Continuing my series of forgotten systems, we now talk about one my brother owned.
I knew nothing about the system before it appeared in my brother’s room. The console was initially released in Japan in 1987 and then in North America in 1989.
Bonk’s Adventure was the platformer that drew in gamers to the system in America. It was a game that was clearer not Mario or Sonic, and gave the uniqueness that kids crave.
But what else was there?
Not much.
If you were a Bonk-head, Bonk’s Adventure and its sequel, Bonk’s Revenge, were enough to warrant a purchase.
I remember playing Splatterhouse in my brother’s room and seeing a character walking around in a hockey mask, trying to kill monsters like in a horror movie. It was no Manhunt, but it was something I never even imagined a video game could be.
Most of the system’s games were scrolling shooters like LifeForce on the NES. Blazing Lazers was a classic, but different from what American kids wanted.
Although the TurboGrafx-16 (or PC Engine, as it was called in Japan) was two weeks ahead of the Genesis in the North American market, it couldn’t gain any traction.
I have never seen another game besides Bonk’s Adventure or Splatterhouse being played in our household, but at least it has more playing time than a 3DO.
