Swamp Thing
North American NES version cover art
Developer(s)Imagineering (NES)
Equilibrium (GB)
Publisher(s)Toy Headquarters
Designer(s)Barry Marx (NES)
Dan Kitchen (NES)
David Lubar (NES)
Christian Dana Perry (GB)
Curtis Norris (GB)
Timothy H. Mensch (GB)
Composer(s)Mark Van Hecke (NES)
Ed Bogas (Game Boy)
Platform(s)NES
Game Boy
ReleaseDecember 1992
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)Single-player

Swamp Thing is a platform video game for the NES and Game Boy. Based on the animated series of the same name, of the DC Comics superhero character Swamp Thing. It was published by THQ and released in December 1992.

A Swamp Thing title was also in development by Microsmiths for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis but was canceled.[1] It would have been published by NuVision Entertainment.[2]

Gameplay

The NES version of Swamp Thing borrows the game engine from The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Space Mutants. Its introduction features the origin story of Swamp Thing and as depicted in the 1991 animated series. The player takes the role of the title character battling foes throughout the Louisiana swamps and other locations in a side-scrolling format. Swamp Thing's attack methods include punching and firing "sludge balls" which are acquired throughout the game. The player must venture through various stages, which include a graveyard, chemical factory, toxic dump, and finally, Arcane's lab. Bosses include Arcane's Un-Men, Dr. Deemo, Weedkiller, Skinman, and finally, Arcane himself.[3]

In Game Boy's Swamp Thing, stages include the Arctic, the desert, and contaminated rainforests. Swamp Thing also uses tools like camouflage and thorn skin, and he must recycle scattered garbage in order to score points and gain additional powers.[4]

Reception

Aside from marginal graphics, the NES Swamp Thing has received average to generally negative reviews for its high difficulty, poor music, and dull gameplay. While perhaps faring better than its NES counterpart, the Game Boy version of Swamp Thing was not met with high praise either, getting a 2.5/5 score from Nintendo Power.[8][9]

Notes

  1. ^ The Electronic Gaming Monthly review was by four authors, three of whom gave the game a 3/10 and one a 4/10.[6]
  2. ^ GamePro gave the Game Boy version two 4/5 scores for graphics and fun factor and two 3.5/5 scores for sound and control.[7]
  3. ^ Nintendo Power gave the Game Boy version a 2.8/5 score for graphics and sound, a 2.3/5 score for play control, 2.4/5 for challenge, and 2.5/5 for theme and fun.[8]

References

  1. ^ Buchanan, Adam (November 14, 2010). "Unreleased Sega Megadrive game Swamp Thing Prototype ROM dumped". RetroCollect. Archived from the original on 2017-01-13. Retrieved 2020-12-11.
  2. ^ Swamp Thing Sega Retro. Retrieved on 7-23-11.
  3. ^ SubSane Swamp Thing Video Game FAQ/Walkthrough GameFAQs (April 5, 2005). Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  4. ^ IGN: Swamp Thing IGN.com. Retrieved February 3, 2008.
  5. ^ Alan Weiss, Brett. "Swamp Thing". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  6. ^ Harris, Steve; Semrad, Ed; Alessi, Martin; Sushi-X (January 1993). "Swamp Thing". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 42. p. 34.
  7. ^ Andromeda (September 1992). "Swamp Thing". GamePro. No. 38. p. 126.
  8. ^ a b Sinfield, George; Noel, Rob; Hill, Jade (November 1992). "Now Playing". Nintendo Power. Vol. 42. p. 104, score on 107.
  9. ^ a b Beaven, James (February 1993). "Swamp Thing". Total!. No. 14. p. 69.
  10. ^ "Swamp Thing Game Boy Review Score". Archived from the original on 2019-05-21.
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