skullomania
Member
Developed by Hudson Soft and Red Entertainment, the PC-Kid / Bonk series spans multiple consoles, and even though at first glance you may be fooled into thinking they are all basic ports of the same game, upon further inspection, most of them are completely unique entries in the series.
The series allows players to take control of the titular "PC-Kid" / "Bonk" / "BC-Kid" / "PC-Genjin" (He has various different names for various different territories), a prehistoric cave-boy, who uses his head to headbutt his way through many zany levels in a wacky prehistoric setting.
Primarily the series was developed for the Turbografx16 and the PC-Engine (hence the Japanese name "PC-Genjin", a pun roughly meaning PC-Caveman), but continued on many other systems as the years progressed. Let's take a look at them all below!
PC-GENJIN / BONK'S ADVENTURE / BC-KID (1989/1992) [PC ENGINE, TURBOGRAFX-16, AMIGA]
The first game in the series is an arcade-y platform game set in a humorous prehistoric setting. Princess Za from moonland has been kidnapped by the evil King Drool, and is it up to you to rescue her and save her brainwashed companions. You control Bonk, and your main mode of attack is a headbutt, which sends enemies flying! You can also use your teeth to climb up walls and trees, swing across ropes, and swim up waterfalls to fight your way through the 5 worlds of numerous stages.
Levels are also littered with flowers - some of which can be jumped on to spring you to higher places, some contain hidden fruit and power ups, and some are enemies in disguise waiting to attack you.
By eating meat, Bonk can power up and transform, increasing his headbutt power, and allowing him to freeze enemies in place for a limited time by headbutting the ground. Collect enough meat and his head explodes causing him to become invincible for a short time!
There are 5 worlds with a brainwashed boss eat the end of each one, and the game contains a great sense of humour and variety in the stages (one of which you jump into a giant dinosaur's mouth, and proceed to swim around inside its stomach!)
The only slight criticism is that due to the nature of your attack (the headbutt) you need to be in a close proximity to the enemies to use it, which often times also leaves you vulnerable to getting attacked yourself. Overall though, a polished game, and fun experience!
In 1992, Factor 5 released a ported version of this game to the Amiga, re-named BC-Kid, which is almost a 1:1 port in terms of level layout and game structure. It includes slightly improved graphics due to increased colour-palette to add slight variation. Also, there are a few slight tweaks in level layouts here and there, such as an ice-cube lake and thundercloud section missing from stage 3-5, and a few different bonus sections hidden behind different hidden doors, but aside from that, a pretty faithful port, with new music.
PC-GENJIN 2 / BONK'S REVENGE (1991) [PC ENGINE, TURBOGRAFX-16]
The follow up to the first Bonk/Pc-Kid game adds brand new levels, and a few exciting new abilities as one would expect from a sequel. This time King Drool has begun to create a Monster Kingdom, and stolen an entire section of the moon! Bonk must travel through Monster Kingdom across such locations as volcanoes, snowy mountains, beaches, huge warships, Hatchet town (where the Chikkins live), and a Pyramid on the moon.
A few new abilities are added, such as the ability to wall bounce to get higher, the ability to spin and swing around branches to gain height, the ability to use your head to smash igloos and knock certain flowers around to move their position.
Bonus stages return, but this time they are accessed via mini flowers, and some bonus stages have you enticing piranhas to bite on to you and taking them to the goal. Some flowers give you a propeller ability, and being squashed will turn you into a crab (for some reason).
Most of the enemies are new, and a lot of the Chikkins/Hatchets now have little personalities, as they are now fishing, surfing, or chasing butterflies, adding to the whimsy of the game.
Collecting Smileys in each world allows you to tackle a Monster Train course after defeating each boss (the type of train stage depends on the amount of Smileys collected) and 1ups and extra hearts can be collected here, as well as the ability to warp past a world if you are very lucky. The ability that Bonk gets after eating meat is updated here also. One meat gives you the ability to shoot a small projectile turning enemies to stone (except the Japanese version gives Bonk make-up and allows him to blow kisses), and two meat items allow you to breath fire burning enemies in their tracks.
