What makes Bonk good?

[Necromancer]

Sounds like your dad has good taste. 

[SignOfZeta]

Bonk is a good example of the sort of the game the PCE had a lot of, a sort of "Famicom game with better graphics and sound."  What makes it better than that though is that satisfying "Bonk" mechanic, the turbo spin/fly thing, and the game's crazy visuals and humor. I had more fun with it then than I do now, but it's still enjoyable for me which is more than I can say for a LOT of other platform games from that time. I really pretty much just like Sonic 2 and Yoshi's Island, most of the time, but Bonk, probably Bonk 2, still does it for me occasionally.

[esteban]

I will also say that my kids love to watch Bonk. If I turn on my Duo, they get excited and ask to watch "the Bonk game". At that point, it doesn't matter that I wanted to play Gate of Thunder or Dungeon Explorer or Devil's Crush...it's now Bonk time. They like the art style and the big sprites, and they love the animation when Bonk eats meat. They just start cracking up when they see that.

Yes! My kids (twins, five years old) love playing the TG-16 Bonk bonk games.

Everything is appealing to them.

So, I am as easily amused as a 5 year old.

I'm OK with that.

They also love Ordyne, Pac Land and Double Dragon II on PCE.

[Winniez]

The core gameplay mechanic is strong and its just fun to bonk enemies. I also think its kind of funny how it works in an opposite way to Mario/most platformers where you jump on enemies. I also like how there isn't much of that early '90s 'tude present, just fun humour. Music is also excellent and the game still has that 8-bit era charm that most of the Super Famicom games lack.

The gameplay is little slow but the flying adds nice momentum. The powerup system doesn't add much imo. I'm only talking about Bonk 1, I don't like most of the new features in Bonk 3, they just added stuff that end up deviating from the fun basic gameplay. I haven't really played much Bonk 2 since me Hucard doesn't work.

Edit:just to add, I have heard the same question you asked many times, maybe there is something about Bonk that just doesn't click with everyone, whereas something like Mario platformer seems to be very universally appealing

[seieienbu]

A lot of what I like about Bonk is the personality and art direction in the game.  He has a slightly pained expression as he bites his way up the walls.  He looks happy as he flips through the air.  He gets angry, he gets sad, and when you lose a life he has a hilarious death animation. 

This is likely more important when viewed it in the context of when the games came out.  In an era before Sonic's 'tude had spawned garbage like Bubsy, Bonk seemed to actually have things he liked.  Mario was a boring character on the NES.  He is completely emotionless and just does his job.  The first instance of him having any feelings at all is when Princess kisses him in the ending of Mario World and he slightly blushes.  He remained a boring character until, what, Mario 64 or Sunshine perhaps? 

Other successful platforming icons of the age were no better.  Megaman opens his mouth when he takes damage and he blinks.  That's the closest to any form of expression we see until the playstation iirc.  The Belmonts in the 8 bit Castlevanias don't even really have faces to begin with so we can't really comment there.  Ryu from Ninja Gaiden has a lot of cinematic sequences but in game he's bland and just goes on with his job.

Also, my favorite thing from the whole series is in Bonk's Adventure; the foreshadowing of the last level when you see the moon overhead in the first level is brilliant.

[lukester]

I always really enjoyed the first two games and Super Bonk 2 on the snes.

Bonk 1 is a bit rough but still a lot of fun to go through. The soundtrack is also amazing. Honestly, I'd recommend the PS2/Gamecube remake if you hate it, it makes the controls less clunky and Bonk moves a bit speedier.

Bonk 2 is definitely one of my favorite 16-bit games, has a lot of replay-ability and tight level design, along with great personality and above average aesthetics for the console. I also LOVE collecting all of the flying and hidden collectables.

Unfortunately, Bonk 3 and Super Bonk 1 were made by completely different people. Level design went to shit, the candy mechanic slowed things down, and the graphics were dull. To Necro's credit, Bonk 3 definitely has the largest levels, but in my opinion it's more empty space than anything cool.

Super Bonk 2 was a return to form in my opinion, though it's also a bit more in line with Mario. You might like this one the best out of them all. I'd say it's slightly below Bonk's Revenge but still a really fantastic game, though others may disagree.

The gameboy games are very hit and miss. GB Bonk is a clone of Bonk 1 and GB Bonk 2 is kinda poor except it's very goofy.

But we all got our opinions. To be frank, I'm not really a Sonic fan except for Sonic CD.

