The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends (SNES) Playthrough - NintendoComplete

A playthough of THQ's 1993 license-based platformer for the Super NES, The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends.
You can find my playthrough of the NES game, if you're interested, here: • The Adventures of Rock...
Like I said in my write-up for the NES game, I really have no idea why the powers that be deemed it necessary to release a game based on an ancient cartoon that most kids probably only knew through its being used as filler on a couple of TV networks at the time.
Thankfully, the SNES game (which was also ported to the Sega Genesis) was a massive improvement over the 1992 NES game. It's still a bog-standard platformer, but Imagineer's 16-bit take on the license took much more care in showing respect to the (albeit all-but-irrelevant) cartoon.
The gameplay feels like a nicely polished reworking of some of the company's older 8-bit titles. The controls are simple: for both Rocky and Bullwinkle, you can jump, throw a projectile, or do a physical attack. The stages are linear, and the platforming focuses on precise jumps and the dodging of endless waves of enemies and projectiles that constantly fly in your general direction. The controls are stiff but responsive, feeling similar to the ones in Mousetrap Hotel and Ren & Stimpy: Space Cadet Adventures, both on the Game Boy, and like both of those games, it's fairly difficult. I don't think it's nearly as hard as a lot of people make it out to be, but it does require a fair amount of memorization and a some careful attention to timing. It feels far more 8-bit than it looks.
Because though it doesn't perform any miracles, Rocky & Bullwinkle is a very decent looking SNES game. It does a nice job of recreating the simple look of the cartoon by featuring bold character outlines, garish colors, and flat shading. And thankfully, it comes across as a solid stylistic choice here, unlike the NES game that used a similar "style" as an excuse to be cheap looking and ugly.
The game features a lot of neat nods to the TV show in how it introduces stages and characters, and the music, though cheesy, is solid and generally doesn't grate on the nerves too much.
Overall, Rocky & Bullwinkle is about as average as a SNES platformer gets, and while that normally isn't good reason for praise, remember that this is a license-based game published by THQ in 1993. Compared to the soul-crushing garbage they were known for putting out (Home Alone and Fox's Peter Pan on NES... ugh), Rocky & Bullwinkle feels positively top-tier.
But while this one is strictly middle-shelf, it does its duty just fine. This is the sort of game that you might've seen a screenshot of in a magazine and thought, "Oh, that looks like it could be cool," and if a random relative gave it to you as a birthday present, you probably would legitimately have had some fun with it. You might not have finished it, but it would've at least been a somewhat engaging distraction if you were bored.
For a THQ game from the early 90s, that's a huge achievement.
Seriously.
_
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (www.nintendocomplete.com/) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!

[@YukaTakeuchiFan]

I like how they actually justify the Inexplicable Floating Platforms so common to the platformer genre, AND in a way that feels pretty much exactly like you'd expect from a Bullwinkle property.

[@NintendoComplete]

The SNES version Rocky & Bullwinkle is a whole lot better than you might expect from the THQ logo on the box, and it absolutely dusts the NES game.

[@Invidente7]

Worst T*HQ game you ever played?

[@NintendoComplete]

Home Alone on NES

[@Cyberguy64]

@@NintendoComplete Best?

[@NintendoComplete]

@@Cyberguy64 From which era? 8 and 16 bit, or Playstation onward? They got a lot better later on.

[@Cyberguy64]

@@NintendoComplete Fair point. How about both?

[@IffyJottere]

Rocky: "Are you sure about this, Bullwinkle?" Bullwinkle:"Of course! What moose can't make a video game?!" *this game comes out* Bullwinkle: "Never said I could make a GOOD one!" The game design course taught at Wassamotta U apparently leaves much to be desired.

[@kingboobs20]

Well it's cool that after all these years I finally get to see what the rest of this game looks like, never could get past that damn mine cart level lol.

[@yusakug]

" I really have no idea why the powers that be deemed it necessary to release a game based on an ancient cartoon that most kids probably only knew through its being used as filler on a couple of TV networks at the time." - I seem to remember that in the early 90s, Rocky and Bullwinkle were kind of having a minor resurgence, due to nostalgic adults at the time. They were in commercials for both Taco Bell and Hershey's Chocolate (I remember Taco Bell really got behind them, and did a series of commercials and even T-shirts with them), and there was a documentary about the creation of the cartoon on PBS that was pretty popular at the time. It wasn't exactly a huge license for the time, mind you, but I think kids were aware of them.

[@jeremyriley1238]

Because at the time, it was being re-run on Nickelodeon alongside The Underdog Show. Yeah, the SNES library had some titles based on cartoons released long ago (this, the ones based on Looney Tunes characters, Mickey Mania, which is based on classic Mickey Mouse shorts released before even our parents our born, heck, even Scooby Doo and Yogi Bear got games on the SNES).

[@mniscmoney]

@@jeremyriley1238 Nickelodeton, syndication (I remember seeing some episodes at daycare on XETV; our Fox affiliate) and Cartoon Network (though not until a few years after that) and Disney was releasing several episodes on home video at the time. In fact, apparently Disney wanted to make a new series, but learned they only had the home video rights, and couldn't make a new show. That's what led to them making Darkwing Duck instead.

[@lucianothewindowsfan]

Better than the NES game.

