Folks, we’ve got some bonking to do.
The PC Engine, a cool console by NEC, was a big hit in Japan upon its release in 1987. Numerous delays (including a full re-design of the console that wasn’t really necessary) led to it not being launched in the U.S., where it was named the TurboGrafx 16 until about two years later. Its timing couldn’t have been much worse, either – when it finally released here, it did so about two weeks after the Sega Genesis.
Company mascots were a pretty big deal in the early 90s – Nintendo had Mario, Sega had Sonic, and so on. NEC, the folks behind the TG-16, had Bonk. Bonk is a caveman with a very large head that can be used as a weapon. To summarize, instead of offering high speed or a wide array of characters, NEC has…uh…concussions. Yeah, that’ll do.
As with your usual Mario or Sonic game, Bonk’s Adventure is a fairly straightforward platformer. You run to the right (or to the left, in some levels), hit enemies with your big ol’ head, and try not to die. There are a lot of games like that, so let’s look at what puts this one apart. The biggest thing is likely the game’s characters and levels, particularly Bonk himself. He’s a very goofy with a unique set of abilities (and he can’t jump on enemies to kill , a fact that I routinely forgot while playing). The levels can also be a bit goofy, such as this bloody romp through the inside of a dinosaur:
While Bonk is a pleasant enough experience – the levels are varied and interesting, the characters are colorful and unique – it definitely feels a step or two behind its mascot-y brethren. A difference that isn’t in the game’s favor is its speed – Mario can dash to great effect and Sonic is Sonic, but Bonk moves at a far more leisurely pace. It doesn’t ruin the game by any stretch, but it does make it feel like a bit more of a slog (this is less of an issue with levels that have more vertical movement, of which there are a thankfully a decent number).
To this day, Bonk’s Adventure remains likely the most well-known remnant of the TurboGrafx era, and it’s not entirely without reason. It won’t make a ton of “greatest games” lists, but it’s an interesting look at the marquee character of an “also-ran” among American game consoles. The game received several sequels for both the TG-16 and other consoles of the era, as well as a more rad 90s spinoff known as Air Zonk.
I’m also pleased to note that going forward, I’ll be using a new Retro Roulette “wheel,” with a much more robust list of options, including retro arcade and PC titles. I’m very excited to see what it comes up with! Next week’s game, for example, is a weird sports game I owned anyway, so I sure am glad I made all that effort. More info n that game, as well as the wheel itself, next week.