Home /
NES

California Games

NES

NES

Get ready for the gnarliest, most radically awesome sports events under the sun! They're six of California's hottest games. Geared for daredevils - and guaranteed to get your adrenaline pumping! First, pick your sponsor. Then tackle the heavy competition in surfing, rollerskating, BMX bike racing...

Download

0/5 Votes: 0

Report

Developer
Rare

Released on
1989

Size
1–8 Players

Version
NES

Requirements
Nintendo Entertainment System

Downloads
Sports

Publisher
Milton Bradley

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

Wikipedia
View article →

Report this app

Images

Description

Get ready for the gnarliest, most radically awesome sports events under the sun! They’re six of California’s hottest games. Geared for daredevils – and guaranteed to get your adrenaline pumping! First, pick your sponsor. Then tackle the heavy competition in surfing, rollerskating, BMX bike racing and more. Take risks to score high, ’cause wimps wipe out! Trophies are awarded for single events and overall competition! So grab your gear and go for it. You’ll be up to your jams in awesome action. And you just might walk away with first prize!

California Games

Overview & History

Developed by Epyx and ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System by Rare in 1989, California Games captures the laid-back, sun-drenched counterculture of late-80s West Coast extreme sports. Unlike traditional linear platformers, this title offers a quirky multi-event sports compilation where players compete for the ultimate trophy: a sponsorship from a soda company. The NES version skillfully adapts the iconic Commodore 64 classic, retaining its distinct arcade flavor while replacing the original Frisbee event with a thrilling Downhill Skateboarding run.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

The game features four distinct events: Halfpipe Skateboarding, Footbag (Hacky Sack), Surfing, and Downhill Skateboarding. Each event utilizes completely different physics engines and control schemes. In the Halfpipe, players must carefully time their transitions up the ramp to pull off aerial tricks like ollies, kickflips, and aerial 360s without wiping out violently against the concrete. Footbag requires rhythmic, hypnotic keeping-of-the-sack in the air using feet, knees, and headers against a scenic beach backdrop. Surfing demands fluid wave-riding, dropping into the curl and executing radical slashes before the crushing white water wipes you out. Finally, Downhill Skateboarding challenges your reflexes as you dodge obstacles, leap over ramps, and pull off 180-degree jumps on a winding asphalt road.