Play The Three Stooges Online

I remember picking up The Three Stooges for the NES back in 1989. It was developed by Beam Software and published by Activision, one of those many licensed games that tried to capture the spirit of a show on the console. It fit right in with the era, a side-scroller that relied on familiar characters rather than groundbreaking ideas.

You control Moe, Larry, or Curly, each with their own slight differences, as you run through levels trying to earn enough money to save an orphanage. The main action involves hitting enemies with a slap attack or throwing pies, and you collect hammers, saws, and other tools to unlock new areas. The game is broken into different episodes, like a pie fight or a hospital chase, which keeps the pacing from getting too repetitive, though the difficulty can spike unexpectedly. It feels exactly like controlling a cartoon, complete with the silly sound effects and constant, frantic movement.