Title : Bump 'N' Jump
Publisher : Vic Tokai
Genre : Obstacle Racing
Players : 1 / 2 Player
Release Date : 1988
Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $3-$4
Despite the very risque name, this game is anything but. Yes, yes Bump N Jump sounds sexual, ha ha ha. It's not, get those perverse thoughts out of your head. This is a racing game. In fact, Bump 'N' Jump seems to be pretty friendly and kid-like according to the way the box art. It's just some kid and his gal riding on an ATV in the desert. Seems normal. Look at that fist pump! That's when you turn the box over and you get that message...
A Sunday drive has turned into a nightmare on wheels.
Well, they got that part right. This is a destructive, demolition styled game that forces you to slam into other vehicles and send them careening into obstacles or off a cliff. How can such friendly box art fool me into purchasing a game about vehicular manslaughter!? This game claims that it's a racing game, but it's not. Yes, you're on a road, and yes you need to get from start to finish. But this game is all about racking up points and causing mayhem on the road.
Well, your girlfriend has been kidnapped...dear God how many times have I said that in these reviews? Anyway...get in your car, ram people off the road, and rescue her. Go..shoo.
Even the title screen looks so friendly! What lies....
So how does this game work? Simple. It's an overhead racer, with the goal of getting from point A to point B while crashing into other cars and avoiding obstacles. The more cars you blow up, and the more obstacles you avoid, the more points you get. Sounds easy, but it's actually not. This game is pretty fast for an NES game, and you'll find yourself with clammy hands after just the first stage.
Building up speed, and not seeing obstacles until they JUST appear on the screen, requires you to be quick on the trigger finger. Not to mention, it's not just YOU trying to ram cars off the road. The other vehicles are trying to destroy you too. So don't get greedy, or you'll find yourself busily trying to knock a car into a wall, and you'll end up crashing into one yourself.
As the game progresses, the courses and your opponents become increasingly difficult. You'll be on the edge of your seat, screaming at the TV as you try with all your might to to get to the damn finish line. Different style opponents and obstacles also start making their appearances, with longer jumps, difficult road hazards, and even tanks. Yes, that's right tanks.
No, you can't destroy tanks...you're in a stupid red car, how are you going to destroy a tank!?
Ironically enough though, the difficulty level works in this game. It's an arcade styled racer, so it's expected to be difficult. In fact, if it was any other way, this game probably wouldn't be enjoyable, but I have to say this is one of the best racer games out for the NES. Sure it's annoying having to collect gas cans on the road in order to keep going, but hey it's that added bit of game play that provides even more of a welcome challenge.
I have very few qualms about the game, and it really only ties into the continue system. There is none, besides some famously horrible NES password system. Not to mention you only get three lives, and this game WILL destroy you.
Visually, it's okay? I mean the game was an oldie for the NES, but it still felt a little bit too old-school. The sound was also something not worth mentioning, because that too was pretty bad. Surprisingly enough, despite how mediocre those two things were, it doesn't detract from the very good game play.
Hell, I'll take a racing game that I play more than one stage with any day.
Final Score (out of 5) :
Until next time. Keep on gaming!
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