Bonk (series)

Last updated
Bonk / PC-Genjin / B.C. Kid
Genre(s) Platformer
Developer(s) Red Company
Publisher(s)
Platform(s) PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16, Arcade, SNES, NES, Game Boy, Amiga, PS2, GameCube, PSN, iOS, Virtual Console, Mobile
First release Bonk's Adventure
December 15, 1989
Latest release Bonk's Return
November 1, 2006

Bonk, known as PC-Genjin [lower-alpha 1] in Japan and as PC Kid or B.C. Kid in PAL territories, is a video game character and former mascot for NEC's PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 video game console. [1] Three platform games featuring the character appeared on the PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16, as well as two spin-offs featuring Air Zonk. The protagonist is a bald caveman named Bonk who attacks using his comically large head.

Contents

His Japanese name PC-Genjin is a pun on the PC Engine, with his European name PC Kid similarly referencing the system's name (the console is also called PC Engine in Europe). The "PC" part of his Japanese and European names also stands for "Pithecanthropus Computerurus", a fictitious species name for the character. The American title Bonk is also not used in the European versions due to the word "bonk" being inappropriate slang in British English. [1]

Konami now owns the rights to the Bonk series as a result of its absorption of the series' publisher Hudson Soft in 2012. [2]

Origin

As stated on Hudson Soft's website, in their "The Definitive Bonk" article, Bonk was originally created as a comic character, PC Caveman (Genjin), in a magazine for the PC Engine. Many people liked the character and there were talks held on giving him a game of his own. In addition to this, many people even mistook him for an upcoming game character even before his game was in development, because the magazine frequently featured comics of upcoming games. [3]

Games

Bonk's Adventure (PC-Genjin in Japan, PC Kid in Europe) was the first game starring Bonk and was released for the TurboGrafx-16 in 1989. A variation of the TG-16 original eventually appeared on the NES with fewer colors and reduced graphic quality. Another variation was released for the Amiga under the name BC Kid. A completely new game, with 2-player co-op, was released for the arcades, [4] while another new game utilizing the same name was released for the Game Boy. A remake of the original was released in Japan many years later on the PlayStation 2 and the GameCube.

Bonk's Revenge (PC-Genjin 2 in Japan, PC Kid 2 in Europe) was released for the TurboGrafx-16 in 1991, while a completely different game using the same name made it to the Game Boy, the TurboGrafx-16 version was re-released for Windows on December 13, 2013, and the Wii U Virtual Console on March 12, 2014, in Japan.

Bonk 3: Bonk's Big Adventure (PC-Genjin 3) was released for the TurboGrafx-16 as 2 versions in 1993: a TurboChip (cartridge) version and a Super CD-ROM version, the latter of which featured an updated redbook audio soundtrack.

Super Bonk (Super Genjin, Super B.C. Kid) was the 4th game in the series and was released for the Super NES in 1994. It was the first entry in the Bonk series to not be released for the TurboGrafx-16. Super Bonk was later re-released for Nintendo's Virtual Console in Japan on November 16, 2010, the PAL region on December 10, and in North America on April 4, 2011. [5]

Super Genjin 2 was the 5th and final console game in the series. It was the follow-up to Super Bonk, and was released in 1995 only in Japan on the Super Famicom (Super NES).

GB Genjin Land: Viva! Chikkun Kingdom was a collection of mini games starring Bonk, released for the Game Boy.

Genjin Collection, a collection of the 3 Game Boy titles, was released for the Game Boy.

Bonk's Return was released for mobile phones. It features gameplay similar to that of the first two Bonk games.

Mekuttepon! (PC Genjin Version) (めくってポン!(PC原人版)), released on iPhone OS on 2008 in Japan, is part of Do the Hudson!!.

Same Game (PC Genjin Version) (鮫亀(PC原人版)), released on iPhone OS on 2008 in Japan, is part of Do the Hudson!!.

