The PC Engine opens its doors on Wii U in the best way possible, as we yet again meet our beloved caveman!
Bonk's Adventure, or PC Genjin as it’s known in Japan, is a platformer near and dear to my heart. I discovered this platforming gem in the early days of the Wii's Virtual Console life and was almost instantly sold on it. Here we are many years later, and I once again played it from start to finish.
At first, Bonk's Adventure seems like a generic side-scrolling platformer, of which we saw so many during this era, but what makes Bonk stand out is the humor and the downright crazy personality of it all. You’ll have a massive grin on your face as you see this young caveman freak out over the smallest of things. Don't go thinking that the game will go easy on you, however, as you are still required to traverse devious terrains and duke it out against various bosses. Some of these fill the entire screen with their presence, which is certainly impressive.
Not everything is all well and good though. The controls take some getting used to at the start as the little guy does not go as fast as say, Sonic the Hedgehog. Nevertheless, when you get sync with the controls, understanding the game isn't that much of a challenge. The game actually still looks quite good, and the power that the PC Engine brought is clearly shown here. The visuals have a vibrant look to them, and there are plenty of cool elements in the background. Bonk's Adventure also has catchy music to raise the mood even more.
If you are in mood for a goofy but fun platforming fix, then there is nothing wrong with picking up Bonk's Adventure for your Wii U. It might not be the best one out there, but it’s one that has a lasting impression on the people that play it.