What's so good about Bonk's Adventure?

[Dart]

I tried playing it recently and to me it seems like just another generic platformer with a gimmick. I can easily see why it never quite achieved mainstream success. But that's just my opinion. Maybe I'm being a bit hasty to judge it and maybe I need to try playing it again.

[PingvinBlueJeans]

It makes you use your head. ;)

Honestly...it's nothing special, but it can be a good time. I assume you are referring to the TG-16 version. I don't know about the NES version, as I've never played it.

[Ed Oscuro]

What's so special about Super Mario World? Seems like just another platformer with a gimmick to me.

Also, Bonk not achieving mainstream success? Then why did they release two games specifically for the SNES, and remake Bonk 1 for the GameCube a few years back?

[MegaDrive20XX]

I too, have finally seen what makes Bonk tick after all these years. I recently got my very first TG16 and it really was worth the wait imho.

Bonk's "gimmick" is the fact he can do tricks that Sonic nor Mario would normally do.

You see a wall that you can't jump over or hit a block to act as a ladder to get up there? Bonk just grabs onto it with his teeth to climb...now that's class!

Waterfall rapids, many videogame characters would drown in a heart beat or fall to their deaths just by touching it...Not Bonk, he swims up that current like a trout bass in a heart beat.

Always has a way to attack with a head dive or his head butt. You don't see that very often I assume you. Sure, Wario has had a butt slam to freeze his enemies for a few seconds on Gameboy, but I'm pretty sure that when bonk eats 1 spicy piece of meat, his head slam freezing enemies for a few seconds was a solid trade mark.

Only thing he did copy from Mario is just the inviciblity, who needs a power "Star" whe Bonk does it in a "Rage" fashion after eating 2 pieces of spicy meat or 1 large piece. (Love that pissed off look)

I would have to say, Bonk's style is very unorthadox but effective by far. Yet, that's what I call, a sure-fire gimmick to win him fame.

I'd say without Bonk, there wouldn't have been the Data East classic "Caveman Ninjas" (Joe and Mac) since I've seen alot of elements borrowed from Bonk in this game

The NES version is a pretty good port, also there was a GameBoy B&W version as well as Bonk's Revenge GBY.

[mills]

Bonk on TG16 has some of the best music for any game from that era. Awesome colors, and super fun gameplay.

[DKTheArcadeRat]

Also, Bonk not achieving mainstream success? Then why did they release two games specifically for the SNES, and remake Bonk 1 for the GameCube a few years back?

I did not know this, what is the title of the GameCube version?

Dave

[MegaDrive20XX]

Also, Bonk not achieving mainstream success? Then why did they release two games specifically for the SNES, and remake Bonk 1 for the GameCube a few years back?

I did not know this, what is the title of the GameCube version?

Dave

PC Genjin

http://store.videogamecentral.com/gaimpcge.html

This remake was also released on JPN PS2 as well as JPN Cube

Also, Adventure Island got this same treatment for Cube and PS2

[JohnnyBlaze]

I too, have finally seen what makes Bonk tick after all these years. I recently got my very first TG16 and it really was worth the wait imho.

Bonk's "gimmick" is the fact he can do tricks that Sonic nor Mario would normally do.

You see a wall that you can't jump over or hit a block to act as a ladder to get up there? Bonk just grabs onto it with his teeth to climb...now that's class!

Waterfall rapids, many videogame characters would drown in a heart beat or fall to their deaths just by touching it...Not Bonk, he swims up that current like a trout bass in a heart beat.

Always has a way to attack with a head dive or his head butt. You don't see that very often I assume you. Sure, Wario has had a butt slam to freeze his enemies for a few seconds on Gameboy, but I'm pretty sure that when bonk eats 1 spicy piece of meat, his head slam freezing enemies for a few seconds was a solid trade mark.

Only thing he did copy from Mario is just the inviciblity, who needs a power "Star" whe Bonk does it in a "Rage" fashion after eating 2 pieces of spicy meat or 1 large piece. (Love that pissed off look)

I would have to say, Bonk's style is very unorthadox but effective by far. Yet, that's what I call, a sure-fire gimmick to win him fame.

I'd say without Bonk, there wouldn't have been the Data East classic "Caveman Ninjas" (Joe and Mac) since I've seen alot of elements borrowed from Bonk in this game

The NES version is a pretty good port, also there was a GameBoy B&W version as well as Bonk's Revenge GBY.

Don't forget that if you slide the Turbo switch all the way up, he does a sick-ass headbutting flip.Very useful for the end bosses.

