocket, a hole, or a
Side-Scrolling Shooter, 1 or 2 players (alter-
blow torch. There are 14 jellybean flavors, each
nating). 1987.
with a different effect on the blob. The action
Not to be confused with BreakThru! for
can get tedious, but it’s nice that the game re-
the Super NES, which is a Tetris-inspired puz-quires players to think their way through each
zler, BreakThru for the NES is a solid port of area.
Data East’s 1986 arcade shooter. Players drive an
assault vehicle from left to right, speeding up
Bram Stoker’s Dracula
and slowing down (the rate of speed deter-
PUBLISHER: Sony Imagesoft. DEVELOPER: Probe
mines the distance of the jump) to avoid or
Software. Side-Scrolling Platform, 1 player.
jump over landmines, rocks, missiles, de-
1993.
stroyed bridges, and other obstacles. There are
Francis Ford Coppola’s opulent 1992 film
also enemies to shoot, including infantrymen,
comes to playable life on the NES. Gamers
armored buggies, armored cars, jeeps, fire mo-
guide Jonathan Harker through Castle Drac-
biles, trucks, tanks, and helicopters. Grabbing
ula, Hillingham Estate Mansion, Carfax Abbey
power barrels, which come down from the sky,
Crypt, and other creepy locales, battling and
gives players three-way fire and extra lives. The
NINTENDO NES
53
mission of the game, which takes place through
onry (bombs, fire, thunder bubbles, earth-
fortified mountains, bridges, prairies, cities,
quakes, lightning, water), and temporary in-
and airfields, is to retrieve a secret fighter plane.
vincibility. Players can ride bubbles as well.
The action is fast, and precision jumping is a
There are two worlds, each containing 113
must, but unlimited continues make the game
screens. Includes password feature. Numerous
beatable. Somewhat similar to: Moon Patrol.
sequels followed.
Bubble Bath Babes
Bubble Bobble Part 2
PUBLISHER: Panesian. DEVELOPER: Panesian.
PUBLISHER: Taito. DEVELOPER: Taito. Non-
Action Puzzle, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous).
Scrolling Platform, 1 or 2 players (simultane-
1991.
ous). 1993.
Easily the best of the three adult NES
Much different than the vertically scroll-
games produced by Panesian ( Peek-A-Boo Poker
ing Rainbow Islands, which was the arcade se-
and Hot Slots are the others), Bubble Bath Babes quel to Bubble Bobble, Bubble Bobble Part 2 for is a challenging puzzler in which moveable
the NES plays a lot like Bubble Bobble, but adds: groupings of four bubbles rise from the bot-background graphics (clouds, trees, and the
tom of the playfield into formations up above.
like); clocks (to freeze enemies); pencils (to
When four or more bubbles of the same color
continue the game); bottles of wind (to create
touch, they will burst, which is what the player
wind bubbles); and basketball and volleyball
wants. Spelling out magic (letters appear in cer-
mini-games. In addition, the dinosaurs can
tain bubbles) is a helpful strategy, and ran-
now float (by inflating), jump extra high (while
domly appearing transforming bubbles turn
on top of a bubble), and blow super bubbles
surrounding bubbles into the same color. Level
(which can entrap several enemies at once). Re-
progression treats players to pictures of seduc-
leased late in the life of the NES, Bubble Bobble tively dressed (or undressed) women, and a
Part 2 was an under-produced title, making it two-player split-screen mode provides some
hard to find (and very expensive) in today’s
nice competition. Unlicensed and very hard to
collector’s market. Also released for the Game
find. See also: Mermaids of Atlantis (NES).
Boy. See also: Rainbow Islands (NES).
Bubble Bobble
Bucky O’Hare
PUBLISHER: Taito. DEVELOPER: Taito. Non-
PUBLISHER: Konami. DEVELOPER: Konami.
Scrolling Platform, 1 or 2 players (simultane-
Platform Shooter, 1 player. 1992.
ous). 1988.
