Jurassic Park (SEGA Genesis Game)

Jurassic Park is a video game developed concurrently with the film of the same name. Most major gaming platforms of 1993 had their own game to tie in with the film's release, but rather than being ports, each was a separate project. The Sega Mega Drive / Genesis game is a 2D platformer, developed by BlueSky Software.

A sequel, Jurassic Park: Rampage Edition, was released in late 1994.

Gameplay[]

Both of BlueSky's Jurassic Park games for the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis are singleplayer, side-perspective 2D platformers, in which the player navigates complex terrain while defending themselves against the hostile residents of Isla Nublar.

The player can choose whether to control Dr. Alan Grant or a Velociraptor, selected using the 'Player' option in the game's main menu. Grant's campaign is longer, and the player scours the levels for tranquilizer weapons as well as healing items. The raptor player faces human security guards as well as other dinosaurs, outmaneuvering them with superior speed and spectacular leaps. The raptor heals by finding chunks of meat scattered across the levels, or hunting down Procompsognathus.

Jurassic Park is punishingly difficult, a common trait in early 1990s console games. Videogame cartridges had too little storage for long campaigns filled with distinct assets, so developers increased the challenge to ensure that typical players couldn't complete the games quickly. Jurassic Park is teeming with hazards that can instantly kill the player, such as long falls, fast water, rolling boulders, or being swallowed whole by a Tyrannosaurus. Common enemies can be deadly too, but this aspect varies based on the difficulty setting. The first two levels play relatively conventionally, and then the difficulty escalates in the third (River or Pumping Station). The game ends if the player dies three times, and there are no checkpoints, but each level has a password given at the start, so players can try again without starting from the beginning. An experienced player can complete Grant's campaign in around 40 minutes, and the raptor's in 11; the speedrun records verified by video are 5:08 and 2:38, respectively, as of February 2025.

Story[]

"Nerve Shredding Action!

Enter Jurassic Park - the ultimate experience. In this lush, lost, island preserve covering thousands of rain forest acres, dinosaurs - yes, DINOSAURS - roam, feed, sleep and breed. Recreated from ancient DNA, the most massive, dangerous animals ever known resume their primeval lives as if the last 65 million years were just another yesterday.

Protected by the latest electronic safeguards, thrill-seekers watch as brachiosaurs wallow in the swamps and herds of Triceratops thunder through the jungle vines. Yet an unexpected fate awaits the fearsome beasts and unsuspecting tourists alike. A sudden, violent hurricane rips through the park, trapping the humans and freeing the most terrifying animals of prehistory!

Dinosaurs rampage across the island, battling other beasts and eluding the traps and weapons of their human enemies. And one man, paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant, stranded in the storm, pushes on to safety while dodging the slashing jaws of Tyrannosaurus rex and the paralyzing spit of the dilophosaurs!

Now it's your turn. Take on the role of the Raptor or Dr. Grant. Plunge into a heart-thudding race for survival in a techno-primitive world - if you dare!

Grant: Stranded In T. Rex Territory!

Dense, dark clouds have packed the sky for days, smothering the horizon in all directions. But your research can't wait, so you head out in a park vehicle, crisscrossing the island with your head full of questions and your notebooks filling up with scientific data.

You're all the way across the island when the rain starts pelting your vehicle's roof. Then the storm kicks up, and as the winds whip through the jungle palms, your hopes weaken. You round a turn, headlights shimmering on the electrified fence ahead and its identifying sign: T. rex.

With a piercing flash, lightning slices the sky. Everything goes dark. Then - deafening silence. Has a minute gone by? Five minutes? Fifteen? Suddenly, huge jaws rear up in your windshield, inches from your face. Razor teeth crunch into the vehicle's framework. Then you're in a salt shaker, bumping, head snapping, like the last grain of salt - or the last man - on earth!

The next thing you know, you're dazed, bruised... and still breathing. The vehicle's wrecked. Something heavy is shuffling in the grass nearby. Better clear your head quick - and figure out how you're going to stay alive!

The Raptor: Survival Of The Toughest!

Life inside a barred enclosure is meaningless. A Raptor needs to be free. So when the piercing light struck and the bars lost their sting, the Raptor escaped!

Now it roams free, one of the deadliest, most cunning of the Jurassic Park beasts. It scents the trail of the small, upright creature - the one who hatched from the strange egg that the Tyrannosaur destroyed. The scent tells the Raptor that the creature will be very good to eat..."

