Town & Country Surf Designs: Thrilla’s Surfari

Town & Country Surf Designs: Thrilla’s Surfari is a colorful NES action platformer released in 1992 by LJN and developed by Sculptured Software. It follows Thrilla, a tough-looking gorilla with a surfboard, on a journey through a series of hazardous tropical environments. Although the game carries the branding of a surf company, much of the action takes place away from the open beach, with jungle paths, cliffs, caves, and other dangerous terrain providing the setting for its side-scrolling stages.

Thrilla’s main challenge is reaching the end of each area while dealing with enemies, gaps, steep drops, and environmental hazards. The surfboard is more than a visual prop: it helps define the game’s movement and gives certain sections a distinctly board-riding feel. On foot, Thrilla can jump across platforms and use his physical strength to deal with threats, though careful timing is often more useful than simply charging ahead. The level layouts can be demanding, particularly when hazards are placed close together or the screen gives little warning about what lies ahead.

The game has the bright, exaggerated look associated with Town & Country Surf Designs, but its play is firmly rooted in the challenging platformers common on the NES. Its unusual hero, energetic presentation, and mix of jungle exploration with surfing-themed action give it a personality of its own, even when the controls and obstacles require patience.

For players revisiting overlooked 8-bit adventures, Thrilla’s Surfari offers a curious snapshot of early-1990s licensed gaming. It is a straightforward one-player experience that rewards memorizing hazards and refining jumps. You can play online on your browser through RetroCloud and see how this unconventional NES outing holds up today.