Wednesday, May 11, 2016

VGR Bugs Bunny Birthday Blowout


Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh, what's up, Doc?


VGR: The Bugs Bunny Birthday Blowout, also known as simply Bugs Bunny Blowout and in Japan under the title Happy Birthday Bugs 
From Kemco/Kotobuki System Co.
Played on NES 
Also available on /

Type Sidescroller platform game
Year 1990

 Back in the early 1990s, cartoon animal characters were all the rage in the entertainment industry, mascots were everywhere. It was during that same time that animation went through a revival of sorts, thanks to the likes of Warner Bros' Animation's Silver Age and the renewed success of Disney films.

 It was the perfect time to bring the Looney Tunes back, and welcome them to the world of video games. With game graphics finally catching up enough to retranslate cartoons in pixel art.

While usually Sunsoft handled the games on Nintendo systems, Sega developed their own separate titles internally.

The Bugs Bunny Birthday Blowout (Happy Birthday Bugs in Japan!) proves to be one of the rare exceptions to the rule, since the game was made by Japanese game developer Kemco, mostly known for their Top Gear series. The game was released exclusively for the NES in 1990.

There's a story, for once! In fact, you can't even skip the introduction in this game!

 It is Bugs Bunny's 50th Anniversary! And his friends and fans have prepared a big birthday party - or "Birthday Blowout" for him on the other side of town!

But it looks like all the other toons are jealous of Bugs since they haven't been invited to the party. First and foremost Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Wile E. Coyote and Yosemite Sam! So they decided to put a stop to the Warner Bros. studios' big star and prevent him from reaching his birthday part...one way or another!

 And that's not all, along the way you will find plenty of other famous Looney Tunes figures as the different boss fights at the end of each single stage!

 But Bugs' birthday is  apparently taking place really, really far from Bugs' home. Along the way you will have to go through 6 different worlds, containing about 4 rounds each. 

Spoiler alert: Turns out the other Looney Tunes were the ones who planned the big Birthday Blowout. Why were they trying to murder you???


This game is your fairly standard run-of-the-mill classic platformer. It's a pretty typical sidescroller where you can jump around and must reach the ending of each stage as quickly as possibly.

It's a basic Mario clone.

Bugs can swing a hammer to defend himself, defeat enemies and destroy blocks. 

Health are hearts. Collect as many carrots as you can for points. Grabbing items will leave a Looney Tunes symbol behind for some reason.

The main enemies are pretty wild, though. Living springs, clocks... and other stuff...

At the end of each stage there's a Looney Tunes boss waiting for you, yes that's right Bugs Bunny must defeat the other toons. Several of them make an appearance in this game, from Foghorn Leghorn to Sylvester, the Tasmanian Devil and even Tweety (a pretty minor and simple boss in this game)! Heck, even Pépé LePew! They all require a different technique to be defeated but it's pretty easy to figure that out. For example with Daffy you have to reach the "rabbit season" panel, you have to fight others or avoid traps with the rest.

You also get a couple of different bonus stages every few odd levels, which helps you score even more lives.


The game is very similar to Super Mario Bros. Almost too much similar.

 It really has nothing quite unique or memorable. Actually it's kind of a bland clone where they weren't trying to do much. 

 It's a pretty simple game. The game actually looks pretty decent, but it's not the most original platformer out there, it's just an okay game.

 The game is not without a few flaws, but nothing that bad as some make it out to be. Each time you get hit there's a slightly latent response time, you can't strike back and are forced to flee back. The hammer has a pretty short reach. And you're forced to watch the entire introduction each time you play.

But I feel like at the end of the day it's not a really bad game, per say. It was just meant for little kids, and has to appeal to everyone.

The game is just too easy, you rarely die. And it's also way too long, it's actually fairly long and repetitive, if a bit on the easy side.

The only real negative I would give this game is how annoying and repetitive the music can get.


Overall, Bugs Bunny Birthday Blowout is a decent if somewhat bland little platformer. You know, for kids.

 It's seriously not as bad as some make it to be. I would say it's just pretty generic.

 It's a really easy and forgettable little game based around Bugs Bunny. Check it Out if you're a fan of the Looney Tunes!

 Now if you want a really bad Bugs Bunny game, I can give you some...
 
I give it:
2 / 3 Bruces!

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