Bonk's Adventure (NES) - is this a joke?

[c0ldb33r]

I've been on a bit of a Bonk kick lately. This weekend I beat both Bonk 1 and 2.

I started 3 but couldn't really get into it. Turning big and small just seemed to slow things down. The level design didn't seem great. I finally shut it off when I realized that the smileys that I collected were just used re-play the minigames after the boss battle? (wtf? I like the way they did it in #2, with the elevator that went higher and higher - eventually giving you the blue heart container on the train).

ANYWAY, because I didn't feel like playing Bonk 3, I tried out the NES version.

Is this a joke? While the music is decent, and the controller is pretty good, the graphics are TERRIBLE. It looks like I'm playing a colecovision!

What happened? Did they release this just to make the tg16 version look so much better?

[megasdkirby]

Is it because you played the TG16 version first? This could be a determining factor, because for me it is when confronted with similar situations.

I admit, the first Bonk game I played was the NES version, and I loved it. I thought the graphics were pretty good and colorful, considering the system. Other games are miles worse than Bonk.

Since I played the NES version first, then the TG16 version, this might be why I don't see anything particularly wrong with the game. But I think that if I had played the TG16 version first, I would not have appreciated the NES version much.

[c0ldb33r]

Is it because you played the TG16 version first?
Oh I'm sure it is.

The graphics in the first level aren't bad. Not great for NES, but decent.

It was the second stage that weirded me out. As soon as the stage opens, the first thing that you see is a cactus which is dancing with the music. The cactus is made out of blue and green and looks like an absolute mess when it moves. It almost looks as if they took the tg16 cactus and converted it to an NES pallette without trying to clean it up at all.

Here's the offending cactus (click for bigger):
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s182/c0ldb33r/th_bonknes.jpg (http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s182/c0ldb33r/?action=view&current=bonknes.jpg)

I know, I know, I'm probably comparing the NES to the tg16 which obviously isn't fair, and compared to a lot of other NES games Bonk looks good (except for that cactus).

I also noticed that the levels seem sparse on the NES, but again that's probably just the hardware.

I still wonder why they released this on the NES though. It was released late in the NES' lifetime, why not just wait for SNES and release Bonk's Adventure on that, followed later by Super Bonk.

[MachineGex]

I have almost a complete NES collection and this is one of the games I still need(along with Flintstones 2). I find it difficult to pay the inflated prices for both theses games...

[megasdkirby]

I have almost a complete NES collection and this is one of the games I still need(along with Flintstones 2). I find it difficult to pay the inflated prices for both theses games...

Agreed.

Thankfully, we have our copies thanks to Xtra Supermarket back in the day (rental store, both CIB), but the prices these game fetch are incredibly high.

I hope one day they get released on the Virtual Console so that MAYBE the prices reduce.

I personally love Bonk, though it was too easy. I finished it the next following day. The TG16 version is much harder, which was a plus, but the NES version will always have a special place in my heart since it was basically the first NES game I every played/purchased.

[starsoldier1]

I've been on a bit of a Bonk kick lately. This weekend I beat both Bonk 1 and 2.

I started 3 but couldn't really get into it. Turning big and small just seemed to slow things down. The level design didn't seem great. I finally shut it off when I realized that the smileys that I collected were just used re-play the minigames after the boss battle? (wtf? I like the way they did it in #2, with the elevator that went higher and higher - eventually giving you the blue heart container on the train).

ANYWAY, because I didn't feel like playing Bonk 3, I tried out the NES version.

Is this a joke? While the music is decent, and the controller is pretty good, the graphics are TERRIBLE. It looks like I'm playing a colecovision!

What happened? Did they release this just to make the tg16 version look so much better?
I wouldn't say they're terrible but it hard to compete with the Turbografx-16 original at the same time. For a NES game though I think the visuals are above average and Hudson did a pretty good job on the port.

[tomaitheous]

I dunno. I think there's a gameplay mechanics difference between the TG16 first Bonk and the NES one. There were some graphical stuff on the NES that seems below average (considering other top Hudson titles on the system, let alone other NES games from that year in general). I didn't like some of the level design changes, but that's probably because I played the TG16 one first. Overall, I was disappointed in the NES (which was a surprise to me, I was expecting good things).

[Icarus Moonsight]

The NES port is a bit off-putting. I'd say most people ought to skip playing the NES Bonk and dive right into SNES Super Bonk and PC Genjin 2 & 3 for SFC.

[c0ldb33r]

I beat NES Bonk tonight.

It really isn't as bad as my initial post, but it really is nowhere near as good as the tg16 version.

The levels aren't as interesting, the pallette is sometimes worse than need be, and the controls are quite as tight.

My bigger concern is that there were numerous cheap hits. In the tg16 version you could avoid some hits by honking the enemies or projectiles. It's a lot harder in the NES version.

Despite the above, it really isn't bad. Just don't play it after playing the tg16 version.

