Brat (Amiga)

Channel:

einokeino303

Subscribers:

8,800

Published on March 7, 2016 11:23:51 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um68cZG6Vc0

Game:

Brat (1991)

Duration: 14:51

5,079 views

57

I recorded this video, because I couldn't find anyone completing even the first half of the first level! It's easy to see why. This is definitely one of the most frustrating and annoying Amiga games ever released. I was planning on completing the whole game, but after I noticed the second level was twice as long as the first one I realized how long it would take to get through the whole game and I'd rather shoot myself first.

This video demonstrates the first level and half of the second level completed, but also how and where to use each item in the first levels, something that other videos don't show. I didn't initially figure out where to use the lollipop in the first level, but used it in the second. The game has different themes for later levels, but at least the first few levels use the same one.

At first glance graphics, sound and gameplay appear OK enough, but the truth is revealed when you actually try to play it and major problems in the gameplay become apparent. First of all the game is way too fast for the crappy control system so I had to play with half the normal speed (video is normal speed). But even if the game then becomes barely playable, there are still major problems with the design. First one has to do with scrolling. Screen constantly scrolls downwards and at the edge of the screen you die. Scrolling can be paused for a while with a command. This just makes the gameplay more tedious, when you have to place markers for pause scrolling and freezing the character so he will not go over the bottom of the screen and try to balance these actions while at the same time trying to tediously direct him. There are no shortcut keys for commands.

Extra difficulty for the controls is added by making it hard to see exactly where the mouse will place each command and at the same time the screen is scrolling and this often results in misplaced commands. Why didn't they at least make the cursor turn into a large red square or something when above a tile so the player would see where the command at least should be going if the scrolling doesn't screw it up!? Usually one mistake is enough to f*** up the whole level so even if you know the level by heart, there's a good chance a misplaced command will end the run.

Maybe they could've done the Lemmings thing and give the player control over the scrolling, but did a semi-Lemmings thing instead for purely novelty value? There's no other point for the encumbered controls. The idea behind Lemmings indirect control system is that it isn't possible to direct multiple characters at the same time. Or maybe they were just blind or didn't want to give the game for free to any dedicated gamer for playtesting?

This game did get relative good reviews and even now at Lemon the game has a rating of 7 / 10 from 45 voters! I wonder why, because nobody actually wants to play it. Anyone who's got through the first 2 levels deserves a medal! The ultimate troll is if you're doing extremely well and manage to complete the first half of the first level the character pulls down his diaper and wiggles his ass on your face. No wonder the developer Foursfield never released another game.

On the positive side, the game idea is not completely bad, although not nearly as interesting as Lemmings. The music isn't terrible either, but there's only one ingame tune for the whole game! Best part of the game is OK graphics and animation.

PS, music in this video is monetized by "CD Baby" and not by me.