Bonanza Bros.

aka: Bonanza Brothers
Moby ID: 12370
Buy on Genesis
$16.25 used on Amazon
Buy on Windows
$0.99 new on Steam
Note: We may earn an affiliate commission on purchases made via eBay or Amazon links (prices updated 3/18 9:57 PM )

Description official descriptions

Mobo and Robo Bonanza are enjoying their favorite television show when the picture crackles and a shadowy figure of a mysterious stranger appears on screen. This figure asks them to collect certain items that he has placed inside various buildings to test his security force. If they return the items successfully, Mobo and Robo will be rewarded. The two of them state that they will get the job done in just three minutes. However, little do they know that each building is packed with security guards who will raise the alarm if they are caught red-handed. Fortunately both Mobo and Robo are equipped with bullets that can knock the guards unconscious for a few seconds. An $100 reward will be given out if Mobo and Robo are apprehended.

As either Mobo or Robo, you must collect all the treasures before leaving the ten buildings and shoot any security guards that get in your way. Remember that you are under a time limit. An in-game map will help you locate the treasures. There is a bonus stage after three buildings, where the object is to collect the gold bars in a limited amount of time without one of the three spotlights shining on you. If it is possible, hide behind open doors. If you manage to get all the gold bars, 10,000 points is added to your score. There are three of these bonus stages, but each of them varies.

Spellings

  • ボナンザ ブラザーズ - Japanese spelling

Groups +

Screenshots

Promos

Credits (Arcade version)

10 People

Super Gangs

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 69% (based on 40 ratings)

Players

Average score: 3.2 out of 5 (based on 59 ratings with 1 reviews)

Average, "strategy optional" platformer

The Good
As a cartoonish, stealth game it's quite fun and I can imagine it'd be fun playing with a partner, coming up with double-team strategies to beat the security guards. You could say it's a "family game", the guns seem to be loaded with rubber bullets and everybody gets up again after they're shot. I like having to grab all the loot and get to the blimp on the roof to escape and it's fun knocking out a guard by shoving open the door in their face :)

The music is good too, a funky John Baker, Toejam & Earl style soundtrack.

The Bad
So you can win this game by running through the guards and ignoring all the stealth programming. Sniping or sneaking past the enemy is a more satisfying challenge (your gun fires at a slow rate, perhaps to encourage careful shooting), but if your time runs out, all your loot gets returned to its position and you start the stage again. I don't think the stealth concept has been put into practice all that well, it can sometimes seem easier to just run around firing your gun like any other run 'n gun platformer, getting shot and then taking advantage of the temporary invulnerability to leave behind the obstacle that brought you down, costing lives, but saving time. I should also note that using a continue after game over will not reset the stage you're on, you'll resume as you normally would after losing a life, but your clock will be reset i.e you get a time extension.

The Bottom Line
I suppose the game is really meant to be played with a partner as playing alone gives you only half a screen. But it's a stealth game as well as a co-operative game and if you learn how to play the stealth system right at the start, it can be fun, otherwise it'll seem like a pretty horribly playing platformer.

Genesis · by Andrew Fisher (697) · 2018

Analytics

MobyPro Early Access

Upgrade to MobyPro to view research rankings!

Related Games

Mario Bros.
Released 1983 on NES, 1984 on Commodore 64, 2002 on Game Boy Advance...
Buster Bros.
Released 1990 on Amiga, 1990 on Atari ST, 1993 on Game Boy...
BBC Bonanza
Released 1987 on BBC Micro
Arcade Bonanza
Released 1986 on DOS
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Released 2008 on Wii
Snow Bros. Nick & Tom
Released 1991 on Game Boy, 1993 on Genesis, 2006 on Amiga...
Super Mario Bros. 3
Released 1988 on NES, 2007 on Wii, 2013 on Nintendo 3DS...
Big Names Bonanza
Released 1986 on Commodore 64
Bowling Bonanza 3D
Released 2013 on Nintendo 3DS

Identifiers +

  • MobyGames ID: 12370
  • [ Please login / register to view all identifiers ]

Contribute

Are you familiar with this game? Help document and preserve this entry in video game history! If your contribution is approved, you will earn points and be credited as a contributor.

Contributors to this Entry

Game added by Katakis | カタキス.

Wii added by Corn Popper. TurboGrafx CD added by chirinea. Arcade added by FatherJack. Linux, Macintosh, Windows added by Foxhack. ZX Spectrum added by Kabushi. Atari ST added by Martin Smith. Sharp X68000 added by Terok Nor.

Additional contributors: Alaka, j.raido 【雷堂嬢太朗】.

Game added March 8, 2004. Last modified February 4, 2024.