Based on the animated series, Bucky O’Hare
A stellar rendition of Taito’s oft-ported
and the Toad Wars, Bucky O’Hare for the NES
1986 arcade game, Bubble Bobble for the NES
lets players guide the titular comic book hero
has players guiding a pair of running, jumping
through eight challenging levels (four color-
dinosaurs (who look like cartoon dragons)
coded planets and inside a Magma Tanker),
named Bub and Bob around a series of non-
rescuing his friends (AFC Blink, Deadeye
scrolling, platform-heavy levels, blowing bub-
Duck, Jenny, and Willy DuWitt) and battling
bles to trap beasties with such names as Willy
members of the fiendish Toad Empire (includ-
Whistle, Baron Von Blubba, and Grumple
ing Storm Toad Jet Trooper, Crater Centipede,
Grommit. To remove the beasties from the
and Robosnake). Once rescued, a friend be-
playfield (which is the objective in each screen),
comes a playable character. Each friend has a
players should burst the bubbles trapping the
different weapon and/or ability, such as a three-
beasties. Bursting several enemy-holding bub-
way pulse gun, bombs (for destroying walls and
bles in concession grants extra points. Grab-
ice), flying, or clinging to walls. Gameplay
bing candy, crosses, parasols, shoes, bombs,
evokes Mega Man, but Bucky O’Hare offers and other items gives players extra abilities,
more variety. Excellent platforming and shoot-
such as speed, faster and farther bubbles, weap-
ing action, gorgeous visuals (including layered
54
CLASSIC HOME VIDEO GAMES, 1985–1988
scrolling and colorful animation), and robust
Similar in some respects to Spy Hunter,
sound effects and music cement the deal. Kon-
Bump ’n’ Jump is viewed from overhead, with
ami released an arcade version the same year,
players racing up roadways (in this case city,
but it’s a side-scrolling combat game.
country yard, mountain, and seaside road-
ways). However, instead of shooting other cars,
The Bugs Bunny Birthday Blowout
players bump them into obstacles or jump on
PUBLISHER: Seika. DEVELOPER: Kemco. Side-
top of them. Players must also jump over
Scrolling Platform, 1 player. 1990.
water, buildings, and other road hazards (flash-
ing exclamation points warn of such dangers).
To celebrate Bugs Bunny’s 50th birthday,
Enemy vehicles to crush or avoid include patrol
/> Warner Bros. has planned a special celebration,
cars, ambulances, jeeps, buggies, trucks (which
prompting Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, and other
deposit sand on the road), fuel trucks (which
jealous Loony Tunes to plant various obstacles
dump oil), cement mixers (which emit con-
(shooting comets, poisonous frogs, exploding
crete), and more. The game is a nice port of the
alarm clocks, tarantulas, and more) between
1982 Bally/Midway coin-op classic, going so
Bugs and his party destination. To make it past
far as to add an extra component: power bar-
the animated foes and their fiendish contrap-
rels to pick up for fuel and energy. Jumping is
tions, Bugs, who can run, jump, climb, and
only allowable when the car has reached 150
gather carrots (which allow him to play Bonus
km/hour, but the “Jump Ok!” text alert from
Bingo), is outfitted with a large mallet. Levels
the arcade game is missing. Also released for
include Gentle Grassland, Deadly Desert,
the Atari 2600, Intellivision, and ColecoVision.
Mighty Mountain, Creepy Cave, Freaky For-
est, and Haunted House. The Bugs Bunny
Burai Fighter
Birthday Blowout is a solid platformer that fans P
of the franchise will enjoy.
UBLISHER: Taxan. DEVELOPER: KID Corp.
Side-Scrolling Shooter/Vertical Scrolling
Shooter, 1 player. 1990.
