Platform gaming legend of yesteryear, ‘Bonk’, is returning to consoles in 2010. A small ’yay’ is in order, we think...

Hudson’s baldy cave-boy was a mascot for the PC Engine, waaay back in the day. He starred in a number of side-scrolling outings on other platforms too, including the cherished (but rubbish) Amiga, where he was renamed as ‘BC Kid’. However, his triumphant return will be for Xbox LIVE Arcade, PlayStation Network and WiiWare – say hello to Bonk: Brink of Extinction.

In contrast to more recent Bonk outings, Brink of Extinction is not a rehash of earlier adventures. Instead it’s all brand-new, complete with new-fangled features such as online co-op gameplay, downloadable extras and, of course, crisp HD graphics.

The action is true to the spirit of classic Bonk, though – i.e it’s a side-scrolling, brightly-coloured and slightly deranged platform game. Likewise the storyline is reassuringly retro, charting the little fella’s journey to the centre of the earth in an effort to prevent a comet wiping out all life on the planet. By all accounts Bonk will be able to transform himself into eight separate forms this time around too.

Bonk: Brink of Extinction is bound for next-gen platforms and Wii in ‘early’ 2010. Given that this is his first proper new adventure in well over a decade his comeback can’t come around soon enough. More soon, for sure.