New bosses are included in this game, as well as several mini bosses. A great sequel to a great game.
PC-GENJIN 3 / BONK 3: BONK'S BIG ADVENTURE (1993) [PC ENGINE, TURBOGRAFX-16]
The 3rd instalment in the Bonk series carries on the tradition cemented by the previous games, but also brings a few new gimmicks/game mechanics. Firstly, it offers a 2-player simultaneous multiplayer option, allowing 2 Bonks to traverse through the stages together. It also introduces "Miracle Candies", which allow the player to shrink to progress through small gaps (Red Candies) or grow to a massive size (Blue Candies) to do much more damage. The meat transformations are the same as Bonk 2 (again the Japanese version contains the make-up variant, whilst USA is the stone variant). The Crab transformation from the previous game returns if you get squashed by blocks, and Bonk now has the ability to squeeze through pipes to travel great distances. Oddly, the ability to push/move certain flowers around to access new areas, which was introduced in Bonk 2, seems to be absent in this game.
New bonus stages are included, such as grabbing butterflies using the propeller flower, smashing a building with your head, and sliding through a pipe maze. These can also be accessed once you complete a world, by spending Smileys.
This time Bonk (or 2 Bonks) must track down King Drool again, as he has anchored half of the moon underwater. All the bosses in this game are actually dinosaur-mechs that are piloted by King Drool, and the final boss is Drool himself who can now also grow and shrink.
The level locations are mostly consistent with the first 2 games, with the prehistoric setting, but introduce a few new themes, such as a giant house with sewers, and a prehistoric city with a subway line underneath. Some normal enemies can now eat Bonk, and he enters their stomach and intestines looking for treats. Another bandit dinosaur can steal Smileys from Bonk if he gets too close.
The only downside of this game is probably the level design. Although it offers a bit of variety with the shrinking/growing feature used to create a maze-like layout to access different sections, the level design does get a little generic/samey after a while. There is not as much distinction between stages as there was with the previous 2 games. Aside from this, it follows the formula pretty well.
There was also a CD version released, which is pretty much the same, except with new music. Apparently, it also adds a couple new 2-player bonus stages, such as a volleyball mini game as well.
FC-GENJIN / BONK'S ADVENTURE (1993) [FAMICOM, NES]
Upon first glance, this appears to be a port of the very first Bonk game, but on closer inspection is actually a reworked, abridged version, revised to fit in with the NES limitations. Although this follows the same basic storyline as the first one, and contains the same enemies and bosses (although with modified attack patterns), it varies quite a bit in level design, re-using some from the original, and some new layouts created entirely, to bring a simplified, shorter game with slightly, reworked content. Bonus stages are accessed via mini flowers here (such as in Bonk 2 onwards) rather than the hidden doorways from the first version. If you want a variation of the first game, try this out.
SUPER-GENJIN / SUPER BONK (1994) [SUPER FAMICOM, SNES]
As the Pc-Engine's days were coming to a close - the Bonk series continued its antics on the Super Nintendo. Building on the new abilities introduced in Bonk 3, Super Bonk turns things up a notch in the abilities department by adding a few additional moves.
Under certain circumstances, you can shout out "rage platforms" which allow you to traverse gaps, you can also carry spring flowers on your head to move them to useful locations. The grow/shrink candies return, with a new Yellow Candy to return you to normal size. Eating two Meats turn you into a lizard, in which you can use your tongue to attack when normal size, or turn you into a giant Godzilla-type creature who can destroy buildings, when massive. For some reason one meat turns big Bonk into an ostrich also!
The level layouts are the main draw here, as they have been improved somewhat since Bonk 3. They are no longer set purely in prehistoric locations, and Bonk travels to cities, fairgrounds, airplanes, mechanical comets among other environments. Levels are much more open also, with multiple paths through each world. There is a great sense of humorous progression, with one stage, again, being set in a giant's house - but this time you climb onto a dining table, jump into a giant cold glass of juice, get sucked up a through a straw, go inside the dinosaurs body (as a call back to the very first Bonk game) and then eventually make your way into its brain and nervous system and slide around in there. Very unique and humorous stuff!
