9 Lives

Reach out for the power

It's time for more Atari ST box art, and this time we have 9 Lives. Like most Arc games, they've used their template, which is comical with a Bob the cat, who is laughing like a maniac. I must admit, I laughed at the glowing reviews plastered by three popular magazines! This has to be a great purchase, right?

Unfortunately, they were mistaken because 9 Lives is problematic, as something negatively impacts gameplay. Initially, I suspected this was due to the controls, which require some time to master. However, once I got the hang of them, I was easily controlling Bob through the rooms, and the long leaps are guided by a metre for precise control. So, no matter what some say, it's not the controls, which are nicely responsive.

Stop. Let's view a couple of screenshots...

What a massive and unique variety of characters this game has.

Just look at those funny faces! I'm sure these were designed by insane people!!

So what's going on?

I think it's the game's design that presents several awkward flaws that irk me: the sprites are too big, so each screen appears "zoomed in" and very cluttered, thus Bob cannot help but touch something nasty. Sure, I can knock them out with my yo-yo, but soon they're back up and ready to zap more of my lifeforce!

Also, the levels are incredibly unfair and require a psychic gamer to be previously aware of the off-screen traps. Argh, those darn spikes!! And, oddly, for a cat, Bob cannot fall far without dying!! However, this produces a hilarious animation effect not too dissimilar to Wile E. Coyote from the Road Runner cartoons.

The idea is great, but the design doesn't quite feel right. I think it's time for more screenshots...

Another life was lost... Well, at least I'm going up and not DOWN!! Phew.

Another life lost at the hands of the frustrating and overcrowded level design...

Aesthetics?

Simon Butler’s superb cartoon graphics are a feast for the eyes. The sprites are drawn with incredible detail, feeling more like an exhibition than a game. The animations throughout are brilliant, particularly Bob’s confident strut across the screen. And his clinging to a ledge just before pulling himself up is simply fantastic!

Martin Walker and Simon Butler’s gorgeous YM Chipmusic ensures the audio doesn’t lag behind. The music throughout is simply perfect, and I have no complaints about the musak. It's fabulous!

No more screenshots! This time we get to see what's inside the box...

Okay, there's not much in the box, but the manual doubles as a poster!

The CryptO'pinion?

Personally, I believe 9 Lives had the potential to be a fantastic platformer, but I doubt its creators enjoyed playing games. It certainly wasn’t beta-tested before release, which is a shame. I imagine most players will only play it once or twice before giving up, which is a pity. It’s still a piece of ST history that I’ll cherish.

Take it for a spin and enjoy the aesthetics, but just make sure you enable a trainer!!

Floppy disks at Atari Legend & HDD game by 8BitChip.