by Brett Weiss
Major Championship Golf
Jackie Chan’s Action Kung Fu
PUBLISHER: Konami. DEVELOPER: Konami.
PUBLISHER: Hudson Soft. DEVELOPER: Hudson
Sports/Golf, 1–4 players (alternating). 1990.
Soft. Side-Scrolling Combat, 1 player. 1991.
Jack Nicklaus’ Greatest 18 Holes features
Jackie Chan’s Action Kung Fu finds a car-
the Golden Bear’s dream golf course, which in-
toonish, big headed version of the titular mar-
cludes such hot spots as #8 at Pebble Beach, #13
tial arts expert walking, jumping, punching,
at Augusta, and #12 at Royal Lythum. Nicklaus
and kicking his way through ninjas, swords-
himself is a playable character, along with seven
men, birds, and other enemies and obstacles.
fictional golfers of varying skills. Unlike cer-
Pummeling frogs grants Jackie such power-ups
tain computer versions of the game, Castle
as life points, a tornado attack, a sky attack, and
Pines Golf Club and the Golf Club at Desert
a spin kick. The basic action is rather generic in
Mountain are not included. However, the NES
nature, and the TurboGrafx version has richer
cart does offer plenty of golfing goodness, in-
visuals, but Action Kung Fu for the NES is nev-cluding club selection, multiple viewpoints,
ertheless an entertaining, nice looking game.
hazards (trees, water, roughs, wind, and sand),
Especially cool are the bosses, such as the Com-
hooking, slicing, a three-tap swing system, a
bat Spider and the Shaolin Giant. Chan also
driving range, practice modes, and more. A
appeared in Jackie Chan Stuntmaster (PlaySta-
golfing legend, the Golden Bear appears in a
tion), Jackie Chan Adventures (PS2), and Jackie
106
CLASSIC HOME VIDEO GAMES, 1985–1988
Chan Adventures: Legend of the Dark Hand
Jeopardy!
(Game Boy Advance).
PUBLISHER: GameTek. DEVELOPER: Rare. Game
Show, 1–3 players (simultaneous). 1988.
James Bond Jr.
Based on the popular TV game show, Jeop-
PUBLISHER: THQ. DEVELOPER: Eurocom Devel-
ardy! for the NES is missing host Alex Trebek, opments. Platform Shooter, 1 player. 1992.
but the theme song is recognizable, and there
more than 2,000 trivia questions in over 400
Based on the cartoon series (1991–1992),
categories, meaning repeats are relatively few
James Bond Jr. puts players in the role of James and far between. As play begins, three contest-Bond’s nephew, who must rescue a weapons
ants are shown standing behind podiums (the
scientist being held hostage by the evil
computer fills in if only one or two humans are
S.C.U.M. Lord. During his mission, the young
playing), and then the view switches to a board
super spy will jump on platforms, leap over
showing six different categories. Each category
long gaps, climb ladders, and use a gun, bombs,
is at the top of a column, with each column
and flares to battle bad guys. In addition, Bond
containing a series of progressively higher dol-
must open safes, disable missiles (similar to
lar amounts. After a category and dollar
solving Rubik’s Cube-like puzzles), don scuba
amount has been selected, a trivia question is
gear and a bubble gun, go airborne with a jet
posed, and within a set time limit players must
pack, and attack enemies as a werewolf. Help-
answer the question by guiding a cursor along
ful items to collect include extra ammo, shields,
an alphabet to spell out the word or words. The
werewolf potion, clocks (extra time), and ham-
controller functions may seem tedious to ca-
burgers (health). The characters and levels are
sual gamers, but they get the job done, and the
very nicely drawn and detailed, making the
contestants react animatedly to various situa-
game more sophisticated in appearance than
tions. Daily Double, Double Jeopardy!, and
most 8-bit titles. James Bond Jr. for the NES is Final Jeopardy! are included. Also released for
much different than its Super NES counterpart,
the Genesis, SNES, and numerous other sys-
which is a side-scrolling platformer with
tems.
brighter coloring and a more lighthearted look
and feel. Includes password feature.
