This past weekend saw Jurassic World: Domination take a bike out of the worldwide box office, proving once again that no matter how crummy the reviews are, people love dinosaurs. And that got me thinking, did Electronic Gaming Monthly like dinosaurs? More specifically, did they like the ones at the center of Jurassic Park? To help answer that question, I decided to flip through the pages of EGM to see what the review crew thought about these dino-filled video games back when they first came out.
Now, in case you're wondering, Electronic Gaming Monthly reviewed ten games in the Jurassic Park series between 1989 and 2009. This includes most of the 8- and 16-bit games released in conjunction with the original 1993 movie, as well as the questionable spin-offs that were released between Jurassic Park and Jurassic World. Today we're going to countdown EGM's best and worst Jurassic games using their own words and scores. There's no editorializing here, we're going to focus on what the critics said back when these games first came out. Join me as we hold our butts for this episode of EGM Ranks Jurassic Park.
Warpath: Jurassic Park (PlayStation)
#10
"Fighting game ... Jurassic Park ... seems like it would make a good combo, right? As good as the license is, that doesn't mean it's going to be a good game. The fighting engine is weak, and battles amount to constant button mashing and jumping around. What is cool are its interactive environments. But there's not enough challenge or technique here to keep most players occupied." (4 out of 10)
Jurassic Park: Rampage Edition (Genesis)
#9
"This sequel to the other Jurassic Park for the Genesis more of less covers the same ground in a different way. Unlike last time, there is no movie story line to adhere to, so anything goes. The graphics seem to be better this time around, and the control is punched up a bit. Fans of the movie and first game will love this." (5.6 out of 10)
Jurassic Park: The Lost World (PlayStation)
#8
"With its ultra-realistic dino animation, flashy cinemas and “guest star” secret ending, Lost World is a slick package. Too bad the gameplay isn't so hot. Some stages are ridiculously unforgiving – especially the human levels, where you suffer too many one-hit deaths despite having a full health meter. Your dino's animation often makes for loose control, too." (6.75 out of 10)
Jurassic Park (Sega CD)
#7
"This is one of those point and click games that I don't get into very much. I think those games should stay for the computer. Although there are some action sequences, I just found the pace of the game too slow. I do like the excellent mood-setting CD soundtrack. I also like the many areas in the park where players can get a small education on the various dinosaurs. A very nice touch to a decent game." (6.75 out of 10)
Jurassic Park Part 2: The Chaos Continues (Super NES)
#6
"Hey! Pretty cool opening cinema. It's too bad I didn't care much for the rest of the game. Jurassic Park 2 needs a little boost in excitement, because this game hardly offers any. The colors are dull and drab and the music may lull you to sleep. Although there are many missions to complete, they all lack variety and seem to be the same thing. Fans of the movie will dig it, but overall, it's only above average." (7 out of 10)
Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis (Xbox)
#5
"Most PC-style strategy games go through a nasty dummy-down filter when ported to consoles. Luckily, Genesis keeps its teeth. In fact, it may be too complex for some. Peek ahead, however, and you can see the long-term fun is doomed for extinction. Sure, you get a lot to do, but not many ways to do it. You raise all the dinos the same way; you have the same limited park amenities and research options game after game; and you won't experience anything new after playing through an open-ended game once." (7 out of 10)
Jurassic Park (Super NES)
#4
"It was a great movie, but I thought this game was a little too slow for my tasts. The little pop-up info boxes get annoying after a while. The graphics are OK, but they could be better. The action is good, but like I've already said, I got a little bored with this. Although we've seen different versions of this game on other platforms, this is probably the best version yet. Fans of the movie will like it." (7.25 out of 10)
Jurassic Park (Game Gear)
#3
"Jurassic Park is pretty cool. That's it. The graphics are nicely done with the right amount of color. The scenes while driving the Jeep are sort of cheesy and it can be hard to see the dinosaurs because the blurring is pretty bad. The action scenes, however, are better and give you plenty to do in the various stages. The weapons are nice and the dinosaurs offer a true challenge. JP is a good effort and a nice addition to a common theme." (7.5 out of 10)
Jurassic Park Interactive (3DO)
#2
"The game everybody wanted to see is finally here and it's pretty darn cool. This game is hard to review, since the game is so different from anything out there. The whole idea is to save five characters, but the way you do it can get repetitive real quick. All the different games are nifty, but once you know what to do, the fun wears off. The music is phenomenal and adds to the drama of this wild game." (7.75 out of 10)
Jurassic Park (Genesis)
#1
"Like the blockbuster movie, this game is BIG! This 16-megabit monster takes a lot to play – patience and mastering of quite a few techniques, but it is well worth it. The best aspect is being able to play as the Raptor! Turning the tables on your would-be captors (usually by pounding on them and chomping them down) is a blast." (8 out of 10)
