''Defenders of Dynatron City'' is a

video game Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This fee ...

released for the

Nintendo Entertainment System The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is an 8-bit third-generation home video game console produced by Nintendo. It was first released in Japan in 1983 as the commonly known as the The NES, a redesigned version, was released in America ...

by JVC Musical Industries and Lucasfilm Games (later,

LucasArts Lucasfilm Games (known as LucasArts between 1990 and 2021) is an American video game brand licensing, licensor that is part of Lucasfilm. It was founded in May 1982 by George Lucas as a video game development group alongside his film company; as ...

) in August 1992. The designer of the game was

Gary Winnick Gary Winnick is an American financier best known for founding and being Chairman of Global Crossing between 1997 and 2002, when it declared bankruptcy. As of 2015, he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Winnick & Company, a Los Ange ...

. This was Winnick's first project as sole designer. He was previously the co-designer of ''

Maniac Mansion ''Maniac Mansion'' is a 1987 graphic adventure video game developed and published by Lucasfilm Games. It follows teenage protagonist Dave Miller as he attempts to rescue his girlfriend Sandy Pantz from a mad scientist, whose mind has been ensla ...

'', alongside

Ron Gilbert Ron Gilbert (born January 1, 1964) is an American video game designer, video-game designer, video game programmer, programmer, and video game producer, producer. His games are generally focused on interactive story-telling, and he is arguably bes ...

. It was supported by a short-lived media franchise consisting of an animated TV pilot and a six-issues comic book series.

Video game

The game centers on a team of

superhero A superhero or superheroine is a stock character that typically possesses ''superpowers'', abilities beyond those of ordinary people, and fits the role of the hero, typically using his or her powers to help the world become a better place, ...

es who protect a futuristic metropolis from Dr. Mayhem and his robotic henchmen. The Defenders are: * Ms. Megawatt (voiced by

Whoopi Goldberg Caryn Elaine Johnson (born November 13, 1955), known professionally as Whoopi Goldberg (), is an American actor, comedian, author, and television personality.Kuchwara, Michael (AP Drama Writer)"Whoopi Goldberg: A One-Woman Character Parade". ' ...

in the animated special), who can generate electrical energies. * Jet Headstrong (voiced by

Pat Fraley Patrick Howard Fraley (born February 18, 1949) is an American voice actor and voice-over teacher, known as the voice of Krang, Casey Jones, Baxter Stockman and numerous other characters in the 1987 ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' animated tele ...

in the animated special), who can fire his head like a rocket. * Buzzsaw Girl (voiced by

Candi Milo Candyce Anne Rose "Candi" Milo (born January 9, 1961) Timestamps: (00:27:12-00:27:45) Milo states that she is "firmly 51". (00:06:40-00:06:47) Milo states that she was born in Palm Springs. (00:16:23-00:16:25) She says her birthday is in Januar ...

in the animated special), who has a buzzsaw blade instead of legs and feet. * Toolbox (voiced by David Coburn in the animated special), a robot with a smashing hammer head and a litany of useful tool options he can use in combat. * Monkey Kid (voiced by

Brian Stokes Mitchell Brian Stokes Mitchell (born October 31, 1957) is an American actor and singer. A powerful baritone, he has been one of the central leading men of the Broadway theater since the 1990s. He won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 2000 for ...

in the animated special), a blue monkey armed with exploding bananas and leader of the team. * Radium Dog, who can fly and has jaws strong enough to pick up cars with his mouth.

Critical response

The game won praise in its preproduction by many video game magazines for the creation of an original superhero team. However, when the game was released it was widely panned by video game critics for, among other things, having a notoriously poor hit detection that required extremely precise aim for attacks to hit enemies.

TV special

The animated pilot was produced by DIC Animation City and was aired on the

Fox Kids Fox Kids (originally known as Fox Children's Network and later as the Fox Kids Network; stylized as FOX KIDS) was an American children's block programming, programming block and branding for a slate of international children's television channel ...

block on February 22, 1992. It featured the voices of

and

Tim Curry Timothy James Curry (born 19 April 1946) is an English actor and singer. He rose to prominence for his portrayal of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the film ''The Rocky Horror Picture Show'' (1975), reprising the role he had originated in the 1973 London ...

. Originally, Doctor Mayhem was voiced by

Christopher Walken Christopher Walken (born Ronald Walken; March 31, 1943) is an American actor. Prolific in film, television and on stage, Walken is the recipient of numerous accolades including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Awar ...

. Steve Purcell recalled that the producers at the last minute replaced him with a more cartooney voice. It failed to be picked up as a series, but was subsequently released on VHS. No DVD or digital download release has surfaced as of yet.

Comics

The

comic book A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are of ...

adaptation was published

Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Co ...

. Written by

Steve Purcell Steven Ross Purcell (born October 1, 1961) is an American cartoonist, animator, game designer and voice actor. He is the creator of the media franchise ''Sam & Max'', for which Purcell received an Eisner Award in 2007. The series has grown to i ...

and penciled by

Frank Cirocco Frank Cirocco (born June 13, 1956) is an American comics artist and video game designer best known as the co-creator of ''Alien Legion'' with Carl Potts and Alan Zelenetz. Early life Frank Cirocco moved from Elmwood Park, New Jersey to San Jose, ...

, it ran for six monthly issues, dated from February through July 1992.

References

External links

* {{moby game, id=/defenders-of-dynatron-city, name=''Defenders of Dynatron City''
GameFAQs
1992 video games LucasArts games North America-exclusive video games Nintendo Entertainment System games Nintendo Entertainment System-only games Science fiction video games Superhero teams Television pilots not picked up as a series Video games adapted into comics Video games developed in the United States Video games scored by George Sanger