Sesame Street: Big Bird’s Hide & Speak
System: NES
Release Date: October 1990
Developer: Riedel Software Productions
Publisher: Hi Tech Expressions
Genre: Edutainment
Find your favorite character in Sesame Street: Big Bird’s Hide & Speak! We’ve come to the first talking game for the NES. Sure, we’ve had voice samples before, but here the gameplay revolves around Big Bird talking at you.
There are six modes that all play exactly the same. Gameplay revolves around picking one of four windows in an apartment complex. Depending on the mode, you need to choose the character that Big Bird wants. Or you need to remember which of the four windows they are behind. Then these modes happen with the characters holding letters. Okay, introduce letters to the kids, that’s fine, I guess. The next mode has you spelling three letter words that Big Bird tells you. The final mode has you making as many three letter words as you can before the sun goes down.
If you’re wrong, Big Bird asks you to try again (2:15). When you complete your task, one of the muppets walk out and perform an animation for you. They’re animated will, but that’s your only reward. [Big Bird: Let’s play again.] I’d really rather not, Big Bird.
Graphics: 1.0
I like that the graphics are big and animated.
Sound: 2.0
The voice samples are clear and this is a great tech demo for them.
Gameplay: 0.0
If I could move my cursor in the opposite direction, this would have received a 0.5.
Difficulty: 0.0
Name or find that character or letter.
Fun Factor: 0.0
I don’t think children would even like this.
Overall Rating: 0.6
Sesame Street: Big Bird’s Hide & Speak earns a D-. If it wasn’t for the audio samples and entertaining animations, this could have earned the worst grade so far.