Video Games

Jurassic Park (NES)

Released in 1993 alongside the film, Jurassic Park for NES was developed by Ocean Software and was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The game was also released on the handheld Game Boy console.

Plot You play at Dr. Alan Grant, who is trapped at Jurassic Park. Much like the movie, the park’s power cuts out due to a computer malfunction and the dinosaurs are now roaming the island. You must complete a series of missions while trying to escape the island without being killed by dinosaurs. Similarly to the film, you must rescue Lex and Tim. Gameplay Like many games of it’s time, Jurassic Park for NES is a top-down shooter. While playing as Dr. Alan Grant, there are six levels to complete, including rescuing Lex and Tim, destroying Velociraptor nests, restoring the power and more.

Through these levels, the player must collect a certain number of dinosaur eggs and access cards to be able to progress further into the game. There are battles between the player and dinosaurs, including the Velociraptor, Dilophosaurus and Compsognathus. The Tyrannosaurus Rex features as the “end boss” in a couple of the levels. You cannot kill the T-Rex, only avoid her.

The player has access to weapons which can kill the smaller/common dinosaurs and can be found scattered around the park. Along with the scattered weapons, mystery boxes are scattered throughout the game with ranging effects. Some include additional health, temporary invincibility or an extra life. However, some of these boxes will power down the player’s energy or take away a life, so opening these mystery boxes is a bit of a gamble. Like most games of it’s time, you start with three lives.

The ending of the game consists of the player walking around a small stage filled with the game developers names and an exit where the player can end the game.

Jurassic Park (SNES)

Also released in 1993 alongside the film, Jurassic Park for SNES was developed by Ocean Software and was released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Like the NES version, most of the game is top-down, but when the player enters a building it switches to a first person view.

Plot Just like the NES version, in this game you play as Dr. Alan Grant and have to complete numerous objectives on the island (Isla Nublar) after the power has malfunctioned. Stealing eggs, rebooting the power and collecting ID batches are some of the tasks to complete in order to progress through the game.

Gameplay
Armed with a cattle prod, you play as Dr. Alan Grant who also has access to five other weapons including a tranquilizer gun, shotgun, bolas, gas grenade launcher and a missile launcher. There are several dinosaur enemies in the game as well as giant dragonflies. You start with five lives. Much like the NES version, food and first-aid kits are located throughout the island.

Motion sensors are setup around the island which allow characters in the game to communicate advice to the player in order to guide you through the game. These motion sensors also act as checkpoints – if you die, you’ll be restarted at the last motion sensor that you came into contact with. The game was more expanse than the NES version, in that when you are on the pause menu or leave the controller idle, Mr. DNA will provide dinosaur facts. As you navigate through the island the music will change to relate to the varying locations. You are required to collect dinosaur eggs through the island.

When in an outside environment, the game is from a bird’s-eye view. However, when you enter a building the game switches to first-person. Accessing certain rooms is only allowed if you have collected the correct ID cards and other rooms are completely dark and will require the night vision goggles to enter.

In order to complete the game the player must complete several objectives including powering up the computer to re-activate the motion sensors. This helps you detect dinosaurs on the island as Dr. Alan Grant carries a short-range motion sensor. Another level sees you finding out and trying to stop the Velociraptors from infiltrating the Visitors Center. The final mission sees you trying to locate a communications building in order to contact the helicopter to save you.

Unlike most SNES games, this game does not use a password feature, meaning you have to complete the game in one sitting.

Jurassic Park (PC)

Alongside the NES and SNES version, Ocean Software released Jurassic Park for the Personal Computer, for DOS and Amiga. Much like the SNES game, this game features both bird’s-eye view and first-person perspectives.

Plot Like the other two games, you play as Dr. Alan Grant and must rescue Lex and Tim. You begin at the overturned vehicle at the Tyrannosaurus Rex paddock. After finding Tim, you search for Lex in a sewer maze. The goal is to re-activate the park’s power in order to call the helicopter to be rescued. Gameplay Similarly to the SNES release, exteriors in this game are in bird’s-eye view while the interiors are first-person with a shooter perspective.

There are eight large areas outside each containing a different dinosaur paddock, including the Pteranodon dome not seen in the film. Each level requires you to complete a series of tasks in order to progress through the game. Indoor levels are included throughout the game with 11 building complexes, each overrun by Velociraptors. Also not seen in the film but featured in this game is the raft sequence.

