The Adventures of Gilligan's Island
Encyclopedia
The Adventures of Gilligan's Island (known on the title screen simply as Gilligan's Island) is a single-player Nintendo Entertainment System
video game by Bandai
that is based on the 1960s sitcom
of the same name
. On BitSaga, this video game is given a "B+" rating on the rarity scale.
The player controls the Skipper and is followed around by Gilligan, who is controlled by the computer.
Using four episodes (known in true video game parlance as levels) complete with threats from creatures in addition to headhunter
s and the surrounding terrain, the player had to wander around the island, collecting various objects, speaking with the other castaways (the millionaire, his wife, the Professor, and Mary Ann) and solving various puzzles. The computer's control of Gilligan is often a source of frustration. Frequently getting stuck in things, the player has to cut him free each time, or rescue him if he falls down one of many holes (which are not bottomless but lead to an underground cavern instead). Luckily, the game has a password
feature for each level.
There were attempts to make original dialog (which sound more like jokes intentionally ripped out of a third grade
student's joke book), to create in-depth plots, and to emulate some of the actual episodes of the television series. Unlike the show, the island in Gilligan's Island is full of homicidal enemies. Bird-type enemies seem to be plentiful as they can manage to ram the player every five seconds. However, the player's life bar
is considered to be large and the time limit can be forgiving to the expert player (it gets reduced to two minutes if Gilligan goes missing however). The Skipper can attack most of the game's enemies with a punch; bringing a somewhat violent element to a game based on a completely non-violent television program. There are four bosses in the game (a gorilla
, a large cannibal who happens to be the leader of the headhunters, and a skeleton
) that don't even flash if the player is connecting a hit to them.
due to a need for sub-programmer
s to collaborate on the project with the main programmers in Japan.
The MIDI
-based music (which sounds like staccato
) is used to imitate the opening theme song
to the actual television series. The font used in this game is the Joystix font as used in many popular video games during this decade. For reasons unknown, the movie star Ginger is excluded from this video game. This game has been considered one of the worst games ever made because of the artificial intelligence
. This is mostly because the Gilligan character is always falling down holes.
However, it could easily be argued that the "bad behavior" of the computer-controlled Gilligan was representative of the way the character was always fouling the castaways rescue attempts on the show on which the game is based. Most video games based on popular television shows (i.e., Knight Rider
or Fun House
) or movies (i.e., Friday the 13th or Nightmare on Elm Street) usually do not emulate the starring characters and/or the key elements of the original production to the level that this game achieved.
. A gigantic ice cream cone floats into the lagoon, and a delighted Gilligan cannot figure out why everyone is so sad. The game says Episode 4 clear and tabulates the player's final score. Next it will say, Will the Castaways ever get off the island?...Stay tuned! Still-shots from the game are then shown as the credits are presented below. When they are done, the players will see a faraway shot of the island with the words The End above it in large letters.
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
video game by Bandai
Bandai
is a Japanese toy making and video game company, as well as the producer of a large number of plastic model kits. It is the world's third-largest producer of toys . Some ex-Bandai group companies produce anime and tokusatsu programs...
that is based on the 1960s sitcom
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
of the same name
Gilligan's Island
Gilligan's Island is an American television series created and produced by Sherwood Schwartz and originally produced by United Artists Television. The situation comedy series featured Bob Denver; Alan Hale, Jr.; Jim Backus; Natalie Schafer; Tina Louise; Russell Johnson; and Dawn Wells. It aired for...
. On BitSaga, this video game is given a "B+" rating on the rarity scale.
General information
Using four episodes (known in true video game parlance as levels) complete with threats from creatures in addition to headhunter
Headhunting
Headhunting is the practice of taking a person's head after killing them. Headhunting was practised in historic times in parts of China, India, Nigeria, Nuristan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Borneo, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, Micronesia, Melanesia, New Zealand, and the Amazon Basin, as...
s and the surrounding terrain, the player had to wander around the island, collecting various objects, speaking with the other castaways (the millionaire, his wife, the Professor, and Mary Ann) and solving various puzzles. The computer's control of Gilligan is often a source of frustration. Frequently getting stuck in things, the player has to cut him free each time, or rescue him if he falls down one of many holes (which are not bottomless but lead to an underground cavern instead). Luckily, the game has a password
Password (video games)
In many video games of the 8-bit and, to a lesser extent, 16-bit eras , after a level was beaten and/or when all continues were used, the game would display a password, that when entered in the game would allow the player to return to this part in the game...
feature for each level.