—US manual^([[1]])

The manual tells a highly condensed version of the Jurassic Park story, with the power outage being caused by the storm rather than sabotage, and Alan Grant being the only named character. Narrative is delivered in-game by the password screen at the start of each level, which displays a map of the park and scrolling text.

Both campaigns begin with a short video sequence. Grant's shows the park's power going out while he drives past the Tyrannosaurus enclosure, with its occupant breaking out and attacking his tour vehicle. After the video, the game begins in earnest with Grant laying beside the destroyed car at the foot of a cliff. He has a small amount of Blue-Banded Dart and Stun Gun ammunition, and treks through the park to find the Visitor's Center, where a helicopter can take him from the island.

The raptor's video shows the dinosaur break out of its holding pen, and gameplay begins with the raptor standing in the jungle. Although the park has plenty of human staff, the raptor has a particular interest in Grant, and chases him throughout the campaign - he appears by the exit to each level. The raptor finally tracks him down to the Visitor's Center lobby, where the pair do battle; the raptor makes its own escape from the island in a cargo crate.

Levels[]

Jungle
	Dense trees and vines, finishing in a watery cave. This introductory level is relatively easy, but a pool of deadly water stands by the exit. Grant wakes up beside his wrecked vehicle, and has to contend with steep drops, a rolling boulder, and one section that loops downwards indefinitely. Grant can bounce on certain pieces of terrain to fly over obstacles, and can climb overhead vines by holding Up while jumping. Be careful not to fall too far. Jungle contains Procompsognathus, Dilophosaurus, and for Grant only, Triceratops, Pteranodon, and Brachiosaurus. The raptor's version of Jungle is much shorter and simpler - a playground for the player to learn the ropes, it can easily be completed in under a minute. However, the watery cavern near the end still has a lethal drop, and the raptor must also contend with human security guards. Grant maps: with hints - without hints Raptor maps: with hints - without hints
Power Station
	Power Station is a cavernous industrial building, packed with catwalks, wires and machines. Grant's version of Power Station is divided into several sub-levels, whereas the raptor just has a single, large level. For Grant, the Power Station relies on some gameplay mechanics that aren't immediately obvious. Some of the wires can be climbed, using the D-pad (hold Up while jumping to grab an overhead cable). There are also elevators, which can be controlled using Up/Down, crates which can be shoved by moving against them (and also shoved into elevators), and escaping the level requires pressing buttons on a switch panel with the Up button. Power Station sees the introduction of Grant's most powerful opponents, the Velociraptor and the Tyrannosaurus. For the raptor, progress through the level depends on the high jump, which is performed by holding Up+C. It is also possible to nudge crates into positions that can elevate the jump height. Both characters must beware of sparking electricity. Grant maps: with hints - without hints Raptor maps: with hints - without hints
River
	River is exclusive to Grant's campaign. The level begins in the jungle. A rubber motorboat is moored by the shoreline, and Grant pilots it along the rapids into a system of caverns below. River is the only level in Jurassic Park with vehicles. The motorboat must be regularly topped up with fuel, which can be found on shorelines throughout the level. Grant must jump from the boat to reach the shoreline, and can drop down from land back to the boat by pressing Down+C. The motorboat loses power as fuel runs low, and if no fuel remains, it simply moves with the current. The lowest pool of water has no current, so if the boat runs out of fuel at that point, Grant will be stranded. There are three motorboats in the level; the second (near a Tyrannosaurus) can be skipped if Grant has enough fuel, but Grant must switch to the third boat to complete the level. All water in the game is lethal if fallen into, which makes River extraordinarily difficult. Many of the waterfalls plunge Grant to his death, and the shorelines are dotted with Dilophosaurus, which can block Grant's attempts to jump out of the boat. Try to sedate the dinosaurs from the boat whenever possible. A map of River is available in the gallery section, showing which waterfalls are death drops. Grant maps: full hints - older version only highlighting the death drops - without hints
Pumping Station
