Overview Camp California is a US made platformer starring 'The Official Mascots of the Beach Boys.' In it, a band of West Coast environmentalist anthropomorphic bears and pelicans must stage a benefit concert to defeat an evil beach-spoiling power plant entrepreneur. Using a number of characters with different abilities, the player must defeat enemies while recycling cans in order to power their surf woodie and drive to new levels. The Beach Boys songs Fun, Fun, Fun, I Get Around, and Good Vibrations can be heard throughout different parts of the game.
You say... Camp California has stiff controls, inscrutable level design, and an almost unfinished feel, but that’s all par for the course in these also-ran ‘90s platformers that knew full well they weren’t ever gonna be Mario or Sonic or Bonk. It’s not not fun, and the audio experience and kitsch value make up for some of the game qua game. The handful of game-licensed Beach Boys tunes are only used as glorified menu music and in a cutscene or two, but this game still manages to use that Turbo Duo technology and pack in a huge soundtrack of original music. The rock instrumentals that loop throughout gameplay are actually pretty good, and this little platformer no one ever played even has a freaking theme song. Combine that with the goofy “surf’s up, bro” voice acting and overall theme and I think Camp California at least makes for an interesting cultural artifact. Nathaniel Edwards
