Super James Pond (1993). Play online

Summary

Super James Pond on the Game Boy packs the quirky humor of the Amiga original into a pocket-size platformer. The game drops James out of Santa's toy factory and each door you open leads to a self-contained stage, eventually adding up to fifty levels of colourful, themed challenges. The only weapon is a well-timed jump - enemies are stunned from above or after the frog-like stretch of Pond's body-armor, which lets him grow vertically, cling to ceilings and drop onto foes.

Power-ups are simple but rewarding: extra lives, point bonuses and the occasional wing pair that gives a short burst of flight. Occasionally the game throws in vehicle sections, letting you commandeer a car, a plane or even a flying bathtub for a brief change of pace. All this is set to Richard Joseph's marimba-heavy rendition of the RoboCop theme, a quirky nod that still catches the ear.

Storyline

Super James Pond picks up right after its predecessor, with Acme Oil Company already smashed by James Pond. Dr. Maybe survived the blast and fled to the North Pole, where he seized Santa’s workshop and took the holiday workers—usually penguins, sometimes elves—hostage, turning many into twisted assistants. The game tasks James Pond, now equipped with a robotic suit and the codename “RoboCod,” to infiltrate Santa’s grotto, free the captive helpers, recover the stolen toys, and finally defeat Dr. Maybe. RoboCod’s suit grants superhuman strength, agility, and an extendable midsection that lets him reach otherwise impossible heights. The mission blends classic platforming with a festive twist as Pond battles through the icy lair to save Christmas.