Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The NES and Game Boy versions of Jurassic Park deliver a compelling top-down action experience that balances exploration with tense, arcade-style combat. Players step into the sturdy boots of Dr. Alan Grant, navigating six distinct levels scattered across Isla Nublar. Each level presents a unique objective—whether it’s restoring power to security systems, rescuing Lex and Tim, or hunting down the ominous Raptor nests—forcing you to think strategically about not only where to go next, but which dinosaurs to engage head-on.

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Egg collection is at the heart of progression: destroy or gather a set number of dinosaur eggs to reveal crucial passcards and mission-critical items. This simple mechanic adds depth to every screen, encouraging thorough exploration of jungles, visitor centers, and power stations. Along the way, park terminals offer cryptic hints that can steer you toward hidden corridors or reveal shortcuts—an invaluable lifeline when stegosaurus and velociraptor patrols threaten your path.

Combat is challenging yet accessible. Dr. Grant’s trusty handgun has several ammo types—spread shots, high-powered rounds, and the basic clip dropped by slain dinosaurs. This ammo variety, combined with randomly appearing question-mark crates that may contain health boosts or deadly bombs, creates dynamic encounters in which every shot and step must be carefully considered. Boss clashes, including a heart-pounding T. rex showdown and a frenzied Triceratops stampede, cap off levels with memorable, high-stakes drama.

Graphics

On NES hardware, Jurassic Park’s sprite work is surprisingly detailed for its time. Dr. Grant stands out crisply against lush green foliage, and each dinosaur is rendered with enough personality to distinguish a Triceratops from a Velociraptor in a split second. The color palette leans heavily on earthy tones, giving the island a foreboding atmosphere that really sells the illusion of a dinosaur-infested paradise.

The Game Boy adaptation, while constrained by monochrome visuals, compensates with clear, readable sprites and cleverly designed backgrounds. Trees and buildings are outlined boldly, helping you spot hidden pathways or lurking enemies. Despite the limited palette, the sense of scale—tiny raptors darting from shadow to shadow—still manages to capture that iconic Jurassic Park tension.

Animation frames are economical but effective. Dinosaurs lurch toward you in jerky, unsettling motion, and Dr. Grant’s recoil when firing his weapon is satisfyingly visible. Subtle environmental touches, such as flickering lights in the visitor center or the sway of palm fronds, add life to the world without overwhelming the console’s modest capabilities.

Story

Jurassic Park’s storyline follows the film’s core premise, but with practical adjustments to suit its action-exploration gameplay. You’re not merely retracing movie beats—you’re actively participating in the park’s breakdown. Power failures, egg hunts, and computer terminal interventions imply that there’s more at stake than just escaping—there’s a frantic scramble to salvage what’s left of the park’s technology.

The six levels are arranged to echo the film’s escalating tension. Early stages offer a chance to familiarize yourself with controls as you rescue the iconic children, Lex and Tim, but quickly evolve into more urgent tasks like rerouting power and neutralizing nests. This pacing preserves the film’s sense of dread and discovery, even if cutscenes are kept to a minimum.

Terminals spread across each stage deliver snippets of narrative context—laughable in their 8-bit neutrality, yet effective at reminding you why you’re tracking eggs or hunting Raptors. Though there’s no voice acting or cinematic interludes, the text prompts and objective markers keep you invested in the overarching goal: escaping the chaos before the island’s apex predator sends you to the grill.

Overall Experience

Jurassic Park on NES and Game Boy offers an addictive blend of arcade action and light puzzle-solving that holds up surprisingly well decades after release. The difficulty curve is steep at times—ammo scarcity and aggressive AI can lead to repeat attempts—but the game’s fair checkpoint placement and infinite continues ensure that perseverance is rewarded.

Replay value is bolstered by the urge to perfect each level, discover every hidden room, and tackle optional challenges like surviving the Triceratops stampede with limited health. Fans of classic gaming will appreciate the tight controls and high-stakes boss fights, while dinosaur aficionados will revel in the chance to take on a pixelated T. rex from a bird’s-eye view.

While modern players might find the graphics and sound design rudimentary compared to today’s standards, Jurassic Park’s core gameplay loop remains compelling. If you’re seeking a nostalgic trip back to the early ’90s or eager to experience a piece of Spielberg-inspired gaming history, this title is well worth your time—and a prime example of how a licensed film game can capture the spirit of its source material without feeling like a hollow cash-in.

Retro Replay Score

6.9/10