Action 52 (Game)

Action 52

GAME » on September 2, 1991

Genesis (Platform)Nintendo Entertainment System (Platform)

A pair of 52-minigame collections, one for the NES and one for the Genesis. Both versions are infamous for their quality, given their expensive unlicensed releases, and are best known for their Cheetahmen mascots.

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Overview

Action 52 is the name of two unlicensed mini-game collections developed and published by Active Enterprises in North America, first for the Nintendo Entertainment System (Platform) in 1991, then for the Sega Genesis in 1993 (co-developed by FarSight Technologies).

Inspired by bootleg multicart releases at the time, each of the two collections feature 52 unique mini-games with varying genres and themes. It was originally sold for a very high retail price of $199, with the justification being that each mini-game is a full-featured game equating to around $4 each. However, all of the games included are known for their subpar quality, both contemporary and retrospectively, with the NES version being infamous for being either glitchy or nonfunctional (even after its later revision).

Action 52 is best known for its anthropomorphic cheetah mascots, known as "The Cheetahmen". Comprised of leader Apollo, martial artist Aries (Character), and hulking brawler Hercules, the trio are playable in the NES version's flagship "Action Gamemaster" mini-game, which was originally planned to have the trio infiltrate several games in the collection. They also star in the sole Action 52 commercial with a cartoon-animated appearance, and each copy of the NES version's release included a comic book detailing the trio's backstory (where they were genetic experiments from the evil Doctor Morbis).

A third collection for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (Platform) was planned, but was cancelled as Active Enterprises left the game industry. A standalone sequel to the NES version's "Action Gamemaster" mini-game, known as Cheetahmen II, was in production before also being cancelled in 1992, with an unfinished version being recovered from a warehouse in the mid-to-late '90s.

Game List

NES (1991)

