Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The Goonies delivers a classic action-adventure experience tightly woven around exploration, puzzle-solving, and light platforming. Across its six distinct levels, players guide Mikey through a labyrinth of underground passages, booby-trapped chambers, and secret hideouts. Each stage challenges you to gather three keys—often concealed behind destructible doors—to unlock the path forward. The use of bombs dropped by adversaries adds a strategic layer: you must lure foes close enough, detonate a bomb at the right moment, and then dash in to claim your prize before the timer runs out.

While Mikey’s asthma is a defining trait of his character, in-game it manifests as a constant race against time. Your limited air supply forces quick decision-making: do you detour to rescue a fellow Goonie for bonus points, or press on directly to the next key? This tension remains high throughout each level, making every moment matter. The addition of a slingshot and kicking attacks ensures combat remains simple yet satisfying; dispatch rats, skeletons, and members of the Fratelli gang in clever succession to clear your path.

Rescue mechanics further enrich gameplay. Behind hidden doors lie imprisoned Goonies whose liberation not only bolsters your score but can also reveal secret passages or power-ups. Diamonds, gold coins, and other valuables reward thorough exploration, enticing you to backtrack and revisit earlier areas once you’ve unlocked new abilities or obtained extra bombs. This encourages replayability, as seasoned players learn optimal routes to snag every hidden trinket.

Despite its straightforward controls, the pacing varies sharply between frantic escapes and methodical key hunts. Some levels demand precise timing to avoid collapsing floors or swinging pendulums of danger, while others focus on mapping out hidden keys and secret rooms. The balance of action and exploration is well-judged, ensuring the game remains engaging from the first key to the final showdown beneath the Fratelli hide-out.

Graphics

For a title released exclusively on the Famicom in 1986, The Goonies exhibits surprisingly detailed sprite work and level design. Each area showcases distinct visual themes—from dank caverns to skeletal catacombs—giving each stage its own identity. Mikey’s character sprite faithfully captures his wide-eyed determination, complete with a visible inhaler animation when he runs low on breath.

Enemy designs are equally memorable: scuttling rats, grinning skeletons, and stern-faced Fratelli goons all come to life with clear, readable animations. The game’s color palette leverages the Famicom’s limited capabilities by using earthy browns and muted greens to evoke an underground atmosphere, while occasional splashes of red or blue highlight interactive elements like doors or collectible diamonds.

Backgrounds are layered with decorative details such as cobwebs, creaking wooden beams, and drips of water, adding depth without distracting from the action. When bombs detonate, the resulting explosion effect is both clear and satisfying, providing instant visual feedback that encourages experimentation with timing and placement.

Though the Famicom’s hardware imposes certain limitations—such as occasional sprite flicker when multiple enemies congregate—the overall presentation remains clean and coherent. The game’s technical execution allows players to focus on exploration and strategy rather than wrestling with unresponsive or confusing visuals.

Story

Based on the beloved 1985 film, The Goonies adapts its cinematic source material into a compact narrative that propels the action forward at a brisk pace. You step into the shoes of Mikey, the courageous yet asthmatic leader of the Goon Docks gang, tasked with uncovering the lost treasure of One-Eyed Willie. The stakes are immediately clear: failure means losing your homes to foreclosure, lending a genuine sense of urgency to every key you collect and every Goonie you rescue.

The Fratelli family looms large as the central antagonists. Though they never speak a word in-game, their menacing presence is felt in every corridor and trap they’ve constructed. Encountering Mama, Francis, or Jake Fratelli himself adds tension and variety to the gameplay, as you must outmaneuver their patrols while juggling your dwindling air supply and bomb inventory.

While the story unfolds with minimal in-game dialogue, brief cut-in illustrations between levels hint at the film’s plot beats—flashbacks to the shipwreck, treasure maps, and Mikey rallying his friends. These narrative interludes serve to remind players of the cinematic roots and foster emotional investment, even within the confines of a Famicom cart.

Ultimately, The Goonies strikes a satisfying balance between faithfulness to its movie inspiration and delivering tight, game-first storytelling. The simple objective—to find treasure, save friends, and thwart criminals—never feels stretched, thanks to well-paced level design and consistent thematic reinforcement.

Overall Experience

The Goonies on Famicom remains a hidden gem for retro enthusiasts and fans of the film alike. Its structured level progression, coupled with the tension of an ever-dwindling breath meter, creates an addictive gameplay loop. Collecting keys, unearthing secrets, and rescuing fellow Goonies never grows old, thanks to varied environments and a steady ramp-up in challenge.

While modern gamers accustomed to save points and infinite lives may find the single-life structure punishing, it also imbues each play session with genuine stakes. The game rewards patience, exploration, and strategic use of limited resources—qualities that many contemporary titles often overlook. For those willing to embrace its old-school design, The Goonies offers a rewarding sense of accomplishment with every completed level.

The thematic cohesion between story, visuals, and audio (including catchy chiptune renditions of the movie’s score) ensures that players feel immersed in the Goon Docks adventure. Even without voiceovers or elaborate cutscenes, the game’s atmosphere captures the spirit of youthful camaraderie and daring treasure hunts.

Ultimately, The Goonies stands as a testament to Nintendo’s ability to translate film licenses into compelling video game experiences. Its blend of platforming, exploration, and light puzzle mechanics provides a classic challenge that still entertains nearly four decades later. For retro collectors and curious newcomers, this Famicom exclusive is well worth the journey through its booby-trapped corridors.

Retro Replay Score

7/10