The Bugs Bunny Crazy Castle
PUBLISHER: Seika. DEVELOPER: Kemco. Side-
Burai Fighter features seven levels, two of
Scrolling Platform/Vertical Scrolling Plat-
which are viewed from a top-down perspec-
form, 1 player. 1989.
tive and require that the player locate and de-
stroy a base, meaning it’s easy to get lost (de-
Despite the fact that he’s a rabbit, Bugs
spite the inclusion of a radar display). Instead
Bunny can’t jump in Crazy Castle, making for
of a ship, this game features a man wearing a
a rather limited game. The Wascal Wabbit’s ob-
proton pack. He begins with a simple eight-
jective is to rescue Honey Bunny, which re-
way gun, but can grab three different weapons—
quires maneuvering through 60 relatively un-
laser, missile, and ring — each of which has
adorned levels of play, climbing stairs, entering
three power levels. Additional pick-ups include
doorways and pipes, gathering carrots, and
speed, cobalt bombs, and rotating pods (ala R-
avoiding Daffy Duck, Sylvester, Wiley Coyote,
Type). Enemies include Giganticrab, Jawsipede, and Yosemite Sam. Bugs can drink magic car-and other robo-mutants. Three difficulty lev-
rot juice for invisibility, pick up boxing gloves
els are available.
for punching, and drop safes, crates, buckets,
and weights on the bad guys. Also released for
the Game Boy. Followed by: The Bugs Bunny
BurgerTime
Crazy Castle 2 (Game Boy), Bugs Bunny in
PUBLISHER: Data East. DEVELOPER: Data East.
Climbing, 1 or 2 players (alternating). 1987.
Crazy Castle 3 (Game Boy Color), and Bugs Bunny in Crazy Castle 4 (Game Boy Color).
Though missing a few flourishes from the
introductory sequence (including character
Bump ’n’ Jump
names and pictures), BurgerTime for the NES
PUBLISHER: Vic Tokai. DEVELOPER: Vic Tokai.
is a finely programmed port of Bally/Midway’s
Demolition/Combat Racing, 1 player. 1988.
1982 arcade game. Players guide Chef Peter
NINTENDO NES
55
Pepper as he climbs ladders and walks across
Video Poker, Blackjack, and The Big Six Money
giant burger parts, including buns, lettuce, pat-
Wheel, the latter of which is also known as
ties, cheese, and tomatoes. The parts, which are
Wheel of Fortune (perhaps explaining the
lined up in vertical rows on several levels of
Vanna White look-alike pictured on the box).
platforms, fall when walked over, and the ulti-
Naturally, the game is not as sophisticated as
mate goal is to get all the parts stacked onto
Super Caesar’s Palace for the Super NES (which plates positioned below. While Peter Pepper
lets gamers walk around the casino playing
builds burgers, Mr. Hot Dog, Mr. Pickle, and
such games as Scratcher, Keno, and Red Dog),
Mr. Egg will pursue him, and they can be
but it is a nice, playable collection of gambling
squashed by burger parts or stunned with pep-
simulators. Also released for the Genesis, Game
per, the latter of which is replenished by pick-
Gear, and Game Boy. Followed by various se-
ing up French fries, coffee, and ice cream cones.
quels, including Caesar’s Palace II for the Game As in the arcade game, there are six different
Boy Color.
screens. Getting trapped while out of pepper is
frustrating, but BurgerTime remains a timeless California Games
classic. Also released for the Atari 2600, Intel-
PUBLISHER: Milton Bradley. DEVELOPER: Rare.
livision, and ColecoVision. Followed by: Burg-
Sports/Extreme, 1–8 players (alternating).
erTime Deluxe (Game Boy) and The Flintstones: 1989.
BurgerTime in Bedrock (Game Boy Color).
