Creepy, Kooky, Ooky, Spooky
I am a massive fan of the original TV series plus the movies from the 90s are favourites in our house. I've no idea what's taken me so long but eventually, I got around to Ocean's 1992 platformer developed by James Higgins. The same programmer behind two superb games - Navy Seals and The Untouchables.
The story is an 'original' one about kidnapping and rescuing. Morticia has been abducted by Abigail Craven who is after the Addams' family fortune. The other characters have been captured and imprisoned in the mansion's many rooms. As Gomez, we must locate Pugsley, Wednesday, Granny, Uncle Fester, and Morticia.
I reckon we need to see the first screenshot which proves it always pays to explore...
That looks ominous but let's be daft and climb up it... Hmm, what is that below?
The Game
We begin outside the front door of our mansion but I would stay outside for a while. Go for a walk, who knows what treasures and power-ups there could be! You may also uncover underground passages. Outside the mansion is the perfect place to get used to the controls and the method of killing the monsters.
Gomez can walk left/right and jump using the fire button (hold down for larger jumps). He has no weapons and kills enemies by leaping into the air before landing on them. It's like we have in the excellent budget platformer Well 'Ard. This technique works brilliantly except for those enemies protected by spikes or fire.
Once inside the house, you stand in the hallway that grants access to several "rooms". These are the levels that lead to a boss who is holding a family member captive. The Addams Family is a non-linear platformer so you can choose any level you like. All are massive. When I say massive, I really do mean massive!!
Whatever level you play, a wealth of monsters feature constantly. Never have I known a game with so many enemies - any contact will drain energy. This is represented by love hearts which can be replenished along the way. Interestingly, having lost all lives doesn't mean the game is over because there is the option to continue or quit. The caveat of continuing is having to restart from the beginning of your current level.
Run and stomp monsters like a crazed Sonic! However, slow down otherwise, you might miss hidden rooms, power-ups, and secrets. Also, there is Thing's Box, which reveals a clue about the level. Nothing mindblowing, stuff like "some doors are less visible than others". Essentially, that means pay attention!
Let's look at the power-ups left sparsely scattered about every level...
Small hearts - replenish a heart's level.
Dollars - for every $25 you replenish a heart and $100 grants a 1-UP.
1-UP - will also grant a new life.
Shield - invincibility for a short period (shown as a star trail)
Shoes - mega run and jumps! (Argh, this should be the default!)
Fez - Fezi-copter works on current level and allows flight (it's brilliant - think Joust!!)
After running through any level, you eventually reach the boss, who is holding a family member captive. Once defeated by the same leap and stomp method, he/she seeks refuge in the Music Room with Lurch. The big guy remains in this room throughout, as he plays with his organ (come on, I just had to).
As you free family members, they will also come to this room. Once everyone is gathered, Lurch can properly play the organ music that magically grants access to the underground chamber. This is where we stash all of our cash but more importantly, the location where Morticia is held prisoner. The big boss here is tough.
Once the final battle is over, everything returns back to normal for the Addams. The game then ends with a funny and loving Gomez and Morticia scene. Finally, you get to see caricatures of the game developers.
Okay, let's pause this boring reading with a pixel-sexy screenshot...
Within the mansion offers many doorways to different levels.
Graphics
Warren Lancashire and Simon Butler designed the visuals and to say they are great is an enormous understatement. Never have I played a platformer with so many characters!! Each with incredible detail and great animation. It's beyond admirable to see something like this for a 16-bit platformer.
The backdrops are truly stunning with an individual style and theme appropriate to that part of the house or grounds. I love the 'heat' levels that actually felt hot thanks to their bright palette. Every level looks gorgeous and my favourite is the outside areas which I thought looked the most pleasing.
Push-scrolling is used alongside a heavily reduced screen size. There are many other similar platformers with proper scrolling. Also, many use the push method without any screen/size reductions.
I bet you want to see a creepy tree and dancing flowers? Here you go...
The artwork is stunning and I just had to capture a GIF for this scene!
Audio
Music and sound effects are by Jonathan Dunn who worked on Elf, New Zealand Story, and Rambo III. The Addams Family theme plays on the title screen but sadly, isn't a sample. The gameplay is accompanied by several fantastic chiptunes, alongside adequate spot effects - for jumping and squashing the enemies.
If you like the Addams Family theme then check out ZombieCrypt slideshow!
Before the gripping conclusion, let's see a werewolf in a cemetery against a mysterious sky...
The Graveyard is great but quite difficult, especially when fire falls from the skies.
CryptO'pinion
When I began playing the opening scenes, I was grinning like the Cheshire Cat. It's fantastic and provides an opportunity to grasp the superb joystick controls. Not only that, these areas feature secrets and power-ups. However, once you go inside you realise this is a poor conversion with serious issues.
The Addams Family could have been great but I grew weary of plodding through levels that felt like they wouldn't end. Plus it's impossible without a trainer because there are too many dangerous obstacles and enemies. It's way off-balance. With a trainer, I endured to the bitter end and earned codes you're welcome to use...
I'm not sure why Ocean released this stinker but the combination of thin screen, push-scrolling, and impossible difficulty amplifies my sorrow. Play a different platformer - Jim Power, Black Tiger, Zone Warrior, Stario, Wonder Boy, Giana Sisters, Kid Gloves 2, Astro Marine Corps, Potsworth & Co, The Viking Child, etc/etc.
The Addams Family is a lame duck and should be grateful for getting a bleak 60%.
I'm on my way to rescue Wednesday but losing the will to live because it's so tough!!
Lurch has left friendly advice at the start of some levels.
Look at that photograph, it's Christopher Lloyd!
I took this screenshot simply because I liked the look and its colour!
I thought the background on this level was the best looking.
The Music Room is where Lurch attempts to play, note the blocked door on the right.
Every house has a vault, right? Fill your boots!
The first of the boss screens, this one frees Wednesday and he's a right bas$@^!!!
This boss was the best (easiest) because you can use Uncle Fester.
The boss holding Pugsley captive wasn't difficult. Sinister face on him!
The boss holding Granny looks great but is pretty tough.
When I encountered this boss, I was bored and lost the will to live †
Ocean nailed it with this fantastic option screen!!
Morticia's boss is the most annoying of all as he stays out of reach a lot.
Eventually, the quest is completed...
Fireworks "light up the sky" but a screenshot is all you're getting.
