Creatures
1990
- shooter
- platform
- action
- single player
The story
The inhabitants of the pretty but insignificant planet Blot decided to leave to find a trendier planet, and escape being called the Blotians, a most unhip name. Until they such a planet, they call themselves the Fuzzy Wuzzies. Their colony ship collides with an asteroid, and crash lands in the Pacific Ocean, near an unchartered island, which they colonise, calling it "The Hippest Place in The Known Universe". Unfortunately the island is also home to rather nasty demons, who can't stand the commotion caused by the happy Fuzzies, or their silly name for the island. The demons kidnap the Fuzzy Wuzzies by hosting a massive party, then capturing them in a net, and dragging them off to the torture chambers. The only Fuzzy not caught is Clyde Radcliff, who was already being sick in the bushes. He wakes up in the morning with a really bad headache, and fiery halitosis, and sets out to destroy the demons, and rescue his friends. The game consists of 3 levels, each made up of 3 of stages. The first two stages of each level are side scrolling platformers, where Clyde must destroy the enemies by firing at them, presumably using his halitosis. At the end of each of these stages, Clyde meets a witch, who can provide him with extra firing patterns, or upgrade those he has, in exchange for 'magic potion creatures' found during the stages.
What it’s like
Bright, cartoonish sprites on busy, candy-coloured side-scrolling backdrops, with a cheeky, slapstick sensibility that keeps the menace light. Chiptune music bounces along in the background while a fuzzy hero spits fire through stages of platforming and shooting, and the game's humour (a hangover, a witch trading upgrades for collected creatures) gives it a goofy, self-aware charm. The vibe is playful and mischievous rather than tense: an afternoon's arcade-style fun on an old home computer, good for short sessions or a nostalgic evening. Pacing is quick and reactive, with levels built around jumps, enemy waves and periodic pauses between stages. Violence is cartoonish and constant, since the core loop is blasting enemies, but there is no gore and no real dread, and the tone never turns cruel. It suits retro fans, people who enjoy old 8-bit and 16-bit platformers, and anyone wanting a silly, lighthearted shooter with a comic streak.
More games like Creatures
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved Creaturesand we’ll explain which ones fit you.
