Dynamite Headdy

"A great Treasue game about puppets, and it doesn't include any of Jim Henson's freaks"

What can you expect out of Treasure? They know how to make a game, and this one is no exception. I you are reading this, you probably have no idea this game existed, that's because Treasure is the master of niche games. This is one of the most original platformers I have ever played and if you are one of the gifted few who have the chance to try this game, don't pass that opportunity up.

Story:
It has a pretty unique storyline for a platformer of its day. You live on a stage and you are a puppet. One day
the stereotypical evil king (You know the type) starts sending out his henchmen to enslave puppets. Headdy (In case you don't know by the game's title, that's you) is captured but escapes and goes out to save the stage's citizens.

Sound:
Some pretty catchy tunes but nothing fantastic. The sound effects are very good though. In a training area early in the game, there are targets you must hit. When these targets pop up, they yell out some weird word. Its one of the funniest sound effects in any game ever.

Graphics:
The game's box art and the title screen look terrible, but the actual game is anything but. The characters are very bright and detailed and animated very well. Same thing with the background and foreground. There is always something cool going on in the background and are some of the most detail 2D background I have seen in a game. The game also includes some 3D effects as well, and that's very rare for a Genesis game.

Gameplay:
Now to reveal what makes the game truly special. Headdy's head isn't attached to his body and he can shoot it out to grapple onto targets, destroy enemies, and a ton of other things (Looks much cooler than it sounds). The game's levels have a lot of variety, including a few vertical shooter levels. The bosses are extremely fun and original. There is a boss that you will fight numerous times throughout the game (The fight is different each time).

Replay:
It will take you a quite a few sittings to finally beat the game. Even though its only a few hours long, you will keep coming back to it year after year like I have.

Conclusion:
This game is an unspoken classic with a fairly big cult following. If you do pick it up (I got it at Gamestop for 4 bucks, even though I had played it for years on Sega Channel) you won't regret it. My only complaint is that the the first third of the game is fairly easy, but the last few stages can be quite a challenge. Other than that, this is a gem that shouldn't be missed.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 10/30/03