There were attempts to make original dialog (which sound more like jokes intentionally ripped out of a third grade
Third grade
In the United States, third grade is a year of primary education. It is the third school year after kindergarten. Students are usually 8 – 9 years old, depending on when their birthday occurs....
student's joke book), to create in-depth plots, and to emulate some of the actual episodes of the television series. Unlike the show, the island in Gilligan's Island is full of homicidal enemies. Bird-type enemies seem to be plentiful as they can manage to ram the player every five seconds. However, the player's life bar
Health (gaming)
Health is a game mechanic used in role-playing, computer and video games to give value to characters, enemies, NPCs, and related objects. This value can either be numerical, semi-numerical as in hit/health points, or arbitrary as in a life bar....
is considered to be large and the time limit can be forgiving to the expert player (it gets reduced to two minutes if Gilligan goes missing however). The Skipper can attack most of the game's enemies with a punch; bringing a somewhat violent element to a game based on a completely non-violent television program. There are four bosses in the game (a gorilla
Gorilla
Gorillas are the largest extant species of primates. They are ground-dwelling, predominantly herbivorous apes that inhabit the forests of central Africa. Gorillas are divided into two species and either four or five subspecies...
, a large cannibal who happens to be the leader of the headhunters, and a skeleton
Skeleton (undead)
A Skeleton is a type of physically manifested undead often found in fantasy, gothic and horror fiction, and mythical art. Most are human skeletons, but they can also be from any creature or race found on Earth or in the fantasy world.- Myth and folklore :...
) that don't even flash if the player is connecting a hit to them.
Specific components
Despite the television series being cancelled for twenty-three years during the time of the game's release, Bandai (a Japanese developer and toy manufacturer), decided to go ahead and release this game. Some components of this game appears to have been outsourced to KoreaSouth Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
due to a need for sub-programmer
Programmer
A programmer, computer programmer or coder is someone who writes computer software. The term computer programmer can refer to a specialist in one area of computer programming or to a generalist who writes code for many kinds of software. One who practices or professes a formal approach to...
s to collaborate on the project with the main programmers in Japan.
The MIDI
Musical Instrument Digital Interface
MIDI is an industry-standard protocol, first defined in 1982 by Gordon Hall, that enables electronic musical instruments , computers and other electronic equipment to communicate and synchronize with each other...
-based music (which sounds like staccato
Staccato
Staccato is a form of musical articulation. In modern notation it signifies a note of shortened duration and separated from the note that may follow by silence...
) is used to imitate the opening theme song
Theme music
Theme music is a piece that is often written specifically for a radio program, television program, video game or movie, and usually played during the title sequence and/or end credits...
to the actual television series. The font used in this game is the Joystix font as used in many popular video games during this decade. For reasons unknown, the movie star Ginger is excluded from this video game. This game has been considered one of the worst games ever made because of the artificial intelligence
Game artificial intelligence
Game artificial intelligence refers to techniques used in computer and video games to produce the illusion of intelligence in the behavior of non-player characters . The techniques used typically draw upon existing methods from the field of artificial intelligence...
. This is mostly because the Gilligan character is always falling down holes.
However, it could easily be argued that the "bad behavior" of the computer-controlled Gilligan was representative of the way the character was always fouling the castaways rescue attempts on the show on which the game is based. Most video games based on popular television shows (i.e., Knight Rider
Knight Rider (video game)
Knight Rider is a 1989 video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System that is very loosely based on the television show of the same name.-Mission Mode:...
or Fun House
Fun House (video game)
Fun House is an action video and personal computer game which is based on the U.S. version of the television show Fun House.Released in 1991, it was marketed exclusively towards North American gamers. The systems that were intended to run this game were the NES and the PC's MS-DOS operating system...
) or movies (i.e., Friday the 13th or Nightmare on Elm Street) usually do not emulate the starring characters and/or the key elements of the original production to the level that this game achieved.
Ending
At the end of the fourth stage, the group tries to get the idol to grant their wish to leave the island. They keep Gilligan unaware of their plan and send him away at the crucial moment, so he won't ruin it. But just as the Professor recites the magic chant, Gilligan wishes for a mountain of ice creamIce cream
Ice cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners...
. A gigantic ice cream cone floats into the lagoon, and a delighted Gilligan cannot figure out why everyone is so sad. The game says Episode 4 clear and tabulates the player's final score. Next it will say, Will the Castaways ever get off the island?...Stay tuned! Still-shots from the game are then shown as the credits are presented below. When they are done, the players will see a faraway shot of the island with the words The End above it in large letters.
External links
- The Adventures of Gilligan's Island instruction booklet.
- Gilligan's Island at IGNIGNIGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...