Rocko's Modern Life : Spunky's Dangerous Day (SNES) - Quick Review
If you've been paying attention to the interwebs lately, it's no secret : Rocko is getting rebooted! And if you're a part of my generation, this is some of the most exciting news we've received. So when I pulled out my box of SNES games and asked my wife what she thought I should review, she almost instantly went to this game, and for the exact reason that the show is coming back. So let's toss this one in and see how it still plays.
Spunky's Dangerous Day takes place on the beach, when during a game of frisbee, Rocko tosses the disc only to have it go incredibly far away. Through the levels, you are meant to be Spunky's guide through the dangers of water, enemies, and broken pathways. It's a platforming game in two layers, as you have to guide Spunky over obstacles, but get far ahead of him enough to know where you need to go. You get a punch, kick, and tail whip as combat moves to use against the crabs, dogs, birds and various other enemies that will be trying to impede Spunky.
What's Good?
-Double Platforming.As I mentioned, you play the game as Rocko. But your goal is to get Spunky to the end. You can't switch between characters, all you can do is use Rocko to activate numerous items in the level to help Spunky out, because he can only walk towards the right, or towards the left. He can't jump, he can't dodge attacks, all he can do is walk. So if he needs to go upwards a level, you need to spring him up there, or find an elevator platform to raise him up. It makes everything more of a puzzle in addition to the platforming.
-All The Nostalgia. This ones more for my generation that grew up with this cartoon, and despite not having any of the voices or proper motions for the characters, this still looks just like Rocko and it's incredible. The only two characters you really get to see are the main two, but everything else in the game looks like it was pulled straight from the show. Heffer even loans his services to you as a trampoline off his stomach when he's asleep on the beach.
What's Bad
-Immobile When Hit. Your most persistent obstacle in guiding Spunky through the levels is all the enemies that will be attacking both of you. If you get hit by any of them, you become unable to move for an annoying amount of time. It would be more fair if you just couldn't attack, but you can't even move out of the way of either the enemy returning back or a second enemy and you just might be forced to take yet another hit. It's not completely devastating as Rocko seems to be able to take infinite damage (as much as I got hit my first few times playing, I never died), but it's still annoying when they happen to catch Spunky for some damage too because you're unable to help.
-Can't Adjust Camera. One of the greatest things with the SNES was more buttons, which meant more buttons. A lot of platforming games gave you some options for temporarily adjusting the camera. You could use the shoulder buttons to slide it left or right, or crouching down and holding it would knock the camera downwards a bit. Not in Rocko though. The fact that you essentially plan ahead for a second platforming route makes moving the camera almost a necessity, but unless there's some super secret combination to do it, it's impossible.
Is it Worth it?
Sadly, this game is the only video game version of this amazing cartoon. And also sadly, it's not really that amazing. Apparently, production on this game started around the time that production of the show did, so the developers didn't have a lot to go on other than rough draft sketches from the show's crew. Considering that, the game itself isn't half bad, but it could've been a lot better too. The best thing about this game is having to platform as yourself AND having to do everything for Spunky too. This game is half platformer, half puzzle, and for a little under $15 for a loose copy (an in box copy will run you closer to if not over $40), you might enjoy a bit of this one, but you might get a little frustrated too.
Wasn't able to finish this one all the way to the end. I made it through the entirety of the first world of levels and had some fun with it, but the setbacks of the immobility and constantly needing to run back and forth make it pretty disheartening needing to start all over when it all flops. Again, not to be repetitive, but this ones fun in single bursts, meaning get as far as you can in one sitting, then come back to it another day.
Spunky's Dangerous Day takes place on the beach, when during a game of frisbee, Rocko tosses the disc only to have it go incredibly far away. Through the levels, you are meant to be Spunky's guide through the dangers of water, enemies, and broken pathways. It's a platforming game in two layers, as you have to guide Spunky over obstacles, but get far ahead of him enough to know where you need to go. You get a punch, kick, and tail whip as combat moves to use against the crabs, dogs, birds and various other enemies that will be trying to impede Spunky.
What's Good?
-Double Platforming.As I mentioned, you play the game as Rocko. But your goal is to get Spunky to the end. You can't switch between characters, all you can do is use Rocko to activate numerous items in the level to help Spunky out, because he can only walk towards the right, or towards the left. He can't jump, he can't dodge attacks, all he can do is walk. So if he needs to go upwards a level, you need to spring him up there, or find an elevator platform to raise him up. It makes everything more of a puzzle in addition to the platforming.
-All The Nostalgia. This ones more for my generation that grew up with this cartoon, and despite not having any of the voices or proper motions for the characters, this still looks just like Rocko and it's incredible. The only two characters you really get to see are the main two, but everything else in the game looks like it was pulled straight from the show. Heffer even loans his services to you as a trampoline off his stomach when he's asleep on the beach.
What's Bad
-Immobile When Hit. Your most persistent obstacle in guiding Spunky through the levels is all the enemies that will be attacking both of you. If you get hit by any of them, you become unable to move for an annoying amount of time. It would be more fair if you just couldn't attack, but you can't even move out of the way of either the enemy returning back or a second enemy and you just might be forced to take yet another hit. It's not completely devastating as Rocko seems to be able to take infinite damage (as much as I got hit my first few times playing, I never died), but it's still annoying when they happen to catch Spunky for some damage too because you're unable to help.
-Can't Adjust Camera. One of the greatest things with the SNES was more buttons, which meant more buttons. A lot of platforming games gave you some options for temporarily adjusting the camera. You could use the shoulder buttons to slide it left or right, or crouching down and holding it would knock the camera downwards a bit. Not in Rocko though. The fact that you essentially plan ahead for a second platforming route makes moving the camera almost a necessity, but unless there's some super secret combination to do it, it's impossible.
Is it Worth it?
Sadly, this game is the only video game version of this amazing cartoon. And also sadly, it's not really that amazing. Apparently, production on this game started around the time that production of the show did, so the developers didn't have a lot to go on other than rough draft sketches from the show's crew. Considering that, the game itself isn't half bad, but it could've been a lot better too. The best thing about this game is having to platform as yourself AND having to do everything for Spunky too. This game is half platformer, half puzzle, and for a little under $15 for a loose copy (an in box copy will run you closer to if not over $40), you might enjoy a bit of this one, but you might get a little frustrated too.
Wasn't able to finish this one all the way to the end. I made it through the entirety of the first world of levels and had some fun with it, but the setbacks of the immobility and constantly needing to run back and forth make it pretty disheartening needing to start all over when it all flops. Again, not to be repetitive, but this ones fun in single bursts, meaning get as far as you can in one sitting, then come back to it another day.
