PC Kid's second adventure. Bonk could eat meat to power up and spin-attack with his oversized head.
Bonk's Revenge was developed by Red Company and published by Hudson Soft for PC Engine in December 1991 — the second Bonk's Adventure game, featuring Bonk, a prehistoric boy who attacked enemies by ramming them with his oversized skull. New to the sequel was the meat power-up system: collecting small pieces of meat added to a power meter that could activate a powerful spinning attack; eating a full piece of meat transformed Bonk into an invincible charging beast temporarily. Boss encounters were larger and more elaborate than the original. Bonk's Revenge sold approximately 500,000 copies and solidified Bonk as Hudson Soft's PC Engine mascot.
About this game
Released in 1991, Bonk's Revenge is the sequel to the PC Engine's mascot platformer PC-Genjin (Bonk's Adventure), and widely considered the best entry in the original trilogy. A Stone Age caveman with an enormous head, Bonk smashes through prehistoric landscapes using his skull as a weapon. The sequel polished every element of the original — bigger levels, more creative enemies, refined mechanics — while retaining the eccentric charm that made the first game a PC Engine signature.
Key Features
Head-stomping and head-spinning attacks using Bonk's oversized skull; meat power-up system changing Bonk's state; multiple transformations including angry red Bonk with increased power; exploration-heavy levels with hidden routes; tight platformer controls with wall-jumping and ceiling-cling mechanics.
Gallery
The Story Behind
The PC-Genjin / Bonk series was Hudson Soft's answer to the mascot platformer wars of the early 1990s — every major console had its identifiable hero, and PCくん was the PC Engine's. Bonk's Revenge arrived as the platform's mascot had reached mainstream recognition in Japan and North America. The series' combination of prehistoric setting, head-based combat, and quirky humour was a deliberate contrast to Sega's cooler Sonic and Nintendo's more wholesome Mario.
Tricks & Tales
Bonk's head-spin move, when executed at the right moment on a ceiling, allows Bonk to cling to it and move along the surface — a mechanic that opened up numerous shortcut paths for skilled players. The meat items grant power boosts proportional to how fresh the meat appears — slightly charred meat gives moderate power, while perfectly cooked meat triggers the maximum transformation. Bonk's Revenge added more secret areas and alternate routes than the original, rewarding thorough exploration.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
The PC Engine (Japan) and TurboGrafx-16 (North America) share the same physical HuCard slot shape but are not compatible with each other's software. NEC deliberately reversed the data bus wiring between the two regions: data pin D0 on the PC Engine corresponds to D7 on the TurboGrafx-16, and so on through all eight lines. Beyond the hardware wiring difference, most North American HuCards contain region-checking code that detects a Japanese console and immediately crashes. Converters that electrically flip the data bus do exist and allow cross-region play. CD-ROM² discs themselves carry no region protection and play freely on both systems—however, the System Cards required to boot CD software are region-locked in the same way as HuCards, so a Japanese System Card cannot be used in a TurboGrafx-16 and vice versa.
Maintenance Tips
HuCard contacts are the most common maintenance point on the PC Engine and TurboGrafx-16. The card's edge connector oxidizes over decades of storage, causing failure-to-read and graphical glitches. Cleaning with 90%+ isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab—gently wiping the gold contacts on the card itself—resolves most contact issues; stubborn oxidation responds to dedicated contact cleaners such as DeoxIT. Never blow into the card slot with your mouth, as moisture accelerates the very corrosion you are trying to remove. On systems equipped with the CD-ROM² or Super CD-ROM² add-on, the optical drive is subject to the same age-related laser and sled degradation seen in any CD system of that era; the laser assembly uses a KSS-220a-type unit on the Super CD-ROM² and replacement parts remain available.
Going deeper
Explore the machine this game ran on, and what to check before you buy or care for one:
What to Watch Out For
Before buying, these are the points worth knowing — from someone who handles original Japanese Bonk's Revenge copies regularly.
Will this Japanese PC Engine game work on a North American TurboGrafx-16?
Not without a hardware adapter. The TurboGrafx-16's data bus lines are wired in reverse compared to the PC Engine, making the two regions physically incompatible at the cartridge (HuCard) slot level. A passive adapter such as the dbElectronics Turbo PC-Henshin bridges this gap for HuCard titles. For CD-ROM² software, the TurboGrafx-CD drive will run Japanese discs if they do not carry a software region check, but compatibility varies by title. In both cases, Japanese PC Engine software is designed for the Japanese market and carries no English text.
How should I store and clean a PC Engine HuCard?
Keep HuCards in their original plastic sleeves or a protective case, away from humidity and direct sunlight — the exposed gold contacts oxidize over time. To clean: apply 90%+ isopropyl alcohol to a cotton swab and gently wipe the gold edge contacts. Never blow on them — breath moisture accelerates corrosion. Handle by the plastic edges only, avoiding the contact strip. HuCards have no internal battery and no moving parts, making them among the most durable formats from the era.
Does this HuCard have an internal save battery?
HuCards do not support internal battery backup by design. If this title requires save data between sessions, it either uses a password system or requires an external backup peripheral (such as the Tennokoe Bank or Backup Booster) connected to the PC Engine's expansion bus. Check the game manual for the save method — many action and strategy HuCard titles are designed as single-session experiences and do not require saving at all.
Before You Buy
Things worth knowing before you buy Bonk's Revenge
A short checklist for buying used PC Engine software wisely — useful with any seller, anywhere.
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Choose a seller who tests it before shipping
A copy that has actually been powered on and checked is a known quantity. An untested one is a gamble you only settle after it arrives.
Look for a seller who states it was function-tested and says what they confirmed. A serious seller can tell you exactly what was checked.
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Make sure it fits your console
Japanese PC Engine HuCards and CDs are not compatible with the North American TurboGrafx-16 — the formats differ. Use a Japanese PC Engine system.
Play it on a matching Japanese console or a region-free system, and confirm the listing states the region.
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HuCard or CD-ROM² — know which you're buying
PC Engine games come on HuCard chips or on CD-ROM². CD titles also require the right CD system and a working System Card.
Confirm the format in the listing, and for CDs check the disc surface and that saves are supported.
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Check that the contacts are clean
Dirty edge contacts are the most common cause of startup and sound trouble in cartridges of this age.
Choose a seller who cleans the contacts before shipping. A note that it was tested and cleaned means the basics were handled.
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Read the seller's reviews and return policy
A 100% positive record across thousands of sales is close to a guarantee — packing, communication and problem-solving all work for everyone. A return policy protects you if something is off.
Read the feedback and confirm a clear return window before you buy.
The last step before buying anywhere is knowing what it's worth.
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