Chuck Rock

n/a

Mega Drive Mega-CD Master System Game Gear
Chuck Rock
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Mega-CD, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear
Publisher: Virgin Games Sega Sony Imagesoft
Developer: Core Design
Supporting companies: Krisalis Software (audio)
Distributor: Tec Toy (BR)
Sound driver: Krisalis sound driver
Genre: Action, Arcade
Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code US 1991-12 70036 US ▼ (Sega Channel) 199x SUBsub EU 1992-09 T-70036-50 EU ▼ (Sega Channel) 1996 SUBsub UK 1992-08 £39.9939.99 T-70036-50 SE (Rental) 199x AU 199x BR 199x 044190 EU 1992-08 MK-29004-50 PT 1992 MSJ29004 UK 1992-08 £32.9932.99 MK-29004-50 AU 199x BR 1992 028040 JP 1992-10-30 ¥3,5003,500 G-3320 US 1992-09 $29.9929.99 2430 EU 1992-10-15 2430 PT 1992 GGJ2430 UK 1992-10-15 £27.9927.99 2430 BR 199x 016740 US 1992-12 $49.9549.95 T-6204 EU 1993 T-93045-50 DE 1993 DM 130.00130.00 T-93045-50 PT 1993 MCDJ93045 UK 1993-08 £39.9939.99 T-93045-05 BR 199x 062010
Non-Sega versions Amiga Amiga CD32 Archimedes Atari ST Commodore 64 Game Boy Super NES
ESRA

Chuck Rock (チャックロック) is a side-scrolling platform game originally developed by Core Design for the Amiga and Atari ST home computers. Ports were subsequently published for a variety of platforms, including the Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear by Virgin Games, and the Sega Mega-CD by Sony Imagesoft in 1992.

Story

Introduction

The setting of the game is a fictional prehistorical Stone Age world where dinosaurs and ancient creatures still roam the Earth. Chuck Rock is an overweight, square-jawed caveman with a penchant for picking up rocks and throwing them at things. Chuck is a guitarist and singer in a rock band along with some other cavemen, his wife Ophelia Rock, and a long-haired dinosaur bass player.

One day, Ophelia Rock is kidnapped by local caveman bully Garry Gritter (a pun on then entertainer, now convicted child sex offender Gary Glitter) and carried off to Gritter's hang-out in the creepy dinosaur graveyard.

Chuck must go to her rescue, searching for her in primeval jungles, swamps, lakes, an ice-capped mountain top, caves, and even the insides of a gigantic dinosaur.

Gameplay

Mega Drive and Mega-CD versions

The game is a platformer played as the caveman Chuck Rock. The sprite style and animation is cartoonish, and gameplay is filled with slapstick. Chuck walks with and and crouches with . He jumps with . Chuck can attack by thrusting his belly forward with . He can also attack by kicking in midair by pressing after jumping.

Chuck can pick up rocks by pressing + while next to or in front of a rock. He can set the rock down with + or "chuck" the rock with . He can throw rocks at opponents to defeat them, or rocks can be stacked on top of each other to reach higher areas. Carrying a rock also shields Chuck from enemy attacks from above. Chuck has reduced movement speed and jump height while holding a rock, and holding a rock causes Chuck to sink when underwater.

Health is indicated by a heart icon; the heart shrinks when Chuck takes damage. He loses a life when he runs out of health, but he can regain health by finding hearts. The player gains an extra life for every 100,000 points earned. The game ends if the player runs out of lives, but it can be continued one time.

Items

Each stage has a set of unique collectibles that provide bonus points.

