Reviewer: Agent K
Company: Camerica 1992
Rarity: Very Rare
Expertise: Level 11 of about 25
I must say I am quite surprised at how good this game is. The other Camerica games I've played have not been too impressive. Okay, okay on with the review. Big Nose Freaks is very similiar to Sonic the Hedgehog from the Genesis. You're a caveman rolling around on what looks like a caveman skateboard, an ancient wheel with a board on top of it. You roll down ramps, collect bones, and whack your enemies with your club. You can get powerups for your club which allow you to shoot rocks from your club, up to 3 at once. There are also wooden pegs you jump on. These give you bones, rocks for your club, and extra guys. However beware, they can be loaded with nasty things like enemies, reverse controller syndrome, or screen darkness.
Positives:
This is a unique style game for the NES, plus it's just fun.
Glaring Negatives:
The graphics aren't suberb, the enemies are kinda dull.
Graphics and Sound: Decent
The graphics are nothing great. The backgrounds are decent, but the enemies are pretty primitive looking.
Gameplay and Controls: Decent
It can be a pain at times figuring out how different ramps will project you. Also it's hard to tell which pits you can fall into and which will kill you. Also a neat, but difficult event is when you hit a peg that makes your caveman go opposite to the controller. In other words left is right and vice versa. While this is neat, it's a pain in the butt.
Features: Some
You can get powerups for you club, which are cool, allowing you to throw rocks from it. The wooden pegs give you many different items including extra guys, bones, and club powerups. After you beat each world, 4 levels and an end guy, you get a chance to earn a continue which is cool.
Fun?: Tons
For some reason this is just a fun game. Maybe it's because I never really dug Sonic that much so this is a fairly unique game to me. I like the combination of powerups, cool movements, and the way the game forces you to fully explore the levels in order to find the free guys and more bones, which earn free guys.
Challenge: Pretty Hard
The controls are strange at first, but once you master them the game gets easier. I haven't been playing it too long, but it seems pretty challenging the farther you get.
Replay: Decent Amount
The levels are actually pretty big and there are a lot of hidden objects. At the end of each level it tells you how many bones you missed. After you beat the game it would be fun to go back and get all the bones.
2 Player: Great
There are 2, 2 player modes, relay and challenge. In relay mode you play one after another. When one player dies the second player takes over in the exact same spot. Pretty cool idea. In challenge mode, you are racing to see who can get the most bones in 60 seconds. There are 5 different levels with subtotals for each level. Whoever has the most after 5 levels wins.
Online Manual?: No
There does not seem to be a manual available.
Bottom Line: Oh Yeah!
This is one of those rare collector pieces that kicks butt. If you can find this game get it. It's very rare and a lot of fun.