Commodore Amiga platformer heroes speed challenge - faster than Sonic?

Channel:

dreamkatcha

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Published on December 29, 2020 12:32:52 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-vodMRm0TM

Game:

Zool (1992)

Duration: 5:12

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To be this fast takes Amiga?

Amiga platform gaming's abiding holy grail was to trounce SEGA's blue-rinsed spiky mascot in the velocity department so we could proudly stand by our computer system of choice and declare we don't need a naff kiddie console to validate our gaming credentials. There were many plucky European contenders to Sonic's throne, yet none really captured gamers' imagination or piggy bank contents to the same extent.

Nevertheless, is it remotely feasible that one of these wannabe substitutes runs as fast, or even faster, without necessarily rivalling Sonic's allegedly unique panache?

Obviously, the only cast-iron guaranteed way to deduce the truth once and for all is to place each side by side to compare their locomotive performance scientifically using a proper formula and measuring tools, and stuff.

Methodology then. Despatch all the baddies patrolling a short, flat segment of terrain and race across it at full pelt, capturing the moment for analysis. Easier said than done when enemies respawn incessantly and creative level design aims to eliminate mundane plateaus.

Calculate the distance travelled in pixels employing a calibrated screen ruler and divide by the time taken in seconds to traverse the designated area and we arrive at the velocity in pixels per second. Compare this to our control figure (Sonic's running speed) and we can establish which platforming protagonist is the quickest.

Some of these contestants can ambulate faster still when emerging from a steep descent or loop, yet that's cheating since they're not accelerating entirely under their own steam. As such I've discounted these incidences so as to compare more fairly. Other treacle-treading entrants were included simply for contrast purposes.

So without further preambley pretentious waffle, let's acquaint ourselves with the hyperactive challengers. Those notable for their quick-footed speedy fastitude and do the maths. Ssssss.

Kid Chaos - Magnetic Fields/Ocean
Mr Nutz - Neon/Ocean Software
Oscar - Flair
Quik the Thunder Rabbit - Stywox/Titus
Superfrog - Team 17
Tearaway Thomas - Global Software (DMI)
Wiz 'n' Liz - Lunatic/Psygnosis
Zool - Gremlin
Zool 2 - The Warp Factory/Gremlin

*pause for video-watching interlude*

And there we have it. A definitive answer to the perennial conundrum at last. Ultimately, what this demonstrates is that I need to get a life and would benefit from immediate intervention of the mental health variety.

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