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+ | {{GameInfobox |
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⚫ | ''' |
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+ | |Title = Action 52 |
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+ | |Picture = Action 52 (NES) box art.jpg |
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+ | |Developer = Active Enterprises<br>([[NES]])<br>FarSight Studios<br>([[Sega Genesis]]) |
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+ | |Publisher = Active Enterprises |
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+ | |Composer = '''NES'''<br>Mario Gonzalez<br>Javier Perez<br>Ed Bogas (uncredited) |
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+ | |Platforms = [[NES]]<br>[[Sega Genesis]] |
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+ | |Release Date = '''NES'''<br>1991<br>(North America)<br>'''Genesis'''<br>1993 |
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+ | |Genre = Various |
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⚫ | |Mode = Single-player<br>multi-player}}'''Action 52''' is an unlicensed video game developed by Active Enterprises in September 1991 for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] and in May 1993 for the [[Sega Genesis]]. The [[Super Nintendo]] version wasn't released. It initially retailed for the comparatively high price of US$199 (or "less than $4 for each game") and became notorious among gamers for the abysmal quality of its games. Many video game collectors value ''Action 52'' for its notoriety and rarity. Both the NES and Genesis versions of ''Action 52'' were reviewed by [[The Angry Video Game Nerd]] on April 30 and June 9, 2010. |
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− | == |
+ | ==Prototype== |
+ | In 2010, a prototype cartridge of Action 52 surfaced, owned by movie and video games distributor Greg Pabich. Originally, Vince Perri had proposed a deal with Pabich asking him if he would be interested in working for Active Enterprises as a business partner. At this time, Perri only had a few prototype cartridges and not the final product. For various reasons, Pabich turned down the offer, but not before leaving with one of the prototypes in his possession, which was stored in his warehouse for over twenty years before it was "rediscovered". |
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⚫ | |||
+ | |||
⚫ | |||
+ | The prototype itself contains numerous differences from the final Action 52 cartridges. It contains minor text differences for the game titles as well as different color backgrounds for the game selection menus. The final version contains the words "Action 52" in its header and copyright information in its footer. The prototype simply contains section numbers in each menu screen's header. The code for Action 52 appears to be heavily based upon the pirate multicart 52 in 1. This is evident due the menu template in the Action 52 prototype being identical to that of 52 in 1. However, the biggest difference between the prototype and the final game is that while the final copy contains the game Cheetahmen, the prototype does not. In its place is a completely different Cheetahmen game titled "Action Gamer" (presumingly taken from the main character the Action Gamemaster in Cheetahmen). Action Gamer features only two levels, one of which is incomplete. |
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⚫ | |||
+ | |||
+ | On November 11, 2011, Greg Pabich publicly released reproductions of Action Gamer, calling it "Cheetahmen: The Creation". This special package contains a sealed version of the game for collectors, an unsealed copy, a reproduction of the original Cheetahmen comic book, a Cheetahmen music CD, special edition T-Shirts and a poster. |
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+ | |||
+ | In August 2012, one of the four original Action 52 developers surfaced and surprised the gaming community with their find, their very own original boxed Action 52 [[NES]] prototype cartridge, the only other Action 52 prototype known to exist. Along with never-before-seen original Action 52 and Cheetahmen posters and artwork, they posted an eBay auction selling the items for a $97,000 Buy It Now option or Best Offer. The auction generated over 10,000 views and 50 offers. They have since created a blog documenting the auction, the prototype, and their part in the development of the Action 52 NES cartridge. Their version of the story of Action 52, Active Enterprises, Vince Perri, and the other developers can be read there. |
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+ | |||
+ | ==List of Complaints== |
