Mighty Bomb Jack

Last updated
Mighty Bomb Jack
MightyBombJack.jpg
North American NES box art
Developer(s) Tecmo
Publisher(s) Tecmo
Composer(s) Tsukasa Masuko
Michiharu Hasuya
Platform(s) Arcade, Nintendo Entertainment System, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Game Boy, Commodore 64, [1]
ReleaseNES
  • JP: April 24, 1986
  • NA: July 1987
  • PAL: 1992
Arcade(VS. Mighty Bomb Jack)
Genre(s) Platform
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer
Arcade system Nintendo VS. System

Mighty Bomb Jack [lower-alpha 1] is a platform video game developed and published by Tecmo for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was later ported to the Amiga, Atari ST and Commodore 64. [2] Mighty Bomb Jack is a sequel to the 1984 arcade game Bomb Jack .

Contents

Within PAL-A regions, the NES version was only released in Australia. The NES version was released on the Virtual Console on May 7, 2007 for the Wii, on December 6, 2012 for the Nintendo 3DS [3] and on January 23, 2014 for the Wii U. [4] [5] It is also available to play on Nintendo Switch Online as of November 2018, while an updated High Game Deviation Value! version was released on July 17, 2019. There was also a board game adaptation released by Bandai in 1986. [6]

Plot

Jack, the protagonist of the game, must make his way through 16 levels set within a pyramid in order to defeat the demon Belzebut and rescue the royal Pamera family. [2] [7]

Gameplay

An action zone (NES version). The blue character in the center is Jack, the player character. Mighty Bomb Jack 1.png
An action zone (NES version). The blue character in the center is Jack, the player character.

Each level is split into two parts; an action zone and a Royal Palace room. The mechanics and level designs of the Royal Palace rooms are directly lifted from Bomb Jack. Action zones can be split up into several portions and contain power-ups usually hidden in treasure chests such as money bags, Mighty Coins and Mighty Drinks. Mighty Coins allow Jack to change colors; blue allows Jack to open orange treasure chests, orange allows him to open any treasure chest by simply touching it from the side, and green transforms all enemies on the screen into coins for 5 seconds. Mighty Drinks add 10 seconds to the game's timer. Secret passages can also be found in the action zones, activated by finding a Sphinx in a visible or hidden treasure chest. [2] [7]

To prevent the player from becoming too "greedy", the game automatically sends the player to a Torture Room if they obtain more than 9 Mighty Coins or 99 seconds on the game's timer. The only way to escape a Torture Room without losing a life is to complete a number of jumps, which are counted down on the screen. Once the player exits the Torture Room, Jack automatically loses all Mighty Coins, the timer is reset to 60 seconds, and the game recommences from the beginning of the current level. [2] [7]

VS. System version

A Nintendo VS. System version of the game was released in 1986 for the Japanese market (not to be confused with the original dedicated arcade version). Differences between the original and VS. versions include adding a two-player mode, changing the locations of some secret passages and removing a warp in the Royal Palace rooms. [2]

Reception

In Japan, the game sold over 1.5 million copies by 1987. In North America, the game received a positive review from Computer Entertainer upon release, with a score of 7.5 out of 8 stars, the same as The Legend of Zelda in the same issue. They called Mighty Bomb Jack a fast-paced "adventure-action game" that is "loaded with nuances which you will continue to discover as play" and said it is a tough, frustrating, "just one more time" game that "will have you back for more and more!" [12]

The Virtual Console re-releases later received mixed-to-negative reviews, with GameSpot calling the game "repetitive" and "broken", [10] while Eurogamer called it "[kind of] clever", though "not exactly deep". [9] IGN called the Wii Virtual Console version of Mighty Bomb Jack "a poor candidate for your time investment". [13]

Nintendo Life criticized the game's platforming and level design, stating that "dynamics of [the game] are somewhat broken" and that "the key to success is anticipating how [enemies] will move in order to get past", because their behavior is "almost random". On the other hand, Nintendo Life praised Mighty Bomb Jack's secrets for adding some replay value, as well as the game's sense of humor. [11]

Notes

  1. ↑ Japanese: マイティボンジャック, Hepburn: Maiti Bon Jakku

Related Research Articles

<i>Mario Party 2</i> 1999 video game

Mario Party 2 is a 1999 party video game developed by Hudson Soft and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. The second game in the Mario Party series, it was released in Japan in December 1999 and worldwide in 2000. The game received mostly positive reviews, who praised the improvements they made to the original, the multiplayer and minigames, but criticized the lack of originality, while graphics received a better but otherwise mixed response.

