The Jetsons: Cogswell's Caper! (1992-)

• Developer: Natsume

• Publisher: Taito

• Genre: Platform

• Designer: Isao Matono, S. Nishiyama, Hiroshi Tsujino

• Iku Mizutani, Kazuko Umino

The Jetsons: Cogswell’s Caper! was developed by Natsume and released for the NES in 1992. The game was published by Taito, who at the time was very active in bringing licensed properties to the system. Based on the classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon, it placed players in the role of George Jetson on a mission to save Orbit City from the industrial schemes of Mr. Cogswell. As an NES exclusive, it never saw ports to other consoles, making it one of the later cartoon tie-in games created specifically for Nintendo’s 8-bit system.

The story closely tied into the cartoon’s established rivalry between George’s boss, Mr. Spacely, and his competitor, Mr. Cogswell. In the game, George is sent to infiltrate and sabotage Cogswell’s factories, each one forming a different stage for the player to conquer. The choice to adapt The Jetsons into a video game reflected the early 1990s trend of turning popular animated properties into platformers, similar to Taito’s own work on The Flintstones titles. The game drew inspiration from the show’s futuristic gadgets and humor while framing them in an action-oriented setting.

Gameplay was primarily platform-based, with George using punches and throwable items to deal with enemies. A distinctive mechanic was his ability to pick up objects and use them both as weapons and as stepping stones to reach otherwise inaccessible areas, adding puzzle-solving elements to the side-scrolling action. The level design reflected factory environments filled with hazards, enemies, and interactive elements that required careful timing and strategic use of George’s abilities. This mixture of action and environmental problem-solving made it more than just a simple licensed platformer.

The soundtrack complemented the futuristic theme with upbeat, energetic tracks designed to reflect the lighthearted tone of the cartoon, while sound effects added to the exaggerated, comedic atmosphere. There was no prequel or sequel to The Jetsons: Cogswell’s Caper!, leaving it as a standalone title in Taito’s NES library. Promotion of the game centered on the strength of the Jetsons brand, appealing to both long-time fans of the original show and younger players who discovered the series through reruns. Reception at the time was modest, with some praising its inventive gameplay mechanics while others felt it was overshadowed by more prominent NES releases during the console’s later years.

Images from MobyGames