Up until this generation of hardware, every new system was unofficially required to have a flagship platformer. This was especially apparent during the advent of the double-digit processing unit, namely the 16-bit machines. The SNES had Super Mario World, the Genesis had Sonic the Hedgehog, and the Turbografx-16 had Bonk’s Adventure. Unlike Mario and Sonic, Bonk never found his niche. Whether it was due to a lack of marketing to create mass appeal or the fact that he simply isn’t an appealing character to begin with is a matter of opinion now, but his game still plays well enough to warrant attention today. Bonk may not have the speed of Sonic or versatility of Nintendo’s portly plumber, but NEC’s little bald Neanderthal has his own unique, though primitive charm.

Like most platfoming mascots, Bonk does a lot of running, well, more like ambling towards the right of the screen. It’s never quite clear why Bonk is on his journey, but he’s certainly in no hurry to get it done. Gamers used to faster paced platformers may put off right away by the leisurely pace, though it certainly fits the setting. Bonk’s primordial world sends out a vacation vibe, something also reflected through the lack of a time limit for completing stages. The jaunty, playful music and colorful graphics also add to the relaxed feeling, though the saccharine setting does get tired after a while.

While Bonk’s foundation is rooted in solid platforming basics like jumping on top of obstacles, his attack sets him apart from the crowd more than anything else. Bonk’s bald and bulbous head serves as his weapon. When his enemies are close enough he can head butt them into the air or across the screen. If his enemies are airborne he can juggle them by bouncing them upwards with his head, providing the opportunity to release bonus points. Bonk can also perform a diving head butt which will either attack an enemy or turn them to stone for a limited time if he’s eaten meat. Meat can be obtained by killing enemies or found in the power-up granting plants found all throughout the game. Meat pisses Bonk off — smaller meat will anger him slightly, but the big portions will enrage him, granting both a speed boost and invincibility for a short period.

The levels are pretty basic, but the environments are surprisingly diverse. While it starts out in a jungle then moves to a desert (complete with killer cacti), you’ll also experience what it’s like to swim through the belly of a massive dinosaur, or bounce around in the clouds. The multiple settings help hide the fact that the stages themselves are straightforward and follow basic design. Each level is capped off with a standard boss fight where you find the weak point, and then pound it in to win.

For six hundred Wii Points (or six dollars for you mathamagicians out there) Bonk’s Adventure is a good deal. The game offers exactly what it resembles: a vacation away from standard platforming. Still, most gamers will probably say the same thing of Bonk that many people say after going on holiday: "It’s a nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there."