Something went wrong. Try again later

Giant Bomb News

69 Comments

Return of Bonk

The face of the TurboGrafx-16 is coming back next year with an all-new adventure.

Hudson has announced plans to produce Bonk: Brink of Extinction for Xbox Live Arcade, WiiWare, and the PlayStation Network. It'll be an all new game featuring Bonk, the big-headed caveman who was the closest thing the TurboGrafx-16 has to a mascot back in the early 1990s.

While it'll be an all-new game, Brink of Extinction appears to be duplicating the side-scrolling platformer style of the original games. It'll also contain some sort of online play when it hits in early 2010. The game is being developed by Pi Studios. I reallyreallyreally liked the first couple of Bonk games, such that they almost tricked me into thinking that the TG-16 had a chance against the more-powerful Genesis. Looking back on them today, those games haven't aged especially well and they seem sort of dull when compared to other platformers from that era. It'll be interesting to see how a new game fares today.

Here's the full fact sheet, which has a bit of story info, and some screenshots.
 


About Bonk:
It is the start of a new age and Bonk has returned at the turn of the tide as the world faces extinction.  Our loveable caveman is back and has brought his huge head with him.  A doomsday comet, surrounded by smaller chunks of debris, is on a collision course with Earth.  A strange magnetic field around the comet seems to be driving most of the planet’s weak-willed creatures crazy, and smaller bits of debris are smashing into the jungle near Bonk's home.  Bonk must undertake a perilous journey that will take him to the very center of the planet to save the world.

The Return Of The Most Widely Requested Classic Platformer 
Story Mode with Co-Op play.  Play alone or have a friend join you any time.
An entire new adventure with Bonk as he swims, bites, climbs, jumps, runs, and head-butts his way through jungles, deserts and volcanic caverns
Search for help along the way: power ups, check points, and extra health are the staple for every adventuring caveman.  
Transformations are back and weirder than ever!  Now Bonk can transform himself into eight different forms by eating meat or encountering Primordial Ooze.  No enemy is safe from the boy with the super noggin!
Multiple other modes and adventures are available as add on packs

New Features:
Online play for the first time in the series.  
New enemies with wide variations in personality/abilities.  Beware the Raptor Unicycle Tank!
Next generation gameplay meets retro brand: Classic 2D platforming in a 3D world.
Collectibles will have you searching the entire prehistoric world 
Download Content to keep the experience going

Jeff Gerstmann on Google+

69 Comments

Avatar image for jeff
jeff

6357

Forum Posts

107208

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 20

Edited By jeff
Hudson has announced plans to produce Bonk: Brink of Extinction for Xbox Live Arcade, WiiWare, and the PlayStation Network. It'll be an all new game featuring Bonk, the big-headed caveman who was the closest thing the TurboGrafx-16 has to a mascot back in the early 1990s.

While it'll be an all-new game, Brink of Extinction appears to be duplicating the side-scrolling platformer style of the original games. It'll also contain some sort of online play when it hits in early 2010. The game is being developed by Pi Studios. I reallyreallyreally liked the first couple of Bonk games, such that they almost tricked me into thinking that the TG-16 had a chance against the more-powerful Genesis. Looking back on them today, those games haven't aged especially well and they seem sort of dull when compared to other platformers from that era. It'll be interesting to see how a new game fares today.

Here's the full fact sheet, which has a bit of story info, and some screenshots.
 


About Bonk:
It is the start of a new age and Bonk has returned at the turn of the tide as the world faces extinction.  Our loveable caveman is back and has brought his huge head with him.  A doomsday comet, surrounded by smaller chunks of debris, is on a collision course with Earth.  A strange magnetic field around the comet seems to be driving most of the planet’s weak-willed creatures crazy, and smaller bits of debris are smashing into the jungle near Bonk's home.  Bonk must undertake a perilous journey that will take him to the very center of the planet to save the world.

