Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park is the video game adaptation of the Steven Spielberg film, developed and published by Ocean Software. It was released in 1993 for the Amiga and DOS.

The game and the film were released the same year. Spielberg was also involved in the game’s development to ensure that it coincided with what he wanted.

John Hammond decided to play God and genetically engineer some dinosaurs. He also makes a little money from his accomplishments by creating a theme park. Little does he know his staff will betray him and turn off the power grid, freeing all the dinosaurs. The game picks up after all hell breaks loose. You assume the role of Dr. Grant (actor Sam Neill in the movie) as he tries to save everyone’s skin. His first goal is to find the park founder’s grandchildren and return them to their grandfather. The children are lost somewhere in the park after their vehicle is overturned. Once those pesky little brats (just kidding) are found and returned safely, Dr. Grant must restore power to the park and call for a rescue chopper. Dr. Grant must fight through deadly dinosaurs and oversized insects using weapons found around the park. The game features an uncommon combination of perspectives during gameplay. While outside, you see the world from a top-down view, but once you step inside, you assume a first-person view. The indoor levels have an almost "Doom" feel; without power, they are dark, and velociraptors lurk around every corner.

This game is by no means considered easy. There are no save points or checkpoints; if you die during a level, you start over. Once you complete a level, however, you are given a password to pick up where you left off next time you play. As the product of movie merchandising, the game was pretty well-received. Some critics complained about the size of the outdoor environments but praised the game for its graphics. Whether or not you watched or even liked the movie, you will find enjoyment in the game.