Alfred Chicken

Last updated

Alfred Chicken
Alfred Chicken cover.jpg
European Amiga cover art
Developer(s) Twilight
Möbius Entertainment (GBC, PS)
Publisher(s) Mindscape
SCi Games (GBC)
Sony Computer Entertainment (PS1)
Designer(s) Jason McGann
Peter Tattersall
Composer(s) David Whittaker
Mark Knight (Amiga)
Platform(s) Amiga, Amiga CD32, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, NES, PlayStation, Super NES
ReleaseAmiga
Amiga CD32
NES
  • EU: 1993
  • NA: February 1994
GB
  • EU: 1993
  • NA: February 1994
  • JP: 29 July 1995 [1]
SNES
  • NA: February 1994
  • EU: 1994
GBC
  • EU: September 2000
PlayStation
Genre(s) Platform
Mode(s) Single-player

Alfred Chicken is a platform video game developed by Twilight and published by Mindscape. The game was released for Amiga, Amiga CD32, Game Boy, NES, Super NES in 1993 and February 1994, in Europe and North America, respectively. After Twilight's dissolution, Jason McGann retained the rights to the game. A Europe-exclusive remake of the game, entitled Alfred's Adventure, was developed by Möbius Entertainment and released by SCi for Game Boy Color in June 2000. [3] Another remake, named Alfred Chicken, was also developed by King Monkey, a division of Möbius Entertainment, and released by Sony Computer Entertainment for PlayStation in 2002.

Contents

Gameplay

The player takes the role of a chicken named Alfred who must find his way through bizarre levels full of balloons, telephones, cheese, and other strange elements. While he is on the ground, Alfred can walk, jump, and peck balloons and ground switches. While he is in the air he can dive bomb enemies or springs. Dive bombing enemies will destroy them. Dive bombing springs will bounce Alfred much higher so he can reach platforms well above his normal jumping ability. If he does not hit an enemy or a spring, Alfred will get stuck in the ground for a short time.

To complete a level, Alfred must find and peck all the balloons. The last balloon will take him to a boss fight. If Alfred dies, he starts as an egg located at the last balloon pecked. In the Super NES version, finding the big balloon results in a Stage Clear.

Alfred can receive a few power-ups during the game. For one power-up, he must answer a telephone in secret areas to make Mr. Pekles (a giant flower) give him a pot of jam. The jam gives Alfred the ability to shoot a bomb (about the size of Alfred himself) which bounces around the screen collecting items and hurting enemies. Another power-up is a worm that spins around Alfred destroying enemies that it touches. The player must find a can of worms to get this power-up.

Release

The Game Boy game was the original version. Two revisions exist: the monochrome original, and a Super Game Boy version with a level select feature. The latter was developed by Hookstone and released by Sunsoft in Japan. It was later re-released for Game Boy Color as Alfred's Adventure in 2000.

The Amiga version is the same as the Game Boy game and is identical except for its color graphics and increased screen resolution. The NES edition of the game is essentially a watered-down port of the Game Boy version. It features only five levels, which were originally in the Game Boy game.

The SNES game, Super Alfred Chicken, uses the same mechanics as the prior versions, but has entirely different level layouts and functions as a sequel. It suffered from mediocre reviews.

The game for the original PlayStation was released only in the PAL region. It features 2.5D action and is a brand-new game rather than a port. It was developed by Möbius Entertainment and released by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe in 2002.

An unannounced version for the Sega Genesis was obtained by Piko Interactive in 2016, getting their hands on an unfinished binary from the original developer and intending to finish it up for a tentative 2017 release. [4] However, conflicting rights with the ownership of the Alfred Chicken character have ultimately prevented this to happen as of the present date. [5]

Marketing

Karl Fitzhugh, the Product Manager of the Amiga version of the Alfred Chicken video game, ran as the Alfred Chicken Party candidate in the 1993 Christchurch, Dorset by-election. The exercise was done to promote the original game's release. Fitzhugh finished second last with 18 votes, two votes ahead of the Rainbow Party candidate. [6]

The marketing attempt was partially successful. The Alfred Chicken Party was cited, along with other "frivolous or 'commercial' candidates", as a reason to increase the number of signatures required for an individual to be nominated as a political candidate at an election. [7]

There was also a toll-free number set up after the US release, which could be called to hear Alfred himself give a promotional speech about the game.