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+ | *The graphics. |
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+ | *The B button controlling your jumps instead of A. |
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+ | *Dying in midair before hitting the ground. |
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+ | *Overabundance of space shooters. |
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+ | *Library of games either being mediocre versions of shitty NES titles or terrible copies of better NES titles (Genesis version.) |
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+ | |||
+ | ==Game list== |
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⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
# ''Illuminator'' |
# ''Illuminator'' |
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− | # ''G-Force Fighters'' |
+ | # G-Force FGT./G-Force (''G-Force Fighters)'' |
− | # ''Ooze |
+ | # ''Ooze'' |
# ''Silver Sword'' |
# ''Silver Sword'' |
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− | # ''Critical Bypass'' |
+ | # Critical BP./Crytical Bypass (''Critical Bypass)'' |
− | # ''Jupiter Scope'' |
+ | # Jupitr Scope/''Jupiter Scope'' |
− | # ''Alfredo and The Fettucini |
+ | # Alfredo/Alfred N the Fettuc (''Alfredo and The Fettucini)'' |
− | # ''Operation Full-Moon'' |
+ | # Operat. Moon/''Operation Full-Moon'' |
# ''Dam Busters'' |
# ''Dam Busters'' |
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# ''Thrusters'' |
# ''Thrusters'' |
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− | # ''Haunted Halls of Wentworth'' |
+ | # Haunted Hill/Haunted Halls (''Haunted Halls of Wentworth)'' |
# ''Chill Out'' |
# ''Chill Out'' |
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# ''Sharks'' |
# ''Sharks'' |
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# ''Meong'' |
# ''Meong'' |
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# ''Space Dreams'' |
# ''Space Dreams'' |
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− | # ''Streemerz |
+ | # ''Streemerz'' |
− | # ''Spread |
+ | # ''Spread Fire'' |
− | # ''Bubblegum Rosie'' |
+ | # Bubblgum Rosy/Bubble Gum Rossie (''Bubblegum Rosie)'' |
− | # ''Micro-Mike'' |
+ | # Micro Mike/''Micro-Mike'' |
# ''Underground'' |
# ''Underground'' |
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− | # ''Rocket Jockey'' |
+ | # Rocket Jock/''Rocket Jockey'' |
# ''Non Human'' |
# ''Non Human'' |
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# ''Cry Baby'' |
# ''Cry Baby'' |
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# ''Slashers'' |
# ''Slashers'' |
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− | # ''Crazy Shuffle'' |
+ | # Crazy Shufle/''Crazy Shuffle'' |
# ''Fuzz Power'' |
# ''Fuzz Power'' |
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− | # ''Shooting Gallery'' |
+ | # Shooting Gal/''Shooting Gallery'' |
− | # ''Lollipops'' |
+ | # ''Lollipops/Lollipop'' |
# ''Evil Empire'' |
# ''Evil Empire'' |
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# ''Sombreros'' |
# ''Sombreros'' |
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− | # ''Storm Over the Desert'' |
+ | # Storm Over D/Storm Over the Des. (''Storm Over the Desert)'' |
# ''Mash Man'' |
# ''Mash Man'' |
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− | # ''They Came...'' |
+ | # ''They Came... (They Came from Outer Space)'' |
# ''Lazer League'' |
# ''Lazer League'' |
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# ''Billy-Bob'' |
# ''Billy-Bob'' |
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# ''City of Doom'' |
# ''City of Doom'' |
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− | # ''Bits and Pieces'' |
+ | # Bits N Piece/''Bits and Pieces'' |
− | # ''Beeps and Blips'' |
+ | # Beeps N Blip/''Beeps and Blips'' |
− | # ''Manchester Beat'' |
+ | # Manchester (''Manchester Beat)'' |
− | # ''The Boss'' |
+ | # Boss (''The Boss)'' |
# ''Dedant'' |
# ''Dedant'' |
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− | # ''Hambo's Adventures'' |
+ | # Hambo/''Hambo's Adventures'' |
− | # ''Time Warp Tickers'' |
+ | # Timewarp/''Time Warp Tickers'' |
− | # ''Jigsaw |
+ | # ''Jigsaw'' |
− | # ''Ninja Assault'' |
+ | # Ninja Asault/''Ninja Assault'' |
− | # ''Robbie and the Robots'' |
+ | # Robbie Robot/''Robbie and the Robots'' |
+ | # ''Cheetah Men (Action Gamemaster)'' |
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− | # ''The Cheetahmen'' |
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− | === |
+ | ===Action 52 (Genesis)=== |
# ''Bonkers'' |
# ''Bonkers'' |
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# ''Darksyne'' |
# ''Darksyne'' |
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# ''Black Hole'' |
