Retro Review of the Week: Bill and Ted's Excellent Gameboy Adventure

Bill and Ted's Excellent Gameboy Adventure
Developer : Beam Software
Publisher  : LJN Software

Platform   : Gameboy
Release   : 1991 (EU, NA)

Designer  : James A. Dorsman, 

                 Mark Buda, Eric Harlow 

                 and Richard Lamb.

Composer: James A. Dorsman
                 and Douglas E. Mackall

This is a game that often gets completely ignored by gamers, this is probably due to the lack-lustre graphics and the fact that people naturally assume its a conversion of all the terrible Bill and Ted Games released on the NES, Atari Lynx or Home Computers.  Thankfully this game is completely different to those lack lustre games and instead is a highly addictive single screen platform game, reminiscent of the 8-bit classic Chuckie Egg or Epyx's Jump Man and Manic Miner.

The purpose of the game couldn't be simpler. The evil DeNomolos want's to change the future and so it is down to both Bill and Ted to jump their way through 50 levels collecting all the lost time fragments and thwart his most totally heinous plan. 

What I love about the game is the games simplicity and solid controls. Also each level offers a totally new platform element or puzzle to overcome, making each new level genuinely fresh and new, a joy to discover that drives you onwards through all the levels. Combine that with ten worlds to explore and nicely laid out password system and there is just the right balance of platform challenge, only sometimes dipping over into being overly frustrating. For me it is platform gaming at its purest form and all the better for it. 

The two player option is a nice touch, you can't play simultaneously, but by taking it turns, which adds a nice competitive edge to the game as both players tries to out do each other.

All in all a top game, that is well worth play, especially if you loved your Chuckie Egg and Manic Miner games back in the day and are looking for a game that takes what made those games great and running with it. So if you love your platform games, then give this hidden Gameboy gem a go. You won't be disappointed.

Verdict 4 out of 5 stars

Who is Beam Software?

Beam Software was formally known as Melbourne House, and finally Krome Studios Melborne before sadly finally closed its doors in 2010.  But during its time as a developer, they have produced some amazing games in their long career.  They were the team behind the famous ZX81 Spectrum mascot Horace in Horace goes Skiing and Horace and the Spiders,  the stunningly good Hobbit Adventure game and Way of the Exploding fist.  They also would have success with Shadow Run on the SNES and  Looney Tunes : Space Race on both the Dreamcast and Playstation 2.