Like the original computer release (Epyx,
1987), which broke ground for extreme sports
Cabal
video games, California Games for the NES in-PUBLISHER: Milton Bradley. DEVELOPER: Rare.
cludes six events: Half Pipe Skateboarding
Third-Person Shooter, 1 or 2 players (simulta-
(side-view, perform stunts while riding back
neous). 1990.
and forth on ramp); BMX Bike Racing (side-
Based on the 1988 Fabtek arcade game,
view, perform jumps, wheelies, flips, 360s, table
which offered sharper graphics and trackball
tops); Surfing (ride wave, catch air, perform
control (on certain cabinets), Cabal has play-360s); Roller Skating (skate boardwalk, jump,
ers viewing a soldier from behind as he ma-
avoid obstacles); Flying Disk (throw Frisbee
neuvers right and left (including jumping,
back-and-forth); and Foot Bag (a.k.a. hacky
ducking, and rolling), firing an assault rifle, a
sack). After every event, trophies are awarded
machine gun, and a grenade launcher at battle
to the top finishers. A practice mode is avail-
tanks, choppers, sharpshooters, and other en-
able. Also released for the Atari 2600 (impres-
emies. There are five areas to battle through,
sive for the system, but minus Flying Disk and
including an old village, the beach, naval head-
Roller Skating), Master System, and Genesis.
quarters, the jungle, and the mountains. The
Predictably, the Genesis version has the best vi-
awkward control system uses a single button
suals. Followed by: California Games II (SNES).
to fire bullets and release grades (holding the
A button fires bullets while tapping the A
but-
Capcom’s Gold Medal Challenge ’92
ton launches grenades), and the control pad to
PUBLISHER: Capcom. DEVELOPER: Capcom.
simultaneously guide the soldier and the
Sports/Olympics, 1–8 players (alternating, 2-
crosshair.
player simultaneous). 1992.
Capcom’s Gold Medal Challenge ’92 fea-
Caesar’s Palace
tures high production values (detailed stadi-
PUBLISHER: Virgin Games. DEVELOPER: Real-
ums, nice character graphics, medal cere-
time Associates. Gambling, 1 player. 1992.
monies) and an impressive 18 events: 100 Meter
Caesar’s Palace for the NES lets players
Dash, 100 Meter Relay, 200 Meter Dash, 400
blow virtual cash on five different types of Las
Meter Dash, 110 Meter Hurdles, Marathon,
Vegas-style games: Roulette, Slot Machines
Long Jump, Javelin Throw, Triple Jump, Shot
(two three-reel machines and one four-reel),
Put, High Jump, Weightlifting, Vaulting Horse,
56
CLASSIC HOME VIDEO GAMES, 1985–1988
100 Meter Backstroke, 100 Meter Breast, 100
such oddly named creatures as Phlegmatism,
Meter Butterfly, 100 Meter Freestyle, and 200
Trimodel Ectosphere, and BirdBrother Skip.
Meter Medley. Fast button-pressing is crucial in
All the items from the PC game remain intact,
certain events, but subtle methods (such as
including keys, boots (for jumping higher),
pacing and rhythm) are oftentimes more im-
transport wands, lanterns (for lighting caves),
portant, separating the game a bit from such
corkscrew bullets, and Blastola Cola (ammo).
previous titles as Track & Field and The Activi-Unlicensed.
sion Decathlon. Modes of play include Train-
ing and World Tournament. Includes battery
Captain Planet and the Planeteers
backup.
PUBLISHER: Mindscape. DEVELOPER: Chris Gray
Enterprises. Side-Scrolling Shooter, 1 player.
Captain America and the Avengers
1991.
PUBLISHER: Data East. DEVELOPER: Data East.
Based on the environmentally friendly
Platform Shooter/Fighting, 1 or 2 players (si-
1990s cartoon series, Captain Planet and the
multaneous). 1991.
Planeteers puts players in the role of the titular Unlike the Genesis, Game Gear, and SNES
blue-skinned super-hero, who is the physical
games of the same name, Captain America and
embodiment of the five Planeteers’ ring powers:
the Avengers for the NES is not based on the earth, wind, fire, water, and heart. During the