Meijin o Sagase!! (PC Genjin Version) (名人をさがせ!!(PC原人版)), released on iPhone OS on 2008 in Japan, is part of Do the Hudson!!.

Dokka kawatta? (どっか変わった?(PC原人版)), released on iPhone OS on 2008 in Japan, is part of Do the Hudson!!. [6]

The TurboGrafx-16 version of Bonk's Adventure was released for the Virtual Console service at its launch on November 21, 2006. Bonk's Revenge was released on April 16, 2007, and Bonk 3: Bonk's Big Adventure was released on September 3 in the same year, in the United States.

Unreleased games

A conversion of PC Genjin titled Genjin Show: Tobidase! VB Genjin was planned for the Virtual Boy, with a former Hudson Soft employee stating that he played Virtual Bomberman as reference during development but the adaptation was scrapped due to the commercial and critical failure of the platform. [7] [8] PC Alajin, Bonk Strategy (Uesugi Genjin in Japan), PC Genjin no Te-to-Risu, Bonk IV: The Role-Playing Game/Bonk's Quest [9] (RPG Genjin in Japan), Ultra Genjin and Bonk 3D were planned for the TurboGrafx-16, Nintendo 64 and Nintendo 3DS respectively, but were never released. Ultra Genjin eventually became Bomberman Hero for the Nintendo 64. [10] A new Bonk game developed by Pi Studios, Bonk: Brink of Extinction, was announced for the PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade, WiiWare and the Nintendo 3DS. [11] The title would have included cooperative play but it was cancelled. [12] [13] [14]

Other media

Manga

  1. ↑ Japanese: ＰＣ原人, lit. "PC-Primitive-Man" or "PC Caveman"

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<i>Air Zonk</i> 1992 video game

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<i>Bonks Revenge</i> 1991 video game

Bonk's Revenge, known as PC-Genjin 2 in Japan and PC Kid 2 in Europe, is a 2D platformer set in prehistory, originally for the PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 console, created in 1991 by the Red Company for Hudson Soft, and licensed by NEC. This is the second title in the Bonk series, and was re-released for the TurboGrafx-16 in 1992 on the Gate of Thunder 4-in-1 game CD-ROM. A completely different game with the same name appeared on the Game Boy, whereas the original version was re-released for Wii Virtual Console and on the Japanese PlayStation Store. It was also released in Japan on Windows Store on December 13, 2013, and on Wii U Virtual Console on March 12, 2014. The title is also playable on the Turbografx-16/PC Engine Mini Console.

<i>Bonks Adventure</i> 1989 video game

Bonk's Adventure, known as PC Genjin in Japan, PC Kid and B.C. Kid in Europe, is a scrolling platform game developed by Red Company and Atlus and released in 1989 in Japan and 1990 in North America for the PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16. The Japanese title PC Genjin is a play on the system's original name, PC Engine, with the European title PC Kid similarly referencing the system's name. The first game in the Bonk series, it was followed by two more games for the TurboGrafx-16 before branching out to other platforms.

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<i>Super Star Soldier</i> 1990 video game

Super Star Soldier is a scrolling shooter video game developed by Kaneko and originally published by Hudson Soft in 1990 for the Japanese PC Engine and in 1991 for the North American TurboGrafx-16. It is the sequel to Star Soldier, and part of a vertical-scrolling shooter series by Hudson Soft. According to the company, many people believed Super Star Soldier's graphics were the best of any HuCard game. Although the game was popular in Japan, it received less attention from the rest of the world.

Star Soldier is a series of scrolling shooters mainly developed by Hudson Soft. Konami has owned the rights to the series since their absorption of Hudson Soft in 2012. The first game, named Star Soldier, appeared on the MSX and NES in 1986, and the series has continued on various gaming systems. Star Soldier itself has received enhanced remakes for both the GameCube and PlayStation 2 in 2003, and a different remake for the PlayStation Portable in 2005, while the latest installment of the series was released on the Wii as a WiiWare game in 2008. In addition, Super Star Soldier, Final Soldier, Soldier Blade and Star Parodier have been re-released on the Wii's Virtual Console and on the Japanese PC Engine's Best Collection lineup for the PSP. The Star Soldier games are best known for their distinctive music, unique weapon power-ups, and a special time attack high score mode called "Caravan Mode".