Jeopardy! Junior Edition
PUBLISHER: GameTek. DEVELOPER: Rare. Game
Jaws
Show, 1–3 players (simultaneous). 1989.
PUBLISHER: LJN. DEVELOPER: Westone. Adven-
Jeopardy! Junior Edition plays just like the ture/Non-Scrolling Shooter, 1 player. 1987.
regular version of Jeopardy! , but the trivia questions are kid-friendly (the game is recom-
Loosely based on Jaws: The Revenge (1987),
mended for children ages seven and up), and
which was the fourth and final film in the fa-
the contestants themselves are kids. There are
mous franchise, Jaws for the NES features four nearly 2,000 questions divided into such cate-types of gameplay: a pointless overhead se-
gories as Weapons, Veggies, Numbers, Paul
quence where players pilot a sailboat until it
Bunyan, and Muppet Movies (there are more
inadvertently hits an unseen Jaws; a dull un-
than 400 categories in all). As in real Jeopardy! , derwater scenario in which players use a boat,
the action is timed, and players who think they
a diver, or a mini-sub to gather conch shells
know the answer to a question should try to be
and shoot sea creatures; a fairly decent bonus
the first to buzz in so they can answer it (actu-
scene involving the bombing of jellyfish with
ally, as Jeopardy! fans know, the questions are an airplane; and an anti-climactic first-person
posed as answers and the answers take the form
finale in which players must ram Jaws with a
of questions).
boat. Jaws has a much more prominent role
in the bloody Jaws Unleashed (PS2, Xbox),
Jeopardy! 25th Anniversary Edition
which puts players in the role of the hungry
PUBLISHER: GameTek. DEVELOPER: Rare. Game
shark.
Show, 1–3 players (simultaneous). 1990.
NINTENDO NES
107
Produced to celebrate the popular TV
in his ship while avoiding and shooting satel-
game show’s silver anniversary, Jeopardy! 25th
lites, space dogs, and asteroids. In Amazing Ice
Anniversary Edition plays just like the first Jeop-Cream Maze, Fozzie walks around a series of
ardy! game for the NES, but offers almost 2,000
mazes, throwing bones, banana peels, and
new trivia questions. Categories include Histor-
hearts at carnival barkers. Viewed from over-
ical Events, Sports Facts, Animals, The Bible,
head, Crash Car Course scrolls to the right,
Human Body, Birds, Aussie English, and many
with Animal riding through an obstacle course,
more. As in previous editions of the game, cer-
running ov
er flags while avoiding booby traps,
tain misspellings are accepted while others are
oil slicks, and rubber band bumpers. A poor
considered to be the wrong answer. Unfortu-
man’s Toobin’, The Raging River Ride has Kernately, despite the celebratory nature of the
mit propelling his boat down a river, catching
game, host Alex Trebek, who wouldn’t show
buoys and periscopes while avoiding rocks,
up in a console video game until the Genesis
logs, and dead ends. Beating all four rides takes
and SNES versions of Jeopardy! , remains miss-players to a side-scrolling platform stage where
ing in action. Followed by: Super Jeopardy!
Kermit must tickle Grumpasaurus with a
(NES).
feather in order to rescue Piggy.
The Jetsons: Cogswell’s Caper
Jimmy Connors Tennis
PUBLISHER: Taito. DEVELOPER: Taito. Side-
PUBLISHER: Ubi Soft. DEVELOPER: NMS Enter-
Scrolling Platform, 1 player. 1992.
tainment. Sports/Tennis, 1 or 2 players (si-
multaneous). 1993.
