Bonk's Adventure (also known as PC Genjin: Pithecanthropus Computerurus or B.C. Kid), is the first game in the Bonk series, a Platform Game created by Red Entertainment and Hudson Soft in 1989 for the Turbografx 16.
The Evil King Drool is wreaking havoc, having kidnapped the Princess Za of the Dinosaur Kingdom, and brainwashing many dinosaurs with mind-control helmets, and now its up to a little caveman named Bonk to save the day. In a dangerous world filled with enemies, there unfortunately isn't a lot of weapons around. So our hero will just need to use his head. Literally.
Bonk's Adventure is a standard 2D plaformer with a slight twist on the gameplay. Bonk's weapon is his enormous hard head, which he uses to headbutt and slam down on the enemies he encounters. Bonk can gather food items like fruits and vegetables, which restore his health meter. But the heavy hitter item of Bonk's Adventure is Meat. Bonk grows stronger and more powerful when he eats meat, with small pieces powering him up and large chunks making him temporarily invincible. Bonk can also play various bonus rounds that reward him with greater points and extra lives.
Bonk's Adventure was a solid hit for the Turbografx and it received several sequels and many remakes and ports, including a 2½D remake for the Gamecube and Playstation 2. Bonk also went on to become the mascot of the console itself during its lifespan.
The game was followed by a sequel Bonk's Revenge in 1991.
Boogalooga! This game contains examples of:
- Beat the Curse Out of Him: Bonk has to break the mind control helmet on the bosses.
- Big Bad: The Wicked King Drool, and fearsome T. Rexpy King who conquered the Dinosaur Kingdom.
- Brainwashed and Crazy: The Bosses in the game are all Princess Za's subjects were slapped with King Drool mind control helmets, which Bonk has to break to free them, winning the boss battle.
- Cartoon Meat: Slabs of meat that come in two sizes. The small piece powers up Bonk to a first level that makes his attacks stronger. Eating a second piece of meat while powered up makes Bonk temporarily invincible. A Large Chunk of Meat fully powers up Bonk and grants invincibility.
- Chromatic Arrangement: Bonk's normal form wears red, his second form wears blue, and his third form wears green.
- Damsel in Distress: Princess Za of Moon Land was kidnapped by King Drool.
- Hearts Are Health: Bonk's Life Meter consists of a row of red hearts that turn blue when they are depleted.
- Hyperactive Metabolism: Fruits and Vegetable items refill Bonk's Life Meter.
- Hypno Trinket: King Drool's mind control egg helmets, which he used to bring the bosses in this game under his control.
- Never Smile at a Crocodile: Crocket Dile, a gator-like dinosaur enemy that swims the waters of Bonk's Adventure. If it catches Bonk, it will hold him in its jaws and drain health until Bonk's shakes free.
- Power-Up Food: Fruits and Veggies are health items which restore's Bonk's life meter, while Meat is a power up.
- Prehistoria: Where this game (and the rest of the series) takes place in. Bonk is caveman in a world of Dinosaurs.
- Use Your Head: The main gameplay gimmick. Bonk attacks enemies with his head. Either headbutting them or jumping and slamming down on top of them upside-down.