	Pumping Station is a dark, enclosed complex of broken pipes, dirty water, and oily machinery. In Grant's version of the level, there is a Procompsognathus nest and a large Triceratops skeleton. Arguably the hardest level in the game, Pumping Station is full of difficult jumps over death drops. For Grant, the pool in the starting area can only be crossed by climbing high enough to land on the head of a feeding Brachiosaurus, and jumping off just before it descends into the water. There are also deadly jets of hot steam, which can be turned off by using nearby valve wheels (press the Up button), and dangling chains which can be climbed between using the D-Pad. At one point, Grant must dislodge a large barrel to progress; hang back until the barrel has finished rolling back and forth, or it will crush Grant. The raptor's version of Pumping Station is simpler, and yet more deadly. The only enemies are Procompsognathus and human guards. The main danger is the water, which floods large swathes of the Pumping Station; if the raptor falls in, it dies instantly. Progress depends on making carefully controlled jumps between platforms; the trajectory of the jump can be controlled by the length of time C is held down, or by changing direction mid-air. The gallery section contains a map of the raptor's Pumping Station, showing which types of jump are required to progress through the level. Grant maps: with hints - without hints Raptor maps: with hints - older version showing exactly which jumps to use - without hints
Canyon
	Canyon is a range of rocky outcrops overlooking an active volcano, circled by Pteranodon. The player begins on a high mesa, and drops through a fragile ledge to finish the level. An easier level than its predecessor, but there are several places where the player can fall to their death, so be sure to check below before dropping down. Grant can avoid one death drop by landing on the head of a Brachiosaurus. There are two weapon caches in the level that can only be accessed by detonating a Concussion Grenade. As the raptor, Canyon is the only level featuring Pteranodon, and a guard near the start of the level can be dispatched by pushing a rock onto him. This is a small level for the raptor, only two screens' height, but access along the top route is blocked in places by a highly skilled guard, and by rocks. Be careful when taking the low route, as there are several death drops. Grant maps: with hints - without hints Raptor maps: with hints - without hints
Volcano
	Volcano is exclusive to Grant's campaign. The level is a smoke-filled network of volcanic caves. Fiery pits can be found in the lowest reaches of the level, near the exit. This is a short level but quite challenging, as it isn't always obvious which falls are fatal, especially near the start. Some vertical descents need to be taken at precisely the correct angle to survive: it is possible to die seconds into the level by missing a slide or foothold on the third drop. The safest route after this is to head right as soon as possible, rather than venturing further downwards. Grant can scale the handholds of some vertical terrain, but sometimes must be in exactly the right spot to start climbing. Some of the stalactites can be held onto and shimmied across, similarly to the vines and wires in earlier levels, and one set of stalactites can even be brought crashing down onto a raptor by detonating a Concussion Grenade nearby. Grant maps: with hints - without hints
Visitor's Center
	The final level of both campaigns takes place in Isla Nublar's Visitor's Center. Similar to the film, it is part construction site, part high-tech lab, part commercial attraction. Players make their way through scaffolding, offices, banks of computers, hatcheries, stairwells, and eventually climb into the ceiling, before emerging in the main rotunda lobby. The final challenge is a puzzle section that takes place around the tyrannosaur and sauropod skeletons depicted in the film. Visitor's Center is easier than the middle section of the game, as there are no death drops, and the terrain is mostly quite simple. Both characters fight their way from room to room. However it is quite lengthy, and divided into multiple sub-levels. As Grant, there are some gameplay features that may puzzle a new player. Early on, there is a high doorway that Grant can't reach, just past a scaffolding. The way through is to shoot a crate dangling overhead, which makes it drop down onto the scaffolding, so Grant can climb on it and jump to the high doorway. A little later, Grant comes to a dead-end; this room contains an elevator. The method for activating it is to press Up on one of the buttons next to the elevator. As the raptor, Visitor's Center contains the most difficult human enemies in the game. The most notorious example is late in the level, guarding access to the ceiling crawlspace, near the exit into the rotunda. He can maintain a near-continual barrage of Stun Gun blasts, and there isn't enough room for most of the raptor's vertical attacks. The most reliable method for defeating him is to bait him into firing a rocket, and then quickly perform a Down+B lunging jump. For both players, the enemies in the rotunda - the game's final challenge - can't be killed by conventional means. They must be defeated by bringing down the dinosaur skeletons. Grant maps: with hints - without hints Raptor maps: with hints - without hints

Controls[]

All of these buttons can be remapped in the Options menu.