	Small Rock
	A small rock. Chuck can pick up rocks and throw them at enemies or stack them to reach platforms.
	Large Rock
	A large rock. Chuck can pick up rocks and throw them at enemies or stack them to reach platforms.
	Heart
	Restores some of Chuck's health.
	Jungle Scene Items
	Orange Slice (200 points) Ham Hock (400 points) Chicken Leg (600 points) Wiener (800 points) Pig Head (10,000 points)
	Cave Scene Items
	Mushroom (200 points) Carrot (400 points) Lemon (600 points) Rock Cake (800 points) Tomato (10,000 points)
	Water Scene Items
	Violet Fish (200 points) Green Fish (400 points) Gold Fish (600 points) Small Star Fish (800 points) Large Star Fish (10,000 points)
	Ice Scene Items
	Ham Hock (200 points) Grapefruit Slice (400 points) Turkey Leg (600 points) Wiener (800 points) Bag of Peas (10,000 points)
	Graveyard Scene Items
	Wishbone (200 points) Bone (400 points) Bone (600 points) Skull (800 points) Big Bone (10,000 points)

Stages

	Jungle Scene
	Contains 8 areas.
	Cave Scene
	Contains 6 areas.
	Water Scene
	Contains 4 areas.
	Ice Scene
	Contains 6 areas.
	Graveyard Scene
	Contains 4 areas.

History

Legacy

Chuck Rock was followed by Chuck Rock II: Son of Chuck and BC Racers.

Versions

Most of the initial 1991 releases of Chuck Rock were released without an in-game soundtrack, the exception being the Amiga which offered one as an option (at the expense of sound effects). The Master System and Game Gear versions are relatively faithful to the source material, so also lack soundtracks. Major omissions include the introduction sequence, backgrounds, speech samples and curiously in the Game Gear's case, significant parts of the scenery (for example, the dinosaur Chuck can ride on the first level, which is instead replaced with rushing water).

The Mega Drive version has an entirely unique soundtrack and parallax scrolling. While likely released at the same time as its counterpart on the Mega Drive's direct competitor, the Super Nintendo, few similarities exist between the two versions aside from what has been pulled from earlier versions. The Super NES soundtrack is entirely different, as are the backgrounds, though both continue to omit the introduction sequence.

The Sega Mega-CD version builds on the Mega Drive version, being largely the same game with the exception of an enhanced soundtrack (using the same tunes as those heard on the Mega Drive) and the return of the animated intro. The Mega-CD conversion also has slight changes in its presentation, for example, the inclusion of a world map, shown at the start of a stage.

Production credits

Mega Drive version

• Written and Designed by: The Chuck Rock Team., Core Design Ltd.
• Music and FX by: Krisalis Software Ltd.
• Presented by: Virgin Games
• Chuck Rock Was Brought to You by the Following People......: Chris Long, Lee Pullen, Bob .Out En It. Churchill, Mark Price, Jeremy Smith, Matt Furniss, S. Hollingworth, Lyle J. Hall II

Source:

In-game credits

Mega-CD version

• Written and Designed by: The Chuck Rock Team., Core Design Ltd.
• Music and FX by: Martins Music Workshop
• Presented by: Sony Imagesoft
• Chuck Rock Was Brought to You by the Following People......: Chris Long, Lee Pullen, Bob .Out En It. Churchill, Martin Iveson, Jeremy Smith

Source:

In-game credits

Master System version

• Converted by: Gary Priest
• Designed by: The Chuck Rock Team, Core Design Ltd.
• Sound by: Krisalis Software Ltd.
• Presented by: Virgin Games
• Chuck Rock Was Brought to You by the Following People.....: Gary Priest, Chris Long, Lee Pullen, Bob Churchill, Mark Price, Jeremy Smith, Shaun Hollingworth, Matt Furniss, Ian Mathias, Andy Green

Source:

In-game credits

Game Gear version

• Converted by: Gary Priest
• Designed by: The Chuck Rock Team, Core Design Ltd.
• Music and SFX by: Krisalis Software
• The Team: Gary Priest, Chris Long, Lee Pullen, Bob Churchill, Mark Price, Jeremy Smith, Shaun Hollingworth, Matt Furniss

Source:

In-game credits

---

• Japanese cover artist and logo designer: Mari Koizumi

Source:

Developer mentions

Magazine articles

Main article: Chuck Rock/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Chuck Rock/Promotional material.

