One of the best action-platformers on NES, from an obscure license. Varied levels, differentiated playable characters, lush visuals. Konami at the peak of its craft. Essential.
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Description
Action platformer featuring Bucky O'Hare and allies liberating planets from the Toads' grip. Published by Konami, released in the USA in 1992. Four playable characters with distinct abilities in varied planet levels, impressive bosses and high-quality NES visuals. A Konami masterpiece on NES, adapted from the comics.
The American NTSC NES edition of Konami's Bucky O'Hare cartoon adaptation, released on the console's flagship market. The US cart is markedly more common than its PAL counterpart, and value concentrates on clean CIB, an un-warped cardboard box and a complete manual rather than on print scarcity. Desirability rests on the reputation of the Konami gameplay and the cartoon's cult status, which keep NTSC demand steady.
An underrated gem
Adapted from a quickly forgotten cartoon, this Konami platformer more than makes up for it with clever level design, four heroes with complementary powers, and a difficulty that pulls no punches. Its obscure license worked against it with the public. Fans of tough, colorful platformers have a neglected little gem on their hands.
Is Bucky O'Hare still worth playing in 2026?
Bucky O'Hare is one of the NES's best action platformers, drawn from an obscure licence Konami turns into pure masterpiece. Varied levels, four playable characters with genuinely distinct abilities, sumptuous visuals and a memorable soundtrack build a title that deserved far greater fame. The difficulty is demanding but fair, and the staging keeps surprising. For Konami at the height of its 8-bit art and lovers of overlooked NES carts, still an absolute must to track down today and revisit with care.
