Felix the Cat (NES, 1992)
Graphics-7.5 Sound-7 Control-7.5 Challenge-6.5 Story-5.5
Level Design-7 Frustration-6.5 Fun-7 Originality-5
Overall Score-7
+
Great mid-air control
Increase HP by collecting transformation/suit power ups (up to three times per level, these are timed but by collecting milk you can restore the timer; similar to SMB3) - only 1 HP by default
Pretty expressive sprites
Decent cutscenes
Can shoot while moving
Alex Kidd-style flight for the level 2-1 (and some later levels) forms
Some interesting enemies (aiming turrets)
Some hidden items
Mixes in an auto-scrolling flight level in the late game
Decent final boss (fairly easy though)
+/-
Linear, level-based structure
Mid-level checkpoints
Revert to default form after clearing some levels (ones where you also change default form to something else for the next one (umbrella-wielding form in level 2-1 and 3-3+some later levels, rubber ring in 4-2 (automatically floats up to the surface, same with the dolphin upgrade)+later on, scuba gear in 4-3+later on)
Can't increase the form timer past its default
Various death pits
Can juggle enemies in tank form but it has no gameplay usage
Can't move while crouching
Borrows the bonus rooms from SMB (go into giant handbags here instead) and they're kind of boring
Can't tell which items will drop milk or hearts (forms)
Easy to rack up extra lives
No warps to later levels
Can't run over small enemies while in the tank
Underwater swimming pretty much works like flight
-
Some control issues (flight forms (which become the default in level 2-1 and 3-3) make you fall too slowly, loose upwards scrolling, unskippable score countdowns)
Can't switch between forms without getting hit (for example the tank shoots volley shots which might not be optimal in some situations)
Some trial & error (shots from off screen)
Somewhat dark visuals
Some forms can't duck
Gets repetitive after some levels (mostly corridor-style levels although they do scroll a bit vertically, doesn't introduce enough new forms after 4 levels)
Simple first four bosses
Lacks creative mechanics (in the show the bag and Felix's tail are versatile magic tools which could translate into more of a Zelda/Metroid-style or puzzle platformer experience)
Some of the forms are too similar
Repeats one of the bosses
Only one form in the space level (only two in surface water levels)
Level Design-7 Frustration-6.5 Fun-7 Originality-5
Overall Score-7
+
Great mid-air control
Increase HP by collecting transformation/suit power ups (up to three times per level, these are timed but by collecting milk you can restore the timer; similar to SMB3) - only 1 HP by default
Pretty expressive sprites
Decent cutscenes
Can shoot while moving
Alex Kidd-style flight for the level 2-1 (and some later levels) forms
Some interesting enemies (aiming turrets)
Some hidden items
Mixes in an auto-scrolling flight level in the late game
Decent final boss (fairly easy though)
+/-
Linear, level-based structure
Mid-level checkpoints
Revert to default form after clearing some levels (ones where you also change default form to something else for the next one (umbrella-wielding form in level 2-1 and 3-3+some later levels, rubber ring in 4-2 (automatically floats up to the surface, same with the dolphin upgrade)+later on, scuba gear in 4-3+later on)
Can't increase the form timer past its default
Various death pits
Can juggle enemies in tank form but it has no gameplay usage
Can't move while crouching
Borrows the bonus rooms from SMB (go into giant handbags here instead) and they're kind of boring
Can't tell which items will drop milk or hearts (forms)
Easy to rack up extra lives
No warps to later levels
Can't run over small enemies while in the tank
Underwater swimming pretty much works like flight
-
Some control issues (flight forms (which become the default in level 2-1 and 3-3) make you fall too slowly, loose upwards scrolling, unskippable score countdowns)
Can't switch between forms without getting hit (for example the tank shoots volley shots which might not be optimal in some situations)
Some trial & error (shots from off screen)
Somewhat dark visuals
Some forms can't duck
Gets repetitive after some levels (mostly corridor-style levels although they do scroll a bit vertically, doesn't introduce enough new forms after 4 levels)
Simple first four bosses
Lacks creative mechanics (in the show the bag and Felix's tail are versatile magic tools which could translate into more of a Zelda/Metroid-style or puzzle platformer experience)
Some of the forms are too similar
Repeats one of the bosses
Only one form in the space level (only two in surface water levels)