Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Jurassic Park on the Sega CD offers a unique blend of point-and-click adventure mechanics and tense, timing-based action sequences. Unlike many other titles in the franchise that focus heavily on exploration or combat, this entry demands both careful puzzle-solving and the ability to react quickly when danger strikes. You’ll spend much of your time examining lockers, consoles, and dinosaur enclosures for clues on where eggs may be hidden, then rapidly switch to action mode when a T. rex or raptor bursts through the doors.

The game introduces a real-time clock, giving you just 12 in-game hours to collect one egg from each dinosaur species before an impending storm forces the park to be evacuated again. Every decision—from which corridor to explore to how long you linger at a computer terminal—eats into that countdown, creating a persistent sense of urgency. Occasional helicopter crashes, random dinosaur encounters, and timed puzzle segments further heighten the stakes, ensuring that no two playthroughs feel exactly the same.

Inventory management is straightforward but crucial: you’ll juggle items like lockpicks, first-aid kits, and tranquilizer darts while monitoring your health and remaining time. Interactions are primarily point-and-click, but when a dino attack happens, you’ll be prompted to tap buttons or move the cursor rapidly to dodge, fight back, or escape. These sudden-action mini–games can be unforgiving, especially when you’re low on health and racing against the clock.

Graphics

For a Sega CD title released in the mid-’90s, Jurassic Park delivers surprisingly sharp and atmospheric visuals. Backgrounds are pre-rendered with notable detail, depicting dimly lit corridors, maintenance tunnels lined with steam vents, and the lush exteriors of Isla Nublar. The pixel art carries the moody, jungle-horror ambiance of the film, enhanced by occasional animated vines swaying in the wind or puddles rippling under your boots.

Character and dinosaur sprites are somewhat blocky by today’s standards, but they convey just enough detail to make each species recognizable. When raptors appear, they burst onto the screen in brief FMV sequences—one of the Sega CD’s signature features—adding a jarring but thrilling transition from static exploration to high-stakes action. Those FMV clips, though grainy, effectively capture the menace of Spielberg’s velociraptors and T. rex.

Transitions between exploration screens and action events are smooth for the hardware, with only minor loading pauses. The UI overlays are clear: a small radar indicates nearby dinosaur activity, a clock ticks down your remaining time, and health/status bars stay out of the way until needed. While not cutting-edge even in its era, the graphics strike a fine balance between cinematic presentation and functional clarity, keeping you immersed without confusing important gameplay elements.

Story

The narrative picks up after the climactic events of the 1993 film, thrusting you back into the chaos of Jurassic Park with a new mission: secure viable dinosaur eggs before corporate saboteurs or the island’s own inhabitants ruin your chance. The premise of harvesting eggs under a strict time limit adds depth to what might otherwise be a straightforward rescue scenario. It feels like a natural extension of the Spielberg universe, complete with witty computer logs and scattered reports from the park’s ill-fated staff.

Your helicopter’s crash-landing in the park’s interior sets the tone immediately. Stranded, injured, and low on supplies, you must navigate dark passageways and overgrown outdoor pens while piecing together clues from leftover research notes. Audio logs and computer prompts flesh out incidental details—Jeff Goldblum’s Dr. Ian Malcolm gets a few off-screen mentions, and you uncover snippets of Grant and Ellie’s earlier duels with velociraptors.

Despite the limited on-screen dialogue, the writing does a commendable job of conveying urgency and atmosphere. You can almost hear John Williams’ iconic score in the background, even if it’s represented here by looping MIDI tracks. The story occasionally dips into cliché (the lone survivor trope, the ticking clock), but strong environmental storytelling—blood trails, overturned carts, broken glass—compensates by immersing you fully in the park’s collapse.

Overall Experience

Jurassic Park for Sega CD stands out among its peers for daring to be different. Rather than a run-and-gun action title or a straightforward platformer, it delivers a hybrid adventure experience that rewards both strategic thinking and quick reflexes. The persistent countdown creates a thrilling undercurrent of tension that keeps you glued to the screen.

While the graphics and FMV sequences may feel dated today, they were ambitious for the hardware and still successfully deliver suspenseful set pieces. The blend of pre-rendered backgrounds, grainy video clips, and crisp UI elements fosters a cinematic feel that aligns with players’ memories of the film. The sound design—ambient roars, distant thunder, crackling radios—enhances immersion, though repeated MIDI loops can become repetitive over longer sessions.

For fans of point-and-click adventures and dinosaur enthusiasts alike, this Sega CD entry offers a distinctive taste of Jurassic Park lore. It’s challenging without being unfair, atmospheric without sacrificing clarity, and above all, it captures the sense of wonder and danger that made the original movie a classic. If you’re seeking a retro adventure that mixes puzzles, action, and a race against time, loading up this Jurassic Park gem is well worth your time.

Retro Replay Score

7/10