Grant

A: switches weapons. Grant starts with 5 Blue Darts and 25 Stun Gun ammunition. These, and more weapons Grant finds throughout the campaign, can be cycled between by pressing A. The icon in the top-left corner shows which weapon is selected, and the number below shows how much ammunition is remaining for it.
B: fire weapon. Most weapons fire a single shot each time B is pressed, but with the Stun Gun, B can be held down to charge the weapon up, unleashing a more powerful blast when the button is released. Use the D-pad to fire upwards or diagonally. Grant can't fire while climbing, but can while jumping.
C: jump.

The game is filled with objects that Grant can interact with by using the D-pad - if the player is ever stuck at a dead-end and unsure what to do, try searching for any unusual objects and attempt to interact with them. A variety of switches can be operated by pressing Up, including elevators and steam valves. Crates can be moved by walking into them, and one in Visitor's Center can be shot down using gunfire.

Ladders can be ascended/descended using Up/Down on the D-pad. The same goes for dangling vertical ropes, although sometimes Grant needs to jump first.

Grant can grab many horizontal wires, vines and stalactites dangling overhead by pressing Up, and then shimmy along them by angling the D-pad diagonally left or right. It may be necessary to jump up to them first, and if there are no footholds, Grant will let go when Up is released.

The stairs in Visitor's Center can be used by angling the D-pad diagonally upwards.

Grant takes damage when he falls, and instantly dies if he falls too far. This isn't the case for the raptor, but there are still death drops throughout the game which instantly kill both characters.

Raptor

A: bite. There are two variations on this: Down+A delivers a downwards bite, which the raptor can use to eat Procompsognathus whole, gaining health. Holding Forward+A sustains a mauling action, which the raptor can use to grab human guards and shake them.
B: kick. Leaving the D-pad alone makes the raptor kick on the spot, holding Left or Right makes the raptor perform a jumping kick in that direction, and holding Down makes the raptor perform a horizontal long-jump.
C: jump. The longer C is held down for, the further the raptor will jump; careful timing of this will be required in certain areas. The raptor can perform an enormous vertical high-jump by holding Up+C. The trajectory of all jump types can be adjusted by changing direction with the D-pad while in mid-air. While the raptor is jumping, any enemies it touches take damage, except Pteranodon.

The raptor moves at a walking pace when the D-pad is pointed directly Left or Right, but can run by pointing the D-pad diagonally Up-Left or -Right.

All enemies in the raptor's campaign are defeated by hitting them once.

While the raptor's campaign has fewer objects that can be interacted with than Grant's campaign, it is still possible to push crates or boulders by nudging horizontally against them. This is mainly used to provide platforms to jump higher, but rocks can sometimes be pushed off ledges to crush enemies below.

The raptor can perform snarling taunts by holding A+C or B+C, which seemingly have no functional purpose.

Both players

Some thin ledges can be dropped below by holding Down+C. This is particularly essential in River for allowing Grant to move between shorelines and his dinghy.

Both players can crouch by pointing the D-pad Down, and crouch-walk by moving the D-pad diagonally Down-Left or -Right. This can be used to dodge certain attacks, and to access narrow spaces.

While jumping, if the player only just reaches the edge of a surface, they will automatically grab onto it and pull up, unless the player turns to face the opposite direction. Also while jumping, any damage taken can knock the player backwards. This is a particular problem when Grant faces off against Dilophosaurus in the River level, as they can push him into the water.

Doors are opened by standing next to them and pressing Up.

It is possible to see more of the level by holding the D-pad Up or Down. The game is filled with death drops, so it's important to scout out the surrounding terrain before taking a leap.

Items[]

Weapons[]

Most weapons in Jurassic Park are non-lethals; they are used to temporarily stun enemies. These only feature in Grant's campaign, the raptor starts with all the weapons it needs. Note, sedation times can vary, and projectiles can sometimes be nullified by an enemy's attacks.

Blue-Banded Darts

Damage: low. 2 hits vs Dilophosaurus, 3 hits vs Velociraptor, 4 hits vs Triceratops (rear only), 10 hits vs Brachiosaurus.
Sedation time: moderate. Approximately 39 seconds vs Procompsognathus, 29 seconds vs Dilophosaurus, 7 seconds vs Velociraptor.
Range: long. Projectile keeps moving in a straight line, until it's travelled some distance off-screen.
Special: negligible effect on Tyrannosaurus.