The Return Of The Most Widely Requested Classic Platformer 
Story Mode with Co-Op play.  Play alone or have a friend join you any time.
An entire new adventure with Bonk as he swims, bites, climbs, jumps, runs, and head-butts his way through jungles, deserts and volcanic caverns
Search for help along the way: power ups, check points, and extra health are the staple for every adventuring caveman.  
Transformations are back and weirder than ever!  Now Bonk can transform himself into eight different forms by eating meat or encountering Primordial Ooze.  No enemy is safe from the boy with the super noggin!
Multiple other modes and adventures are available as add on packs

New Features:
Online play for the first time in the series.  
New enemies with wide variations in personality/abilities.  Beware the Raptor Unicycle Tank!
Next generation gameplay meets retro brand: Classic 2D platforming in a 3D world.
Collectibles will have you searching the entire prehistoric world 
Download Content to keep the experience going

Avatar image for coltonio7
Coltonio7

3214

Forum Posts

114

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 2

Edited By Coltonio7

Oh my god, yes.
 
As long as meat still makes Bonk a dinosaur, this game will be an absolute for me.

Avatar image for liquidswords
LiquidSwords

2728

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By LiquidSwords

Kinda want

Avatar image for video_game_king
Video_Game_King

36563

Forum Posts

59080

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 54

User Lists: 14

Edited By Video_Game_King

Why does he look so angry? Is it because he's not retail? Don't be angry, Bonk; your game is a perfect fit for digital marketplaces.

Avatar image for diamond
Diamond

8678

Forum Posts

533

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Edited By Diamond

I too really like Bonk.  I'm a bit concerned by the graphics style / look going on.  Looks like a bad PSP game.  Maybe the graphics look poor because it's coming to Wiiware as well as XBLA and PSN...
 
As far as the old titles, I feel Bonk's Revenge and Super Bonk hold up quite well.

Avatar image for meetthepyro
MeetThePyro

440

Forum Posts

197

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 8

Edited By MeetThePyro

Never played Bonk back in the day... hmmm

Avatar image for jakob187
jakob187

22972

Forum Posts

10045

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 8

User Lists: 9

Edited By jakob187

Curious about it...but not expecting much.  =  /

Avatar image for skrutop
skrutop

3810

Forum Posts

23630

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 48

User Lists: 14

Edited By skrutop

Dude, Bonk's Revenge was my favorite TG-16 game when I had one as a kid.  I hope this one is more Bionic Commando Rearmed and less Turtles in Time Reshelled.

Avatar image for fcksnap
FCKSNAP

2338

Forum Posts

844

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Edited By FCKSNAP
Avatar image for kirbichu54
Kirbichu54

122

Forum Posts

566

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By Kirbichu54

Online play? Nice!

Avatar image for giyanks22
giyanks22

2950

Forum Posts

816

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 17

User Lists: 5

Edited By giyanks22

HELL YEAH!!!!!!

Avatar image for phlegms
phlegms

1622

Forum Posts

101

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 3

Edited By phlegms

This I did not see coming.

Avatar image for akeldama
Akeldama

4373

Forum Posts

28

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Edited By Akeldama

oh no. They better not fuck this one up.

Avatar image for scooper
Scooper

7920

Forum Posts

1107

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By Scooper

The graphics look..... stock.

Avatar image for jjor64
JJOR64

19700

Forum Posts

417

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 5

Edited By JJOR64

I might have to pick it up.  I picked up the first on Wii VC and I enjoyed it.

Avatar image for cherokeejack
CherokeeJack

24

Forum Posts

25

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By CherokeeJack

Yeah, the visual style looks kinda awful.

Avatar image for jasonlblair
jasonlblair

109

Forum Posts

612

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 16

Edited By jasonlblair

Oh man, BONK! Very nice.

Avatar image for fuzzylemon
FuzzYLemoN

1609

Forum Posts

2558

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By FuzzYLemoN

BONK!
BONK!
Avatar image for emilio
Emilio

3581

Forum Posts

1268

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 6

Edited By Emilio
@Video_Game_King: 
Bonk used to be a mischievous rascal type character when he was originally introduced, but when they shipped him over to west they gave him a more cutesy look.
 