Reception

Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the Super NES version a 6.6 out of 10, calling it "a slow-moving game requiring more strategy than being able to run, jump and grab items! It takes a while to get into the swing of it, though." [19] They gave the NES version a 5 out of 10, explaining that it retains the large levels and good controls of the Super NES version, but that the drastically lower quality graphics and sounds make the game less enjoyable. [18] Reviewing the NES version, GamePro praised the challenging gameplay, the "cartoony" graphics, the "bouncy, loopy audio", and the "crisp controls", and determined the game to be a must-have for NES fans in light of how few games were being released for the system at that point. [20] On release, Famicom Tsūshin scored the Game Boy version of the game a 22 out of 40. [25] In Nintendo Power , the NES version was scored a three out of five. While they did like the big sizes of each level and occasionally comical graphics, they ultimately found it to be just another typical platformer. [21]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Addams Family: Pugsleys Scavenger Hunt</i> 1992 video game

The Addams Family: Pugsley's Scavenger Hunt is a platform game released by Ocean in 1992 in Europe and 1993 in North America. It is based on the 1992 animated series. It was released in North America for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in February 1993, Game Boy in July 1993, and the Nintendo Entertainment System in August 1993.

<i>Battletoads/Double Dragon</i> 1993 video game

Battletoads/Double Dragon is a 1993 beat 'em up developed by Rare and published by Tradewest. It was originally released for the Nintendo Entertainment System and later ported to the Mega Drive/Genesis, Super NES, and Game Boy. The SNES version was released on Nintendo Switch Online in September 2024; it was the game's first re-release as it was not released on the Rare Replay collection.

<i>Last Action Hero</i> (video game) 1994 video game

Last Action Hero is a series of action video games based on the 1993 film of the same name. Versions were released for the NES, Super NES, Sega Genesis, Game Boy, Game Gear, and MS-DOS. Versions were also planned for the Sega CD and Master System, but ultimately were not released.

<i>Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi</i> 1994 video game

Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, also known as Super Return of the Jedi, is a 1994 action video game developed by LucasArts and Sculptured Software and published by JVC Musical Industries for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is a sequel to Super Star Wars (1992) and Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1993) and is based on the 1983 film Return of the Jedi. It was ported to the Game Boy and Game Gear by Realtime Associates, which were published by THQ in 1995. The game was re-released on the Wii Virtual Console in North America on September 7, 2009 and in PAL regions on October 16, 2009, alongside the other games in the Super Star Wars series.

<i>Krustys Fun House</i> 1992 video game

Krusty's Fun House is a puzzle video game based on the animated sitcom The Simpsons.

<i>Total Carnage</i> 1992 video game

Total Carnage is a multidirectional shooter arcade video game originally developed and published by Midway in North America in January 1992. Set in the fictional country of Kookistan during 1999, players assume the role of Captain Carnage and Major Mayhem from the Doomsday Squad in a last-ditch effort to overthrow dictator General Akhboob and his army of mutants from conquering the world, while also rescuing POWs held by his military force.

<i>Bram Stokers Dracula</i> (video game) 1993 video game

Bram Stoker's Dracula is a 1993 video game released for the Mega Drive/Genesis, Nintendo Entertainment System, Super NES, Game Boy, Master System, Sega CD, Game Gear, MS-DOS, and Amiga. It is based on the 1992 film Bram Stoker's Dracula which in turn is based on the 1897 novel Dracula by Bram Stoker. Most versions are platform games. The Sega CD and Amiga releases are beat 'em ups, and the MS-DOS version is a first-person shooter. The Amiga version was released in 1994 for North America and Europe. A CD-ROM version for MS-DOS compatible operating systems was released in 1995.

<i>Hook</i> (video game) Video game based on the eponymous 1991 film

There have been several video games based on the 1991 film Hook. A side-scrolling platform game for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and Game Boy was released in the United States in February 1992. Subsequent side-scrolling platform games were released for the Commodore 64 and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), and an arcade beat ‘em up by Irem later in 1992, followed by versions for the Sega CD, Sega Genesis, and Sega's handheld Game Gear console in 1993.

