Software:Mighty Bomb Jack

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Short description: 1986 video game

Mighty Bomb Jack
North American NES box art
Developer(s)Tecmo
Publisher(s)Tecmo
Composer(s)Tsukasa Masuko
Michiharu Hasuya
Platform(s)Arcade, NES, Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64[1]
ReleaseNES
  • JP: April 24, 1986
  • NA: July 1987
  • PAL: 1992
Arcade (VS. Mighty Bomb Jack)
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer
Arcade systemNintendo VS. System

Lua error in Module:Lang/utilities at line 332: attempt to call field '_transl' (a nil value). is a 1986 platform video game developed and published by Tecmo for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was later ported to the Amiga, Atari ST and Commodore 64.[2] Mighty Bomb Jack is a sequel to Tecmo's 1984 arcade game Bomb Jack.

Within PAL-A regions, the NES version was only released in Australia. The NES version was released on the Virtual Console on May 7, 2007 for the Wii, on December 6, 2012 for the Nintendo 3DS[3] and on January 23, 2014 for the Wii U.[4][5] It was released on the Nintendo Classics service in November 2018.[6] There was also a board game adaptation released by Bandai in 1986.[7] An arcade version for the Nintendo VS. System was released by Nintendo in Japan.[8]

Plot

Jack, the protagonist of the game, must make his way through 16 levels set within a pyramid in order to defeat the demon Belzebut and rescue the royal Pamera family.[2][9]

Gameplay

An action zone (NES version). The blue character in the center is Jack, the player character.

Each level is split into two parts; an action zone and a Royal Palace room. The mechanics and level designs of the Royal Palace rooms are directly lifted from Bomb Jack. Action zones can be split up into several portions and contain power-ups usually hidden in treasure chests such as money bags, Mighty Coins and Mighty Drinks. Mighty Coins allow Jack to change colors; blue allows Jack to open orange treasure chests, orange allows him to open any treasure chest by simply touching it from the side, and green transforms all enemies on the screen into coins for 5 seconds. Mighty Drinks add 10 seconds to the game's timer. Secret passages can also be found in the action zones, activated by finding a Sphinx in a visible or hidden treasure chest.[2][9]

To prevent the player from becoming too "greedy", the game automatically sends the player to a Torture Room if they obtain more than 9 Mighty Coins or 99 seconds on the game's timer. The only way to escape a Torture Room without losing a life is to complete a number of jumps, which are counted down on the screen. Once the player exits the Torture Room, Jack automatically loses all Mighty Coins, the timer is reset to 60 seconds, and the game recommences from the beginning of the current level.[2][9]

VS. System version

A Nintendo VS. System version of the game was released in 1986 for the Japanese market (not to be confused with the original dedicated arcade version). Differences between the original and VS. versions include adding a two-player mode, changing the locations of some secret passages and removing a warp in the Royal Palace rooms.[2]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
3DSNESWiiWii U
Eurogamer7/10[12]
GameSpot3.8/10[11]
Nintendo Life5/104/10[13]6/10
Computer EntertainerStarStarStarStarStarStarStarHalf star[14]
Aggregate score
GameRankings47%[10]

In Japan, the game sold over 1.5 million copies by 1987. In North America, the game received a positive review from Computer Entertainer upon release, with a score of 7.5 out of 8 stars, the same as The Legend of Zelda in the same issue. They called Mighty Bomb Jack a fast-paced "adventure-action game" that is "loaded with nuances which you will continue to discover as play" and said it is a tough, frustrating, "just one more time" game that "will have you back for more and more!"[14]

The Virtual Console re-releases later received mixed-to-negative reviews, with GameSpot calling the game "repetitive" and "broken",[11] while Eurogamer called it "[kind of] clever", though "not exactly deep".[12] IGN called the Wii Virtual Console version of Mighty Bomb Jack "a poor candidate for your time investment".[15]

Nintendo Life criticized the game's platforming and level design, stating that "dynamics of [the game] are somewhat broken" and that "the key to success is anticipating how [enemies] will move in order to get past", because their behavior is "almost random". On the other hand, Nintendo Life praised Mighty Bomb Jack's secrets for adding some replay value, as well as the game's sense of humor.[13]

Notes

References

  1. ↑ fgasking (2014-11-28). "An interview with Geoff Phillips". Games that Weren't. http://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2014/11/an-interview-with-geoff-phillips/. Retrieved 2014-12-17. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Mighty Bomb Jack". Video Game Eden. http://www.videogameden.com/fc.htm?mbj. Retrieved 2014-12-17. 
  3. ↑ "Mighty Bomb Jack for Nintendo 3DS". Nintendo. https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/8C3nYRsnaDUvVr-7b5s6qL7X7Pa93b_B#game-details. Retrieved 13 May 2016. 
  4. ↑ Winslett, Ryan (2014). "Mighty Bomb Jack, Life Force Explode On Nintendo Virtual Console". Cinemablend. http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Mighty-Bomb-Jack-Life-Force-Explode-Nintendo-Virtual-Console-61839.html. Retrieved 2014-12-17. 
  5. ↑ Cavalli, Earnest (2014). "Mighty Bomb Jack leaps to Wii U Virtual Console this week". Joystiq. http://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/21/mighty-bomb-jack-leaps-to-wii-u-virtual-console-this-week/. Retrieved 2014-12-17. 
  6. ↑ Bankhurst, Adam (2018-11-07). "Three New NES Games, Including Metroid, Are Headed to Nintendo Switch Online Next Week" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/11/07/three-new-nes-games-including-metroid-headed-to-nintendo-switch-online-next-week. 
  7. ↑ "魔界村・ゲゲゲの鬼太郎・マイティボンジャック・スーパーマリオブラザーズ カセットケースゲーム ｜ バンダイキャンディトイ". https://www.bandai.co.jp/candy/products/1986/06772.html. 
  8. ↑ "発想転換したTV機 テクモ". Game Machine. https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19861015p.pdf#page=9. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Mighty Bomb Jack Game Summary". http://nintendoenthusiast.com/n/game/mighty-bomb-jack. Retrieved 2014-12-17. 
  10. ↑ "Mighty Bomb Jack". GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/nes/587458-mighty-bomb-jack/index.html. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Provo, Frank (2007-05-18). "Mighty Bomb Jack Review". http://www.gamespot.com/mighty-bomb-jack-1987/reviews/mighty-bomb-jack-review-6171111/. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Whitehead, Dan (2007-06-15). "Virtual Console Roundup". p. 2. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/vcroundup_150607?page=2. Retrieved 2014-12-17. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Calvert, Darren (2007-04-24). "Review". http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/vc/mighty_bomb_jack_nes. Retrieved 2014-12-17. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Nintendo Software". Computer Entertainer 6 (5): 12. August 1987. http://www.ataricompendium.com/archives/newsletters/video_game_update/computer_entertainer_aug87.pdf#page=12. 
  15. ↑ Thomas, Lucas M. (2007-05-07). "Mighty Bomb Jack Review". http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/05/07/mighty-bomb-jack-review. Retrieved 2014-12-17. 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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