# ''Black Hole'' |
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# ''The Boss'' |
# ''The Boss'' |
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− | # ''First Game ( |
+ | # ''First Game'' (A ''Pong'' clone.) |
# ''Challenge'' |
# ''Challenge'' |
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− | == |
+ | ==Cheetahmen== |
Released on the ''Action 52'' NES and Genesis cartridges, ''The Cheetahmen'' was Active Enterprises' attempt to compete with the success of franchises such as Battletoads and [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]. The ''Action 52'' cartridge came with a twelve-page comic book providing the Cheetahmen's backstory. |
Released on the ''Action 52'' NES and Genesis cartridges, ''The Cheetahmen'' was Active Enterprises' attempt to compete with the success of franchises such as Battletoads and [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]. The ''Action 52'' cartridge came with a twelve-page comic book providing the Cheetahmen's backstory. |
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− | == |
+ | ==Cheetahmen II== |
− | The game was never released in North America |
+ | The game was never released in North America; however, in 1996, 1,500 copies of the game were located in a warehouse, and eventually put on sale on the secondary market. |
− | == |
+ | ==See also== |
* [[Transcript of AVGN Episode Action 52]] |
* [[Transcript of AVGN Episode Action 52]] |
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* [[Transcript of AVGN Episode Cheetahmen]] |
* [[Transcript of AVGN Episode Cheetahmen]] |
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[[Category:Games]] |
[[Category:Games]] |
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+ | [[Category:Episodes]] |
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+ | [[Category:Nintendo Entertainment System games]] |
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[[Category:"Shitty" Games]] |
[[Category:"Shitty" Games]] |
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+ | [[Category:Horrible Games]] |
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+ | [[Category:Unlicenced Games]] |
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+ | [[Category:Sega Genesis games]] |
Latest revision as of 21:04, 6 March 2020
Action 52 is an unlicensed video game developed by Active Enterprises in September 1991 for the NES and in May 1993 for the Sega Genesis. The Super Nintendo version wasn't released. It initially retailed for the comparatively high price of US$199 (or "less than $4 for each game") and became notorious among gamers for the abysmal quality of its games. Many video game collectors value Action 52 for its notoriety and rarity. Both the NES and Genesis versions of Action 52 were reviewed by The Angry Video Game Nerd on April 30 and June 9, 2010.
Prototype
In 2010, a prototype cartridge of Action 52 surfaced, owned by movie and video games distributor Greg Pabich. Originally, Vince Perri had proposed a deal with Pabich asking him if he would be interested in working for Active Enterprises as a business partner. At this time, Perri only had a few prototype cartridges and not the final product. For various reasons, Pabich turned down the offer, but not before leaving with one of the prototypes in his possession, which was stored in his warehouse for over twenty years before it was "rediscovered".
The prototype itself contains numerous differences from the final Action 52 cartridges. It contains minor text differences for the game titles as well as different color backgrounds for the game selection menus. The final version contains the words "Action 52" in its header and copyright information in its footer. The prototype simply contains section numbers in each menu screen's header. The code for Action 52 appears to be heavily based upon the pirate multicart 52 in 1. This is evident due the menu template in the Action 52 prototype being identical to that of 52 in 1. However, the biggest difference between the prototype and the final game is that while the final copy contains the game Cheetahmen, the prototype does not. In its place is a completely different Cheetahmen game titled "Action Gamer" (presumingly taken from the main character the Action Gamemaster in Cheetahmen). Action Gamer features only two levels, one of which is incomplete.
On November 11, 2011, Greg Pabich publicly released reproductions of Action Gamer, calling it "Cheetahmen: The Creation". This special package contains a sealed version of the game for collectors, an unsealed copy, a reproduction of the original Cheetahmen comic book, a Cheetahmen music CD, special edition T-Shirts and a poster.
