Balloon Fight - NES Review

 Balloon Fight 

Nintendo 1986

Balloon fight is a single screen arcade style action game released by Nintendo for the NES in 1986.  The gameplay is influenced heavily by Joust released to the arcades by Williams in 1982, so if you've played that game you will know what to expect.  The player controls a Mario looking character wearing a helmet with two balloons attached. Pressing the A button causes the player character to flap his arms, generating lift. Pressing the B button also flaps the characters arms but holding the button will result in continuous arm flapping as long as the button is held, allowing you to ascend rapidly or quickly arrest a descent.  The player steers the character with the D-pad.

There are three game modes available: A, B and C.

Game Mode A

Mode A is a single screen where the object is to defeat all of the enemies in the stage by ramming them when your character is at a higher elevation than the enemy. This will cause the enemy's balloon to pop and they will deploy a parachute as they fall to the platforms below, or into the water.  If you can sabotage the enemy's parachute before they reach the ground you will receive extra points vs. defeating them once they have landed on the ground or platform. Defeated enemies will cause bubbles to rise from the water which can be popped for extra points. If an enemy's balloon has been popped and they manage to safely land on the ground or a platform they will attempt to inflate another balloon and get back into the fight after a short time.

If the player takes too long to defeat all enemies onscreen, the clouds in the background will turn to storm clouds and begin firing lightning sparks that will meander all over the screen.  Since you have two balloons you can take two hits from regular enemies before losing a life, but contacting a lightning spark will pop all of your available balloons resulting in a one hit defeat.

Every three stages you are treated to a bonus level where you try to collect as many balloons as possible that float up towards the top of the screen from pipes located at the bottom of the play field.

Mode B is the same as mode A but allows simultaneous two player cooperative action.

Game Mode C

Mode C is called "Balloon Ride" and is a side scrolling obstacle avoidance game where you must pilot your balloon flyer through increasingly difficult course while collecting as many balloons as possible to gather points for the high score.

Easy to pick up and play, as you progress through the later stages the difficulty ramps up precipitously. The game is very fun and failing to complete a stage just makes you want to play another round and try again.  The physics feel suitably floaty and the control responds very well, though it will take practice to master the maneuvers needed to conquer later levels. In all Balloon Fight is an entertaining little gem that is even better if you have a friend along for the two player mode.

While it may not offer much in the way of depth, there is enough good old fashioned arcade action and challenge here to keep most retro gamers busy for a good while. Balloon Fight is a definite must play.  


Cheats and game suggestions -

Effect	Code
Infinite Lives	SUNNIZVI
Unpopable ballons (not effective against sparks)	AVXTNYKA