<i>Wrecking Crew</i> (video game) 1985 video game

Wrecking Crew is an action game developed and published by Nintendo. Designed by Yoshio Sakamoto, it was first released as an arcade video game for the Nintendo VS. System in 1984, titled Vs. Wrecking Crew with a simultaneous two-player mode. It was released as a single-player game for the Family Computer (Famicom) console in 1985, and as a launch game for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) later that year. A sequel, Wrecking Crew '98, was released in Japan in 1998 for the Super Famicom.

<i>Wario Land II</i> 1998 platform game

Wario Land II is a 1998 platform video game developed and published by Nintendo for the original Game Boy. It was later re-released and optimised for the Game Boy Color. In the game, Wario has to recover his treasure from Captain Syrup. The Game Boy Color version was released for the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console in 2012.

<i>Donkey Kong Jr.</i> 1982 video game

Donkey Kong Jr. is a 1982 arcade platform game that was released by Nintendo. It is the sequel to Donkey Kong, but with the roles reversed compared to its predecessor: Mario is now the villain and Donkey Kong Jr. is trying to save his kidnapped father. It first released in arcades and, over the course of the decade, was released for a variety of home platforms. The game's title is written out as Donkey Kong Junior in the North American arcade version and various conversions to non-Nintendo systems.

<i>Dynamite Headdy</i> 1994 video game

Dynamite Headdy is a platform video game developed by Treasure and published by Sega for the Sega Genesis in 1994. The game follows a puppet named Headdy in his efforts to stop an evil puppet king from taking over his world. Headdy can throw his head at enemies to defeat them and use it to pull himself to various areas and move objects. The player can find a wide variety of "heads" which act as power-ups that provide different effects and alter gameplay.

<i>Urban Champion</i> 1984 video game

Urban Champion (アーバンチャンピオン) is a fighting video game developed and published by Nintendo in 1984. It was first released for the Famicom and Nintendo VS. System for arcades in 1984, and later released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in North America and Europe in 1986. It was inspired by the 1984 Game & Watch game Boxing. It is Nintendo's first 2D fighting game, eventually followed by the 1993 Famicom game Joy Mech Fight.

<i>Solomons Key</i> 1986 video game

Solomon's Key is a puzzle game developed by Tecmo in 1986 for an arcade release on custom hardware based on the Z80 chipset. It was ported to multiple systems including the Nintendo Entertainment System and Commodore 64. The PC Engine version was known as Zipang and the Game Boy version as Solomon's Club. A prequel, Solomon's Key 2, was released in 1992 for the NES. The game was also ported to Virtual Console for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U in 2006 and later to Nintendo Switch Online in 2018.

<i>Jack Bros.</i> 1995 video game

Jack Bros. is an action video game developed and published by Atlus for the Virtual Boy, released in late 1995 in Japan and North America. It is a spin-off from Atlus' video game series Megami Tensei, and was the first entry to be released outside Japan.

<i>Bomb Jack</i> 1984 video game

Bomb Jack is a platform game published by Tehkan for arcades and later ported to home systems. The game was a commercial success for arcades and home computers. It was followed by several sequels: the console and computer game Mighty Bomb Jack, the arcade game Bomb Jack Twin, and Bomb Jack II which was licensed for home computers only.

The Virtual Console is a defunct line of downloadable video games for Nintendo's Wii and Wii U home video game consoles and the Nintendo 3DS family of systems.

<i>Bomberman: Panic Bomber</i> 1994 video game

Bomberman: Panic Bomber is a 1994 puzzle video game developed and published by Hudson Soft for the PC Engine on December 22, 1994. It was later released for the Neo Geo, Super Famicom, Sharp X68000, FM Towns, NEC PC-9821, Virtual Boy, and PlayStation Portable. It saw a re-release for the Wii and Wii U's Virtual Console services. Panic Bomber is a falling block game with the players' goal being to clear matching blocks using bombs, ensuring that their screen does not fill and that their opponents' screens do. It received mixed to positive reception, identified as a decent game by multiple critics. It has been compared to the falling block puzzle game Tetris. The Virtual Boy version received a mixed reception for its handling of the platform's visual capabilities.

