City Connection (NES)

City Connection Box Art

City Connection

System: NES

Release Date: May 1988

Developer: Jaleco

Publisher: Jaleco

Genre: Platformer

We’re on to Jaleco’s first American NES game, City Connection. They took some time off from developing after this and I’m glad they did. This isn’t a very good game and the premise is stupid. You’ve stolen ten gallons of paint and have to paint every mile of highway before moving on to the next level and doing the same thing.

The cops are after you and you have to throw oil cans at them to spin them out and knock them off the road. The highway has gaps in it that you have to jump in order to hit every inch of the road. You can turn left or right and jump with the A Button. And you have to jump, a lot. After awhile, a pink cat will show up in your way. Jump it or you die.

If you stay on the same plane of highway long enough, a barricade will appear to kill you. The cops keep spawning and you need to avoid them or keep killing them with the oil cans. Getting those last few bits of road can become infuriating.

Graphics: 0.5

These graphics would have been okay in 1986, but are a big disappointment in 1988.

Sound: 1.0

The sound is just about as bad. The song reminds me of Big Red Car by the Wiggles.

Gameplay: 1.0

It’s annoying that you can’t jump right after you turn.

Difficulty: 1.0

The less than refined controls lead to difficulty.

Fun Factor: 0.5

Oh, this is not a fun game. It’s lame.

Overall Grade: 0.8

City Connection earns a D. Hey, do yourself a favor and stay away from this one. It’s pretty bad.

City Connection Video Review on YouTube