Marsupilami

• Release Date: 1995
• Genre: Action
• Style: Side-Scrolling Platform
• Similar Games: Aero the Acrobat (Sega Genesis), Aero the Acrobat (Super Nintendo Entertainment System)

Game Description

Tired of performing in the circus, Marsupilami, the long-tailed marsupial, and Bonelli, the big but not too bright elephant, make their great escape when a sleeping animal trainer leaves his keys vulnerable for the taking. Marsupilami swipes the keys and sets himself and his elephant friend free. To confuse matters and make their escape easier, Marsupilami frees the other animals as well. Little did the marsupial know that at the time of the breakout, his three children were en route to try to rescue him from the circus. Unfortunately, evil game hunter Bring M. Backalive captured the young marsupials, and now our hero not only must help Bonelli escape, but he must also save his children.

As Marsupilami, you must guide Bonelli through eight outdoor levels of assorted mischief makers such as sailors, cowboys, pirates, children armed with firecrackers, and warthogs. You'll use your unbelievably versatile tail for everything from pole vaulting, to swatting bullies, to providing stair steps for the elephant, to forming a parachute. You may think you've won the game when you reach your jungle home, but three stages of monkey mayhem and other jungle perils await.

Roots & Influences

As with so many action games, this owes a lot to Super Mario Brothers and its sequels and the Sonic games, but it adds a new kind of challenge. You must guide a friend along with you.

Review: Overall

Unlike most action games, the unfortunately titled Marsupilami requires a great deal of deductive reasoning skills. Instead of just maneuvering the main character through levels of bad guys, hitting them until they die, you must strategically use your tail and your brain to help your elephant friend Bonelli follow along with you. Your tail is capable of many different functions. The most common use for your tail, other than a simple tail punch, is its ability to become a set of steps. You use this to help the elephant reach high or low platforms. The most clever tail function is its transformation into a balloon-like mouse, scaring the heck out of the elephant, putting some pep in his step and some power in his charge.

Some may grow tired of the cumbersome nature of each level of this game; you do have to slow your pace and do a lot of backtracking and figuring, but that is what sets this game apart. Sometimes you'll find yourself wanting to just rampage through a particular level, tail-whipping everything in sight, but that, alas, cannot be. You'll come across barriers in every level with not so obvious solutions where you'll need Bonelli's help. As Marsupilami, you simply cannot mindlessly go it alone like Sonic or Bubsy.

Although the backgrounds in this game are monotonous and simple, the characters, tents, ramps, trees, and other things look pretty decent in a cartoonish kind of way. The sound effects are hit-and-miss. The ever-present tail punching and jumping sounds are lame and have appeared in way too many other games. The rest of the sound effects, however, are quite nice. The animal noises are pretty convincing, especially the birds. The music is varied and upbeat but slight and ultimately forgettable.

Overall, Marsupilami is a clever game that offers a wide variety of challenges and a host of interesting characters.

Review: Enjoyment

Those tired of mindless walk, punch, and kick action games will appreciate the added challenges inherent in each level of this game.

Review: Graphics

The animals look sufficiently cartoon-like, but the backgrounds are redundant and simplistic.

Review: Sound

The sound effects are inconsistent and the music, although mildly pleasant, is too lightweight.

Review: Replay Value

Once you figure the method for beating a particular level, the entertainment value of replaying that part of the game lessens quite a bit.

Review: Documentation

This game was produced late in the life of the Sega Genesis, so finding information on it could prove difficult. The instruction manual is thorough but would benefit sharply from the use of color game photos.

Production Credits

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