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 50 Consoles + (FR) 90 Computer & Video Games (UK) 86 Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U 78 Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU) 50 Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 5 (RU) 70 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK) 91 Game Mania (UK) 91 Game Power (IT) 91 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 92 Game Informer (US) NTSC-U 44 Hobby Consolas (ES) 92 Joypad (FR) 92 Joystick (FR) PAL 92 Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL 79 Mega Fun (DE) PAL 80 MegaTech (UK) PAL 86 Mean Machines (UK) PAL 91 Mean Machines Sega (UK) 91 Player One (FR) 93 Play Time (DE) 77 Power Up! (UK) 88 Sega Power (UK) PAL 87 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 81 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 87 Sega Force (SE) 80 Sega Force (UK) PAL 93 Supergame (BR) NTSC-U 83 Supersonic (FR) 93 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 70 Video Games (DE) 79 Zero (UK) 87

	82
Based on 32 reviews

Chuck Rock

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual PCB

Mega Drive, SE (Rental)

Mega Drive, AU

Mega Drive, BR
Cover
Cart

Mega-CD version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score GamePro (US) NTSC-U 78 Gamers (DE) 80 Joypad (FR) 92 Joypad (FR) PAL 89 MAN!AC (DE) 72 Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL 72 Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL 70 Mega (UK) PAL 70 Mega Action (UK) PAL 89 Mega Force (FR) 85 Mega Fun (DE) PAL 64 Player One (FR) 80 Sega Power (UK) PAL 67 Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-U 82 Sega Zone (UK) NTSC-U 74 Sega Force Mega (UK) NTSC-U 74 Sonic Mag: B.D. & Jeux-Video! (FR) PAL 90 Todo Sega (ES) PAL 80 Video Games (DE) PAL 80

	78
Based on 19 reviews

Chuck Rock

Mega-CD, US
Cover
Disc Manual

Mega-CD, EU
Cover
Disc Manual

Mega-CD, UK (EU Back)
Cover
Disc Manual Cover with Code

Mega-CD, UK (English Back)
Cover
Disc Manual Cover with Code

Mega-CD, PT
Cover
Disc

Mega-CD, BR
Cover
Disc

Master System version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

{{{{{icon}}}|L}}
Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score Game Mania (UK) 90 Game Power (IT) 87 Game Zone (UK) PAL 80 Hobby Consolas (ES) 90 Joypad (FR) 91 Joystick (FR) 91 Micromanía (segunda época) (ES) 73 Mean Machines (UK) PAL 90 Mean Machines Sega (UK) 90 Player One (FR) 93 Play Time (DE) 52 Sega Power (UK) PAL 70 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 84 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 84 Sega Force (SE) 74 Sega Force (UK) PAL 91 Sega Master Force (UK) PAL 91 Supersonic (FR) 92 Video Games (DE) 66

	83
Based on 19 reviews

Chuck Rock

Master System, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, PT

Master System, BX†
Cover

Master System, AU
Cart

Master System, BR
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

{{{{{icon}}}|L}}
Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J 45 Consoles + (FR) 82 Computer + Video Giochi (IT) 84 Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U 65 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK) 89 Game Mania (UK) 89 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 85 Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J 50 Hobby Consolas (ES) 88 Joypad (FR) 91 Joystick (FR) PAL 83 Micromanía (segunda época) (ES) 65 Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL 90 Player One (FR) 92 Play Time (DE) 71 Sega Power (UK) PAL 51 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 90 Sega Pro (UK) 90 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 87 Sega Zone (UK) PAL 86 Sega Force (SE) 74 Sega Force (UK) PAL 92 User (GR) PAL 89 VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) NTSC-U 70 Video Games (DE) 61

	78
Based on 25 reviews

Chuck Rock

Game Gear, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, PT

Game Gear, BR
Cover
Cart

Technical information

Main article: Chuck Rock/Technical information.