On MSX computers, Konami's The Goonies from 1986 holds an almost sacred standing. This platformer based on the film of the same name by Richard Donner put you in charge of the band of Goonies and sent them through a maze of underground caves after the pirate Willy's treasure and, above all, to rescue their captured friends.
The gameplay concept was cleverly intertwined for its time: you had to complete each of the eight levels by freeing a captured Goonie, which often required the coordination of two characters — one to hold a mechanism, the other to slip through. On top of that, you had to watch out for enemies like the Fratellis, collect keys, and uncover hidden passages. Konami spiced the game up with its trademark feel for melody and a resonant rendition of the film's theme, which just about everyone on MSX came to love.
Why do retro players still revere The Goonies today? It was one of the first games to bring a combination of action, puzzles, and a film license to the 8-bit MSX in such a polished form. In Japan it became such a hit that Konami even made an improved sequel, The Goonies II. For MSX owners it remains a symbol of the golden age of this often overlooked platform.
Game 27 of 29 for MSX / MSX2