Based on the classic sci-fi cartoon, The Jet-
sons is a mediocre platformer that puts players Endorsed by one of the greatest tennis
in the role of family patriarch George, who
players of all time, Jimmy Connors Tennis is a must run, jump, and fly (via jet pack) through
typical video game version of the popular
12 levels of play, including a Packing Factory, a
sport, giving gamers a viewpoint behind the
Botanical Garden, and a Mining Factory. To
court and slightly above the player on that end.
thwart robots, archers, UFOs, and other ene-
Shots include lob, drop, normal, strong, fore-
mies, George can pick up and throw blocks.
hand, and backhand, and players can use the
Throughout the levels, George must pull
D-pad to influence the direction and depth of
switches to operate elevators, turn on lights,
hits. Modes of play include Practice (beginner,
activate teleporters, and more. Fellow cast
intermediate, advance, or smash play) and
mates Rosie, Astro, Elroy, Jane, and Judy are
Tournament (beginner, intermediate, or ad-
on hand to dish out advice, magnetic boots,
vanced), the latter of which features 16 differ-
power packs, a jet board, and a remote control.
ent countries and three types of courts: grass,
The futuristic family also appeared in The Jet-
hard, and clay. The tennis players are nicely an-
sons’ Way With Words (Intellivision), The Jet-imated (if similar in design), and the computer
sons: Robot Panic (Game Boy), and The Jetsons: poses a substantial challenge, even in the eas-Invasion of the Planet Pirates (SNES).
ier modes of play. Followed by: Jimmy Connors
Pro Tennis Tour (SNES).
Jim Henson’s Muppet Adventure: Chaos
at the Carnival
Joe & Mac
PUBLISHER: Hi Tech Expressions. DEVELOPER:
PUBLISHER: Data East. DEVELOPER: Elite Sys-
Mind’s Eye Technology. Multi-Genre Game, 1
tems. Side-Scrolling Platform, 1 or 2 players
player. 1990.
(alternating). 1992.
The evil Dr. Grump has kidnapped Miss
Based on the arcade game Caveman Ninja
Piggy, forcing the Muppets to conquer four di-
(Data East, 1991), Joe & Mac for the NES is abolical carnival rides. Lost in Space Ride has
missing the two-player simultaneous mode,
Asteroids-like controls (rotate, thrust, fire), but which is something the Genesis and SNES verthe action scrolls to the right, with Gonzo flying
sions kept intact. And, despite the name “Mac”
108
CLASSIC HOME VIDEO GAMES, 1985–1988
in the title, he is not a playable character. The
down three-pointers. Players are penalized for
prehistoric action finds Joe running, jumping
traveling, shot clock violations, charging,
on platforms, and throwing stone axes, flints,
blocking, and failing to clear the ball, and there
boomerangs, fireballs, and stone wheels at baby
are four selectable difficulty levels and period
pteranodons, archaeopteryx, zephyrosaurus,
lengths. Gameplay is slow, but fairly entertain-
electric flying fish, tyrant triffids, and helirock
ing, and the graphics are clear and nicely ani-
bombs, the latter dropped by Caveman
mated and detailed. The cartridge includes a
Crowswing from his “helirockter.” Jumping
3-Point Contest and a Slam Dunk Contest, the
and throwing a weapon at the same time is a
latter of which employs a hard-to-perfect ma-
common tactic, and Joe can eat food to restore
neuver where Jordan must take off from a spe-
his energy and score points. The game takes
cific location on the court for each particular
place in 10 stone-age areas spread across five
dunk. The game, which has its roots in the
levels: Volcanic Valley of Valor, Ocean of Sil-
groundbreaking Julius Erving and Larry Bird
urian, Rapids of Ramapithecus, Bonseville
Go One-On-One (1984, PC), was followed by
Basin, and Petrified Forest of Fossileons. Also
EA’s Jordan vs Bird: Super One on One (Genesis).
released for the Game Boy. Followed by: Joe & Mac Returns (arcade) and Joe & Mac 2: Lost in Joshua and the Battle of Jericho
the Tropics (SNES).
