From alien invasions, to robot uprisings, there are plenty of classic movies that have become cornerstones for the silver screen. In fact, there are even some that have made the jump from the big screen to home consoles.
Whether you’re a long-time fan of the series or you just love dinosaurs,Jurassic Parkhas been a big name in films for decades now, and it has also sparked a few video games as well. So much so that some of the classic games in the series have been combined in the Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection. While they’re all worth playing, you may wonder: how do these games compare to each other?
7Jurassic Park Portable
A Dinosaur Noir
TheGame Boywas the first major portable console for a wide swath of gamers out there today, and many will remember the Jurassic Park that came out on that platform. It has the classic Jurassic Park storyline, although shortened to better serve being played over watched of course. It was a big thing to be able to take this title on the road with you.
While the black-and-white style of this emulation may seem like a classic filter for some, it does fall short compared to other games in this collection. A NES game ported to Game Boy and then emulated on modern consoles just feels a little clunky. It lacks the appeal of mobility and some things feel like they’ve just been muddled in translation.
6Jurassic Park Part 2: The Chaos Continues Portable
Chaos Gone Portable… Kind Of
Jurassic Park 2 is a game that really brings the action of the universe to the game format, and on handheld as well. This does a little bit better than the other portable Jurassic Park game in this collection, but it does still somehow fall short, considering the other 16-bit version is also readily available in this collection too.
If you just want to cover all your bases and enjoy everything this has to offer then give it a shot, but it doesn’t have enough differences to the other version of this title that makes it worth playing both unless you just have to know what it’s like.
5Jurassic Park 16-Bit SNES
They Didn’t Stop To Think If They Should
The SNES Jurassic Park feels interesting after all these years. you’re able to see how it took gameplay mechanics from its time and tried to play with them as much as it could, and it still feels like a novel experience. It has a somewhat open world, which, compared to modern titles, isn’t that open, but it still allows for some fun exploration.
For most of the game, you’ll be looking at your character from a nearly top-down perspective, but when you enter a building, this changes to first-person. It’s an odd change that is confusing at first, but then becomes fun as you get to see the world from Dr. Grant’s perspective. Playing it now gives you a good sense of the innovations that were taking the gaming world by storm back then.
4Jurassic Park Genesis
Become The Velociraptor
Not to be confused with Jurassic Park Operation Genesis of the Xbox 360 era, the Jurassic Park on the Sega Genesis was a rather groundbreaking improvement from earlier games in the universe. This side-scrolling action game is sort of two in one.
In one playthrough, you’re able to play as Dr. Grant, as with most Jurassic Park Games, but you also have a mode in which you can play as a velociraptor. Either way, your goal is to survive the island while avoiding enemies and platforming across various levels. It’s a game reminiscent ofContraand other sidescrollers, so if those pique your interest, then this is a great one for you.
3Jurassic Park Part 2: The Chaos Continues 16-Bit
They Did It Again
The chaos definitely does continue in this sequel in the Jurassic Park universe. If you want a game like Contra, then this takes everything the developers learned from the Sega Genesis title and builds off it. It’s odd that this was a direct sequel, but they chose to leave the top-down ideals of the original 8-bit game behind, but such were the times.
Honestly, it’s a little clunky at times, but it’s quite a bit of fun gameplay-wise with all the shooting and explosions. Add in some dinosaurs, and an over-the-top plot that has plenty of dinos in it, and you have a pretty fun time.
2Jurassic Park: Rampage Edition Genesis
Dinosaurs On A Rampage
A sort of follow-up to The Chaos continues. More dastardly plans are in the work, and, of course, Dr. Grant is caught in the middle of them all. More dinosaurs, more explosions, and everything you could hope for after seeing the ’90s movie.
It lacks some of the classic lustre of the 8-bit first Jurassic Park game, but if you want a more action-focused adventure that’s closer to more modern games then this is a good one to start with for sure. It balances a lot of the classic appeal ofSegaGenesis era games with plots and gameplay that you may still find today. If you have to play one of them, then this title is up there for sure.
1Jurassic Park 8-Bit
Life Finds A Way
The first time the Jurassic Park series came to home consoles. The 8-bit version of the game was first seen on theNESback in the early ’90s. It follows closely to the movie itself, following around Dr. Grant as you try to survive the island and hopefully save a few people along the way.
There’s something sonostalgic about the 8-bit versionthat resonates with multiple generations. If you aren’t a fan of that graphics style, then you may find it more annoying than fun, but the simple storyline doesn’t take long to complete, and it’s well worth giving a shot since it’s not a big time sink, especially compared to modern games.
