Summary
- Release Year: 1985
- Genres: Platform, Puzzle
- Platforms: Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST/STE, Commodore C64/128/MAX, ZX Spectrum
- Developers: A&F Software
- Publishers: Load’N’Go Software, Pick & Choose Ltd.
Chuckie Egg II (1985): A Detailed Retrospective
Introduction
Chuckie Egg II is a 1985 platformer game developed and published by Acornsoft for the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron. It is the sequel to the 1983 game Chuckie Egg, but features significantly different gameplay. While the original game was a single-screen platformer, Chuckie Egg II is a maze-like adventure game with multiple screens and a variety of puzzles to solve.
Gameplay
The player controls Hen House Harry, who must collect eight of each of the following items: cocoa, milk, sugar, and toy parts. These items are scattered throughout a factory, and Harry must navigate through a maze of platforms, ropes, and pipes to reach them.
Harry is armed with a variety of weapons, including a gun, a bomb, and a pogo stick. He can also use these weapons to defeat the many enemies that inhabit the factory, such as spiders, bats, and ghosts.
In addition to the main objective of collecting all of the items, there are also a number of optional puzzles that Harry can solve. These puzzles often involve using the environment to Harry’s advantage, such as using a bomb to destroy a wall or using a rope to swing across a gap.
Development
Chuckie Egg II was developed by the same team that created the original game, including programmer Nigel Alderton and artist Mike Singleton. The game was originally intended to be a simple expansion of the original Chuckie Egg, but it eventually grew into a much larger and more complex game.
One of the most significant changes from the original game is the addition of a maze-like world. This allows for much more exploration and variety than the single-screen levels of the original game.
Another major change is the addition of puzzles. These puzzles help to break up the monotony of the platforming and add a new layer of challenge to the game.
Release and Reception
Chuckie Egg II was released in 1985 to critical acclaim. Critics praised the game’s graphics, gameplay, and puzzles. The game was also a commercial success, selling over 100,000 copies.
Chuckie Egg II has been ported to a number of other platforms, including the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, and Amstrad CPC. It has also been released on a number of compilation albums.
Legacy
Chuckie Egg II is considered to be one of the best platformer games of the 1980s. It is still enjoyed by many gamers today, and it continues to be ported to new platforms.
The game has also been cited as an influence on a number of other platformer games, including Super Mario Bros. and Donkey Kong Country.
Conclusion
Chuckie Egg II is a classic platformer game that offers a unique and challenging experience. With its maze-like world, variety of enemies, and clever puzzles, it is a must-play for fans of the genre.
Review Score
7/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
