Doctor Who on NES: How to Make a Playable Who Console Game

Andrew Reynolds is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

Let’s face it, Doctor Who console games have been pretty poor – The Eternity Clock was a wind up, Return to Earth should have been returned to sender and Top Trumps:Doctor Who dealt us a losing card.

There’s been some success in licensing out characters to established gaming franchises, like Traveller’s Tales, the developers behind the hugely popular Lego games – with LEGO Dimensions about to add a Doctor Who Level Pack to the toys-to-life game that’s already drawing positive responses.

Still, as the problem of what to do when it comes to his own games goes, perhaps the answer is; if you can’t beat it, cheat.

Well, maybe not cheat, more hack.

Pressing start and entering the game, Dave Clark, the creator of Doctor Who on the NES, who after tinkering with classic NES games, may very well have found a way to make a playable Doctor Who console game.

Speaking to Retro Gaming Magazine, Clark, a Doctor Who fan, has been sharing just what it’s been like to bring the Time Lord to the classic Nintendo system.

Taking an existing game – in this case Cosmo Police Galivan, a sci-fi side scroller with elements of RPG which was never released in the states, Clark has crafted a Doctor Who adventure featuring the Eleventh Doctor.

“I’ve been a fan since I was eleven or twelve, “said Clark. “The Fourth Doctor will always be my favorite. However, the reason I went with Matt Smith is because I wanted to appeal to the new generation of Whovians out there. I love giving the player a real NES experience, with newer things you wouldn’t except to see on a 30 year old console.”

So just what can you expect?

“The Doctor starts the game with his Sonic Screwdriver, and can add several different attachments to enhance it along the way. The gameplay is similar to that of Zelda 2: The Adventures of Link. A 2D side scroller that has plenty of action and also makes you think as you play.”

The game is available to purchase from Clark’s Etsy page.

 

 

 

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