Platform:

Turbografx-16 version.

Graphics/Sound:

One aspect that makes this series unique is definitely the character style. I think they definitely keep the quality of the characters up throughout the first 3 games, this one looks almost exactly like the two predecessors. There is also a huge and a small bonk version, which also work well.

The gameplay in general of the first two games hasn't changed but there is a few new details. There is a new powerup cycle that beside the usual going from normal to mad to furious Bonk also has a size change mechanism. This predates New Super Mario Bros. by a lot but I think they might have gotten some ideas from this: you can get a candy that makes you larger and one that makes you smaller, and significantly so. It's basically like being the giant screen filling Mega Mario. Sadly you can't run over bricks with it. Apart from that there are now mini bonus games between levels which you can pay for by coins gathered in the levels. You can choose which kind of bonus game you want to play, and the whole idea is similar to what I have seen in Kid Dracula for NES and Gameboy (but I don't know which came first of those games). The funniest idea was a monster that swallows you, where you end up playing a tiny platforming stage going through it's stomach and bowels.

Difficulty:

Levels are not that hard, similar to the second. The bosses in this one are generally a bit easier, but there is some with sometimes surprising hit detection. What drives me nuts is the controls and physics. I have played the first and immediately after it the second, and by that time I was used to the controls. I started playing this after a lot of other games in between, and it was like having to learn it all over again. Felt really annoying and clumsy in the beginning. By the time I got to the last few levels it was ok again.

Conclusion:

I really wish that the Bonk series as a whole had better physics or controls. Apart from that this holds up to the quality standard set by the first, but I still think the second is better. The bosses and level layouts are a little less inspired in this one.