Jurassic Park (1993-)

• Developer: Ocean Software

• Publisher: Ocean Software

• Genre: Action

• Composer: Jon Dunn

Jurassic Park for the NES was developed by Ocean Software and published in 1993, following the massive success of the 1993 film directed by Steven Spielberg. The game was part of a wider series of adaptations released across multiple platforms, including the Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Game Boy, and Game Gear, though each version featured different gameplay styles and levels. The NES version focused on translating the suspense and adventure of the film into a side-scrolling action experience, placing players directly into the role of a park visitor trying to survive the island’s dinosaur outbreak.

The game’s story follows the premise of the film, with the player navigating Isla Nublar to rescue park staff and escape from dinosaurs after the park’s containment systems fail. The game drew inspiration from the cinematic tension and sense of danger portrayed in the movie, emphasizing survival and exploration rather than realistic simulation. Players encounter iconic dinosaurs, such as Velociraptors and the Tyrannosaurus Rex, and must use stealth, evasion, and weapons to progress through levels. Its design aimed to recreate the feeling of isolation and urgency that defined the film while fitting the constraints of NES hardware.

Gameplay on the NES combined side-scrolling platform action with top-down sequences, allowing players to switch between exploration and combat modes. Players could collect items such as keys, tranquilizers, and medkits while navigating forests, labs, and dinosaur enclosures. Levels culminated in boss encounters with larger, more aggressive dinosaurs that required pattern recognition and careful movement to defeat. The game rewarded both strategic thinking and reflexes, with environmental hazards like spikes, falling rocks, and electrified fences adding additional challenges.

The soundtrack of Jurassic Park on the NES captured the adventurous tone of the film, using the console’s sound capabilities to create suspenseful melodies and tension-filled cues for dinosaur encounters. There were no prequels or direct NES sequels, but Ocean Software continued the franchise on other platforms with titles such as Jurassic Park: Rampage Edition. Promotion emphasized the connection to the blockbuster film, leveraging its recognizable dinosaurs and story elements to attract fans. Reception was generally positive, with praise for its level variety and atmosphere, though critics noted the controls could be imprecise and the graphics simplified compared to contemporary NES standards. Despite these limitations, the game is remembered as a faithful and challenging adaptation of a major cinematic property.

Images from MobyGames