Sneaky Snakes (Game Boy) Playthrough
3Playthrough of Sneaky Snakes, Rare's 1991 platformer for the Game Boy.
Sneaky Snakes for the Game Boy is a unique platformer developed by Rare and serves as a sequel or spinoff to their earlier title, Snake Rattle ‘n’ Roll. Like its predecessor, the game features a quirky world filled with platforming challenges, enemies, and collectibles, but it adapts the gameplay into a side-scrolling format more suited to the Game Boy’s screen and hardware limitations. Players control a snake—either Rattle or Roll—as they navigate through various stages on a quest to rescue kidnapped snake friends from the evil Nasty Nibbler.
Gameplay involves slithering through a series of levels filled with obstacles, enemies, and platforming sections. The core mechanic centers on eating insects called Nibbley Pibbleys, which not only increase the snake’s length but are also necessary to progress to the next stage. The longer the snake gets, the more vulnerable it becomes to hazards, but length is also a requirement for exiting levels, adding a light strategic element. Each stage ends once the player grows long enough and finds the exit door, continuing the journey across increasingly difficult terrain.
The side-scrolling view simplifies navigation compared to the isometric perspective of the NES version, but it also shifts the gameplay focus more toward timing, jumping, and avoiding traps. Enemies vary in behavior and design, from hopping frogs to stationary turrets, and many can be defeated by jumping on them or avoiding them altogether. Controls are tight for a Game Boy title, and the level design encourages exploration while punishing carelessness with instant-death hazards and environmental pitfalls.
Visually, Sneaky Snakes makes good use of the Game Boy’s limited graphical palette, with clear character sprites and a lighthearted presentation. The music is upbeat and catchy, adding to the game’s playful tone, though some of the tunes loop quickly and may feel repetitive during longer play sessions.
Sneaky Snakes offers a distinctive blend of action, puzzle-solving, and platforming, crafted with Rare’s trademark sense of humor and style. While its difficulty can spike unexpectedly and its mechanics may take some getting used to, it stands as an inventive and enjoyable entry in the Game Boy’s library, especially for fans of unconventional platformers.