There are six main dinosaur enemies as well as giant dragonflies. You begin with a taser weapon and numerous other weapons can be found throughout the game. First aid kits are scattered through the game. Much like the SNES game, motion sensors are located throughout the game and detect all moving objects. You can use the terminal computer at each motion sensor to receive messages, maps of the park and to open doors and gates. Some gates require an ID card. Keys are automatically used when needed, and weapons reload automatically. Objects such as rocks can be moved around to overcome obstacles.

Jurassic Park (Sega)

Released in 1993 for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, this game was developed by BlueSky Software and released as a tie-in with other merchandise.

Plot You play as Dr. Alan Grant and start at the overturned jeep in the Tyrannosaurus Rex paddock. On foot, you must return to the Visitor’s Center to escape the dinosaurs that have broken out of their enclosures. Along the way you must battle many dinosaurs and have a number of weapons at your disposal. However, at the beginning of the game you are given a choice of playing as Dr. Alan Grant, or as a Velociraptor who is also heading for the Visitor’s Center. Gameplay The game is a standard side-scrolling adventure. The game can either be played in “Easy” mode, “Medium” mode or “Hard” mode.

You begin with three lives and if you die, you restart at the beginning of the level. While playing as Dr. Alan Grant, you must navigate the seven areas of Isla Nublar and make it safely to the Visitor’s Center to escape via helicopter. Along the way you encounter dinosaurs that have broken out from their enclosures. You have access to various weapons including a tranquilizer gun, a stun gun, flash grenades, gas grenades and a rocket launcher. Ammunition for these weapons is scattered throughout the island as well as first-aid kits.

The Velociraptor player can jump higher than Grant and run much faster. The Velociraptor must also navigate through the park in order to reach the Visitor’s Center. Along the way you must elude or eliminate the security guards and then corner Dr. Alan Grant at the end. The Velociraptor has five levels, and along the way you will encounter stray dinosaurs that may prove to be a problem for the Raptor. Security Guards attack with wield grenades and missiles but are easily killed. Health can be increased by eating a Compy.

Another version of the game was developed and published by Sega, being released for the Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear. While the games are more or less the same, there are some differences, such as Grant being the only playable character and new driving levels being added.

Jurassic Park (Sega CD)

Jurassic Park for the Sega CD is a point-and-click adventure game released in December of 1993.

Plot The game is a point-and-click adventure game with a strong emphasis on action sequences which require split-second timing. The game is set after the events in the film and the player controls a scientist who is sent to Isla Nublar and becomes stranded after the helicopter crashes. Playing as the scientist, you must search the island to retrieve eggs from seven different dinosaur species, and place them in an incubator at the Visitor’s Center. The game features a real-time 12-hour limit where you must complete it in this time. Gameplay This point-and-click game is played from a first-person perspective, giving the player a panoramic view of the surroundings as well as various tools to interact with.

You are given access to a number of weapons that help you defend yourself against the dinosaurs. However, these weapons are not lethal (stun gun, tranquilizer gun, gas grenades) and means you must tactfully defend yourself and survive as oppose to just shooting the dinosaurs. First-aid kits are scattered around the island and night-vision goggles help you to see in the dark environments.

Paleontologist Robert T. Bakker makes appearances throughout the game and provides the player with hints and dinosaur information via Dinosaur Field Kiosks that are located near each dinosaur paddock.

Jurassic Park (Arcade)

Jurassic Park Arcade is a rail shooter game developed and released by Sega in 1994. The game cabinet resembles the rear of the Ford Explorer tour vehicles feature in the film.

Plot The game takes place on Isla Nublar a few months after the film’s events and the player must defend the moving vehicle from various dinosaur attacks. Gameplay Equipped with a joystick, you must shoot dinosaurs that appear on-screen and attack your vehicle throughout the game. Dinosaurs featured in the game include the Tyrannosaurus Rex, Velociraptor, Dilophosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Triceratops and Pteranodon. Fences and large rocks block the vehicle’s path and must be shot at to avoid driving into them.

The seats on the game replicate the seats in the Ford Explorer tour vehicles featured in the film, and the seats themselves move throughout the game. The seats are powered by hydraulic pistons. The graphics in the game blend two-dimensional sprites and three-dimensional polygons to give the sense of movement. It was famously the first arcade game in this genre to include 3D environments.