@Snapstacle:
There already exists an Alien Crush remake on WiiWare.
Avatar image for video_game_king
Video_Game_King

36563

Forum Posts

59080

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 54

User Lists: 14

Edited By Video_Game_King
@Emilio: 
 
Still, he looks too pissed. It wasn't a good idea to make him edgy in Bonk's Revenge, and this doesn't seem to be improving on that idea.
Avatar image for dynamitekyle
Dynamitekyle

675

Forum Posts

99

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

Edited By Dynamitekyle

Huh, that's unexpected.

Avatar image for king9999
King9999

663

Forum Posts

7

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 41

User Lists: 0

Edited By King9999

What the...this came out of nowhere!

Avatar image for urmean
Urmean

609

Forum Posts

156

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 6

Edited By Urmean

THE GUY'S A FREAKIN' BAT MAGNET!

Avatar image for bjorntheunicorn
BjornTheUnicorn

386

Forum Posts

407

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 5

Edited By BjornTheUnicorn

I think this is one example of my theory that the 2010s will be like the 90s but with better technology.

Avatar image for mekklesak
mekklesak

54

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By mekklesak

God Loves Me! Bonk's Adventure may not hold up well today, but Bonk's Revenge is as tight as a modern GBA game.

Avatar image for buzz_clik
buzz_clik

7590

Forum Posts

4259

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 9

Edited By buzz_clik

Not cartoony enough. One of the main Bonk (and Zonk) drawcards for me is the bold 2D art style. This just looks a bit... half-baked and generic.

Avatar image for mrklorox
MrKlorox

11220

Forum Posts

1071

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By MrKlorox

I remember praying super hard to Santa for this the winter the TG-16 hit the shelves. Instead I got my first real bike. It ended up being one of the best presents ever, but boy was I pissed at that fat red fuck Santa.
 
Now that I'll have access to a new one, I'll probably check it out. I know I could go emulate TG-16 for the games, but I decided to cut my TG-16 emulation days after I played Dracula X: Rondo of Blood some years back.
 
edit: Blegh... the graphics might pass in SD, but they look pretty lame in HD.

Avatar image for three0nefive
Three0neFive

2446

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Three0neFive

I thought this was about a second Scout update.
 
Damn you, misleading titles! D:

Avatar image for enchantedecho
EnchantedEcho

810

Forum Posts

659

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 17

User Lists: 6

Edited By EnchantedEcho

R U SRS.

Avatar image for mawryk
mawryk

148

Forum Posts

23

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By mawryk

Hmm.  I used to be able to Bonk's Adventure in 1 life.   If you ignore Air Zonk, Bonk's games were great.  I miss my TG-16.  Will be interesting

Avatar image for docwattson
DocWattson

84

Forum Posts

2

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 1

Edited By DocWattson

 Mario or Sonic?

Neither. Bonk.



Dude is straight up headbutting dinos. Revenge for what? Who knows. Revenge for being bald by the age of five maybe. Revenge for mother buying his wardrobe from a flinestone yard sale. Who cares. DUDE IS HEADBUTTING DINOS!!!! If that isn't extream I don't know what is.

::Poors some 40 on my rug to remember the TG-16::

I really should of went outside to do that.

Avatar image for earthborn
Earthborn

395

Forum Posts

277

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 3

Edited By Earthborn

No. F'in. Way.

Avatar image for d_w
D_W

1973

Forum Posts

2440

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 10

User Lists: 21

Edited By D_W

Of all the games to revive. Hrmm. 
 
I remembering really enjoying Bonk on NES though.
Avatar image for cyrax
cyrax

211

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

Edited By cyrax

Taking into consideration the game's not done and that it looks to be the first world I have to say the foreground art is very ugly to me. Whether it is objectively or subjectively ugly I cannot say.

Avatar image for arbitrarywater
ArbitraryWater

16105

Forum Posts

5585

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 8

User Lists: 66

Edited By ArbitraryWater

I'm pretty sure that Bonk is about as well regarded as Spyro or Crash Bandicoot in terms of people who care.