Low-damage weapon that takes multiple hits to sedate most enemies, but keeps them down for a reasonable length of time. Procompsognathus and Pteranodon can be taken down in a single hit, so Blue Darts are best reserved for these. Don't bother using them against the Tyrannosaurus, which is nearly impervious to them.

Red-Banded Darts

Damage: moderate. 1 hit vs Dilophosaurus, 1 hit vs Velociraptor, 2 hits vs Triceratops (rear only), 4 hits vs Brachiosaurus.
Sedation time: moderate. Approximately 39 seconds vs Procompsognathus, 43 seconds vs Dilophosaurus, 7 seconds vs Velociraptor.
Range: long. Projectile keeps moving in a straight line, until it's travelled some distance off-screen.

Red Bands are higher-concentration darts, they're able to neutralize most enemies in a single hit (including the Tyrannosaurus).

Stun Gun

Damage: low-to-high. 1-2 hits vs Dilophosaurus, 1-N/A hits vs Velociraptor, 1-2 hits vs Triceratops (rear only), 1-N/A hits vs Brachiosaurus.
Sedation time: moderate. Approximately 39 seconds vs Procompsognathus, 42-70 seconds vs Dilophosaurus, 3-7 seconds vs Velociraptor.
Range: very short. Uncharged shots have a point-blank range, charged shots reach around two Grant-heights away.
Special: can hit targets through walls. Can be charged up to deliver a more powerful shot. Uncharged shot knocks back raptors, fully charged shot obliterates Procompsognathus.

A short-range electrical weapon. The Stun Gun works differently to the other weapons, in that it fires when B is released, rather than when it's pressed. This allows it to charge up a stronger attack - full charge is reached in about two seconds, using up 5 ammunition. Uncharged shots are incapable of sedating some targets, including raptors, although they can still be useful for pushing the raptor away. Half-charged shots can sedate raptors, but only very briefly.

Gas Grenades

Damage: high. 1 hit vs Dilophosaurus, 1 hit vs Velociraptor, 1 hit vs Triceratops (from any angle), 2 hits vs Brachiosaurus.
Sedation time: low-to-high. Approximately 39 seconds vs Procompsognathus, 276 seconds vs Dilophosaurus, 4 seconds vs Velociraptor.
Range: thrown. Moves in an arc, so can hit targets above or below Grant.
Special: explosions have an area-of-effect, which can damage enemies through walls and floors (but don't cause self-damage).

Gas Grenades can bring down almost anything in a single hit, but raptors get back up almost immediately.

Flash Grenades

Damage: none.
Sedation time: none.
Range: thrown. Moves in an arc, so can hit targets above or below Grant.
Special: attacks daze enemies for a couple of seconds.

Not really a weapon, Flash Grenades briefly daze enemies near the blast site, rendering them unable to attack, and giving Grant a couple of seconds to escape or cycle to a heavier weapon. Best used on the Tyrannosaurus, against which it has the same stunning effect as most other weapons.

Rockets

Damage: high. 1 hit vs all targets.
Sedation time: extreme. Approximately 690 seconds vs Dilophosaurus, indefinite vs Velociraptor.
Range: long. Projectile keeps moving in a straight line, until it's travelled some distance off-screen.
Special: obliterates Procompsognathus.

Rockets neutralize any enemy in a single hit. Particularly useful against raptors, as it's the only weapon that can keep them down for lengthy periods of time. They only return if the player moves far enough off-screen.

Concussion Grenades

Damage: high. 1 hit vs all targets, except Brachiosaurus, against which it has no apparent effect.
Sedation time: high-to-extreme. Approximately 1380 seconds vs Dilophosaurus, 10 seconds vs Velociraptor.
Range: thrown. Moves in an arc, so can hit targets above or below Grant.
Special: explosions have an area-of-effect, which can damage enemies through walls and floors (but don't cause self-damage). Obliterates Procompsognathus. Can cause rockfalls.

Concussion Grenades are particularly effective against raptors (only Rockets knock them out for longer), but are otherwise on par with Gas Grenades in practical terms. Concussion Grenades are the only way to damage certain terrain objects in Canyon, Volcano, and Visitor's Center: for example, they can bring down a set of stalactites onto a raptor in Volcano.

Power-ups[]

	First Aid Kit	Fully restores Grant's health.
	Gasoline	Only found in River, these provide fuel for Grant's motorboat. The higher the boat's fuel level, the more power it has.
	Meat	These turkey legs are the only pickup found in the raptor's levels. They restore small chunks of health. More health can be acquired by eating Procompsognathus: stand slightly away from them, and hold Down+A.

