Air Zonk
Encyclopedia
Air Zonk is a side-scrolling
shooter
released for the PC Engine/TurboGrafx 16 video game consoles in 1992 and was developed by Red Company
and published by Hudson Soft
. Air Zonk was an attempt to update the company's image via a modern, punkish
character called Zonk, who bears a purposeful resemblance to the Turbo's caveman
mascot, Bonk
.
Although some consider the theme of this game (and corresponding main character) to be a knee-jerk reaction to the popularity of Sega
's Sonic
mascot, Air Zonk is widely considered to be an excellent shoot 'em up
. The developers of this game, Red, were also the force behind the critically acclaimed Gate of Thunder
series. Air Zonk features quirky protagonists, anthropomorphic enemies and bosses, and fantastical power-ups. Moreover, the game can be considered as being part of the Bonk
series of games, as it features the same antagonist, King Drool, and many of the same enemies and artistic styles. It was followed by a sequel in 1993 called Super Air Zonk: Rockabilly Paradise for the Turbo Duo, which has been released on the Wii's Virtual Console.
One of the distinguishing elements of Air Zonk is the ability to use a companion character in each level. These companions help the main character by attacking enemies and by granting Air Zonk special attacks and occasional temporary invulnerability. Friends can be either automatically assigned, through a fixed order, or can be manually chosen before each level. Each friend can only be used once, and wear the Zonk-style shades to signify that they have been used prior. The friend shows up once a power-up
showing a large smiley-face with sunglasses is obtained. The large power-up is triggered when approximately five small smiley faces are collected within a period of a few minutes. The friend will initially act as a Gradius
-style option which follows the player around shooting a straight-forward, relatively weak projectile. If a second large smiley-face icon is collected, Air Zonk and the friend will combine into a hybrid form, granting a new attack and temporary invulnerability. However this will not occur if the friend is injured, indicated by white clouds of smoke coming from the friend's rear. If the friend is damaged, and a new icon is picked up, the friend will be repaired. It takes multiple hits for friends to be eliminated from the screen completely.
.
in 1993 -- Super Air Zonk: Rockabilly Paradise (also known as CD Denjin Rockabilly), which was released in the SuperCD
format and requires the Super System Card to play on first-generation TurboGrafx-CD consoles. As its name would imply, the game has a CD audio soundtrack consisting of rockabilly
music. The game contains all new levels, assistants, and enemies.
--the mascot for NEC Corporation's TurboGrafx-16
video game console. When TTi released the TurboDuo console (2nd generation successor to TurboGrafx-16), Zonk was adopted as the official mascot. Zonk adorned nearly all of TTi's promotional material, and was even featured on the package art for the TurboDuo console.
Before the game's release in the United States, TTi held a contest to name the character. Zonk's temporary name had been "Bonkinator" , but by the August/September, 1992 issue of TurboPlay Magazine, the name "Air Zonk" had been chosen.
's Virtual Console
. It was released in May in Japan and July in America, and on July 13th in Europe. It has gained an E rating from the ESRB.
Side-scrolling video game
A side-scrolling game or side-scroller is a video game in which the gameplay action is viewed from a side-view camera angle, and the onscreen characters generally move from the left side of the screen to the right. These games make use of scrolling computer display technology...
shooter
Shoot 'em up
Shoot 'em up is a subgenre of shooter video games. In a shoot 'em up, the player controls a lone character, often in a spacecraft or aircraft, shooting large numbers of enemies while dodging their attacks. The genre in turn encompasses various types or subgenres and critics differ on exactly what...
released for the PC Engine/TurboGrafx 16 video game consoles in 1992 and was developed by Red Company
Red Entertainment
is a video game developer based in Japan. Formerly known as since is foundation in 1976 , it was reorganized under its current moniker on December 4, 2000...
and published by Hudson Soft
Hudson Soft
, formally known as , is a majority-owned subsidiary of Konami Corporation is a Japanese electronic entertainment publisher headquartered in the Midtown Tower in Tokyo Midtown, Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, with an additional office in the Hudson Building in Sapporo. It was founded on May 18, 1973...
. Air Zonk was an attempt to update the company's image via a modern, punkish
Punk subculture
The punk subculture includes a diverse array of ideologies, and forms of expression, including fashion, visual art, dance, literature, and film, which grew out of punk rock.-History:...
character called Zonk, who bears a purposeful resemblance to the Turbo's caveman
Caveman
A caveman or troglodyte is a stock character based upon widespread concepts of the way in which early prehistoric humans may have looked and behaved...
mascot, Bonk
Bonk (video game)
Bonk is a video game character from NEC's TurboGrafx-16 console. Known in Japan as "PC-Genjin" and as "BC Kid" in PAL territories, Bonk was a mascot for NEC's console, though some Bonk games eventually saw releases on other consoles as well. A large-headed, bald caveman, his favored form of attack...
.
Although some consider the theme of this game (and corresponding main character) to be a knee-jerk reaction to the popularity of Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
's Sonic
Sonic the Hedgehog (character)
, trademarked Sonic The Hedgehog, is a video game character and the main protagonist of the Sonic video game series released by Sega, as well as in numerous spin-off comics, cartoons, and a feature film. The first game was released on June 23, 1991, to provide Sega with a mascot to rival Nintendo's...
mascot, Air Zonk is widely considered to be an excellent shoot 'em up
Shoot 'em up
Shoot 'em up is a subgenre of shooter video games. In a shoot 'em up, the player controls a lone character, often in a spacecraft or aircraft, shooting large numbers of enemies while dodging their attacks. The genre in turn encompasses various types or subgenres and critics differ on exactly what...
