Kid Klown in Crazy Chase

"A nothing game."

Being a title full of originality, the story of Kid Klown in Crazy Chase is one that has no equal. On the planet ''Klown Planet'', Blackjack has kidnapped King Klown's daughter. Since there were no heroes available, Kid Klown got the duty of rescuing the Princess. It opens up with a colourful set of still scenes that tell the story of Blackjack and his plot, and although the game is unique and trying, it fails. Somewhat.

Crazy Chase takes place in a strange 3/4 view with your character running towards the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. The goal is to guide Kid Klown through the level as fast as possible, while avoiding traps like banana peels, puddles of water, spikes and bombs. The controls are simple and responsive, with up and down used to increase and decrease Kid Klown's running speed (KK cannot run backwards) and any face button used to jump. Before each level, Blackjack lights a long fuse leading to a bomb which explodes if you are not quick enough.

Along the way you need to pick up the four traditional suits of playing cards. Missed out on a suit or two? Go back and do the level again. The screen even says ''Not Again!'' when you go back to the start, so it seems ironic that the developers recognised the annoyance. Fortunately you don't need to recollect the suits you already nabbed the first time.

There are several hidden bonus levels, but they are hidden too well. Often finding one is accidental, as some are located near gaps full of spikes and water. The only time you'll find one is if you don't jump over the gap completely, which is the opposite of what you should be trying to do anyway. The strange view doesn't help either, as it is hard to judge some of the holes and taller obstacles when jumping over them. There are some cheap tactics to drain your health, like the cars that honk at you, yet keep driving anyway...

It's a simple design, as there are no other game modes, and only five levels. It is a challenge, but mind you the game suffers from ''Ninja Gaiden 3'' syndrome (the difficulty rises way too much after the first two levels). There are two mini-games; Whack-a-Blackjack and Air Hockey. If you collect enough pennies, you'll get a chance to play these games. They provide a little variation to the linear non-stop running and give you the chance to earn health and continues.

The graphics are very animated and colourful, and is no doubt the high point in Crazy Chase. Kid Klown has many animations from when he slips on a peel, falls in a puddle or gets flattened by a log. Multiple backgrounds whiz by with great detail and colour and if you look closely you'll spot some foregrounds as well. Each of the five levels are very different in design and the hazards and traps also differ in terms of the terrain.

Similarly, the sound draws few complaints from me. Effects range from the explosions of the bombs and cannons, splashes of water and the *flick* of a cigarette lighter that Blackjack uses to light the fuse. From the intro to the main game, the music is cheerful and cartoonesque, and consists of mostly heavy bass and an organ. There are a number of tunes, and although they are quite repetitive, I hardly tired of them.

A slightly above-average title from a year that saw a lot of games like Donkey Kong Country and Killer Instinct overshadow it. I don't think many people paid attention to Crazy Chase, and I can see why. It's a ''nothing'' game. It is not a bad game in any right, but it doesn't do anything to make people want it. No brand name or highly recognisable company is most likely what left this cartridge on the shelf. So why did I get it? I dunno.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 03/24/02, Updated 12/23/03