1982 · Telesys · Arcade

Coconuts

Atari exclusive

In CocoNuts Stanley the intrepid jungle explorer is under attack from Coco the monkey! Coco is up in the trees throwing coconuts at Stanley. You control Stanley and need to dodge the incoming coconuts. You begin the game equipped with a helmet and an umbrella to protect yourself.

Released: 1982
Platforms: Atari 2600
Genres: Arcade
Developers: Telesys
Publishers: Telesys
Perspective: Side view
Themes: Action Comedy
Country: United States
Languages: English

About

Coconuts is a 1982 action game published by Telesys for the Atari 2600. Players must avoid falling coconuts dropped by a mischievous monkey as a jungle explorer named Stanley I. Presume. The game was created by Telesys vice president Jack Woodman and designed by Jim Rupp.

It was one of the first games released by Telesys, along with Fast Food. Telesys marketed the game by sending purple pickles and full sized used tires to their retailers and distributors. Although occasionally praised for its graphics, it was heavily criticized by contemporary reviewers for its lack of substance and difficulty.

Keywords

high score
monkey

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

In Coconuts, players control Stanley I. Presume, a jungle explorer with a helmet and an umbrella. A monkey named Coco hurls coconuts down towards Stanley while hopping between one of two palm tress. After failing to dodge a coconut, Stanley will lose his umbrella.

On a second hit, he loses his helmet before dying after a third hit. The rate of coconuts increases over time and players get points for each coconut dropped.

Reception

Sherry Jacobs in Electronic Fun with Computers & Games was highly critical of Coconuts saying "the hardest challenge is staying awake." Although Jacobs thought the graphics were colorful, she complained that the game was too simple, had monotonous sound, and was "not salvageable." Head editor of The Logical Gamer, Alan R. Bechtold, criticized it as "not a game."

Bechtold's co-reviewer Mike Wilson liked the graphics but also thought the game lacked substance and was an inferior version of Kaboom! In Video Games magazine, Perry Greenberg heavily criticized it's simplicity, stating "coconuts is what you'd need to be to get off on this game."