Puss 'n Boots: Pero's Great Adventure (1990-)

• Developer: Shouei System

• Publisher: Electro Brain

• Genre: Platform

Puss ’n Boots: Pero’s Great Adventure for the NES was developed by Shouei, a studio associated with Shoei System, and released in North America in 1990. It was published by Electro Brain, bringing to the console a character already known in Japan through Toei Animation’s mascot Pero. The game is based on the 1969 film The Wonderful World of Puss ’n Boots, and it serves as a substantially altered adaptation of the Japan-only Famicom title Pero’s Walking Trip, making that earlier release its direct prequel. While the prequel never left Japan, Puss ’n Boots: Pero’s Great Adventure was tailored for Western audiences with reworked level layouts and pacing, offering the first global home-console appearance of the character.

The game follows Pero as he attempts to stay ahead of the persistent Sheriff, travelling through a mixture of fantastical and geographically themed stages. Its structure reflects the influence of both traditional platformers and the chase-oriented storytelling of the original Toei films, with each level presenting straightforward navigation, brief combat encounters and vehicle-based sequences that add variety. Players move between running stages, flying segments and underwater sections, each designed with simple controls and clearly defined hazards, creating an accessible experience aimed at younger audiences. The reliance on environmental changes and shifting perspectives was likely inspired by the broad, adventurous tone of Toei’s animated productions.

Gameplay features include weapon-based combat using throwing knives and pistols, along with rideable vehicles such as planes and submarines that alter the pacing between stages. Levels are short but diverse, taking players across deserts, forests and even a Wild West-style setting that matches the game’s cartoon influences. Enemy placement is uncomplicated, allowing players to focus on timing and traversal rather than intricate mechanics. The soundtrack uses upbeat compositions built around the NES’s sound channels, providing lively themes for each area while keeping arrangements concise to match the rapid sequence of levels.

Upon release, Puss ’n Boots: Pero’s Great Adventure was promoted as a family-friendly action game featuring a classic storybook character, though its Western marketing did not emphasise its Japanese origins. There were no sequels for the NES, and Pero’s earlier Famicom outing remained the only other entry directly connected to this version. Critics at the time gave it a mixed reception, praising its visual brightness and variety of settings but noting its brief length and relatively low difficulty. Over the years, the game has remained a minor curiosity among NES collectors due to its connection with Toei’s long-running mascot and its status as one of the console’s more unusual adaptations of a Japanese animated property.

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