Fire Breathers - A top-down shooter where a red dragon and a blue dragon shoot fireballs at each-other in a battle to the death. It is the only mini-game in the collection with simultaneous two-player multiplayer.
Star-Evil - A vertical-scrolling shoot-'em-up with a sci-fi space theme. It received notoriety for starting the player's ship close to a head-on collision with a block, requiring quick thinking to dodge.
Illuminator - A single-screen platformer where the protagonist navigates between floors using ladders, using shots form his special spotlight to vaporize shadows and vampires. The building dims regularly, requiring players to kill enemies to illuminate the area.
G-Force Fighters - A side-scrolling shoot-'em-up with a sci-fi space theme.
Ooze - A side-scrolling platformer set in a slime-infested alien world, with the hero dodging ooze and vaporizing aliens. Known in the manual as "Oooze", the game was notorious for having an advertised contest where those who completed the fifth level could enter a drawing for a large cash prize, a feat that was impossible due to the game crashing at the second level in the original cartridge revision.
Silver Sword - A top-down action game where the hero moves up the screen, throwing swords at various creatures.
Critical Bypass - A side-scrolling shoot-'em-up with a sci-fi theme.
Jupiter Scope - A single-screen shoot-'em-up where a ship moves left-and-right, shooting meteors falling from the sky.
Alfredo and the Fettucinni's - A side-scrolling platformer where a chef smacks ingredients with his utensils. Did not work in the original cartridge revision.
Operation Full-Moon - A vertical-scrolling shoot-'em-up with a lunar dune buggy.
Dam Busters - A top-down action game where bears throw strawberries at each other.
Thrusters - A vertical-scrolling shoot-'em-up with a sci-fi space theme.
Haunted Halls of Wentworth - A side-scrolling platformer with a horror theme, with the protagonist throwing crosses at enemies. Also known as "Haunted Hill".
Chill-Out - A single-screen platformer where eskimoes throw snowballs at eachother.
Sharks - A single-screen side-view game where a diver throws harpoons at sharks.
Megalonia - A side-scrolling shoot-'em-up with a sci-fi theme.
The French Baker - A single-screen platformer where a baker throws utensils at unruly food.
Atmos-Quake - A vertical-scrolling shoot-'em-up with a sci-fi theme.
Meong - An action-puzzle game where players navigate their piece up a board while avoiding gaps and traps.
Space Dreams - A vertical-scrolling shoot-'em-up with a bizarre childlike theme.
Streemerz - A platformer starring a clown who can only move upward by grappling up platforms with his party streamer, similar to the protagonist in Bionic Commando.
Spread-Fire - A single-screen shoot-'em-up with a sci-fi theme.
Bubble Gum Rossie - A game starring a girl who spits gumballs at enemies in a candy-themed land. The game alternates between side-scrolling platforming and top-down vertical-scrolling driving. Known in the manual as "Bubblegum Rosie".
Micro-Mike - A side-scrolling shoot-'em-up with a bizarre design.
Underground - A single-screen platformer where the hero navigates a maze of ladders in an underground cavern.
Rocket Jockey - A side-scrolling shoot-'em-up with a bizarre sci-fi theme of a futuristic cowboy riding a rocket, lassoing flying robo-cattle.
Non-Human - A side-scrolling platformer with a truly bizarre theme.
Cry Baby - A single-screen platformer starring a baby spraying his milk bottle at various people.
Slashers - A belt-scrolling beat-'em-up similar to Double Dragon (Game).
Crazy Shuffle - A top-down shooter with an abstract theme. The manual is notable for calling this an "educational puzzle game" with "picture matching".
Fuzz Power - A side-scrolling platformer where players play as a big-footed hairy creature that destroys hair-care products.
Shooting Gallery - A single-screen shoot-'em-up where a gunman moves across the bottom of the screen, shooting targets that appear from the top.
Lollipop - A single-screen platformer set in a candy-themed world, with the hero using a lollipop as a club. Also known as "Lollipops".
The Evil Empire - A fixed-screen platformer set in Arabia. It is notable for its graphics being difficult to see due to the small character sprites.
Sombrero's - A top-down action game where a man dodges traffic and shoots thieves while walking down the street in an effort to collect hats.
Storm Over the Desert - A tank combat game where players not only shoot enemy tanks and infantry, but also giant soldiers.
Mash-Man - A side-scrolling platformer with a bizarre theme, including a hero with giant feet.
They Came From Outer Space - A single-screen space shooter with a ship that only turns in 90-degree angles.
Lazer League - A side-scrolling shoot-'em-up with a sci-fi theme, where the hero is riding on a jetpack. Known in the manual as "Laser League".
Billy-Bob - A side-scrolling platformer with mechanics similar to Prince of Persia (Game), starring an adventurer who is escaping from a crumbling temple.
City of Doom - A vertical-scrolling game where the hero climbs a large building while avoiding mutant insects.
Bits and Pieces - A side-scrolling platformer with a horror theme, with the hero as a zombie. The manual is notable for referring to this as a puzzle game instead, similar to Tetris (Game).
Beeps and Blips - A single-screen shooter with an abstract theme.
Manchester Beat - A side-scrolling platformer where the hero jumps on musical blocks and beats up other dudes.
Boss - A side-scrolling action platformer where the hero is an anthropomorphic lizard with a gun, shooting other reptiles.
Dedant - A single-screen shoot-'em-up where an ant shoots up at other invading ants.
Hambo's Adventures - A single-screen platformer where an anthropomorphic pig climbs his way to the exit while avoiding rolling balls.
Time Warp Tickers - A side-scrolling platformer with a truly bizarre theme.
Jigsaw - A side-scrolling platformer starring a handyman that destroys unruly tools. The manual is notable for referring to this as a jigsaw puzzle game. Did not work in the original cartridge revision.
Ninja Assault - A side-scrolling action game where the hero is a ninja.
Robbie and the Robots - A side-scrolling platformer where the hero shoots various robots.
Action Gamemaster - An action game starring the game's Cheetahmen mascots and the collection's "flagship" game. While the first level is presented as a belt-scrolling beat-'em-up, the game is a side-scrolling platformer in-general, with players switching between the trio throughout the game (martial artist Aries (Character) for the first part, brawler Hercules for the second part, and archer Apollo for the last part). It is also the only game in the collection with cutscenes, with an introductory story involving a young boy (the eponymous "Action Gamemaster") being pulled into the game world. Also known as "Cheetah Men".

