Fun House (1991-)

• Developer: Realtime Associates

• Publisher: Hi Tech Expressions

• Genre: Game Show

• Composer: George Sanger

Fun House is a 1991 action-puzzle game developed by Realtime Associates and published by Hi Tech Expressions for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The game is based on the American children's television game show of the same name, which aired on FOX and in syndication from 1988 to 1991. Unlike the show's format, which involved physical challenges and trivia questions, the NES game presents a top-down action experience where players navigate through 72 rooms of a fun house, aiming to hit targets with tomatoes before time runs out. The game's design is inspired by the show's whimsical and chaotic atmosphere, though it takes considerable liberties with the source material.

In the NES version of Fun House, players control a character on rollerblades, moving through various rooms filled with obstacles like icy floors, slime-covered ramps, and hazardous items such as blobs and boingers. Each room contains numbered targets that must be hit in sequence, and after all targets are struck, a key appears to unlock the next room. Players have three lives to complete the game, with opportunities to earn extra lives by collecting silver coins. Helpful items like glop clocks, sneakers, and warp cubes can be found to aid in progressing through the levels.

The soundtrack for Fun House was composed by George Sanger, known for his work on various video game titles. The music complements the game's energetic and chaotic atmosphere, featuring upbeat and catchy tunes that enhance the player's experience as they navigate through the fun house's challenges. While not as widely recognized as some other NES soundtracks, Sanger's compositions effectively support the game's tone and setting.

Upon release, Fun House received mixed to negative reviews. Critics appreciated the game's colorful graphics and the novelty of using rollerblades as a mode of movement, but many found the gameplay repetitive and lacking in depth. The game's deviation from the original TV show's format was also a point of contention for fans of the series. Despite these critiques, the game has maintained a niche following among retro gaming enthusiasts who appreciate its unique take on the fun house concept. There were no direct sequels or ports of the game, and it remains a relatively obscure title in the NES library.

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