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Creatures 2: Torture Trouble Developer: Apex Computer Productions Publisher: Thalamus Year: 1993 Rating: 9/10 Review: Ahh... the first ROM is always the hardest to choose. Especially not knowing what systems the freaks I work with want me to concentrate on. But in the end, like the guy from Highlander always says, THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!!! And the game that’s beheading its opponents with a rather large sword today is Creatures 2: Torture Trouble on the ancient old C64. Finally, after ages of loving this, I finally get a chance to impress upon you the full beauty of this game. This is one of the few games that for me really made owning a Commodore 64 worthwhile. You play as Clyde Radcliffe, a maddeningly cute, pink, furry little thing known as a “Fuzzy-Wuzzie”. The three islands that make up your homelands have been invaded by the evil Demons who (possibly during a drunken pillaging session) have managed to kidnap your children! Better yet, they intend to torture them in various disgusting and painful ways… it’s really, really, really funny. And incredibly sick. The game itself is divided into four distinct parts, the first of which is the titular “Torture Screen”. Your mission here is to rescue one of your kids. You have a set amount of time before the Fuzzy-Wuzzie is executed, so you have to act fast. Jump around the level, take out enemies with your magnificent flame-breath and ultimately kill the Demons before they kill you. Sounds simple? Trust me, it’s not. Each screen is a pretty complex puzzle, and they all have their own special touches. For example, one level sees you constantly running back and forth trying to catch Fuzzy-Wuzzies on a raft before they fall into a pool of acid. Genius. Part two is simply known as “The Interlude”. This has been ripped off countless times since (see Earthworm Jim 2’s for one example), and this may not even be the original version of this mini-game, but it’s definitely the best version I’ve played. This time around you control two Fuzzy-Wuzzies holding a trampoline between you. A nasty Demon at the top right of the screen will throw Fuzzy-Wuzzies to the ground. Your job is to catch them and successfully bounce them to the other side. It’s great fun at first, but gets incredibly tedious at the later stages of the game where you have upwards of 20 of the little guys to save. Luckily, if you get more than half of your set amount across, then you get to carry on from that point. The third instalment is the “Demon Screen”. You have to fight a whole family of Demons starting with the baby, then the big brother, and finally the daddy. You have to kick these little green snotballs into a giant vacuum cleaner. They then get sucked up and fly out of holes at the side, slamming into the flying demon. While you’re doing this however, the Demon will be dropping bombs at you. One of the most original boss battles I’ve ever seen! And finally we come to “Island Hoppin’”. Time to go on to the next Island now, but there’s only one scuba suit! Looks like you’re gonna have to carry your rescued children to the next Island on your back. This section of the game differs because it’s a scrolling screen. You have free reign of the waters, but the kids have to stay on the surface. You can dive for short times, but remember that Fuzzy-Wuzzies can only tread water for so long. You must keep them afloat as long as you can, and ferry them all across to the other side. While you’re on these levels, take a look out for Derek the Shark, he totally rules! :D Okay, since this review is so supremely long, I’ll keep this part short. The music in Creatures 2 is just sublime. I’ve actually been listening to it the whole time I’m doing this review ;) It’s bouncy and happy, completely what you’d expect with cute creatures like this. This is easily one of the top C64 games of all time. It has a really, truly original concept, and a completely twisted plot that anyone can chuckle at. It’s mad, bad, sick, twisted and hilariously fun! Play it now! Review by LD |
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