Sega Genesis (1993)

Unique to this version is that each of the 52 games are color-coded based on their player count (with games marked in blue being two-player games) and complexity (green for Beginner, purple for Intermediate, and yellow for Expert). Games #1-18 are generally marked Expert, games #19-36 are generally marked Intermediate, and games #37-52 are generally marked Beginner. This collection also includes two bonus options, one for playing the music, and one for playing a random game.

Compared to the NES version, these games have more variety in genres and are less prone to crashes and glitches.

Go Bonkers - An action-puzzle game similar to Dudes with Attitude (Game), where players guide a bouncing ball towards blocks to clear them, with certain blocks locked behind colors.
Darksyne - A single-screen space shooter with controls similar to Asteroids (Game), with players piloting a limited-fuel ship as they destroy turrets.
Dyno Tennis (Two-Player) - A vertical-oriented tennis game starring two dinosaurs.
Ooze - A platformer and remake of the NES version's mini-game of the same name, where the hero must traverse a slime-covered alien cavern to collect keys.
Star Ball - A simple virtual pinball game with five sets of flippers.
Sidewinder - A third-person rear-perspective flight combat game similar to After Burner (Game), with players piloting a fighter jet as they shoot down enemy missiles and jets flying head-on.
Daytona - A third-person rear-perspective racing game similar to Rad Racer (Game), with players driving a sports car along a circuit to earn winnings (used for entry fees and repairs).
15 Puzzle - A traditional 15-block sliding puzzle, with players having five minutes to solve the puzzle. There are 9 total levels, with the game shuffling puzzles more between each level.
Sketch - Rather than a game, this is a simple drawing tool.
Star Duel (Two-Player) - A single-screen space shooter similar to Space War (Game), with ships from the mini-game Darksyne. Each level features a new gimmick, such as gravity and spread shots.
Haunted Hills - A horror-themed platformer.
Alfredo - A single-screen game where players move a chef left-and-right and catch various ingredients jumping out of the pot, taking care not to get hit by them directly. It likely shares the same protagonist as the NES version's "Alfredo and the Fettucinni's".
The Cheetahmen - A platformer based on the game's Cheetahmen mascots, with players making their way through a single stage three times as each of the Cheetahmen (Hercules, then Apollo, then Aries (Character)).
Skirmish (Two-Player) - A turn-based wargame somewhat similar to Archon: The Light and the Dark, where players deploy a variety of units and take turns moving them, resolving battles in top-down one-on-one fights on contested spaces.
Depth Charge - A side-view naval combat game similar to Depthcharge (Game), where players maneuver a battleship across the water and deploy depth charges against enemy submarines.
Minds Eye - A puzzle game based on Minesweeper (Game), where you uncover tiles on a board while using logic to avoid hidden landmines.
Alien Attack - A sci-fi belt-scrolling shooter where the player's hero shoots a variety of aliens attacking them.
Billy Bob - A Wild West (Location)-themed crosshair shooter where players shoot various bandits. It likely shares the same protagonist as the NES version's "Billy-Bob".
Sharks - A single-screen side-view game and remake of the NES version's mini-game of the same name, where a diver harpoons sharks while taking care not to get eaten themselves. This game is notable for its violent deaths, both for the sharks and the diver.
Knockout (Two-Player) - A side-view boxing game.
Intruder - A sci-fi maze shooter where players must navigate an electrified maze while shooting robots.
Echo - A memory game in the style of Simon Says (Concept).
Freeway - A top-down game reminiscent of Frogger (Game), where a dog must cross a freeway to retrieve bones from one side to another while avoiding traffic.
Mousetrap - A single-screen game where a cartoon mouse must eat cheese scattered throughout the floor while avoiding various cartoon cats.
Ninja - A side-scrolling action platformer and a successor to the NES version's Ninja Assault, where a ninja throws shurikens at opposing ninjas.
