Shack's Arcade Corner: Bucky O'Hare

Welcome to another edition of the Shack Arcade Corner. In each episode, we take a look at the coin-op classics that defined a generation. This week, we point our crosshairs at Konami’s 1992 side-scrolling shoot ‘em up, Bucky O’Hare.

Based on the cartoon (which itself was based on a 1970’s comic series), Bucky O’Hare allowed up to four players to run and gun their way through multiple levels of colorful action. The show itself only had a run that lasted one year, but like any children’s entertainment property from this time period, it came with a tsunami of licensed toys and memorabilia. The arcade game was produced on license from Hasbro, who was in charge of making toys based on the cartoon.

While the game features a sharp, colorful art style that was a strong technical accomplishment the year it debuted, the lackluster gameplay kept it from becoming a coin-op classic. The game has four unique characters to choose from, but they offered no gameplay differences. Like the cartoon, the Bucky O’Hare arcade game simply vanished into oblivion.

Chris Jarrard

Contributing Tech Editor

Chris Jarrard likes playing games, crankin' tunes, and looking for fights on obscure online message boards. He understands that breakfast food is the only true food. Don't @ him.