In August 2012, one of the four original Action 52 developers surfaced and surprised the gaming community with their find, their very own original boxed Action 52 NES prototype cartridge, the only other Action 52 prototype known to exist. Along with never-before-seen original Action 52 and Cheetahmen posters and artwork, they posted an eBay auction selling the items for a $97,000 Buy It Now option or Best Offer. The auction generated over 10,000 views and 50 offers. They have since created a blog documenting the auction, the prototype, and their part in the development of the Action 52 NES cartridge. Their version of the story of Action 52, Active Enterprises, Vince Perri, and the other developers can be read there.
List of Complaints
- The graphics.
- The B button controlling your jumps instead of A.
- Dying in midair before hitting the ground.
- Overabundance of space shooters.
- Library of games either being mediocre versions of shitty NES titles or terrible copies of better NES titles (Genesis version.)
Game list
Action 52 (NES)
- Firebreather/Fire Breathers
- Starevil/Star Evil
- Illuminator
- G-Force FGT./G-Force (G-Force Fighters)
- Ooze
- Silver Sword
- Critical BP./Crytical Bypass (Critical Bypass)
- Jupitr Scope/Jupiter Scope
- Alfredo/Alfred N the Fettuc (Alfredo and The Fettucini)
- Operat. Moon/Operation Full-Moon
- Dam Busters
- Thrusters
- Haunted Hill/Haunted Halls (Haunted Halls of Wentworth)
- Chill Out
- Sharks
- Megalonia
- French Baker
- Atmos Quake
- Meong
- Space Dreams
- Streemerz
- Spread Fire
- Bubblgum Rosy/Bubble Gum Rossie (Bubblegum Rosie)
- Micro Mike/Micro-Mike
- Underground
- Rocket Jock/Rocket Jockey
- Non Human
- Cry Baby
- Slashers
- Crazy Shufle/Crazy Shuffle
- Fuzz Power
- Shooting Gal/Shooting Gallery
- Lollipops/Lollipop
- Evil Empire
- Sombreros
- Storm Over D/Storm Over the Des. (Storm Over the Desert)
- Mash Man
- They Came... (They Came from Outer Space)
- Lazer League
- Billy-Bob
- City of Doom
- Bits N Piece/Bits and Pieces
- Beeps N Blip/Beeps and Blips
- Manchester (Manchester Beat)
- Boss (The Boss)
- Dedant
- Hambo/Hambo's Adventures
- Timewarp/Time Warp Tickers
- Jigsaw
- Ninja Asault/Ninja Assault
- Robbie Robot/Robbie and the Robots
- Cheetah Men (Action Gamemaster)
Action 52 (Genesis)
- Bonkers
- Darksyne
- Dyno Tennis
- Ooze
- Star Ball
- Sidewinder
- Daytona
- 15 Puzzle
- Sketch
- Star Duel
- Haunted Hill
- Alfredo
- The Cheetahmen
- Skirmish
- Depth Charge
- Minds Eye
- Alien Attack
- Billy Bob
- Sharks
- Knockout
- Intruder
- Echo
- Freeway
- Mousetrap
- Ninja
- Slalom
- Dauntless
- Force One
- Spidey
- Appleseed
- Skater
- Sunday Drive
- Star Evil
- Air Command
- Shootout
- Bombs Away
- Speed Boat
- Dedant
- G Fighter
- Man At Arms
- Norman
- Armor Battle
- Magic Bean
- Apache
- Paratrooper
- Sky Avenger
- Sharpshooter
- Meteor
- Black Hole
- The Boss
- First Game (A Pong clone.)
- Challenge
Cheetahmen
Released on the Action 52 NES and Genesis cartridges, The Cheetahmen was Active Enterprises' attempt to compete with the success of franchises such as Battletoads and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The Action 52 cartridge came with a twelve-page comic book providing the Cheetahmen's backstory.
Cheetahmen II
The game was never released in North America; however, in 1996, 1,500 copies of the game were located in a warehouse, and eventually put on sale on the secondary market.