Dr. Franken

Nintendo exclusive

Being the first version that was released, the Game Boy version of the game uses a password-based saving system to save the player's progress. The game consisted of seven floors where various items and parts of Bitsy (Franky's girlfriend) were hidden. Keys and special items were needed to access additional areas to find more body parts and equipment required to resurrect Bitsy.

Released: 1992
Platforms: Game Boy NES
Genres: Metroidvania Platformer
Developers: Motivetime Ltd.
Publishers: Kemco
Modes: Single-player
Perspective: Side view
Themes: Horror Comedy
Country: United Kingdom
Age ratings: ESRB E
Languages: English
Composers: Mark Cooksey

About

Dr. Franken is a platform game released in 1992 for the Game Boy and in 1993 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System by Elite Systems. It was titled The Adventures of Dr. Franken for the SNES in the United States. The game features Franky, a Frankenstein's monster on a mission to collect the scattered body parts of his girlfriend, Bitsy.

A Mega Drive version was planned but never released. Versions for the Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Gear reached prototype stage, but were also not released. A Game Boy sequel, Dr. Franken II, was published in 1993.

›Story

Franky, one of the many creations of Dr Von Frankenbone, has awoken to find his love, Bitsy, has vanished. Discovering the other evil creations of the castle has taken Bitsy and left pieces of her around the castle, Franky must find his way through the many levels and put Bitsy back together.

Franky can shoot his way past many of the evil creatures, but you must also dodge falling objects and jump over trapdoors to stay alive. Power outlets can re-charge Franky to full health, while lamps must be used to see through the dark dungeons.

Keywords

ghosts
action-adventure
traps
darkness
spider
collectibles
unstable platforms
unbeatable enemies
frankenstein's monster
falling object
hidden room

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

The game consists of seven floors (20 stages in various places of the world in the SNES version) where various items and parts of Bitsy (Franky's girlfriend) are hidden. Keys and special items are needed to access additional areas to find more body parts and equipment required to resurrect Bitsy. The Game Boy release of the game uses a password-based saving system to save the player's progress.

Legacy

Franky also appeared in the 1993 Game Boy puzzle game Franky, Joe & Dirk: On the Tiles, along with Joe from Joe & Mac and Dirk the Daring from Dragon's Lair. Dr. Franken II is a sequel to the original and was released for the Game Boy in 1997. It was developed by MotiveTime and published by Jaleco. It is a platform game in which the lead character, Franky, must escape the castle in which he is trapped in order to search for pieces of a gold tablet which will help him to stave off debt.