The Crab transformation is used a bit more here, and also doubles up as a shoot-em-up stage (which sets the precedent for things to come in the Bonk series), and the bonus stages return, once again accessed by mini flowers, which offer a few new mini game type stages such as inflating enemies, and throwing flowers into moving baskets.
SUPER-GENJIN 2 (1995) [SUPER FAMICOM]
Bonk continues his adventures on the Super Famicom, but this time exclusively for the Japanese territories, as Super Genjin 2 was never released in North America or Europe. Here we got a few subtle changes, as well as some major transformation upgrades, and a few nice little gimmicks thrown in for good measure.
Firstly, the graphical style has been slightly modified for this sequel, as the environments and backgrounds are now in a more angular, almost abstract style. Some compare it a little to the Yoshi's Island style, and I can see the resemblance.
Introduced here are many new transformations, and as well as meat, eggs, sunglasses and shovels can be collected to give you different powers. Meat, as per usual, turns you into fury Bonk, whereas Pink Meat allows you to double jump as Ballerina Bonk, and Green Meat allows you to throw Smileys as Bandit Bonk. Sunglasses turn you into a frog, with a tongue that can eat enemy's hearts(!), or grab hard to reach platforms; An Egg will allow you to flap your wings as a bird and reach new places; A shovel allows you to fire a drill from your head to break specific blocks, and this time when you are squashed you turn into a worm rather than a crab. The Candy returns, but only in the pink variety, which shrinks you once again, and gives you "rage platforms". All these power ups are spread around where needed in each stage, and are used throughout the game.
In addition, several levels introduce a mode where Bonk's soul is zapped out of his body by a lightning strike, and you become a zombie until you have successful caught up with it, and later in the game, Bonk is captured by a mad-scientist, and is temporarily transformed into a Drool-Bonk hybrid.
The stages are nice and varied (though probably not as much as the previous game) but seem to be a bit more linear and generic in design. A few instances like the ones mentioned above add variety, as well as areas where Bonk will control and inflatable pig-helicopter by swing around as though he is a propeller. There is also now an overworld map to see your progression through the game, and level checkpoints to break up each level.
Bonk can now dash, skim along water with his head, headbutt trees for bonus items, and collect special items to help defeat bosses. There is a training stage included at the start to get to grips with everything. Bonus stages return by collecting small flowers, and now include a stage where Bonk turns into a giant tank and can blast away buildings to his heart's content.
Overall, a nice game, albeit slightly short, and a shame it was never officially translated and brought over to the west.
KYUKYOKU! PC-GENJIN / BONK'S ADVENTURE: ARCADE VERSION (1994) [ARCADE]
What do we have here? An exclusive Bonk arcade game? This is quite an oddity, as it follows the same basic premise of the classic Bonk games, but puts a few simple twists on it.
First of all, it's main draw is the 2-player simultaneous mode, where 1 player takes on Bonk and a second takes on a female Bonk. Secondly the stages are all very short (taking about a minute or so each to complete) but as it is an arcade game, each stage is jam packed with things going on. From the start you can access any of the 21 stages, which range from locales such as gloomy highlands, flies nests, a rainbow city, and a haunted house, and most stages are simply making your way to the right of the screen whilst defeating enemies and avoiding traps. All stages are very horizontal, but have a nice variety in terms of enemies and backgrounds.
Stages are littered with bonuses such as diamonds, fruits and Smiley faces. You can now collect 10 max Smiley faces, and they stick to your head as you carry them through the game, increasing your attack range. In order to keep on to them, you can duck your head into your body to protect them for a fleeting moment. Power ups exist in the form of shoes to make you move faster, and the regular meat, which transforms your character fist into an angry body builder, and then into a spooky skeleton.
Spring flowers are still found in the stages, but also are basketballs, footballs and soccer balls, which you can take to the end of the stage to score a "goal" for extra points, if you can keep onto it that long! Once you have cleared 3 stages, you get a choice of 7 bosses to tackle, which are all different and quite cool.