The game ends with the dinosaurs being captured and caged.

Jurassic Park: Rampage Edition (Sega)

Jurassic Park: Rampage Edition is a side-scroller released in 1994 by Sega for the Sega Mega Drive System and the Sega Genesis. It is a sequel to the popular Jurassic Park (Sega).

Plot After the events of Jurassic Park, Dr. Alan Grant escapes Isla Nublar on a helicopter. Meanwhile, the Costa Rican Army is blowing up parts of the island to destroy the dinosaurs. Grant spots a helicopter of armed InGen field agents arriving on the island. Fearing that the agents have plans to collect remaining dinosaur eggs and DNA samples in order to build a new dinosaur park, Grant attempts to contact the Costa Rican Army. The pilot however, attempts to stop Grant, resulting in the helicopter crashing back on the island. Grant survives the crash and must find a way to stop InGen. Gameplay Much like its predecessor, Rampage Edition allows you to play as either Dr. Alan Grant or the Velociraptor. Playing as Grant, you start with a dart gun and infinite ammo. A wide selection of weapons are available to obtain throughout the island including an assault rifle, shotgun, flame-thrower, grenades, rocket launcher and a shock rifle.

You must travel through the island while fighting InGen agents and dinosaurs until finding a boat to escape.

Playing as the Velociraptor, the player can win battles with physical attacks such as biting and whipping opponents with the Raptor’s tail. The Raptor can collect Lysine crates throughout the island which allow the Raptor to go into “Raptor Rage” mode, where the screen turns red and the player becomes invincible for a limited amount of time. The levels are the same as those played as Dr. Alan Grant, and the goal of the Raptor is to escape the island on the departing cargo boat.

Located throughout the island are candy bars and first-aid kits. Eggs, embryo containers and DNA samples are collected throughout the game for points. Instead of following the linear gameplay established in the previous game, Rampage Edition allows players to choose from three levels to complete before they are allowed to proceed to the final levels.

Jurassic Park Interactive (3DO)

Jurassic Park Interactive is an action video game released exclusively on the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer by Universal Interactive Studios. It was released in 1994.

Gameplay The game uses an interface that is set as a computer screen to allow the player to navigate a map of the island. There are also five minigames programmed by Dennis NEdry. Players have to locate various guests on the island and then engage in short first-person based action levels that either involve outrunning a Tyrannosaurus in a jeep, escaping from a small building containing Velociraptors, or shooting approaching Dilophosaurus with a charged electric gun.

There are three difficulties to choose from (Normal, Hard or Expert) and depending on which you choose, more guests will be shown on the map to save, with less time given to win the minigames.

To reach the end of the game the player must successfully relocate all of the island’s guests to the helipad dock and locate outside help to rescue them by completing the minigames.

Jurassic Park 2: The Chaos Continues (SNES)

The Chaos Continues is a 1995 video game sequel developed and published by Ocean Software for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The game was originally set for a December 1994 release but was delayed until January 1995. A Game Boy version was released in February 1995.

Plot The cinematic opening movie explains that the main competitor of InGen, BioSyn, is sending in troops and scientists to Isla Nublar in an attempt to gain control of the island for their own purposes. You play as Dr. Alan Grant who is tasked with stopping BioSyn from taking over the island. Gameplay The game’s booklet states that following BioSyn’s invasion of the island, John Hammond personally

asked for Dr. Alan Grant to help stop BioSyn, due to his familiarity with the island the dinosaurs on it. Hammond authorized a tactical sergeant names Michael Wolfskin to accompany Grant. The intention is to not harm the expensive animals except for the Tyrannosaurus Rex and Velociraptors, which pose the most threat.

The game is a side-scroller run and gun game with optional second player controls for Wolfskin. You can select the levels via a list and play through the game’s stages in any order, however, “emergency” missions also appear after each level is completed and the order of these stages does not change. Some stages offer a simple flat design, some have a platforming focus and others feature a maze of doorways which must be navigated to locate the exit.

You are given the option of three weapons – a rifle, a machine gun or a shotgun. There are also three non-lethal weapons, the electric stun gun, tranquilizer gun and gas grenade launcher. You are instructed throughout not to kill many dinosaurs and if the kill rate becomes too high, the game will end.