Play Captain Planet & the planteers Online

Switching between Planeteers to chuck fireballs or summon vines feels janky at first, but nailing those Captain Planet power-ups makes it worth the frustration. Those toxic waste pits and robot hordes don’t stand a chance when you finally nail the timing.

Developer: Chris Gray Enterprises Inc.

Genre: Action

Released: 1990

File size: 256 bytes

Game Overview

Captain Planet & the Planeteers on NES is one of those weirdly charming licensed games from the '90s. You play as the five Planeteers, each with their own elemental power—earth, wind, fire, water, and heart (which mostly just makes animals help you, honestly). The levels are full of environmental hazards like toxic waste and deforestation, which feels oddly heavy for a kids' game, but hey, that’s the '90s for you.

At first, swapping between characters feels clunky, but once you get the hang of it, combining their powers to summon Captain Planet is pretty satisfying. He’s basically invincible for a short time, which is great when you’re swarmed by polluting robots or whatever. The platforming can be janky, and some of the enemy placements are just mean, but there’s a weird nostalgia to it if you grew up with the cartoon.

It’s not the best NES game out there, but if you’ve got a soft spot for eco-conscious superheroes, it’s worth a play—just don’t expect it to be easy.