Big Nose the Caveman
A caveman platformer with clubbing, not jumping.
Big Nose the Caveman is a platform game where players scroll sideways. It was made by Optimus Software and came out in 1991, published by Camerica for the NES and by Codemasters for the Amiga and Atari ST. A Master System and Game Gear version, titled Dinobasher, was finished but never released. A sequel, Big Nose Freaks Out, followed in 1992.
In the game, Big Nose runs across several islands to find food because he is very hungry. He collects bones to spend in shops on spells, upgrades, and other items. The game is tough because losing all lives means you cannot restart from the last checkpoint. It is also long, with four islands—Paradise, Monster, Terror, and Chaos—each containing multiple levels. Big Nose dies in one hit unless he has stones, which he can shoot from his club (up to three at a time) to kill enemies. There are many pitfalls, traps, and deadly lava or water, as Big Nose cannot swim.
Allgame gave the game 2.5 out of 5 stars, pointing out that the main difference from other platformers is that players must club enemies rather than jump on them. The review concluded that aside from that, Big Nose is just an average genre effort with large characters, flat backgrounds, and uninteresting environments.
- Developer
- Optimus Software
- Publisher
- Camerica (NES), Codemasters (Amiga, Atari ST)
- Release Year
- 1991
- Platforms
- Nintendo Entertainment System, Amiga, Atari ST
- Genre
- Side-scrolling platform game
- Sequel
- Big Nose Freaks Out (1992)
Quick Facts
- Title
- Big Nose the Caveman
- Developer
- Optimus Software, Codemasters
- Publisher
- Camerica (NES), Codemasters (Amiga, Atari ST)
- Released
- NA · 1991
- Composer
- Allister Brimble, Matthew Grey
- Genre
- Platform
- Modes
- Single-player
- Platforms
- NES, Amiga, Atari ST
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Big Nose the Caveman is a side-scrolling platform game developed by Optimus Software and released in 1991 by Camerica for the Nintendo Entertainment System and by Codemasters for the Amiga and the Atari ST. A Master System and Game Gear version called Dinobasher was completed, but never published. The game was followed by a sequel, Big Nose Freaks Out, in 1992.
Reader's Guide
Big Nose the Caveman is notable for its unusual combat mechanic: the player must club enemies with a club that can shoot up to three stones, rather than jumping on them as in most platformers. The game is considered difficult due to the inability to restart from the last checkpoint once all lives are lost, and it is very long, spanning four islands—Paradise Island, Monster Island, Terror Island, and Chaos Island—each containing several levels. Big Nose dies in a single hit unless he has stones, and there are many pitfalls, traps, and deadly lava or water, as Big Nose cannot swim. Allgame gave a rating of 2.5 out of 5 stars, noting the major difference from other platformers is the clubbing mechanic, but concluding that otherwise the game is merely an adequate genre effort with large characters, flat backgrounds, and uninteresting environments. The game's legacy is modest, remembered primarily for its unique combat and high difficulty, as well as the unreleased Dinobasher versions.
Did You Know?
- Big Nose the Caveman was released in 1991 by Camerica for the NES and by Codemasters for the Amiga and Atari ST.
- A Master System and Game Gear version called Dinobasher was completed but never published.
- The game has four islands: Paradise Island, Monster Island, Terror Island, and Chaos Island.
- Big Nose dies in a single hit unless he has stones, which can shoot out of his club.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Big Nose the Caveman?
It is a side-scrolling platformer from 1991 in which a perpetually hungry caveman sprints across a series of islands searching for food. The game was developed by Optimus Software and shipped on the NES, Amiga, and Atari ST.
Who published Big Nose the Caveman and on which systems?
Camerica handled the Nintendo Entertainment System release, while Codemasters put out the Amiga and Atari ST editions, all arriving in 1991. Every version was built by the same studio, Optimus Software.
How does the gameplay of Big Nose the Caveman actually work?
You steer Big Nose from island to island, gathering bones that act as in-game currency for purchasing spells, upgrades, and other gear at shop stalls. The title is notoriously unforgiving because losing every last life locks you out of checkpoint-based restarts, forcing a full run.
Was a Sega port of Big Nose the Caveman ever released?
A Master System and Game Gear version called Dinobasher was fully completed by the team but never made it to retail shelves. It remains an unreleased title that collectors and fans still discuss.
Is there a sequel to Big Nose the Caveman?
Yes, Big Nose Freaks Out followed in 1992 as a direct continuation. The original 1991 game is often summarized by fans as a caveman platformer built around clubbing your way through rather than jumping.
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