PUBLISHER: Wisdom Tree. DEVELOPER: Color
Dreams. Maze/Maze Shooter, 1 or 2 players
John Elway’s Quarterback
(alternating). 1992.
PUBLISHER: Tradewest. DEVELOPER: Rare.
Joshua and the Battle of Jericho uses the
Sports/Football, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous).
same game engine as Crystal Mines, but is
1989.
retrofitted with a biblical theme. Players guide
Endorsed by the famous Denver Bronco,
Joshua through a series of 100 timed levels,
John Elway’s Quarterback scrolls vertically and tooting his trumpet (i.e. shooting his weapon)
is viewed from a top-down perspective, setting
to clear away enemies and obstacles, including
it apart from the pack. Also unusual is that
Hittite citizens, Israelite discontent (textured
players use an arrow to aim passes and kicks.
squares), pieces of the Jericho wall (circles),
Gamers can call six defensive and nine offensive
and temporary boundaries (gray squares).
plays, the latter of which can be changed on the
Joshua can also drop items on enemies and
fly. Diving tackles are an important part of the
grab numerous prizes, including: the Lord’s di-
game, and players can jump to intercept passes.
rection (for extended trumpet gunfire); ram’s
There are 14 different fictional teams, but it’s
horns (for eliminating stubborn enemies);
always red vs. blue, giving the game limited vi-
shovels (for shoveling through virtually all ob-
sual appeal (poor animation doesn’t help). John
jects); and the Lord’s favor (temporary invin-
Elway’s Quarterback is based on the four-player c
ibility). The objective in each level is to collect
John Elway’s Team Quarterback, which Leland
five questions (the game includes 250 trivia
released to the arcades in 1988.
questions based on the book of Joshua), gather all the iron, brass, silver, and gold, and find the
Jordan vs Bird: One on One
exit. Includes digitized speech and a password
PUBLISHER: Milton Bradley. DEVELOPER: Rare.
feature. Unlicensed. Also released for the Gen-
Sports/Basketball, 1–4 players (alternating, 2-
esis (with more color, but no speech). See also:
player simultaneous). 1989.
Exodos: Journey to the Promised Land (NES).
Adapted from the 1988 computer game,
Jordan vs Bird: One on One lets players control Journey to Silius
P
NBA greats Michael Jordan and Larry Bird as
UBLISHER: Sunsoft. DEVELOPER: Sunsoft. Plat-
form Shooter, 1 player. 1990.
they face off against one another. Approximat-
ing reality to some degree, Jordan’s specialty is
Produced under the working title of “The
dunking while Bird’s expertise is knocking
Terminator,” but changed when Sunsoft lost
NINTENDO NES
109
the Terminator movie license, Journey to Silius stories), The Jungle Book for the NES puts play-isn’t as well known as Mega Man or Contra, but ers in the role of man-cub Mowgli as he works
it deserves a place on the shelf next to those
his way through the jungle and to the village,
great shooters. Gamers guide a vengeful boy
throwing bananas at monkeys, jumping fish,
through five futuristic stages, using six differ-
crocodiles, snakes, scorpions, and other ene-
ent weapons (hand gun, shot gun, machine
mies along the way. Weapon power-ups include
gun, homing missiles, laser rifle, and grenade
double-power bananas, boomerang bananas, a
launcher) to destroy such enemies as flying
pea shooter, and a mask of invulnerability. In
warbots, humanoid laser cannons, and gigan-
addition to battling baddies, Mowgli swings on
tic bosses (including a helicopter, a spaceship,
vines, jumps on platforms, collects gems and
and an android). Stages include: A Deserted
berries, bounces on see-saws (to reach high
Space Colony in Space Age 0373, Underground
areas), dodges spikes and falling rocks, and
Concourse, Terrorist Headquarters, Inside the
more. Levels are timed, and the fun, nicely il-
Terrorist’s Spaceship, and Inside the Terrorist’s
lustrated, side-scrolling action exhibits plenty