"Plok does not like fleas."

This will be my 3rd review. I love old school games, so I find myself doing another review on one of my favorites, Plok. Plok is this pimp little dude that can shoot his limbs at his enemies. So, what does he do when he looses all 4 of his limbs? He hops around like a jumping bean, completely helpless, but you can’t help but chuckle. This game does not get the respect that I feel it deserves. It’s got it all; action, comedy, suspense, romance (well, maybe not the last one…). Anyway, let’s get reviewing.

GRAPHICS: For the SNES, they are great, even though it is highly cartoony, but that’s just part of its charm. The trees look, well, messed up and cartoonish, and the enemies resemble sacks of potatoes. But the backgrounds on the levels, especially on Acrillic, are what really turns me on. A part that is really unique is that when Plok gets to his house, he falls asleep and we come to a flashback to his grand pappy looking for a special amulet. You then play as grand pappy Plok in black, white, and shades of gray, trying to get the amulet, then you return to Plok and the colors just bounce out at you.

GAMEPLAY: The game play here is solid. Move, shoot, jump, big jump, duck. That is pretty much it. When you get to a certain point in the game, you get an ability to turn shells into Plok power, which causes Plok to turn into a buzz saw. But then there are secrets spread throughout the world. You can end up riding a motorcycle and throw grenades, or drive a jeep, or fly on a rocket like thingy. My only beef is that you can only have a max of 9 lives. But it certainly doesn’t hurt the game play. But if you plan to complete this game, you should get yourself some good patience, because it is LONG! But it is a great experience nevertheless. This is sure to challenge even the most hardcore of gamers.

MUSIC/SOUNDS: To me, a big factor. And on a scale from 1-10, the music deserves a 20. The music quality is that of a CD. A rare ting for a 16-bit system. The intro at the title screen sets the mood. The up-beat harmonica and acoustic guitar tells you this game has a happy, shiny, atmosphere. Concerning sounds, they are pretty good. Some are kind of annoying. When Plok takes damage by whatever means, he lets out this terrible shriek. And when he dies, it’s even worse. But some of the enemies make some pretty good noises.

STORY: Well, it goes something like this. Plok wakes up one beautiful day, admiring the beautiful landscape of Polyesta (the archipelago in which Plok resides) which has been scattered with flags containing his beautiful face. He then realizes that one of his flags is gone. He then sees his flag on a nearby island. He goes to reclaim. When he gets back, he sees that the flags on Acrillic have been stolen and replaced with Flea flags (did I mention that Plok hates Fleas with a passion?) So yah, he gets really mad and goes out to get his flags back.

OVERALL RATING: This game is a classic. With its challenging game play, beautiful music, and stunning visuals, it is rewarded with a 10/10.

BUY OR RENT???: Although it’s been a long time since this game came out, you should buy it. It could probably be found on some internet site, or at a gamestop. But should you come across this game, you need to buy it. FIN.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 03/15/04