Creatures (1990 video game)

Creatures is a platform game for the Commodore 64 computer, released in 1990. It was developed by Apex Computer Productions, the company started by two brothers, John Rowlands (who wrote the code) and Steve Rowlands (who created the graphics and music). Atari ST conversion made by WJS Design were released in 1992 and Amiga in 1993.

This article is about the Commodore 64 game. For 1996 video game made by Creature Labs, see Creatures (1996 video game).
Creatures
Cover art of Creatures (C64 version)
Developer(s)Apex Computer Productions
Publisher(s)Thalamus Ltd
Designer(s)John Rowlands
Steve Rowlands
Artist(s)Steve Rowlands
Composer(s)Steve Rowlands
Platform(s)Commodore 64
Amiga
Atari ST
ReleaseAmiga
Atari ST
Commodore 64
Genre(s)Puzzle, Platform
Mode(s)Single-player

The backronym "Clyde Radcliffe Exterminates All The Unfriendly Repulsive Earth-ridden Slime" is used as a subtitle to the game.

The game was followed by Creatures II: Torture Trouble in 1992.

Creatures relied on 'cutesy' graphics interspersed with very bloody 'torture screens' where between each level a single screen puzzle was presented to the player, who had to solve it (often in a highly humorous fashion) or run out of time and lose the game, together with a very bloody end for the recipient of the torture.

Plot
Amiga version gameplay screenshot

Somewhere in the darkest corner of the Milky Way is a small, insignificant planet named "blot". This was a really beautiful place, but the inhabitants, friendly, always good-tempered creatures who called themselves Blotians had to flee from a terrible fate. The time had come to build a generational spaceship, to go and search for another suitable planet. To leave the past behind, their name was changed and now they were called "Fuzzy Wuzzies".

Coincidentally, a suitable planet was also found. However, this happened quite involuntarily, as they had to make an emergency landing after a collision with an asteroid, and the only planet that was within reach, was good old Earth. But it was a blessing in disguise, they landed in the Pacific near an unknown island. After the Fuzzy Wuzzies came ashore, they built a city and the island was called "The Hippest Place in The Known Universe".

What the Fuzzies did not know was that demons resided on the other side of the island who, of course, always had a bad temper. It was the friendly nature of the Fuzzies that got on their nerves and they hated the new name of the island. The demons came up with a cunning plan to get rid of the existence and therefore the good mood of the Fuzzies. They invited the Fuzzies to one of the biggest parties that had ever been celebrated on the island. The Fuzzies could of course not resist this invitation. They cleaned their fur and they all went to the party. But when the party was at its best, these nasty demons threw a net over the Fuzzies, captured them and locked them all up in their torture chambers.

The only one who escaped these events was "Clyde Radcliffe", who left the party "slightly tipsy", and found a sleeping place in one of the bushes. The next morning he woke up with a throbbing headache and a breath so bad, he could even ignite trees with it. Nevertheless, our brave hero was ready to teach the demons a lesson and save his fellow Fuzzies from the horrible torture chambers.

Reception

The development of the game was chronicled in Zzap!64 magazine. ZZap64 gave Creatures a score of 96%, Gold Medal (issue 12/90)

See also

Further reading
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.