The question is... what's next? Maybe the SNES version, but I find Super Bonk weird.

[tomaitheous]

I found Super Bonk kind of boring/generic like Bonk 3. I've heard Super Bonk 2 is much better, but never gave it a real try. Sad, IMO. The best games are the first two for the PCE/TG16. I'm also sad that they changed the gameplay mechanics in Bonk, from the first. I love that floating/spinning flying aspect of the game. The other ones have it, but it's not as smooth or as... polished I guess. Bonk 1 is perfection when it comes to controls/gameplay mechanics.

[retroman]

i have never played the nes one...but now i want to...thanks..will check it out.

[j1e]

Is Super Bonk for the SNES any fun? I just might pick it up if it is.

[Edmond Dantes]

I remember playing NES one on an emulator back in the day. Didn't really like it.

[RCM]

Is Super Bonk for the SNES any fun? I just might pick it up if it is.

I prefer the TG-16 versions over SNES, but if you're a fan you might wanna check it out. This may be overly dramatic, but Bonk on anything but Turbo is almost obscene.

[Ackman]

I prefer the TG-16 versions over SNES, but if you're a fan you might wanna check it out. This may be overly dramatic, but Bonk on anything but Turbo is almost obscene.

Apparently the PS2 version is pretty decent?

[skaar]

http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv325/skaardragoon/supbonknes.png

[courtesi1]

They also have a really great Amiga port renamed as "BC Kid"

[SparTonberry]

I suppose if you really want to play, you could get the Famicom version, which is fairly cheap. I'm guessing you don't need to be able to read to play it.

[c0ldb33r]

I didn't care for the SNES version. It strayed too far from the original Bonk. Of course, I have the same complaint re Bonk 3.

I guess, if you like Bonk 3, you'll probably like SNES Bonk.

[turbofan1]

Bonk 3 for the TG16 wasn't that bad.I my main gripe about the game it takes two,or three hours to complete.Plus the game does not have a save feature.The graphics were mediocre.They tried to change up the game play,with the ability to grow big and small.I never tried it,i guess it was A two player game.I don`t understand how there can be two bonks?.Oddly most people say they puffer the music in the turbochip version than the cd version.

[Bloodreign]

I won't complain about Bonk for NES, I paid $20 for a cart only copy awhile back. Sure it's not as pretty as it's TG-16 counterpart, but it still felt like Bonk.

[Trebuken]

There was a Japanese sequel to Super Bonk if you can find it.
There is a mobile Bonk game.
There is an upcoming PSN, XBLA Bonk, but it seems to be in limbo.

Air Zonk might me a good next game to play as well.

[Brianvgplayer]

I liked the GB Bonk. The levels are unique to that game, though it takes some elements from the TG-16 games. Not the hardest Bonk, but a lot of fun. I like how Bonk can become a turtle in one of the stages.

The second GB Bonk was disappointing, though. Music is weak, there is only one bonus round, and the game is incredibly easy. Most of the bosses can be beaten by staying in one place and bonking them. The powerups are kind of cool, but they don't upgrade when getting more than one meat like previous games. One power up lets you enter doors, but they are small rooms and none of them offer anything really special.

I got lucky with the NES Bonk. Found it for 5 dollars back when Babbages had used NES games. I like it, but I agree it's toned down compared to the TG-16 and Amiga versions. Factor 5's site seems to still have the Amiga one for download, as well.

[MarioMania]

I like Bonk on the NES

But they should of made Bonk's Adventure for the Genesis or the Game Gear

[tomaitheous]

But they should of made Bonk's Adventure for the Genesis or the Game Gear

Seems Hudson didn't care for Sega much. I'm surprised they even made a Bomberman game for the Genesis.

Also, the Amiga one is decent - but it too doesn't retain the gameplay of the original. It's more like PC-Genjin 2 with PC-Genjin one's levels (even uses the Bonk sprite from the second game. And the last boss sprite as well).

[Galbalan]

I found it weirder when I got Bonk on my original Game Boy years ago. Mostly because I had NO IDEA NEC/Hudson whored the little cave dude out even when he was on the PC Engine. Of course, the original TG16 version is the best, but I guess the NES game is kind of an amusing piece of history.

Also weird is that before Nintendo self-published on the NES, they had games on Atari systems. I didn't know that until about two years ago.

[Brianvgplayer]

Also weird is that before Nintendo self-published on the NES, they had games on Atari systems. I didn't know that until about two years ago.

Nintendo didn't do any of those ports themselves, though. I didn't find the ports weird since Nintendo did arcade games first and a few of their games, especially Donkey Kong, were quite popular. It wasn't limited to Atari systems either. Intellivision, Colecoivision, and some home computers like C64 and Apple II also got ports of Nintendo games. One thing I do find odd is that Sky Skipper, a very obscure Nintendo arcade game, has a 2600 version.