#wavequest

Bronkie the Bronchiasaurus

Video games have always been popular with kids, so it makes sense that companies would want to capitalize on that by creating games that didn’t just entertain but teach them things about the wider world. One such company was Raya Systems, with their “Health Hero” line of Super Nintendo side-scrollers that educated players on topics such as diabetes (Captain Novolin and Packy & Marlon) or the dangers of smoking (Rex Ronan: Experimental Surgeon). None of these could be considered great games, though their heart’s at least in the right place. The same is true for Bronkie the Bronchiasaurus, an okay enough platformer starring asthmatic dinosaurs that gives you a basic introduction on understanding asthma.

Packy & Marlon

As part of Raya System’s “Health Hero” series of educational action games, WaveQuest created two platformers for the Super Nintendo. While Bronkie the Bronchiasaurus delivers a decent introduction to managing asthma through an okay platformer, Packy & Marlon isn’t able to do the same in its attempts to help players understand and manage diabetes. There’s a lack of meaningful information and consequences provided, and the underlying game is so sluggish and repetitious that it’s hard to recommend.