<i>The Jungle Book</i> (video game) 1994 video game

Disney's The Jungle Book is a series of platform video games based on the 1967 Disney animated film of the same name. The game was released by Virgin Interactive Entertainment in 1994 for the Game Boy, Nintendo Entertainment System, Master System, Genesis/Mega Drive, Game Gear, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and MS-DOS. While gameplay is the same on all versions, technological differences between the systems forced changes – in some case drastic – in level design, resulting in six fairly different versions of the 'same' game. This article is largely based upon the Genesis/Mega Drive version.

<i>Lethal Weapon</i> (video game) 1992 video game

Lethal Weapon is a video game based on the film series of the same name created by Shane Black. It was developed by Ocean Software and Eurocom and released in 1992 and 1993 by Ocean and Nintendo. It was released in conjunction with Lethal Weapon 3, the third installment of the series.

<i>Joe & Mac</i> 1991 video game

Joe & Mac, also known as Caveman Ninja and Caveman Ninja: Joe & Mac, is a run and gun platform game released as an arcade video game by Data East in 1991. It was adapted for the Super NES, Mega Drive/Genesis, Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy, Amiga, Zeebo, Nintendo Switch, and IBM PC compatibles.

<i>RoboCop 3</i> (video game) 1991 video game

RoboCop 3 is a video game based on the 1993 film of the same name. Amiga, Atari ST and DOS versions were developed by Digital Image Design beginning in September 1990, and published by Ocean Software in December 1991. The Digital Image Design version includes multiple gameplay styles. During 1992 and 1993, other versions consisting of side-scrolling platform gameplay were released for the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, NES, Super NES, Game Gear, Master System, and Sega Genesis.

<i>Spankys Quest</i> 1991 video game

Spanky's Quest is an action game published in 1991 by Natsume, for the Game Boy and Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES).

<i>Alien 3</i> (video game) 1992 video game

Alien 3 is a run and gun game based on the 1992 film of the same name. It was released for the Genesis and Amiga in 1992, then for the Commodore 64, Game Boy, Game Gear, Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and Master System.

<i>The Addams Family</i> (video game) 1992 video game

The Addams Family is a platform game based on the 1991 film of the same name and developed and published by Ocean Software. It was released for home consoles such as the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, computers such as the Amiga, and handheld consoles like the Game Boy.

<i>Waynes World</i> (video game) 1993 video game

Wayne's World is an action video game based on the film of the same name and released in 1993 by THQ. Different versions of the game were released; the NES and Game Boy games were developed by Radical Entertainment and feature both protagonists Wayne and Garth as playable characters. The Super NES and Sega Mega Drive/Genesis games were developed by Gray Matter and feature only Wayne as a playable character.

<i>Paperboy 2</i> 1991 video game

Paperboy 2 is an action video game, the sequel to the arcade video game Paperboy. It was released in 1991–1992 for Amiga, Amstrad CPC, MS-DOS, Game Boy, Game Gear, Genesis, Nintendo Entertainment System, Super NES, and ZX Spectrum. While Paperboy debuted in arcades and was subsequently ported to personal computers and consoles, the sequel was only released for home systems.

<i>Magic Boy</i> (video game) 1993 video game

Magic Boy is a platform game developed by Blue Turtle and published for the Amiga, Atari ST, and MS-DOS by Empire Interactive in 1993. A Super Nintendo Entertainment System version was published in 1996 in North America and Europe by JVC Musical Industries.

<i>The Lost Vikings</i> 1993 video game

The Lost Vikings is a 1993 puzzle-platform game developed by Silicon & Synapse and published by Interplay. It was initially released for the Super NES, then subsequently released for the Amiga, Amiga CD32, MS-DOS, and Mega Drive/Genesis. The Mega Drive/Genesis version contains five stages not present in any other version of the game, and can also be played by three players simultaneously. Blizzard re-released the game for the Game Boy Advance in 2003. In 2014, the game was added to Battle.net, emulated through DOSBox. In celebration of the company's 30th anniversary, The Lost Vikings was re-released for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as part of the Blizzard Arcade Collection in February 2021.

