Jurassic Park (NES video game)

The game's first level.

Much like the movie and novel which it is based on, Dr. Alan Grant is trapped at Jurassic Park located on Isla Nublar. The park's power has been cut out because of a computer malfunction, and the dinosaurs are roaming free. Grant must complete a series of missions that will eventually lead to him escaping the island without being killed by the dinosaurs. Grant must also rescue Lex and Tim, the grandchildren of the park's owner, John Hammond.[5][6]

After locating Hammond's grandchildren, Grant must reactivate the park's computers and destroy Velociraptor nests using time bombs. Grant then reaches the park's dock and uses a radio to contact help. Grant then reaches a helipad and is rescued from the island.[6]

The game's ending consists of the player walking around a small stage filled with the game developers' names and an exit where the player can end the game.[1]

The game is a top-down shooter. As Alan Grant, the player must complete six levels with objectives ranging from rescuing Hammond's grandchildren, destroying Velociraptor nests, turning the power back on and so forth.[5][6] The game includes a two-player option in which players take turns.[6]

Each level consists of a varying number of stages where the player must collect a certain amount of dinosaur eggs and access cards to advance further into the level. The player must battle a varying amount of dinosaur foes such as Velociraptor, Dilophosaurus, and Compsognathus. Tyrannosaurus rex is also encountered as an end boss in a couple of levels. Dinosaurs such as the T. rex cannot be killed by the player, only avoided. Common dinosaurs can be killed by using guns, which are scattered throughout each level.[5][6]

There are also "mystery boxes" scattered throughout the game, which have ranging effects. Some will give the player additional health, temporary invincibility or an extra life. However, some will power down the player's energy or take away a life. The game gives the player three lives and four continues.[5]

Ocean Software, a British video game development company, paid an undisclosed six-figure sum to secure the rights to the Jurassic Park license to develop a game based on the film.[7][8] To aid Ocean Software in creating the game, Universal Studios provided the programmers with various materials related to the film, including the script and photos of the sets.[9] In the United States, Jurassic Park was released in July 1993.[6]

Skyler Miller of AllGame rated the game four stars out of five and wrote, "Jurassic Park is an uncharacteristically good movie adaptation [...]. As a late era NES game, the visuals are appropriately impressive, and pleasingly depict the various jungle environments and many types of dinosaurs you encounter."[3] Nintendo Power praised the game's open world and its graphics, especially many of its creatures. Nintendo Power also complimented the accurate controls and praised the game for attempting to recreate certain situations from the film. However, Nintendo Power also negatively wrote, "Not as many movie elements as you might expect. Most of the game is spent gathering items and shooting dinosaurs."[6] In episode 20 of the 1MorePodcastle, the game is discussed in great detail as being bland, repetitive, and historically forgetful.[10]

• List of Jurassic Park video games