<i>Chew Man Fu</i> 1990 video game

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<i>Bonk 3: Bonks Big Adventure</i> 1993 video game

Bonk 3: Bonk's Big Adventure is an action video game released for the TurboGrafx-16 in 1993, the third game in the Bonk video game series.

<i>Gate of Thunder</i> 1992 video game

Gate of Thunder is a 1992 scrolling shooter video game developed by Red Company and published by Hudson Soft for the TurboGrafx-CD. It was the first game released in North America to support the Super CD-ROM² format and served as one of the pack-in games for the TurboDuo, a two-in-one system which runs both TurboGrafx-CD and TurboGrafx-16 titles, where it was bundled with Bonk's Adventure, Bonk's Revenge and Bomberman on the same disc. In the game, the player controls the Hunting Dog space fighter craft, piloted by space cop Hawk. Alongside his ally Esty, piloting the Wild Cat support ship, Hawk must stop General Don Jingi and his Obellon armada from obtaining the powerful "Starlight" energy source from planet Aries.

Super Air Zonk: Rockabilly-Paradise, released in Japan as CD Denjin: Rockabilly Tengoku, is a horizontally scrolling shooter developed by Dual and published by Hudson Soft. It was released for the TurboGrafx-CD/TurboDuo in 1993, and was released on the Wii's Virtual Console on November 19, 2007 in North America, and on January 29, 2008 in Japan.

<i>Star Parodier</i> 1992 video game

Star Parodier is a vertical-scrolling shoot 'em up video game developed by Kaneko and published by Hudson Soft for the PC Engine CD-ROM² in 1992. It is a spin-off of the Star Soldier series and was localized for North America as Fantasy Star Soldier, but this version was never released. The game was released for the Wii Virtual Console on March 7, 2008 in Japan, March 16 in Europe and later in North America on August 11. The title is also playable on the Turbografx-16/PC Engine Mini Console.

References

  1. 1 2 Anglin, Paul; Rand, Paul; Boone, Tim (15 August 1992). "4 Page Review: BC Kid (Amiga)" (PDF). Computer and Video Games . No. 130 (September 1992). pp. 22–5.
  2. ↑ "5 Hudson Soft Games Nintendo Should Buy from Konami". 28 April 2015. Archived from the original on 2 October 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  3. ↑ "The Definitive Bonk", Hudson Entertainment, retrieved 12 July 2022.
  4. ↑ "Bonk's Adventure by Kaneko". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 53. EGM Media, LLC. December 1993. p. 80.
  5. ↑ "Welcome to Nintendo of America's Media Site". Archived from the original on 2011-04-10. Retrieved 2011-04-04.
  6. ↑ "IPhone / IPod touch通信(6) do the Hudson!! - ハドソンの楽しいコンテンツが満載". 7 April 2008.
  7. ↑ https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2024/03/genjin-show-tobidase-vb-genjin/
  8. ↑ https://www.timeextension.com/news/2022/11/never-before-seen-documents-for-abandoned-virtual-boy-bonk-project-surface-online
  9. ↑ "Fact File: Bonk IV: The Role-Playing Game/Bonk's Quest". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 35. Sendai Publishing. June 1992. p. 166.
  10. ↑ Bomberman Hero (Ultra Genjin) (N64 – Test Map)
  11. ↑ https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2011/03/bomberman_and_bonk_cancelled_for_3ds
  12. ↑ Bonk to Head-butt PSN
  13. ↑ "Bonk: Brink of Extinction Hands-on". IGN. 6 November 2009. Retrieved 2010-01-07.
  14. ↑ Gantayat, Anoop (March 22, 2011). "Hudson cancels Upcoming titles - IGN". IGN . Retrieved May 20, 2018.
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