Avatar image for xander
Xander

150

Forum Posts

41

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

Edited By Xander

2.5D platforming is really coming on strong.
 
Bionic Commando: Rearmed, Splosion Man, Trine, Shadow Complex, New Super Mario Bros. Wii... and now Bonk.

Avatar image for liquidprince
LiquidPrince

17073

Forum Posts

-1

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 5

Edited By LiquidPrince

Sonic should be done in that style.

Avatar image for teptom
teptom

2074

Forum Posts

9175

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 7

Edited By teptom

Whoa, what the hell is up with this week...it's been so strange.

Avatar image for harrisonave
harrisonave

840

Forum Posts

196

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Edited By harrisonave

Why?  I've always hated Bonk...

Avatar image for rhcpfan24
RHCPfan24

8663

Forum Posts

22301

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 16

User Lists: 8

Edited By RHCPfan24

TurboGrafx game coming to XBLA? Not expected one bit by me. Still sounds awesome.

Avatar image for ryanwho
ryanwho

12011

Forum Posts

-1

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By ryanwho
@Xander said:
" 2.5D platforming is really coming on strong.  Bionic Commando: Rearmed, Splosion Man, Trine, Shadow Complex, New Super Mario Bros. Wii... and now Bonk. "
None of those are 2.5D. You don't know what that term means.
Avatar image for xander
Xander

150

Forum Posts

41

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

Edited By Xander
@ryanwho:  None of those are 2.5D. You don't know what that term means.  
 
Every once in a while someone on the internet tries to prove they are smarter than someone else.  2.5D used to talk about Mode 7 and Wolfenstein -like games, but as a part of the common lexicon, it hasn't meant that for quite some time.
Avatar image for berbenator
berbenator

17

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By berbenator

holy hell! bonk (along with TurboGrafx-16 ) was the first game i ever bought!

Avatar image for ryanwho
ryanwho

12011

Forum Posts

-1

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By ryanwho
@Xander said:
" @ryanwho:  None of those are 2.5D. You don't know what that term means.    Every once in a while someone on the internet tries to prove they are smarter than someone else.  2.5D used to talk about Mode 7 and Wolfenstein -like games, but as a part of the common lexicon, it hasn't meant that for quite some time. "
Its never meant whatever you seem to think it means. 2d games with 3d assets are 2d games.
Avatar image for brackynews
Brackynews

4385

Forum Posts

27681

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 48

Edited By Brackynews
@ryanwho said:
" @Xander said:
" 2.5D platforming is really coming on strong.  Bionic Commando: Rearmed, Splosion Man, Trine, Shadow Complex, New Super Mario Bros. Wii... and now Bonk. "
None of those are 2.5D. You don't know what that term means. "
o rly?  I'm willing to believe that, but then you've got some work to do on the 2.5D page, because those games match the current description.
Avatar image for xander
Xander

150

Forum Posts

41

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

Edited By Xander

James Pond to the rescue, I was just about to link to the same article. Cheers.

Avatar image for ryanwho
ryanwho

12011

Forum Posts

-1

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By ryanwho

AGGG EGG ON MY FACE

Avatar image for druminator
Druminator

1808

Forum Posts

10130

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Druminator

Didn't expect to see Bonk ever again.

Avatar image for commodoregroovy
CommodoreGroovy

631

Forum Posts

186

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Edited By CommodoreGroovy

Have to disagree with you there Jeff, I replayed this game just recently, finding the games still playable and fun. While the Bonk series might not be at the level that the Super Mario Bros series may be, but while I was playing the game, it reminded me of the good times I had with bonk. This might all be blind nostalgia speaking, but I am looking forward to hearing more about this game. Thanks for the news, Jeff!

Avatar image for agentboolen
agentboolen

1995

Forum Posts

12

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Edited By agentboolen

Glad to hear Bonk has come back from the dead...  If a soulless Sonic the Hedgehog can keep making games I don't see why Bonk can't give it a try.  YAY BONK!!!!