<i>Bomberman 94</i> 1993 video game

Bomberman '94 is a video game from the Bomberman series which was developed and published by Hudson Soft for the PC Engine and released on December 10, 1993, in Japan. It was later re-developed by Westone and re-published by Sega as Mega Bomberman on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis in 1994 in other areas. The PC Engine Bomberman '94 was later released outside Japan through the Virtual Console and the PlayStation Network.

<i>The Mysterious Murasame Castle</i> 1986 video game

The Mysterious Murasame Castle is a 1986 action-adventure game developed by Nintendo and Human Entertainment and published by Nintendo. It was originally only released for the Family Computer Disk System in Japan as the second original game for the platform. The Mysterious Murasame Castle was later released worldwide on the Virtual Console in 2014 and for the Nintendo Switch Online service in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nintendo 3DS</span> Handheld game console

The Nintendo 3DS is a foldable handheld game console produced by Nintendo. The console was announced in March 2010 and unveiled at E3 2010 as the successor to the Nintendo DS. The system features backward compatibility with Nintendo DS video games. As an eighth-generation console, its primary competitor was Sony's PlayStation Vita.

<i>Super Contra</i> 1988 video game

Super Contra, known as Super Contra: The Alien Strikes Back in Japan, is a run and gun video game by Konami, originally released as a coin-operated arcade video game in January 1988. It is the sequel to the original Contra and part of the Contra series. The game stars Bill Rizer and Lance Bean as they are sent to thwart another alien invasion from the vicious Red Falcon.

The Nintendo Network was an online service formerly ran by Nintendo that provided free online functionality for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U systems and their compatible games. Announced on January 26, 2012, at an investors' conference, it was Nintendo's second online service after Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Former president of Nintendo Satoru Iwata said, "Unlike Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, which has been focused upon specific functionalities and concepts, we are aiming to establish a platform where various services available through the network for our consumers shall be connected via Nintendo Network service so that the company can make comprehensive proposals to consumers."

<i>Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker</i> 2014 video game

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a 2014 action puzzle video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii U. The game was re-released for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS in 2018 with additional content. It is a spin-off of the Super Mario series and a part of the larger Mario franchise. The game stars Captain Toad and Toadette as they complete levels, defeat enemies and save each other from the antagonist Wingo. Each level is contained within a miniature diorama-like environment that requires puzzle-solving and platforming challenges to complete. The player also uses the Wii U GamePad to rotate the camera and reveal new information and interact with the environment.

References

  1. ↑ fgasking (2014-11-28). "An interview with Geoff Phillips". Games that Weren't. Retrieved 2014-12-17.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Mighty Bomb Jack". Video Game Eden. Retrieved 2014-12-17.
  3. ↑ "Mighty Bomb Jack for Nintendo 3DS". Nintendo.com. Nintendo. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  4. ↑ Winslett, Ryan (2014). "Mighty Bomb Jack, Life Force Explode On Nintendo Virtual Console". Cinemablend. Retrieved 2014-12-17.
  5. ↑ Cavalli, Earnest (2014). "Mighty Bomb Jack leaps to Wii U Virtual Console this week". Joystiq . Retrieved 2014-12-17.
  6. ↑ "魔界村・ゲゲゲの鬼太郎・マイティボンジャック・スーパーマリオブラザーズ カセットケースゲーム｜バンダイキャンディトイ".
  7. 1 2 3 "Mighty Bomb Jack Game Summary". Nintendo Enthusiast. Archived from the original on 2014-12-17. Retrieved 2014-12-17.
  8. ↑ "Mighty Bomb Jack". GameRankings . Archived from the original on 2019-12-09. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  9. 1 2 Whitehead, Dan (2007-06-15). "Virtual Console Roundup". Eurogamer . p. 2. Retrieved 2014-12-17.
  10. 1 2 Provo, Frank (2007-05-18). "Mighty Bomb Jack Review". GameSpot . Archived from the original on 2013-04-13.
  11. 1 2 Calvert, Darren (2007-04-24). "Review". Nintendo Life . Retrieved 2014-12-17.
  12. 1 2 "Nintendo Software" (PDF). Computer Entertainer . Vol. 6, no. 5. August 1987. p. 12.
  13. ↑ Thomas, Lucas M. (2007-05-07). "Mighty Bomb Jack Review". IGN . Retrieved 2014-12-17.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.