[@Cyberguy64]

Ha! The minigames use the full theme songs from both Mr. Peabody and Dudley Do-Right's segments on the show. In fact, a lot of the music sounds like midis taken from the show.

[@masterdrewt6698]

I just love these 4th wall breaking moments in this game XD Like how they talked about the difference between the snes and the game boy. I wonder what would happen if they broke the 4th wall on the sega genesis version of this game.

[@shakaylathomas4818]

1:40 Narrator: Ohhh Nooo! It's Boris and Natasha! What Are They Up To This Time?

[@skinnyweenie8679]

*"A game based on an Ancient cartoon that most Kids probably only knew through it being used as filler on a couple of TV Networks at the time"* Ha, Ha, Ha, based 😂😂😂

[@ExtremeWreck]

Well I mean, it was a really good cartoon lmao.

[@NiCKy_TheHedgehog]

Yeah but it was re-aired in 90s through.

[@noaht2005]

Good to see they used the SNES’s improved sound hardware to make the music even better (!)

[@donor4053]

I remember this game as a kid … and I don’t think I could ever get past the first level lol

[@susanfit47]

This game is called "The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends" on the cover art and the title screen.

[@DerivativeWorker]

Man, that difficulty spike at the last level. They even tell you they are going to be bad about it!

[@ExtremeWreck]

This was also on the Sega Genesis, where it was published by Imagineering's parent company, Absolute Entertainment. And yeah, Absolute Entertainment was formed by legendary Activision programmers.

[@someone_named]

I love the content please keep it up you have a good channel here

[@gamestar7866]

Are the flags required for anything, or are you just collecting them to collect them?

[@susanfit47]

This game is based on The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends cartoon from the late 50's and early 60's off of syndication/Nickelodeon/Cartoon Network back in the 90's.

[@PCCphoenix]

1:26--"...strange foreign accents..." *WAIT A MINUTE...*

[@Johnlindsey289]

I rented this when I was 11 when it came out 30 years ago as I’ve been a fan of R and B since Nickelodeon aired reruns and this version was much better than nes

[@m.k.b.3880]

Sonic 3 and knuckles, please my children are depressed because of it

[@Christopher_Wheeler]

Man... I LOVED this game as a kid.

[@rickmartinez3268]

Boris: moose and Squirrel

[@reubenguttenberg7405]

Hey rocky, watch me pull a rabbit outta my hat. See, nothing up my sleeve, presto! 🐻: ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRR! Wrong hat.

[@Kay1im3nade]

0:05 It’s The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle & Friends! Starring: Rocket J. Squirrel and Bullwinkle J. Moose, with Mr. Peabody and Sherman 14:25, & Dudley Do-Right 29:18. (And NOT Starring Boris and Natasha)

[@MrRonald327]

Bring your spare hat!

[@reubenguttenberg7405]

Chris Parnell and Max Charles as Mr Peabody and Sherman

[@marshallramirez3068]

Is this version any good??? And is it worth playing???

[@HrvojeGrahovac]

Glen Schofield on the art tip POWER

[@Joe-e3d]

Avgn needs to review this game lol

[@firecapemario3180]

Caraca mano eu tinha a rom desse jogo quando era criança

[@Arcader-cs9bs]

It's funny that Rocky, A.K.A., Rocket J. Squirrel, breaks the fourth wall by mentioning to Bullwinkle J. Moose that both the Game Boy game and the SNES game start the same way; Having the Rocky and Bullwinkle museum being robbed.

[@reubenguttenberg7405]

Corey Burton

[@Megadrivegamesss]

Link to the adventures of rocky and bullwinkle and friends Sega Genesis version

[@Penfold8]

Frosted eggplants in the beginning.....hmmmmm.

[@ItsThatRetro]

It's a shame the gameplay is a mess, because honestly they did a really solid job in capturing the look and tone of the cartoon in the graphics department. Some really nice stuff there.

[@reubenguttenberg7405]

John Goodman and Billy Crystal and Whoopi Goldberg

[@reubenguttenberg7405]

Tara strong Keith Scott Jason Alexander and June Foray and Robert de Niro as rocky and Bullwinkle and boris Natasha and fearless leader

[@Pengu-pk9sy]

I wash nidtendo will create remastered!

[@podersemlimites]

Eu tô mexendo e to jogando jogos do emgadrive na sala megadrive com cartuchos feliz e só

[@DragonTyer]

i play this as a Kid never beat any lv

[@jhon.nath4filho424]

😢😢😢😢

[@podersemlimites]

Eu tô me mexendo no megadrive jogando infinitos jogos de megadrive infinitamente cartucho só megadrive feliz e só

[@At-px6rm]

Is this game a bootleg

[@abrahamcortina2171]

Nope

[@noaht2005]

I wish

[@NiCKy_TheHedgehog]

No

[@arnaldobahia2376]

Fotonovela

[@robertogoncalvesjuniorjuni375]

Pense em um jogo difícil amigo!😑😑😐😐🤨🤨

[@Bloodreign1]

One of those games that you turn into a donor cart for a repro of a translated Japanese SFC game, this thing is an awful one.

[@vanessanessa2761]

if you thought the snes version sucks, other versions of this shitty game are even more worst than the snes version

[@alexanderseton]

Wow! They really captured the esence here! The game looks as boring as the cartoon

[@reversalmushroom]

The artstyle of this game is terrible. The SNES was capable of so much more than this.