Collection essentials #141: Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster’s Hidden Treasure (Genesis)

There’s some deja vu going on here. We’ve got yet another 2D platformer, and yet another Konami game. 

This one, as you can see, is based on the popular cartoon from the early ‘90s, Tiny Toon Adventures. This show from Warner Bros. was a successor of sorts to the iconic Looney Tunes, and it featured a series of young characters in school to become the next generation of Looney Tunes. It was a very good show, though I was too young to watch it when it first aired. By the time I was old enough, I was aware of it but didn’t get to see it very often, so it was one of those things I thought was cool but never really got to indulge in.

But you don’t even need to know or like the cartoon to enjoy this great game. There’s not a ton I have to say about it, as it doesn’t really reinvent the wheel when it comes to 2D platforming. But it does feature large, well-designed levels that sometimes give the player multiple ways to go, perhaps learning from Sonic.

I never knew about this game as a kid. When I tried it out as an adult, I wasn’t expecting a whole lot, especially after not being all that impressed with a different Tiny Toons game on Nintendo’s competing console. But I was pleasantly surprised at how much fun Buster’s Hidden Treasure is. I think it’s one that gets overlooked in a crowded lineup of Sega Genesis platformers. But those who take notice of this game and give it a try certainly won’t be disappointed, especially if they’re a fan of the show.