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Jurassic Park (NES video game)

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Jurassic Park
North American cover art
Developer(s)Ocean of America
Publisher(s)Ocean Software
Composer(s)Jon Dunn[2]
SeriesJurassic Park
Platform(s)NES
Release
  • EU: December 28, 1993[1]
  • NA: July 1993
Genre(s)Action[1]
Adventure[1]
Science fiction[1]
Mode(s)Single-player

Jurassic Park is a 1993 video game based on the film and novel of the same name. It was developed and published by Ocean Software and released for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).[3] Ocean also released Jurassic Park on the handheld Game Boy console. The Game Boy version is a port of the NES version.[4]

The object of the game is to survive in Jurassic Park, a theme park and zoo where dinosaurs have escaped from containment.

Plot

The game's first level.

Much like the movie and novel which it is based on, Dr. Alan Grant is trapped at Jurassic Park located on Isla Nublar. The park's power has been cut out because of a computer malfunction, and the dinosaurs are roaming free. Grant must complete a series of missions that will eventually lead to him escaping the island without being killed by the dinosaurs. Grant must also rescue Lex and Tim, the grandchildren of the park's owner, John Hammond.[5][6]

After locating Hammond's grandchildren, Grant must reactivate the park's computers and destroy Velociraptor nests using time bombs. Grant then reaches the park's dock and uses a radio to contact help. Grant then reaches a helipad and is rescued from the island.[6]

The game's ending consists of the player walking around a small stage filled with the game developers' names and an exit where the player can end the game.[2]

Gameplay

The game is a top-down shooter. As Alan Grant, the player must complete six levels with objectives ranging from rescuing Hammond's grandchildren, destroying Velociraptor nests, turning the power back on and so forth.[5][6] The game includes a two-player option in which players take turns.[6]

Each level consists of a varying number of stages where the player must collect a certain amount of dinosaur eggs and access cards to advance further into the level. The player must battle a varying amount of dinosaur foes such as Velociraptor, Dilophosaurus, and Compsognathus. Tyrannosaurus rex is also encountered as an end boss in a couple of levels. Dinosaurs such as the T. rex cannot be killed by the player, only avoided. Common dinosaurs can be killed by using guns, which are scattered throughout each level.[5][6]

There are also "mystery boxes" scattered throughout the game, which have ranging effects. Some will give the player additional health, temporary invincibility or an extra life. However, some will power down the player's energy or take away a life. The game gives the player three lives and four continues.[5]

Development and release

Ocean Software, a British video game development company, paid an undisclosed six-figure sum to secure the rights to the Jurassic Park license to develop a game based on the film.[7][8] To aid Ocean Software in creating the game, Universal Studios provided the programmers with various materials related to the film, including the script and photos of the sets.[9] In the United States, Jurassic Park was released in July 1993.[6]

Reception

Skyler Miller of AllGame rated the game four stars out of five and wrote, "Jurassic Park is an uncharacteristically good movie adaptation [...]. As a late era NES game, the visuals are appropriately impressive, and pleasingly depict the various jungle environments and many types of dinosaurs you encounter."[3] Nintendo Power praised the game's open world and its graphics, especially many of its creatures. Nintendo Power also complimented the accurate controls and praised the game for attempting to recreate certain situations from the film. However, Nintendo Power also negatively wrote, "Not as many movie elements as you might expect. Most of the game is spent gathering items and shooting dinosaurs."[6] In episode 20 of the 1MorePodcastle, the game is discussed in great detail as being bland, repetitive, and historically forgetful.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Jurassic Park Release Information Archived 2012-01-22 at the Wayback Machine at GameFAQs - Retrieved August 24, 2010
  2. ^ a b Ocean Software (July 1993). Jurassic Park (Nintendo Entertainment System). Ocean Software. Scene: End.
  3. ^ a b "Jurassic Park (NES) review". Skyler Miller. AllGame.
  4. ^ Marriott, Scott Alan. "Jurassic Park (Game Boy) Overview". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014.
  5. ^ a b c d "Jurassic Park (NES) manual" Vimm.net. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "Jurassic Park". Nintendo Power. Nintendo of America. August 1993. pp. 86–91, 103. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
  7. ^ "Brace Yourself". SNES Force. Impact Magazines. pp. 14–15. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  8. ^ "Jurassic Park: Work in Progress". SNES Force. Impact Magazines. October 1993. pp. 26–30. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  9. ^ "Work in Progress". The One Amiga. EMAP: 35. July 1993. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
  10. ^ http://1morecastle.com/2013/01/020-jurassic-scottie-pippen-park/
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