Tutti Frutti Longplay (C16 Plus/4) [50 FPS]
46Developed by Mr Chip Software and published by Mastertronic in 1985.
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The Commodore 16 and Plus/4 computers were generally considered a backwards step for Commodore. The machines lacked the graphics and audio capabilities of the C64, which was already two years old by the time C16 reached retail.
Regardless, a number of developers produced games for the system and one of the most prolific (relatively speaking) was Shaun Southern of Mr Chip Software.
In Tutti Frutti, you take control of Super Strawberry as he attempts to collect all of the fruit from the orchard whilst avoiding members of the evil Acid Apple Gang. The game holds a special place in my heart because the Commodore Plus/4 was my first computer and this was one of the first games I played when I was barely old enough to hold a joystick.
The game features three distinct level types and feels like a cross between Mr. Do, Pengo and Boulderdash.
The first of these simply involves collecting all of the cherries on the grid without dying. Enemies can follow you along the tunnels that you dig and their AI pathing is quite aggressive, so always keep an eye out for enemies sneaking up on you.
The second level type requires you to kill all of the enemies to progress. Cherries also appear on the grid but these merely add points to your score this time around. Pressing the fire button launches your magic ball that kills enemies on contact, but will disappear for a time and must be recharged between uses. Alternatively, you can tunnel underneath the giant apples and attempt to drop them on the heads of your enemies!
The third and final game type puts you in a grid of blocks that can be pushed in the direction that you're facing. The objective here is to crush all of the Acid Apples using the blocks in order to beat the level. Attempting to push one block into another directly adjacent to it will remove the block from the grid; this can make it easier for you to get around, but also makes it easier for the enemies to find you...
With six levels in total the game probably isn't going to hold your attention for very long, but it's nicely presented and Commodore 16's enhanced colour palette makes this a vibrant and colourful affair. As far as I can tell there is no ending and the game simply loops, although the bonus timer counts down quicker and the number of enemies starts to increase.
The game features a single tune that becomes repetitive very quickly and the sound effects are pretty basic. Even so, what sound there is makes everything quite jolly and you'll probably find yourself humming along with the tune, even if you didn't want to!
Although it might not look like much, Tutti Frutti is a pretty cool little game and, as with most games that Shaun wrote, is solidly built and was definitely worth the paltry £1.99 asking price upon release.
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