Fatman Adventures Review

Written by: David Laprad Published: January 13, 2005 Ever wondered if the developers of classic video games knew how enduring their creations would be? When Toru Iwatani sat down to create Pac-Man, did he foresee a global gaming phenomenon that would stretch across decades? Did he understand how his ideas would provide inspiration for countless new games? I wondered about this while playing Fatman Adventures, a gem from Another Day, a group of developers that hails from the Ukraine. Fatman Adventures takes its cues from Lode Runner, one of the ancient Holy Grails of arcade gameplay. For the tech-savvy whippersnappers among you who cut your teeth on 3D accelerators and Pentium Processors, the original Lode Runner is an 80's release for various home computing platforms. The player controlled a treasure hunter who scurried across platforms, scaled ladders and dug through dirt to collect gold. The genius of the gameplay rested in the enemies, who tracked the Lode Runner with a fierce persistence and would kill him on contact. To solve a level, the player had navigate the screen in such a manner that he or she tricked the enemies into taking paths that kept them away from the gold digger or lured them into traps. Given the time in which it was created, Lode Runner was an ode to simplicity; the graphics were two-dimensional and the levels resided on a single screen. This didn't keep the game from becoming a classic, though; it earned a sizable following, spawned numerous remakes and remains a stimulus for many new titles. Thankfully, the developers not only pay loving homage to Lode Runner but also include enough new material to make their game worth playing. Like the classic on which Fatman Adventures is based, the action takes place on a single screen, allowing you to take in the entire picture before setting out to collect treasure. Our hero, who runs, climbs and digs in standard fashion, is best described as a cute blob with arms and legs. His goal: To avoid enemies while collecting gems and hidden treasure. Once the screen is clear of goodies, a door to the next level appears. That's where the similarities to Lode Runner end. As you progress, you'll find tools that help Fatman get the better of his adversaries. These include pistols that can fire one shot, shovels that can tunnel through walls and nets that can permanently trap one enemy. Since Fatman's foes come in three varieties of intelligence ranging from doltish to cunning, saving the net to capture one of the smarter opponents is a good idea. You can also shake a tail by using Fatman's fist to dig a hole in the ground; if the enemy falls into the opening and doesn't climb out before it fills in a few seconds later, it'll die and respawn elsewhere. Another Day has also thrown in several temporary powerups, including invisibility, rollerblades for more speed, a deadly fire ball that surrounds Fatman and a snowflake that freezes all of the monsters in their tracks. Additional bonuses include binoculars that reveal hidden treasure, extra lives, first aid kits (Fatman loses health when he falls a great distance), lighting bolts that kill all of the enemies and keys that open the door to the next level. Most levels contain only a few powerups and bonuses, leaving you to do the heavy lifting. The level design has also been spiced up since the days of Lode Runner. In addition to ladders and soil, the developers threw in rocky terrain through which Fatman can't dig, frozen soil that slows our hero down, vines for crossing gaps, pools of water in which Fatman will drown, bushes behind which he can hide, columns of steam that lift him upward, teleporters and elevators. Another Day uses these elements in a carefully measured manner to create levels that range from simple to demanding. Even the toughest maps can solved with persistence, however, as the gameplay has been finely tuned to tip the scales in your favor. The controls are simple, Fatman responds well to input and his speed is a shade faster than that of his enemies, allowing him to outrun unrelenting creatures and set traps. (Remember how eating dots would slow Pac-Man down? Subtle touches like that made the classics great and continue to boost the playability of today's best games.) In addition to the wonderful gameplay, another reason to play Fatman is the graphics. To begin with, the teeming woodland backgrounds are vibrant and colorful. What's more, the hand-drawn animation is full of character. Watch how Fatman huffs and puffs to catch his breath when he stops running. From the artwork to the animation, Fatman Adventures demonstrates Another Day's knack for creating pleasing visuals. You can even play full screen or in a window. The only welcome addition would be a greater variety of enemies. The audio, while not dazzling, shows up for work and puts in a full day. The developers use well-placed sounds to tell the player what's going on and add character to Fatman. (When he whines after a long fall, it's kind of touching.) Fatman Adventures isn't new; the game first appeared in 2002. Another Day has released a version 1.4 update, however, that includes bug fixes, better menu navigation and spiffy new artwork for the title screen. The developers have also created four additional episodes containing 50 levels apiece. Each add-on also contains new backgrounds set in fresh locations. The original Fatman Adventures costs $14.95, while the expansion packs have an asking price of $9.95 each for hours of fun. Even if you've never played Lode Runner, you need Fatman Adventures in your life. It strikes a perfect balance of simplicity, addictiveness and beauty. Moreover, it's a casual PC game everyone in your family can enjoy. The little guy can't gather all those gems alone, so give him a hand!