It's a very zany and unique take on the series, which offers a simpler take on the usual Bonk mechanics, but packages them up in a nice pick up and play arcade experience.
GB-GENJIN / BONK'S ADVENTURE (1992) [GAMEBOY]
Although this one follows the same basic storyline as PC-Genjin/Bonk's Adventure on the PC-Engine, it is actually a wholly original adventure, with different levels, new enemies, and new bosses.
A slightly shorter adventure then the other games, as is consistent with most Gameboy adaptions, it also includes a couple of new power-up abilities, such as an "invisible screamer" transformation, where Bonk can scream at the enemies, and if he eats a turtle underwater, he can don a turtle shell and swim around. Stage 3 offers an alternative route by falling down a collapsing bridge, and 4 new bosses are exclusive to the game.
GB-GENJIN 2 / BONK'S REVENGE (1994) [GAMEBOY]
The second instalment on the Gameboy is a great little adventure. This features lots of unique mechanics that are not found in any of the other games, most notable the 3 unique transformations that Bonk can change into. When Bonk eats some meat, he toggles between 3 different power ups, and by pressing a button at the right time you can choose which one you want.
The 3 powerups are – Master Bonk, where he dons spock-type ears and a cape and can jump high / Hungry Bonk - with sharp scary teeth who can bite his enemies / Stealth Bonk who has a prison outfit and ball and chain (although he is presented differently in the Japanese version). Stealth bonk can unlock various locked doors scattered around all the stages, which contain small rooms with hearts and Smiley faces etc inside.
The bonus rounds can once again be accessed by mini flowers, but this time they pit you against a Robocop looking Mecha Bonk whom you must knock off a platform to win.
Bonk can now climb along ceilings with his teeth, and crawl along the ground to get through small gaps. if he takes damage he briefly turns into a mummified Bonk. Some of the flowers will bite you this time around also.
Stages are less prehistoric based, and centre more around a town/ a train/ moon surface with low gravity and a battleship as well as others. The level design layouts are actually pretty nice and the visuals are v. good for a Gameboy game.
The plot seems to centre around the earth getting split in two this time, and you have to reconnect it. Bosses seem to be based off movie themes in some respect, with a space samurai boar (that somewhat resembles Darth Vader) and a cute alien Xenomorph.
It looks like this game also had slight Super Game Boy enhancements with some nice colourful borders.
GB-GENJIN LAND (1994) [GAMEBOY]
This title was only released in Japan, and appears to be a selection of Bonk related mini-games, rather than a complete platform adventure. Personally I haven't tried this one out, but if anyone has, feel free to add some thoughts/comments below.
It also appears that a single Gameboy cart was later released with all 3 GB-Genjin games on it, called the GB-Genjin collection.
HUDSON SELECTION PC-GENJIN (2003) [GAMECUBE / PLAYSTATION 2]
A remake of original game with new prerendered sprites and 2d backgrounds. A very unique visual style, but the 3D models aren't really that great, losing some character and personality when adapting from the pixel art version.
This "remake" is interesting as it starts pretty much the same as the very first game in the series, with the first two worlds including levels and layouts of original (with only subtle alterations) up to end of world 2 - but then world 3 onwards it completely ditches the layout of the original, and deviates into completely unique stages (following the same basic progression and tropes as the original) to add variety to this upgrade.
Some different enemies, and bosses that are similar but have unique attack patterns. Bonk's 2nd "form" is a monkey (rather than blue in original) and 3rd form is blue (rather than green/yellow in original).
You can now Collect 6 fruits in each stage for some possible bonus, and the graphical updates allow for lots of the sound effects to have a large visual representation.
BONK'S RETURN (2006) [MOBILE]
An entirely new Bonk game was released specifically for the mobile phones back in 2006. This one appears to use maintain the original style for the character artwork, but slightly more detailed backgrounds. From what I can tell the level layouts are completely unique to this version, and seems to have a few story elements too. Anyone played this?