Note, there is no way to restore lost lives in Jurassic Park. Players can use passwords to continue their progress with the full complement of 3 lives.

Species featured[]

Procompsognathus	These tiny little creatures often aren't visible until the player gets close. Compies can be aggressive, chasing the player and jumping at them. They are particularly dangerous to Grant, as they grapple onto him and continually bite until they're dislodged by rapidly tapping any button (the D-pad is most effective). Often they're afraid of the raptor player, but some are bolder and leap up to deliver quick bites. Compies are very fragile, succumbing to damage from any weapon. They can be destroyed entirely by using explosives, but this often results in a new one appearing, so it can be more effective for Grant to sedate them. The raptor player can swallow conscious compies whole, which provides a chunk of health. When knocked out by a conventional attack, compies will gradually return to consciousness while on-screen, but it can take a long time as the raptor player (sometimes over three minutes). They return far more quickly if the player moves so that the compy disappears off-screen. Procompsognathus appears in every level.
Pteranodon	These pterosaurs, flying reptiles closely related to dinosaurs, are only ever seen airborne. They divebomb the player, typically after flying overhead as a warning. They can be knocked out of the sky by a hit from any weapon, after which they do not return. Pteranodon is the only enemy that can't be damaged by simply jumping at it as the raptor player; a kick or bite attack is needed. Pteranodon only appears in Jungle (Grant's version), River, and Canyon (both players).
Dilophosaurus	Similarly to the film, these medium-sized theropods spit gobs of venom across the screen, and sometimes hop around their area. Dilophosaurus are somewhat fragile, taking only two Blue Darts to sedate. They can eventually return to consciousness while on-screen, far more slowly than raptors (and taking a long time if hit by a grenade). However, they have a tendency to return as soon as they're even slightly off-screen. Dilophosaurus appears in every level except Pump Station, although a corpse is seen there in Grant's version.
Velociraptor	The most deadly common enemy, raptors exhibit a wide variety of behaviours. They can pursue Grant over long distances, even leaping to higher platforms to reach him. Sometimes they just back away and snarl. Sometimes they drop through the ceiling when Grant passes below. Sometimes they feign death, then spring to their feet when Grant moves past. If they reach Grant, they knock him down and cause heavy damage. Raptors are quite tough, taking three Blue Darts to sedate. Nearly all weapons only knock them out very briefly, and they'll return to their feet while on-screen. The only exception is the Rocket: if hit by this, they will be neutralized almost indefinitely. Technically they can return if Grant moves far enough away, but the level design and distance required means that it's unusual to re-encounter them. The raptor player never encounters others of its species. For Grant, they appear in every level from Power Station onwards.
Triceratops	These powerful herbivores make rare appearances in the game, the first of which is snuffling around near Grant's crashed car at the start of the campaign. Triceratops are deadly if provoked, charging Grant and throwing him across the screen. Sometimes they become aggressive if approached from the front, but not always. It is possible to jump onto their backs to get past them harmlessly; this is a lot easier when approaching from behind, but is possible from the front if timed correctly. Triceratops are almost impervious to dart and electrical attacks from the front, but if attacked from the rear, they can be taken down with 4 Blue Darts, 2 Red Darts, or 1-2 partial Stun Gun charges. Grenades and rockets are more effective, they always do the job in a single hit from any angle. Triceratops never stands back up while on-screen, however like Dilophosaurus, they reawaken as soon as the player moves off-screen. Only three Triceratops appear in Jurassic Park, all in Grant's campaign. The first two are in Jungle, and a particularly aggressive one blocks the exit of River.
Brachiosaurus	These tall sauropods occasionally rear their heads out of lakes or crevasses to feed and watch Grant. Brachiosaurus are completely unaggressive. Sometimes they block Grant's passage, and other times Grant needs to hitch a ride on their heads to survive a fall or reach an otherwise inaccessible path. They behave slightly differently each time: sometimes their heads raise and lower of their own accord, sometimes they follow Grant's movement until jumped on, and sometimes they only move after taking heavy damage. Brachiosaurus only appears in Grant's campaign, in Jungle, River, Pumping Station, and Canyon.
Tyrannosaurus rex	Jurassic Park's apex predator, Tyrannosaurus appears in Grant's introductory cinematic. It's too big to fit into the actual levels, but is occasionally able to loom through tunnels or bash through walls to reach for Grant, and finish what it started in the introduction. It can never be completely neutralized: attacks only daze it, giving Grant a temporary opportunity to safely move past. When it roars again, this means it's about to resume attacking. Typically the first 'blind' period lasts for over 20 seconds, but after this it can only be stunned briefly; the time can be extended by hitting it again. Blue Darts are ineffective against Tyrannosaurus, but Flash Grenades have the same lengthy stunning effect as all the other weapons. If the rex catches Grant, it swallows him whole. Tyrannosaurus only appears in Grant's campaign, in Power Station, River, Pumping Station, and Visitor's Center.
Human guards	A large force of heavily armed guards is out to recapture the escaped raptor. They typically stay in one place, and can use Stun Gun blasts, Gas Grenades, or Rockets, depending on the situation. Reaction time and firing speed varies massively between each human; some barely react to threats, others are almost unassailable. A rare few will slowly follow the raptor. When brought down, they are permanently removed from the game. Enemy humans feature throughout the raptor's campaign, but Grant never meets any.

