Big Nose the Caveman
System: NES
Release Date: 1991
Developer: Codemasters
Publisher: Camerica
Genre: Action
It’s prehistoric times and you’re hungry in Big Nose the Caveman! It’s about to be Thanksgiving and all the big game on the island is gone. But wait… a pterodactyl is seen in the sky! It’s up to you to chase him through many levels over 4 islands to catch him and have some good eating.
This is a standard action platformer. Big Nose runs to the right, can jump with the A Button and attack with his club with the B Button. If you see an enemy, bash them with a club. If you see an icon showing three stones, pick it up to add a projectile to your attack. Upgrade this projectile a couple times and you can have a spread of rocks to defeat your foes with.
You’ll also find bones, which you want to pick up, as they act as currency. Every few levels, you stumble across a caveman village. Each of the three residences has a shopkeeper with different items available to you. Here you can buy single use spells, which I didn’t get much use from, and upgrades like fast shot and hard feet. You can only store up to 99 bones, so spend them to power up when you can.
Levels are pretty short and you can typically run through them, as long as your reflexes aren’t too addled. There are even hidden passages and shops that you can usually find if you see an errant bone that you think grabbing would kill you. Collecting the throwing stones changes your color palette and allows you to take a hit from an enemy. Otherwise, you die in one shot.
The end of each level pits you up against one of a handful of bosses. Each boss type acts the same and is therefore easy to beat once you learn their patterns. At the end of the island, you have to fly to the next by twirling your club over your head and not running into things. You do this in the final level and do battle with the pterodactyl. I used the invincible spell I had been saving to take him down without a fuss.
Graphics: 2.5
Sprites and backgrounds are all interesting to look at. Big Nose animations are pretty good.
Sound: 2.0
The music is different, but I don’t like the instrument choices.
Gameplay: 2.5
Big Nose controls alright and the game doesn’t try to do too much.
Difficulty: 2.5
Levels are short, but dangerous. Losing your lives is a game over to the title screen.
Fun Factor: 2.5
I had a nice time. Only took about an hour to get through, which is fine.
Overall Rating: 2.4
Big Nose the Caveman earns a C+. For an unlicensed game, I can recommend giving this one a try. It’s not amazing, but it isn’t bad by any means.