Play Captain Planet & the Planeteers Online

Captain Planet and the Planeteers came out on the Sega Genesis in 1992, published by Mindscape. It was one of those many licensed games from the era, trying to capture the spirit of the Saturday morning cartoon on a 16-bit console. You knew what you were getting into just by looking at the box art; it was bright, it was loud, and it was very much of its time.

You control one of the five Planeteers, each with a different elemental power, like launching fireballs with Wheeler or creating small boulders with Gi. The goal is to fight through side-scrolling levels, defeating polluting enemies and cleaning up toxic waste. The main mechanics involve switching between characters to use their specific powers on certain obstacles, collecting rings to eventually summon Captain Planet for a brief power-up, and navigating environmental hazards. The pacing is fairly straightforward, though some enemy patterns and platforming sections can be frustrating. It feels like a straightforward, slightly clunky action platformer that relies heavily on its license for appeal.