Jurassic Park (SNES video game)

Jurassic Park

European box art
Developer(s) Ocean Software
Publisher(s)
Designer(s) J.H. Beard[1]
C. Kerry[1]
Composer(s) Jonathan Dunn[2]
Series Jurassic Park
Platform(s) Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Release date(s)
Genre(s) Science fiction action-adventure[1]
Mode(s) Single-player
First-person view of a Velociraptor inside the Visitor Center.
Alan Grant character is protected from a Dilophosaurus by a large containment fence.

Jurassic Park is an action-adventure video game for the Super NES based on the movie adaptation of the novel by Michael Crichton.

It was developed by Ocean Software and released in 1993 in North America and PAL regions, and published and released by Jaleco in 1994 for Japan. Most of the game is viewed from a top-down view. When the player enters a building, the gameplay perspective shifts to a first-person view. The game is significant for combining two different perspectives and for being an early game mastered in surround sound (Dolby Pro Logic).[4]

In May 2015, approximately 300 copies of the game were listed for sale at a "Buy It Now" price of $1,500 on eBay.[5]

Gameplay

The player controls Alan Grant. The objective of the game is to complete certain tasks in order to escape, such as clearing a raptor nest of eggs, and turning the generator on in a utility shed, allowing for opening and closing of gates and the like. Jurassic Park supports the SNES Mouse when playing first-person sequences or operating computer terminals. The player is given five lives, and two continues when all lives are lost.[4]

Communication ports set up around the island allow characters in the game to communicate advice to the player, though some advice is deliberately malicious. The game's soundtrack consists of various music that corresponds to the area the player is currently exploring (except the two Tyrannosaurus rex who have their own theme track). The game typically takes anywhere from two to three hours to complete. Some objectives, such as collecting all 18 raptor eggs, can slow down the progress of a typical player. The game does not utilize a save feature. The player, therefore, is required to play through the entire game in a single sitting.

Jurassic Park received other video game versions for the NES, Game Boy, Sega CD, Mega Drive/Genesis, Game Gear, Master System, IBM compatibles and Amiga, each a distinct game. All versions, excluding those released on Sega platforms, were developed and published by Ocean Software.

Development

Jurassic Park was originally planned for release in August 1993.[6] After being unveiled to a disappointed audience at Chicago's Consumer Electronics Show in June 1993, the game's graphics were re-done.[7]

Reception

Edge magazine gave the game a six and criticized it for a lack of excitement, noting, "To begin with a lot of time is spent aimlessly wandering around and avoiding the dinosaurs – very little help is given in which direction you should be going and exactly what you should be doing," while also writing, "Nevertheless, given the quality of most film tie-ins, Jurassic Park is one of the better licences. With slightly improved game design it could have been the best."[8]

SNES Force magazine gave the game a 92 percent rating and praised its, "Huge playing area," and its many missions, as well as, "Superb graphics and sound."[9] Jonathan Davies of Super Play magazine gave the game an 89 percent rating and praised its colorful graphics, problem-solving tasks, and birds-eye perspective. However, Davies criticized the game for being "a bit easy" and for not incorporating the film's musical score.[3]

Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game a 7.25 out of 10. Though they commented that the game is too easy, all but one of their four reviewers had an overall positive opinion of the game, particularly praising the sound and the use of the 3-D perspective.[10] Bob Strauss of Entertainment Weekly called the game "truly innovative" and rated it an "A-", noting its "rocking soundtrack and lush graphics."[11]

Game Informer magazine declared the Genesis version of the game somewhat superior to the SNES version in a 2012 comparison of the two games.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Jurassic Park release information at GameFAQs
  2. ↑ Jurassic Park composer information at SNESMusic.org
  3. 1 2 Davies, Jonathan (November 1993). "Jurassic Park review". Super Play. p. 34-36. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  4. 1 2 "Jurassic Park (SNES) manual" (PDF). OldiesRising.com. p. 7–10, 12–13. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
  5. ↑ Plunkett, Luke (May 24, 2015). "A Fridge Full Of Jurassic Park Games Is Good eBay". Kotaku. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  6. ↑ "A behind-the-scenes look at the stars of 'Jurassic Park'". The Baltimore Sun. June 21, 1993. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Claws! The game of the film is almost here!". Super Play. September 1993. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Jurassic Park review (SNES)". Edge. November 1, 1993. Archived from the original on 2015-02-11.
  9. ↑ "Jurassic Park (SNES) review". SNES Force. October 1993. p. 38–40.
  10. ↑ "Review Crew: Jurassic Park". Electronic Gaming Monthly (54) (EGM Media, LLC). January 1994. p. 42.
  11. ↑ Strauss, Bob (May 20, 1994). "Jurassic Park Interactive". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  12. ↑ Ryckert, Dan (May 8, 2012). "Same Name, Different Game: SNES vs. Genesis". Game Informer magazine. Event occurs at 5:33-13:22. Retrieved February 19, 2015.

External links

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