Cheats[]

Cheat mode: Go to the password screen, enter NYUKNYUK, and select the "Start" menu option. Instead of starting a level, text displays saying "SECOND CONTROLLER ENABLED". When starting a game, the second player's controller (which is otherwise unused in Jurassic Park) can now be used to perform cheats. Use the D-pad to perform noclip-style movement, in which the player character can be moved anywhere in the level, including through walls. Press B to set every weapon's ammo supply to 99 (except the Stun Gun), and fill the player's health bar. While A is held down, the game moves in slow motion. Pressing Start resets the game to the startup screen. The first player's controller functions as normal. Cheat mode continues to work if another password is entered.
Level select: Enter cheat mode with the NYUKNYUK code, as described above. Staying at the main menu, open the Options menu. Now, when selecting Start from the main menu, instead of beginning a game, a level select screen will display. The player can switch characters in this menu, and even play the raptor levels as Grant or vice versa, although these will be heavily glitched.

The game's version can be determined on the level select screen, using the date at the bottom. The US version is dated 5/26/93 Wednesday, 10:10:39 AM. The European version is dated 6/14/93 Monday, 10:37:47 AM. The Japanese version has the same date, at 10:27:50 AM.
All weapons: Enter the password WAGNER93 to begin the game with all weapons. None have their ammo supply maxed (99), but there will be 20 Blue Darts, 16 Red Darts, 8 Stun Gun charges, 56 Gas Grenades, 56 Flash Grenades, 52 Rockets, and 40 Concussion Grenades.
Unofficial: Using a Game Genie or Pro Action Replay (which are simulated in most emulators, but not official ports), it is possible to enter codes which modify a game's RAM values. This can enable powerful cheats, such as unlimited lives, or more fuel for the dinghy in River. But it can also create glitches, such as an inability to jump from moving objects. A comprehensive list of codes can be found at GameHacking.org.

Rampage Edition[]

Main article: Jurassic Park: Rampage Edition

Just over a year after Jurassic Park, BlueSky released another game in the series, Jurassic Park: Rampage Edition. Despite the name, this isn't an update, but a sequel. It uses the same singleplayer 2D platformer dynamic as the first game, and many of the same animations, but has a very different direction: faster-paced, more action-packed, and designed to be less frustrating. Challenge typically comes from the intensity of the combat, rather than tricky platforming.

Rampage Edition was developed by some of the original staff, including lead programmer Keith Freihart and sound/music designer Sam Powell, but with a different producer and art director, among others. It was again exclusive to the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis.

Grant's story directly follows the original game, as his escape is curtailed by hostile InGen staff on the helicopter; he returns to the island to stop company agents plundering genetic material. A new raptor character is fighting to escape the island. Both characters are in a race against time before the park is destroyed by the Costa Rican government.