. The developers of this game, Red, were also the force behind the critically acclaimed Gate of Thunder
Gate of Thunder
Gate of Thunder is a scrolling shooter by Hudson Soft and Red Entertainment for the PC Engine CD-ROM originally released in 1992. It was also a pack-in game for the TurboDuo in North America. It was released on the Wii Virtual Console on October 15, 2007 in North America and on December 4, 2007 in...
series. Air Zonk features quirky protagonists, anthropomorphic enemies and bosses, and fantastical power-ups. Moreover, the game can be considered as being part of the Bonk
Bonk (video game)
Bonk is a video game character from NEC's TurboGrafx-16 console. Known in Japan as "PC-Genjin" and as "BC Kid" in PAL territories, Bonk was a mascot for NEC's console, though some Bonk games eventually saw releases on other consoles as well. A large-headed, bald caveman, his favored form of attack...
series of games, as it features the same antagonist, King Drool, and many of the same enemies and artistic styles. It was followed by a sequel in 1993 called Super Air Zonk: Rockabilly Paradise for the Turbo Duo, which has been released on the Wii's Virtual Console.
Gameplay
Air Zonk is similar to other scrolling shooters, but what sets it apart are the large number of power-ups and companion characters. Artistically the game is typically light hearted, featuring humorous bosses such as a sentient garbage heap and an anthropomorphic boat. The gameplay centers around the effective use of shooting and bombing to complete a stage. At the start, the player must pick a companion character to team up with to perform special attacks. Air Zonk takes on the distinct visual style that is sometimes called "cute 'em up". There are three difficulty levels: sweet, spicy, and bitter.One of the distinguishing elements of Air Zonk is the ability to use a companion character in each level. These companions help the main character by attacking enemies and by granting Air Zonk special attacks and occasional temporary invulnerability. Friends can be either automatically assigned, through a fixed order, or can be manually chosen before each level. Each friend can only be used once, and wear the Zonk-style shades to signify that they have been used prior. The friend shows up once a power-up
Power-up
In computer and video games, power-ups are objects that instantly benefit or add extra abilities to the game character as a game mechanic. This is in contrast to an item, which may or may not have a benefit and can be used at a time chosen by the player...
showing a large smiley-face with sunglasses is obtained. The large power-up is triggered when approximately five small smiley faces are collected within a period of a few minutes. The friend will initially act as a Gradius
Gradius
The Gradius games, first introduced in 1985, make up a series of scrolling shooter video games published by Konami for a variety of portable, console and arcade platforms. In many games in the series, the player controls a ship known as the Vic Viper...
-style option which follows the player around shooting a straight-forward, relatively weak projectile. If a second large smiley-face icon is collected, Air Zonk and the friend will combine into a hybrid form, granting a new attack and temporary invulnerability. However this will not occur if the friend is injured, indicated by white clouds of smoke coming from the friend's rear. If the friend is damaged, and a new icon is picked up, the friend will be repaired. It takes multiple hits for friends to be eliminated from the screen completely.
Reception
Air Zonk was awarded Best TurboGrafx Game of 1992 by Electronic Gaming MonthlyElectronic Gaming Monthly
Electronic Gaming Monthly is a bimonthly American video game magazine. It has been published by EGM Media, LLC. since relaunching in April of 2010. Its previous run, which ended in January 2009, was published by Ziff Davis...
.
Sequels and re-releases
Air Zonk received a sequelSequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
in 1993 -- Super Air Zonk: Rockabilly Paradise (also known as CD Denjin Rockabilly), which was released in the SuperCD
TurboDuo
The TurboDuo was a video game console released in the United States. It was released on October 10, 1992 by 'Turbo Technologies Incorporated', a Los Angeles-based corporation consisting of NEC and Hudson Soft employees, established to market NEC consoles in North America after NEC Home Electronics...
format and requires the Super System Card to play on first-generation TurboGrafx-CD consoles. As its name would imply, the game has a CD audio soundtrack consisting of rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
music. The game contains all new levels, assistants, and enemies.
Zonk: Mascot for TurboDuo video game console
The protagonist in this game, Zonk, is a cyborg version of BonkBonk (video game)
Bonk is a video game character from NEC's TurboGrafx-16 console. Known in Japan as "PC-Genjin" and as "BC Kid" in PAL territories, Bonk was a mascot for NEC's console, though some Bonk games eventually saw releases on other consoles as well. A large-headed, bald caveman, his favored form of attack...
--the mascot for NEC Corporation's TurboGrafx-16
TurboGrafx-16
TurboGrafx-16, fully titled as TurboGrafx-16 Entertainment SuperSystem and known in Japan as the , is a video game console developed by Hudson Soft and NEC, released in Japan on October 30, 1987, and in North America on August 29, 1989....
video game console. When TTi released the TurboDuo console (2nd generation successor to TurboGrafx-16), Zonk was adopted as the official mascot. Zonk adorned nearly all of TTi's promotional material, and was even featured on the package art for the TurboDuo console.
Before the game's release in the United States, TTi held a contest to name the character. Zonk's temporary name had been "Bonkinator" , but by the August/September, 1992 issue of TurboPlay Magazine, the name "Air Zonk" had been chosen.
Virtual Console
Air Zonk has made an appearance on the WiiWii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
's Virtual Console
Virtual console
A virtual console – also known as a virtual terminal – is a conceptual combination of the keyboard and display for a computer user interface. It is a feature of some operating systems such as UnixWare, Linux, and BSD, in which the system console of the computer can be used to switch between...
. It was released in May in Japan and July in America, and on July 13th in Europe. It has gained an E rating from the ESRB.
External links
- The Bonk Compendium (Covering all games and references to Bonk and Air Zonk)
- Detailed information for "Air Zonk" at the PC Engine Software Bible
- Air Zonk featured in 1-up's "Stchick 'em up" article
- Information on Super Air Zonk