Bucky O'Hare

Is it just me, or did Konami come out with most of the greatest NES games? Yeah, that's was I thought- it isn't me :) Largly overlooked because of its late 1992 release, Bucky O'Hare succesfully presents itself as another fantasic work from Konami. While hardly anyone watched or can even remember the American cartoon show, this is a pretty sweet game. As Captain Bucky O'Hare, Rabbit Space Captain, you search for your kidnapped friends on four planets. They have been kidnapped by... GASP! The Toad Menace (yes, I'm aware this makes no sense). You get to use stage select to pick what planet and comarade you wish to liberate first from... GASP! The Toad Menace (OK, OK, I realize how stupid that is and I promise not to do that again). After freeing a crewmember, you can switch to that person in a stage and play as them with their special abilities (cough! Castlevania 3) While Konami steals this play straight from Capcom's Mega Man book, Konami also gives short letter passwords to mark your place, which is cool. Graphically speaking, the game is extremely impressive, although the graphics could be a bit brighter in some places. Also, in the Red Planet Stage, Konami reused the Flare-animation found in The Promience Zone of it's classic 1988 game, Life Force. Sound effects are once again superb, and the music fits beautifully with the levels. Bucky and his crew move quickly and extremly responsively through levels, and a high degree of challenge combined with the ability to continue very close from where you die keep the Fun Factor high.

The Verdict: Bucky O'Hare is a rare game, but it is well worth the money to destroy... GASP! The Toad Menace (I lied).

I recommend: Off on a tangent here, but check out a ROM of Konami's Arcade game Crime Fighters. That's the best NES period game Konami should have put on NES but didn't. MAN! IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SO AWESOME!!!

Graphics A+

Sound/Music A

Challenge A-

Play Control A+

Fun Factor A+

Replay Value A+

Overall A+ links