Gallery[]

Video[]

Jurassic Park (Sega MD Sega Genesis) - (Dr. Alan Grant Mission 1 - The Jungle Hard Difficulty)

Jurassic Park (Sega MD Sega Genesis) - (Raptor Mission 1 - The Jungle Hard Difficulty)

Jurassic Park (Sega Genesis) - (Dr. Alan Grant Mission 2 - The Power Station Hard Difficulty)

Jurassic Park (Sega MD Sega Genesis) - (Raptor Mission 2 - The Power Station Hard Difficulty)

Jurassic Park (Sega MD Sega Genesis) - (Dr. Alan Grant Mission 3 - The River Hard Difficulty)

Jurassic Park (Sega Genesis) - (Dr. Alan Grant Mission 4 - The Pump House Hard Difficulty)

Jurassic Park (Sega MD Sega Genesis) - (Raptor Mission 3 - The Pump House Hard Difficulty)

Jurassic Park (Sega MD Sega Genesis) - (Dr. Alan Grant Mission 5 - The Canyon Hard Difficulty)

Jurassic Park (Sega MD Sega Genesis) - (Raptor Mission 4 - The Canyon Hard Difficulty)

Jurassic Park (Sega Genesis) - (Dr. Alan Grant Mission 6 - The Volcano Hard Difficulty)

Jurassic Park (Sega) - (Dr. Alan Grant Mission 7 - The Visitors Center Hard Difficulty Ending)

Jurassic Park (Sega Genesis) - (Raptor Mission 5 - The Visitors Center Hard Difficulty Ending)

Trivia[]

The Brachiosaurus and Tyrannosaurus never appear in full in the game, only their neck and head are visible in each encounter.
The ending confrontation in Grant's route bears similarities to one of the early scrapped endings for the original movie (a mounted skeleton crushing the antagonist).
Main development of the game was completed before the release of the film. The developers had a lot of access to the film's production crew and assets, and some of the graphics use photomapped or scanned copies of their movie equivalents, but there are many inconsistencies with what the film would portray.
Because the game didn't have a finished film to work from, it is heavily inspired by the novel. For example, it features Procompsognathus and pterosaurs, the rocket launcher is the only seemingly lethal weapon, there is a river sequence featuring a Tyrannosaurus attempting to break through to Grant's boat, and there is a volcano (which isn't directly shown in the novel, but is alluded to. Isla Nublar is a volcanic seamount wreathed in mist due to its vulcanism; the name translates to "cloud island").
The Triceratops bears a striking resemblance to the unused prop for the juvenile Triceratops (which later made a brief appearance in The Lost World), which may be part of the reason for its small size. However, the game's artists added full-sized horns and frill, to make it resemble an adult.
Many of the dinosaur animations, sounds and behaviours are based on birds. This came at the recommendation of famous paleontologist Dr. Robert T. Bakker, who consulted on the film, and was brought onboard by Sega to help with the game. This approach ended up being vindicated by the end of the decade, when the discoveries of Sinosauropteryx and Microraptor confirmed beyond doubt that birds are theropod dinosaurs.
The introductory cutscenes appear to have been produced after most of the game. Both recreate images from the movie, and Grant's video shows his vehicle to be a tour Explorer, whereas when the actual gameplay starts, he is next to a ranger Jeep.
Three levels have their layouts repeatedly tiled (Grant's Jungle, and both players' Visitor Center 1R and 3), but this is only really used for Jungle, where Grant can tumble down a ravine almost endlessly. This has the appearance of a loop, but only the layout is repeated, not the items - so if Grant drops down far enough, he won't encounter any ammo or enemies for the rest of the level.
AI throughout the game is somewhat variable. Some enemies move around, others stay put; some enemies are more capable attackers than others, others will flee rather than attack; reaction times and sedation times can vary too. This isn't entirely random, the traits of each entity are set by the level designer, so expect to encounter similar behaviour on subsequent playthroughs.
The game's dinosaur sizes vary wildly, compared to both real life and the movie. Its Tyrannosaurus is far larger, and its Triceratops is smaller. Dilophosaurus is larger than the film's, but smaller than real-life adults. Procompsognathus is fractionally larger than in real life, and The Lost World's "Compsognathus triassicus", but about as small as could reasonably be modelled in the game. Brachiosaurus is roughly on par with the movie's animatronic model, and the real-life Giraffatitan (known as Brachiosaurus brancai at the time of production). Velociraptor is slightly larger than it's shown in the film; notoriously this is far larger than real-life Velociraptor, but correct for the largest dromaeosaurids (which at the time of production were known to exist, though unnamed - Achillobator was discovered in 1989 and published in 1999; Utahraptor in 1991/93).