Random Game O' the Day: Dynamite Headdy

[digitalpress]

The Not-So Random Generator that Comes from My Brain (tm) has chosen Dynamite Headdy today, for no particular reason other than that I was thinking about the game earlier and want to get back to it soon to finish it.

What did you think of this Treasure release for the Genesis? It's also a Game Gear game but one of the game's highlights is its graphics which I find truly vibrant on Genesis - a good showpiece for someone who doesn't think the Genesis color palette is bright enough. I'm not a big platformer fan, but I do enjoy this game. What are YOUR thoughts?

DP Guide sez:

Dynamite Headdy (Genesis, by Sega) $12/R3 +
Developed by Treasure. Also released for Game Gear. Action/Platform/Scrolling Screen. EASTER EGGS: A little tired of the first two levels and want do jump deeper into the game? To choose a starting level, go to and highlight the "start game" and press C, A, Left, Right, B. You'll hear "NICE!". Now just press Start to enter the level select menu. PERIODICALS: Featured on the cover of GameFan in August 1994. SANTULLI SLANT: You know, whenever someone tells me that I often think with my "other" head, I remind them that Dynamite Headdy has 15 of them and he seems to do just fine switching between them when the need "arises". A really colorful and underrated game by Treasure, commonly overshadowed by that "other" Genesis game of theirs, Gunstar Heroes. It's fairly standard platform fare, even the head-switching thing isn't used as much as it feels like it should be, but it's a solid game all-around nonetheless [Gr: 9, So: 6, Ga: 8, Ov: 8] Released 08/04/94. c1994 Sega.

[Raedon]

has Treasure ever made anything that sucked? well, if they had this wasn't it. Fun platformer, the use of heads as an attack and means of grapping things played a lot like bionic commando. It was no Gunstar Heros but it was a game you could have put your money on and got it's worth back.

[Gamereviewgod]

I love this one, but for some reason I always find myself reaching for another game. There are some many platformers on the Genny, it's so hard to pick one over another. The game looks outstanding though, one of the best on the console really.

[Keir]

I made a post about this game when I first picked it up:

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1450

I didn't even know who Treasure was at the time. One of my favorite Genesis games, it's better than Gunstar Heroes.

[Vroomfunkel]

My first Treasure game ... and the start of my addiction to their own personal form of craziness. The great thing about Headdy is all the cool little extras that only happen once, but are really neat, like knocking the little creatures onto a spke to give you a walkway across some pit, racing the giant cheese down the hill, and bashing the tower until the little guard creature falls to his death!. And I love the "You got a secret bonus point!" sample ... so satisfying! I disagree that it is on a par with other platformers. It's not the greatest platformer ever made, but it's certainly head and shoulders above most of the crowd. This game went when I sold off my whole Megadrive collection a few years ago ... I've been keeping my eyes peeled for it since, with no luck. Today I missed an auction where I could have had it for $5 :-(

Never mind... my early brush with Treasure through this game has inspired me to seek out as many of their other gems as I can. So I have Dynamite Headdy to thank for the fact that I have such gems as Ikaruga, Yu Yu Hakushu, Guardian Heroes, Gunstar Heroes and Freak Out in my collection today. And one day, I will have Dynamite Headdy again!

Vroomfunkel

[BenT]

has Treasure ever made anything that sucked? You bet! I'd suggest the first one was Stretch Panic for PS2, followed by Silpheed:TLP. (Or did I get those reversed?)

As for the topic at hand, I never really "got" Headdy. GameFan told me it was supposed to be god but it just didn't click for me. To this day I don't find it to be very enjoyable compared to my 16-bit favorites like Treasure's own Gunstar Heroes. Weird, yes, superb, no.

[Kid Fenris]

I rather liked Headdy, but it's not my favorite Treasure game. While the play mechanics were fun, I got tired of trudging through the same levels every time I started the game. (If there was a password feature, I don't remember it.) The twisted-muppet character designs didn't do anything for me either.

And Treasure's Light Crusader came pretty close to sucking, I think.

[BenT]

I actually have to break from popular opinion and say I like Light Crusader -- at least what I've played of it. About two years back I had an enjoyable afternoon penetrating several levels into the game's labyrinth. However, I think I encountered a bug, as a key item (a key?) I seemingly needed to continue just would not show up where it was supposed to be. Still, what I played was pretty fun, and the music was great. Sure, the Euro-tastic character designs and art style aren't going to win any awards, but they're easily overlooked once you get into the quest.

I ought to try my new copy soon and see if I can't get further.

[Daniel Thomas]

You know, many people point to Gunstar Heroes as the definitive Treasure game, but I think the real answer is Dynamite Headdy. Quirkily unique, with a definite Japanese flair and many odd, amusing bits. This is the Treasure that would make a game like Stretch Panic.

Great game, overall. Gunstar Heroes grabbed my attention, and Headdy proved that Treasure was the real deal. They've never disappointed me since.

[Cafeman]

I found Dynamite Headdy in a Giant Eagle bargain bin, still sealed. I think I paid $4.99 for it (this was 5 years ago or more). I knew about Treasure's reputation or else I'd have passed on the game, especially with the unappealing art on the box. But I already owned Radiant and Gunstar Heroes,and Guardian Heroes for that matter, and knew Treasure meant GOOD and STRANGE and MANIC stuff. I was right -- those words apply to Dynamite Headdy.

Not much else I can say except the Genesis sound, animation, and color use seems maxed out in every scene. All kinds of cool, unique, and WEIRD FX going on. A totally solid platformer and unique experience that still gets play-time in my house.

[Chunky]

I like the Genny, I don't love it as i love the NES but it works. Yeah sure i can play sonic...but this was finally a game that i picked off the top 100 list that i acutally stayed in there and played it till i was tired, and i mean for hours. so personally i would move this into my top 20 for the genny.