Slalom - A top-down skiing game similar to SkiFree (Game), where a skier avoids a barrage of trees.
Dauntless - A side-scrolling shoot-'em-up with World War II era biplanes.
Force One - A vertical-scrolling shoot-'em-up with sci-fi space combat.
Spidey - A single-screen game where a spider collects flies caught in its web while avoiding other spiders and other predatory insects.
Appleseed - A game where players move a man left and right in order to collect falling apples from an orchard.
Skater - A game where players control a skateboarder using jumps to dodge obstacles.
Sunday Drive - A top-down driving game where a blue car drives along a highway, avoiding other slower motorists.
Star Evil - A sci-fi vertical-scrolling shoot-'em-up and a remake of the NES version's mini-game of the same name.
Air Command - A vertical-scrolling shoot-'em-up with World War II era bombers. It is notable in that the game scrolls downward instead of upward, with the action flipped to match.
Shootout - A shooting gallery game, with players having a limited amount of shots to hit scrolling targets. While the game is presented as a first-person fixed-gun shooter, it plays more like a shoot-'em-up.
Bombs Away - A side-view game similar to an endless runner, where a lone soldier must run to avoid bombs falling from the sky.
Speed Boat - A vertical-scrolling game where the player drives a speedboat and must avoid various obstacles (such as other speedboats).
Dedant - A single-screen shoot-'em-up and remake of the NES version's mini-game of the same name, where an ant shoots various other insects.
G Fighter - A sci-fi side-scrolling shoot-'em-up and remake of the NES version's "G-Force Fighters".
Man At Arms - A single-screen shoot-'em-up where a medieval archer moves across the ramparts to shoot enemy infantry approaching from the bottom of the screen.
Norman - A top-down tank combat game where players move a lone tank around the battlefield, shooting other tanks and infantry.
Armor Battle (Two-Player) - A tank combat game and a two-player version of the mini-game Norman.
Magic Bean - A vertical-scrolling game where players climb a giant beanstalk while avoiding various giant things being thrown down.
Apache - A vertical-scrolling shoot-'em-up with attack helicopters.
Paratrooper - A single-screen action game where a soldier moves around a battlefield, collecting packs and shooting robots.
Sky Avenger - A side-scrolling shoot-'em-up with helicopters. It is unique in that the game scrolls leftward instead of rightward, with the action flipped to match.
Sharpshooter - A single-screen shoot-'em-up and a remake of the NES version's "Shooting Gallery", where a gunman shoots various targets falling from the top of the screen.
Meteor - A sci-fi single-screen shoot-'em-up and a remake of the NES version's Jupiter Scope, where a ship shoots various meteors falling from the sky.
Black Hole - A sci-fi vertical-scrolling shoot-'em-up.
The Boss - A single-screen platformer starring an anthropomorphic gangster lizard who collects money while shooting various enemy reptiles. Unlike other platformers, he cannot jump and must use ladders and to navigate between floors. It is a successor to the NES version's "Boss".
1st Video Game (Two-Player) - An unapologetic Pong (Game) clone, with simple graphics.
Challenge - A special endurance run where players complete the most difficult level of several games in random order in order to become the "Action 52 Gamemaster". However, this is impossible to complete as several games crash as soon as they start.

Music Theft

Music for some of the NES version's games are known to be taken from a sample music library included in the Atari ST music creation tool The Music Studio.

Game Title	Song Title
Silver Sword	Aisle Dance
Time Warp Tickers	Boogie
Fuzz Power	Bossa Nova (played back at 2x speed)
Streemerz	Calypso
Ninja Assault	Mystery (played back at 1.5x speed)
French Baker	Tango

In addition, the NES version's main theme makes heavy use of a digitized sample of the widely-used Think break.

The unfinished Cheetahmen II also includes the same music as Fuzz Power for its title theme.

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