NES – Popeye
November 6, 2008 - 8:35 am - Posted by Sean
I’ve played Popeye on a number of the classic consoles, but the NES version seems arcade-perfect.
The vibrant graphics are very high in resolution and exhibit no hint of flicker. The characters are faithful to their cartoon roots, even conveying trademark expressions and mannerisms.
Popeye must traverse three screens of platforms in an attempt to collect items tossed out by Olive Oyl at the top of the screen. In the first screen it’s hearts, in the second it’s musical notes, and in the third (pirate ship screen) it’s letters that spell out “HELP”.
Making Popeye’s life a little harder are bouncing skulls, swooping buzzards, and his longtime arch enemy Brutus.
Avoiding Brutus is largely a game of cat-and-mouse, but eating your spinach lets you turn the tables on him, delivering a mighty punch that sends him bouncing around the screen. Just be sure to keep moving because Brutus is quite nimble for his size, and can pounce on you unpredictably.
Each screen offers its own unique elements, like a trap you can trigger or a teeter-totter that catapults you to a higher platform.
The music is also first-rate. Not only does each screen feature its own catchy jingle, but a lively rendition of the Popeye theme plays when you eat your spinach.
Some might contend Popeye is a second-tier platform title, but I haven’t had this much fun on my NES in a while.
Oh man, I spent so much money playing Popeye at my local Golf and Stuff arcade. Good times for sure.
You’re correct that the NES port looks almost exactly like the coin-op version, but that makes sense since Nintendo did make the original game.
I use to see the game Popeye in pizza places all the time as a kid. I didn’t know it was released for the NES too. That’s cool.
Toot Toot.