Dino City hits different when it boots instantly in your browser. Released in 1992 on the Super Nintendo, this retro classic from Irem is ready the second you press start — no downloads, no setup.
DinoCity is a 1992 platform video game developed and published by Irem Corporation for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.
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| Action | Keyboard | Controller |
|---|---|---|
| D-Pad Up | ↑ | D-Pad up |
| D-Pad Down | ↓ | D-Pad down |
| D-Pad Left | ← | D-Pad left |
| D-Pad Right | → | D-Pad right |
| B (bottom) | X | Bottom face |
| A (right) | Z | Right face |
| Y (left) | S | Left face |
| X (top) | A | Top face |
| L | Q | Left shoulder |
| R | E | Right shoulder |
| Start | Enter | Start |
| Select | V | Select |
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The Story Behind Dino City
While many of the game's characters including the heroes Rex, Tops, Timmy, Jamie and villains Mr. The cavewomen enemy character "Cindy" was originally designed as a large-busted woman whose character sprite was altered for the North American release due to Nintendo of America's policy against overly-sexual depictions of women on their consoles. Big, leader of a gang of Neanderthals known as The Rockeys, leaving the player to guide Timmy or Jamie to his castle to retrieve it.
While the Hard setting represents the default play mode on the English version, the Normal setting grants the player five health points instead of three, as well as unlimited continues. The game centers on two friends, Timmy and Jamie, young children who are accidentally transported to a world resembling prehistoric Earth populated by anthropomorphic dinosaurs. They are assisted by Rex, a Tyrannosaurus, and Tops, a Protoceratops, each with their own play-styles.
How Dino City Plays
Each screen resembles a different environment, and can include caves, jungles, grasslands, ice caverns, volcanoes, or cities. While controlling the children, the dinosaurs become immobile and may be used as platforms to reach otherwise inaccessible items. While Tops can throw darts to harm enemies from a distance, Rex is confined to close combat by punching them or swinging his tail.
The game supports up to two players who are given alternating turns each time the other loses a life. Each dinosaur character can defeat enemies by jumping on them, and at any point the player may relegate control to their human riders, who can freeze enemies in place by using a special energy device. The game utilizes a password system that allows players to return to the start of any level from the title screen.
Why Players Still Load It Up
DinoCity received mostly good to average reviews during its North American release. DinoCity is a 1992 platform video game developed and published by Irem Corporation for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The backgrounds vary greatly from level to level and the characters are nicely animated and drawn in a cartoon-like manner.
Electronic Gaming Monthly was impressed with the game's "colorful" graphics and "cute" character designs, stating that it "seems geared for kids, but adults can play too." However, the magazine ultimately declared that "although [the game] enjoys some of the nicest SNES wallpaper yet, the theme is less than while the pace remains stuck in molasses ... the overall execution of this title was cooler than it should be." GamePro magazine similarly declared that "the colorful cartoon-style graphics create an ancient, humorous atmosphere ... thematically the game seems aimed at the younger set." Despite its target demographic, the magazine still found it to be challenging enough for "intermediate adventurers." Nintendo Power praised the game's "colorful and very detailed" graphics and "very good" music, but found the overall experience to be "a little too difficult for beginning players." A more contemporary review of DinoCity from the website Allgame was largely in agreement with earlier editors, referring to it as "a (relatively) challenging and interesting game featuring a mind-boggling variety of levels." The game's vibrant graphics were once again touched upon, with the website calling them "not only adorable, [but] sophisticated as well. While the majority of the game remains unchanged from one region release to another, a few graphic and gameplay changes exist between the English and original Japanese versions of the game. The cavewomen enemy character "Cindy" was originally designed as a large-busted woman whose character sprite was altered for the North American release due to Nintendo of America's policy against overly-sexual depictions of women on their consoles.
Dino City — Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy the original Dino City?
See the "Other Places You Can Get This Game" section below the article for legitimate places to buy real-world versions.
What console was Dino City released on?
Irem shipped Dino City for the Super Nintendo back in 1992, and this page runs that release.
Can I save my progress in Dino City?
Yes. Create a free account and the player unlocks save states — snapshot your progress at any moment and resume later on any device.
How many players does Dino City support?
This browser version of Dino City handles 1 player(s).