California Raisins - The Grape Escape (USA) (Proto2)

California Raisins - The Grape Escape (USA) (Proto2) is a prototype build of a game for the Nintendo Entertainment System featuring the California Raisins, a fictional musical group of anthropomorphized raisins popular in the 1980s. This version is an early pre-release prototype, not a final commercial product, and is known primarily through ROM archival sites such as retrogames.cc. Because it is labeled Proto2, it represents a second iteration in development, but the full official release either never materialized or is extremely rare.

As a platformer typical of the NES era, the gameplay likely involves guiding one of the California Raisins through side-scrolling levels filled with obstacles and enemies. Players probably control movement, jumping, and possibly some form of attack or interaction. The mechanics would be consistent with other licensed platformers of the late 80s and early 90s, focusing on timing jumps and avoiding hazards rather than complex combat or exploration.

This prototype offers collectors and enthusiasts a glimpse into an unusual licensed game that never reached full release, making it a curiosity among NES platformers. While it may not match the polish of completed titles from the era, it provides a snapshot of the development process and the kinds of media tie-ins attempted on the NES. Fans of obscure or unreleased games will find value in exploring its quirks compared to more polished platformers of the time.