[kentuckyfried]

I agree, Bonk's Adventure was pretty standard in a way, it was a pretty game when it was released though, tight gameplay etc.

Bonk's Revenge kicks the snot out of Adventure in my opinion though.

[retroman]

Bonk 1-3 are a great example of how great 2D gaming is..A true classic. I am talking the TG16 of cource.

[boatofcar]

What's so special about Super Mario World? Seems like just another platformer with a gimmick to me.


Do you actually think that? Are you insane? Comparing Bonk to SMW is like comparing Hydlide to Final Fantasy.

[MegaDrive20XX]

Don't forget that if you slide the Turbo switch all the way up, he does a sick-ass headbutting flip.Very useful for the end bosses.

Oh yeah, most def, pretty much an easy flying trick for Bonk

[Richter Belmount]

Umm its fun?

[RegSNES]

What's so special about a dude with a huge head? I wish I knew. But I'll find out when I DL it for the Wii Virtual Console! :)

[suppafly]

Answer: Nothing

[Anthony1]

What's so special about Bonk's Adventure? Maybe the fact that level 1-3 is one of the most beautiful levels in a video game ever, when played in rgb on a rgb monitor. I'm talking about when you bonk the dinosaur on the head, and then you go inside his body, and you are swimming around in his stomach. The colors of that level, in rgb, is absolutely stunning. People don't realize how much color the Turbo could put on the screen. I think the Turbo could put the same number of colors onscreen as a SNES.


As for music, Bonk's Adventure has some great music in it. Some of the all time best Hu card music if you ask me.

[NintenDk]

like its been said he uses his...
and it worked for this guy
http://www.king5.com/sports/stories/M_IMAGE.10c5d518f32.93.88.fa.d0.5cf600d.jpg

[Bratwurst]

Humor was one of Bonk's big things. You exit one level by crawling out of a dinosaur's asshole. One big mouthed monster clamps around Bonk's entire head as his limbs flail helplessly. Flower helpers contort their faces as they're abused. Then there's the generally creative level layout with nicely detailed themes. Everything is stylistic and given character with superb animation. One of the defining elements of Bonk for me is the unusually large stage bosses. All of these things are taken for granted today.

As for the gameplay itself, it has to be taken into consideration that the majority of games made in the late 80s early 90s were platformers. VG&CE refered to 1989 as the year of the 'B' games.

[SeGaFiEnD]

Bonk rules!!! At the time it was a lot prettier to look at than Mario (still luv Mario) and his unusual moves were awesome. When people were playing there NES I would show them my TurboGrafx 16 and Bonk most times they shut off there NES to play BONK!!! :D

[rbudrick]

Well, it was the first really good mascot platformer for the TG-16, maiking hima mascot of sorts. But seriously, the Bonk games were all very solid games with great sound, graphics, challenge and gameplay. Though TG-16 wasn't a huge success in the states financially, if you put Bonk side by side with the other great platformers of the day (say if bonk were on another system), it stood up very well for what it was...a well made, fun game.

-Rob

[kainemaxwell]

What's so special about Bonk's Adventure? Maybe the fact that level 1-3 is one of the most beautiful levels in a video game ever, when played in rgb on a rgb monitor. I'm talking about when you bonk the dinosaur on the head, and then you go inside his body, and you are swimming around in his stomach. The colors of that level, in rgb, is absolutely stunning. People don't realize how much color the Turbo could put on the screen. I think the Turbo could put the same number of colors onscreen as a SNES.


As for music, Bonk's Adventure has some great music in it. Some of the all time best Hu card music if you ask me.
And there goes Anthony ranting about monitors again...

Played it for awhile when I got into emulation. Decent platformer, gimmick being Bonk attacking with his head. Good game for a laugh.

[Ed Oscuro]

What's so special about a dude with a huge head?
As suppafly said, when you compare Bonk's head to the inflated craniums of the average DP member, maybe he isn't so special after all.

But his games are still great.

(That goes for me too! LOL )

[6502]

What's special about Bonk? Well, nothing really, other than the fact it was a nice platformer for the Turbo, which needed both good platformers (I always thought the Turbo was a bit lacking in that area) as well as a mascot. But the series was never anywhere near as good as the Super Mario Bros. games when it came to platforming.

The first game is still a very good platformer, if a bit short. My favorite element was the super-smooth air spin with the Turbo switches turned all the way up. Spent a lot of time trying to maximize my score by keeping enemies bouncing in the air. A pity that Hudson removed that (made the spin far less smooth) in Revenge and future games. Every game after the original, while longer and prettier, just seemed to get more and more clunky in the gameplay department, especially the size changing gimmick of Bonk 3 and later games.