Platform: Sega Genesis
Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Release date: February 7, 1993
Genre: Platformer
Nerd Rating: 8 out of 10
My childhood friend – and later best-man at my wedding- introduced me to this game probably around 1995. As my next door neighbor, we had more sleepovers than one could count. Saturday and Sunday mornings were spent playing Sega (this is back when there was only one Sega system, so people just called it “Sega.”). He had a Sega long before I did, so his house was the place to be. We would wake up early on that Saturday or Sunday morning and play this (and probably some Sonic the Hedgehog 2) in his room with the volume almost non-existent (as to not wake up his parents who were in the adjacent room). We loved it then, and I still love it now. This game, in my overly critical and often offputting opinion, stands the test of time VERY well!
I’m not going to sit here and pretend like Buster’s Hidden Treasure isn’t your run-of-the-mill platformer. Because it is. But the value of a platformer is based on the stage design, its ability to hold your attention throughout the entirety of the game, and is a real challenge. This game delivers all of that in spades but isn’t the type of problem that makes you want to kill yourself in frustration. You’ll struggle, but you always know the end is attainable.
Developed and published by Konami, Buster’s Hidden Treasure was destined to be successful. Konami built an excellent reputation developing games like the Castlevania series, Contra series, Metal Gear series, Gradius series, nearly every TMNT game, and more. Some might think it’s strange to see a Tiny Toons game developed by such a powerhouse of a company, and maybe it is. But it’s also smart business. Looney Toons have been big for who-knows-how-long, and the spin-off series Tiny Toons was taking off in popularity around this time. Not to mention that the platforming genre was possibly the hottest genre in the industry at the time in no small part due to the success of the Mario and Sonic franchises. So why not capitalize on a great opportunity? Learning from its predecessor on the NES, Tiny Toon Adventures, Konami delivered a super solid and fun next-gen game!
Busters Hidden Treasure offers a great variety of stages to hold your attention. One of the downsides of platform games is the tedious, monotonous, and repetitive levels. Each level seems the same as the one before it but with a new color hue, background, etc. This game can start to feel that way slightly, but not as bad as you would think or as bad as other games I’ve played. The levels vary greatly, the music is fun, and the game can be downright funny (getting a full head of steam and then tripping over a can in the ground for no reason?!). It’s not Sonic the Hedgehog though, and you really can’t just run and jump a couple of pitfalls until you reach the level’s end. If you do that, you will undoubtedly die. Each stage seems meticulously built and can be extremely challenging. Jumping from one platform to another can be difficult, especially when you can’t see what’s below you.
Buster’s Hidden Treasure is an excellent platforming game that stands the test of time. Graphics and sprite detail are impressive for the era, but the tight controls are a work of art. Using a map system similar to Super Mario World, you will enjoy going back to play through old levels, finding new levels off the main path, and getting a general sense of what levels lay ahead. All of that is fun and all, but the overall best part is that feeling of familiarity. When Buster’s Hidden Treasure was first released, the Tiny Toons TV show was RED HOT! Playing the game felt like an extension of the show, which made it all the more fun.
Graphics: The graphics are great for a 2D game, and the color is marvellous. Nothing about the graphics makes your jaw drop nor does it make you cringe. It’s a cartoon style in the vein of the Tiny Toons cartoon show, so it only fits for it to be drawn that way (unlike when South Park released on the Nintendo 64 and PlayStation in that awful looking 3D). Overall, the graphics and animation are very pleasing.
Sound: Damn near flawless. It’s just perfect. The music makes you feel like you’re right in the cartoon show and pairing that music and sound effects with you controlling Buster will engulf your imagination. The sound effects are also spot on. When you trip over a can in the ground, it sounds like, well, a can. When you die, you hear Loony Toon-esque birds flying, simulating that classic scene when someone gets hit in the head and sees those birds circling their head.
Playability (How fun is it now?): Buster’s Hidden Treasure plays very well. Not every 1993 game is exactly “playable” per se, due to poor game design, bad graphics, terrible control-scheme, etc., but this game isn’t any of those. It plays very well, feels fluid, and Buster is very controllable and easy to use. It can be tough to time your jumps sometimes and figure out where the hell you’re supposed to go, and sometimes the game can be downright frustratingly tricky. But overcoming the challenges is where you find the most reward!
Replayability: I would say that it has a moderate to high replayability. A game like this isn’t exactly one that you pick up and play whenever. As you advance and master the early levels, the last thing you want to do is play the early/easy levels again. And you have to lose all of your lives to get the passwords. Having the passwords helps a great deal with the ability to play for a half hour and put it down until tomorrow. Once you beat the game, you feel pretty accomplished. You’ll probably want some time away from the game for a year or so. It’s a great game though.
The control scheme is simple, and the animation is beautiful and intricate for a 16-bit system. With great sound and music, you can’t beat Tiny Toon Adventures, Busters Hidden Treasure. It’s refreshing to play this game now and still be challenged as when I was a kid. This game is worth putting in your collection.
Nerd Rating: 8 out of 10
Reviewed by Nerdberry
Written by Nerdberry
What’s up yall? David “Nerdberry” here! I am the founder of Nerd Bacon and the current co-owner (and CEO) along with partner David “theWatchman!” I hail from North Carolina, hence my love for all things pork! Oh, you’re not familiar with NC? Well I’m not 100% sure, but I am pretty confident that NC and VA lead the nation in pork production. I could be wrong, but even if I am, I still love bacon!
Come enjoy some bacon and games with us yall.
