Chuck Rock Master System
Everything you need to know about Chuck Rock
Although it did not become a classic of its time, there is no denying that Chuck Rock, as experienced on the Amiga or 16-bit consoles, had a lot of personality. From outlandish character and enemy designs (pot-bellied cavemen and underpants-clad tyrannosaurs) to richly detailed environments and an inexplicably brilliant main theme, it shaped a game that was completely confident in its presentation. If it weren't for the unpredictable gameplay, the cartoony visuals and hyperactive music made Chuck Rock's strange charm worth checking out.
The Master System conversion lacks this charm. If the confidence of the presentation can be measured by the faithful recreation of levels reduced from 16 to 8 bits, then this version has it in spades. Unfortunately, it doesn't count for much because while the levels remain largely the same as on the Mega Drive/Genesis, almost all other features are downgraded or removed entirely.
Chuck Rock Gameplay
The control is functional. The game itself works as well as other versions, which may be the only thing that justifies the existence of this port... or not. All the flaws of the 16-bit Chuck Rock are here: the static, short-range main attack, the titular but ill-advised rock-throwing mechanic, the simplistic and short-lived design, and it's much worse here because without the colorful and confident presentation Of those versions, there is much less incentive to reach the end of each round.
Flashes of good platforming can occasionally be found, bolstered by responsive controls and fluid movement, but it's hard to appreciate this with so much working against it. The highlight is probably the boss fights, which are conveyed well and where the graphical and audio repercussions are not so intrusive. But they come with a high difficulty, demanding precision and reflexes as fast as the controls allow. Normally, this wouldn't be a bad thing, but in the case of Chuck Rock.
The gameplay is also lazy. Even basic features, such as displaying your in-game score and the ability to earn extra lives, are absent here. The accumulation of points serves only to reach the highest score, which can only be seen at the end of the game. Very often, Master System conversions of Mega Drive/Genesis titles were built from scratch, and just as often with excellent results.
Chuck Rock is an example of what happens when they are not. What's surprising is that the developers at Core Design were well known for their work on Sega consoles and have a respectable track record. The Master System version of the sequel, Chuck Rock II: Son of Chuck, features animated backgrounds and in-game music, so it's hard to justify its absence in this version.
Graphics
The game is ugly. The funds for each of Chuck Rock's nineteen rounds are non-existent. In its place is total darkness that does nothing to set the scene. The foreground is detailed and the character/enemy designs and animations translate well from the 16-bit versions, but this isn't enough to distract from the sinister void that forms the background.
To really understand the impact this has on gameplay, imagine the vibrant environments of something like Ristar, then imagine the background being completely absent. You're left with something butchered beyond recognition, with little trace of its original subject. Keen players will be able to figure out the setting of each world (jungle, cave, coast, ice cavern, and graveyard), but overall it feels like part of the game is missing, because it is.
Music and Sound
Chuck Rock is also mute. Except for a memorable 8-bit version of the same theme found in other versions, there is no music in the entire game. Everything is silent from the beginning of the first level. The few sound effects present in the game are lifeless at best and annoying at worst, such as the repetitive high-pitched beeps that come with flying enemies. Coupled with the visual downscaling, the game quickly becomes a dreary affair, looking more like some budget Game Boy title than what's usually seen on the Master System.
Final reflection
In general, this port is redundant. Chuck Rock is not a disaster, it can be played from start to finish for both the patient and the idle minded, but there is absolutely no reason to choose the Master System version over any other. For those interested in trying the game, the Mega Drive/Genesis version is recommended, and that's where you can judge the game at its best. Better to let this one sink into (pre)history.
Game technical sheet
Genders)
Action, Platforms
game modes
1 Player
Cooperative
Nope
Format(s)
Cartridge
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