<i>The Blues Brothers: Jukebox Adventure</i> 1993 video game

The Blues Brothers: Jukebox Adventure is a video game based on the band The Blues Brothers and a sequel to The Blues Brothers. The game was released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1993 and for IBM PC compatibles and Game Boy in 1994. An Amiga port was developed and even reviewed by several videogame magazines, but never released.

References

  1. ↑ "アルフレッドチキン" (in Japanese). Famitsu . Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  2. 1 2 Jenkins, Mike (April 2002). "Alfred Chicken". Official UK PlayStation Magazine . No. 83. Future Publishing. p. 36.
  3. ↑ "Alfred's Adventure". IGN . May 23, 2000. Archived from the original on January 1, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Lost Levels :: View topic - Piko Interactive's Proto/Copyright Acquisitions - Official".
  5. ↑ "Found an undumped and unreleased Genesis game - Alfred Chicken - Page 3". Archived from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  6. ↑ British Parliamentary Election Results 1983-1997
  7. ↑ Parliament.uk - Memorandum by the Director of Campaigns and Elections of the Liberal Democrats
  8. ↑ Miller, Skyler. "Alfred Chicken - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Amiga Action Issue 51". December 1993.
  10. ↑ Clays, Simon. "Gamer: Alfred Chicken". Amiga Computing . No. 68. Europress. p. 142.
  11. ↑ Osborne, Ian; Marke, Chris. "Reviews: Alfred Chicken". Amiga Force . No. 13. Europress Impact. pp. 44–45.
  12. ↑ Baguley, Richard (December 1993). "Game Review: Alfred Chicken". Amiga Format . No. 68. Future Publishing. p. 98.
  13. ↑ Davies, Jonathan (November 1993). "entertainment now!: Alfred Chicken". Amiga Power . No. 31. Future Publishing. p. 98.
  14. ↑ "Game Reviews: Alfred Chicken". Amiga User International . Vol. 8, no. 1. AUI Limited. January 1994. p. 80.
  15. ↑ Tipping, Amanda (December 1993). "Review: Alfred Chicken". Computer and Video Games . No. 145. Tower Publishing. p. 40.
  16. ↑ "Alfred Chicken". PlayStation Official Magazine – UK . No. 246. Dennis Publishing. May 2002. p. 100.
  17. ↑ Skews, Rik (February 1994). "Review: Alfred Chicken". Computer and Video Games . No. 246. Tower Publishing. p. 100.
  18. 1 2 "Review Crew: Alfred Chicken (NES)". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 56. EGM Media, LLC. March 1994. p. 42.
  19. 1 2 "Review Crew: Alfred Chicken (SNES)". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 54. EGM Media, LLC. January 1994. p. 42.
  20. 1 2 LaMancha, Manny (May 1994). "ProReview: Alfred Chicken". GamePro . No. 58. IDG. p. 80.
  21. 1 2 "Now Playing - Alfred Chicken". Nintendo Power . No. 127. Nintendo. February 1994. p. 106.
  22. ↑ Smith, Jonathan (January 1994). "Alfred Chicken". Super Play. No. 15. Future Publishing. pp. 40–41.
  23. ↑ "Total Issue 11". May 1993.
  24. ↑ "Total Issue 23". November 1993.
  25. 1 2 NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: アルフレッドチキン. Weekly Famicom Tsūshin. No.345. Pg.32. 28 July 1995.
  26. ↑ "Alfred Chicken GB Nintendo Game Zone #6 Review". April 1993.
  27. ↑ "Alfred Chicken NES Nintendo Game Zone #13 Review". November 1993.
  28. ↑ "Alfred Chicken SNES Nintendo Game Zone #16 Review". February 1994.
  29. ↑ "GB Action Issue 11". April 1993.
  30. ↑ "Super Action Issue 18". February 1994.
  31. ↑ "Alfred Chicken GB, N-Force #11 Review". May 1993.
  32. ↑ "Alfred's Adventure". September 2000.
  33. ↑ Trewern, Saul (October 2000). "Alfred's Adventure". Game - The Game Boy Color Mag. No. 4. Quay Magazine Publishing Ltd. p. 17.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.