Review #2: Bonk's Adventure

Okay, now that I've reviewed SMB1, it's time to move on into the great unknown. To get things started, here's a game you may or may not have heard of: Bonk's Adventure.

This game was released on the lesser-known TurboGrafx-16 console back when SMB3 was new. The game was also ported to the NES later on. I'm reviewing the TG-16 one here.

Okay, so check out the cover for one. It's some caveman with a huge head bashing through a wall. It's not hard to guess that this must be Bonk, whom the game is named after.

All right, I'm starting to get a little slow here, so let's move on to the categorizing section...

Graphics: So you thought Nintendo was always the best vg company, always getting to something first? Well, it looks like NEC, the creators of the TG-16, made it to the 16-bit era first! The graphics are pretty neat for 1990, and I think they still get the job done. Whether it's the inside of a dinosaur (you gotta see this part), or swimming through a frozen lake, the graphics are still good. This category gets a: 9/10

Sound: While not as good as the Mario series, this game has some pretty good tunes. The same music is often repeated a lot, but that's nothing new, is it? Sound gets: 9/10

Story: Not unlike the Mario series, Bonk revolves around saving a princess. This big ugly green dinosaur named King Drool comes and kidnaps her, Princess Za of Moonland, and brainwashed four Moonland residents, sending them down to Earth to keep you from progressing. Well, you gotta give it credit for adding more to the typical "save-the-princess" plot. Story gets: 7/10

Gameplay: Well, it's a 2-D platformer, but this one is different from Mario or Sonic. See, in this game, you use your head. No, really, you USE YOUR HEAD. Bonk is aptly named for his attack, which is bonking enemies with his huge, invincible cranium. If this isn't a great concept for a game, I don't know what is.

You'll fight all sorts of baddies, and, as expected, each round (level) ends with a battle against a big dinosaur thing. My favorite of the bosses is one that has boxing gloves on, and fires them at you. Probably the coolest part is going up to the moon for the final fight. Gameplay gets: 8/10

Controls: Great. Well, there's a bit of slowness, as Bonk can't dash (then again, could you run fast with that huge head?). For this, I give controls: 9/10

Now for the FINAL SCORE!!!:

9+9+7+8+9=42. 42/5= 8.4/10.

Verdict: Good game. Try it out sometime.

See you next time!