[Joe Redifer]

Bonk is great because it's the story of a caveman who falls in love with a moon seal. Promotes bestiality. What more do you need? I think they broke the flipping mechanic in the 2nd and 3rd games though. I like the second game because it has good music.

[crazydean]

Hold the f*cking phone...HOLD IT!

JJ and Jeff is the BEST platformer on the system. What are you on?

JJ and Jeff sucks and if you like it, then by extension, you suck! j/k

Seriously though, there's nothing that can be said to convince me that's a good game. I'd rather play Impossamole. It's better than Darkwing Duck and Bravoman, so that's a win, right?

[Punch]

Hold the f*cking phone...HOLD IT!

JJ and Jeff is the BEST platformer on the system. What are you on?

JJ and Jeff sucks and if you like it, then by extension, you suck! j/k

Seriously though, there's nothing that can be said to convince me that's a good game. I'd rather play Impossamole. It's better than Darkwing Duck and Bravoman, so that's a win, right?

JJ & Jeff is the best Adventure Island game that's not Adventure Island.

[Dicer]

Hold the f*cking phone...HOLD IT!

JJ and Jeff is the BEST platformer on the system. What are you on?

JJ and Jeff sucks and if you like it, then by extension, you suck! j/k

Seriously though, there's nothing that can be said to convince me that's a good game. I'd rather play Impossamole. It's better than Darkwing Duck and Bravoman, so that's a win, right?

JJ & Jeff is the best Adventure Island game that's not Adventure Island.

Truthfact

[LowRes]

The music, boss battles, and Nostalgia is what does it for me.

It's one of the few games I had back in the day so it got a lot of play.  I still like playing every now and then and I really like the boss battles.  To keep headbutting the boss' while staying in the air is somehow so satisfying.  I can listen to Bonk's Adventure chiptune music all day long.  Love it

[Michirin9801]

Hold the f*cking phone...HOLD IT!

JJ and Jeff is the BEST platformer on the system. What are you on?

JJ and Jeff sucks and if you like it, then by extension, you suck! j/k

Seriously though, there's nothing that can be said to convince me that's a good game. I'd rather play Impossamole. It's better than Darkwing Duck and Bravoman, so that's a win, right?

I actually kinda like Bravoman though >w>
More than JJ and Jeff actually, and Pac Land too...
I mean, it's very much an acquired taste (much like the majority of Namco's other games) but you know, it has a kinda quirky charm that I can appreciate, the controls are alright, I don't mind the "BRAVO! BRAVO! BRAVO!" and DAT PARALLAX SCROLLING~
I can't help it, parallax on the Turbo makes me wet >~<';

[esteban]

Hold the f*cking phone...HOLD IT!

JJ and Jeff is the BEST platformer on the system. What are you on?

JJ and Jeff sucks and if you like it, then by extension, you suck! j/k

Seriously though, there's nothing that can be said to convince me that's a good game. I'd rather play Impossamole. It's better than Darkwing Duck and Bravoman, so that's a win, right?

I actually kinda like Bravoman though >w>
More than JJ and Jeff actually, and Pac Land too...
I mean, it's very much an acquired taste (much like the majority of Namco's other games) but you know, it has a kinda quirky charm that I can appreciate, the controls are alright, I don't mind the "BRAVO! BRAVO! BRAVO!" and DAT PARALLAX SCROLLING~
I can't help it, parallax on the Turbo makes me wet >~<';

The title screen for Yo, Bro is good for some cheap thrills, then.

Enjoy!

But Bravoman? Damn, I am still annoyed I bought that game... and it's been 20 damn years.

You'd think I would have
Let
It
Go
Already.

But I haven't.

It's a grudge.

[lukester]

Bravoman is cheap fun, I like the boss variety and the credits music. Turbo switches make it less painful

Bravo!!

[ParanoiaDragon]

Bonk, the wackiness thrills me.  The character design, charm, the music & sound effects in the first 2 games.  Spinning, bonking, the giant bosses.....& the music, did I mention the music?

As for Bravoman, I'm happy I bought that game all those years ago, love that game.  True, I use the cheats, but, always loved that game.  Impossamole is an acquired taste, to be sure.  Hated that damn game the night we rode our bikes back from Toys R Us when it came out.  Then, after soaking in the pool for awhile, my buddy & I cooled off, & decided to give it another chance.  That game has cool characters & flipping awesome music.  It's a seriously flawed game, but, I enjoy it.  And quite frankly, it's probably the best of the entire Monty Mole series, though, I can't say for sure.  I've only really played the Amiga version of Impossamole....