Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Developed by Software Creations and published by LJN, The Incredible Crash Dummies was released for the NES in Europe in 1993 and North America in 1994. Based on Tyco's popular early-'90s toy line, it is a colorful side-scrolling platformer with a few clever ideas built around the crash-test theme, but awkward controls and frustrating level design keep it firmly in average territory. Rating: 5/10.
The story sees the evil Junkman invading the Crash Test Center and kidnapping several dummies for use as spare parts. Slick and Spin set out to rescue their friends, taking them through five levels covering locations such as the Crash Test Center, Big Top, docks and junkyard before the final confrontation with Junkman.
Rather than controlling a single character throughout, the game alternates between Slick and Spin. One of the dummies moves around on normal legs, while Slick has a wheel replacing part of his lower body. This gives individual stages a noticeably different feel: some play like conventional platforming, while others emphasize rolling momentum and are much harder to control precisely.
That distinction is one of the game's more interesting ideas, but also the source of many of its problems. Movement can feel heavy and slippery, and Slick in particular is easily pushed backward by enemies and hazards. Jumps that initially look straightforward can become surprisingly irritating when the character does not stop or accelerate quite as expected.
The stages are packed with hazards appropriate to the licence: bouncing tires, moving machinery, aggressive dogs, traffic and other objects seemingly designed to knock the dummies apart. The Crash Dummies theme gives the game more personality than the typical licensed platformer, and watching the characters get thrown around fits the deliberately destructive humor of the toys.
Combat is fairly basic, with weapons used to deal with enemies while navigating the obstacle-heavy stages. Unfortunately, enemies are often positioned in places where avoiding damage is more annoying than challenging. Getting hit near a pit or moving hazard can easily lead to a chain reaction that costs a life, and the difficulty becomes noticeably harsher toward the end.
Presentation is one of the stronger aspects. The sprites are large, colorful and expressive, and Software Creations manages to give Slick and Spin plenty of character within the limitations of the NES. Backgrounds are comparatively simple, but locations change regularly enough to keep the short adventure visually interesting.
The music is another highlight. Geoff Follin's soundtrack is energetic and technically impressive, with the kind of busy, layered arrangements associated with Software Creations' better NES scores. It frequently leaves a stronger impression than the gameplay itself.
The Incredible Crash Dummies ultimately feels like a good concept that needed tighter controls and more carefully balanced stages. Alternating between two differently moving characters is a neat idea, the crash-test theme is used effectively, and the presentation is better than the game's reputation might suggest. Unfortunately, imprecise movement, cheap hits and repetitive platforming steadily wear down the experience.
It is short enough that dedicated NES fans can still have some fun with it, especially anyone nostalgic for the Crash Dummies toys. As a late-generation NES platformer, however, it falls well short of the system's best examples.
Developed by Software Creations and published by LJN, The Incredible Crash Dummies was released for the NES in Europe in 1993 and North America in 1994. Based on Tyco's popular early-'90s toy line, it is a colorful side-scrolling platformer with a few clever ideas built around the crash-test theme, but awkward controls and frustrating level design keep it firmly in average territory. Rating: 5/10.
The story sees the evil Junkman invading the Crash Test Center and kidnapping several dummies for use as spare parts. Slick and Spin set out to rescue their friends, taking them through five levels covering locations such as the Crash Test Center, Big Top, docks and junkyard before the final confrontation with Junkman.
Rather than controlling a single character throughout, the game alternates between Slick and Spin. One of the dummies moves around on normal legs, while Slick has a wheel replacing part of his lower body. This gives individual stages a noticeably different feel: some play like conventional platforming, while others emphasize rolling momentum and are much harder to control precisely.
That distinction is one of the game's more interesting ideas, but also the source of many of its problems. Movement can feel heavy and slippery, and Slick in particular is easily pushed backward by enemies and hazards. Jumps that initially look straightforward can become surprisingly irritating when the character does not stop or accelerate quite as expected.
The stages are packed with hazards appropriate to the licence: bouncing tires, moving machinery, aggressive dogs, traffic and other objects seemingly designed to knock the dummies apart. The Crash Dummies theme gives the game more personality than the typical licensed platformer, and watching the characters get thrown around fits the deliberately destructive humor of the toys.
Combat is fairly basic, with weapons used to deal with enemies while navigating the obstacle-heavy stages. Unfortunately, enemies are often positioned in places where avoiding damage is more annoying than challenging. Getting hit near a pit or moving hazard can easily lead to a chain reaction that costs a life, and the difficulty becomes noticeably harsher toward the end.
Presentation is one of the stronger aspects. The sprites are large, colorful and expressive, and Software Creations manages to give Slick and Spin plenty of character within the limitations of the NES. Backgrounds are comparatively simple, but locations change regularly enough to keep the short adventure visually interesting.
The music is another highlight. Geoff Follin's soundtrack is energetic and technically impressive, with the kind of busy, layered arrangements associated with Software Creations' better NES scores. It frequently leaves a stronger impression than the gameplay itself.
The Incredible Crash Dummies ultimately feels like a good concept that needed tighter controls and more carefully balanced stages. Alternating between two differently moving characters is a neat idea, the crash-test theme is used effectively, and the presentation is better than the game's reputation might suggest. Unfortunately, imprecise movement, cheap hits and repetitive platforming steadily wear down the experience.
It is short enough that dedicated NES fans can still have some fun with it, especially anyone nostalgic for the Crash Dummies toys. As a late-generation NES platformer, however, it falls well short of the system's best examples.
