Developer: Sega Publisher: Sega Released: 1991 Genre: Action
I admit to being ignorant to most of Sega’s early arcade history. For myself Sega did not exist until I played the Master System and Hang-On in 1989. While most are familiar with Outrun and Shinobi Sega have a wealth of earlier arcade hits that span numerous genres. Flicky is an unassuming title that is easy to dismiss at first glance. But behind its modest exterior lies a game that uses its simple mechanics in clever ways to remain entertaining up until its conclusion. This is not the most bombastic Genesis title but makes for a solid afternoon of fun.
While you may not be familiar with the game you probably have seen the character of Flicky multiple times without realizing it. In Sonic the Hedgehog Flicky may be one of the random enemies freed from machines you have destroyed. Flickies are front and center in Sonic 3D Blast as you need to collect them in every stage. And this is to say nothing of their earlier cameos in games like Super Monaco GP. Although I was vaguely aware of the game I dismissed Flicky for no reason. But I am glad I gave it a shot and enjoyed the time I spent with it.
The premise of Flicky is simple. As Flicky yellow birds named Chirps have been scattered inside an apartment building. Each level tasks you with rounding them up and bringing them to the exit. Impeding your progress are cats and oddly enough the iguana Choro. They won’t gobble them up but if they come in contact with any fledglings you’ve gathered they will scatter. Normal Chirps will stay in one place but ones wearing sunglasses will wander around if scattered. Luckily there is no time limit, allowing you to take as much time as necessary to complete each stage.
The physics in Flicky are unique and will take some adaptation. Jumps are slightly floaty but you still remain in full control. Flicky will bounce off walls depending on your momentum which normally is not an issue. But in the later stages where you are confined within tight walls the rebounding can be annoying. But that is part of the game. Your only means of attack is picking up objects and throwing them. But since you are a bird you cannot hold carry them around. Timing your attacks at the right moment becomes a critical skill even though enemies will respawn seconds later.
Even though the objective is simple accomplishing it is anything but in most cases. Each level is about two screens wide and loops around. Despite their size Sega make excellent use of the space in numerous ways. Early levels are wide open and allow you to easily avoid enemies. Toward the middle they become more enclosed to force confrontation. By the end you will have to make careful use of the various items strewn about to pick up one Chirp. The choice between gathering them all in one shot or little by little becomes strategic depending on the level layout. The good thing is there is no right or wrong way unless you are playing for points. The gradual ramp up is why the game is so enjoyable.
On paper it should not work. Every level features two cats and one iguana and reshuffles these elements. Yet the fantastic level design saves it. What also helps is the change in scenery and background elements every five or six stages. The game also knows when to get in, exploit a particular mechanic and move on before it gets old. It would have been easy to pump out one hundred levels to drag it out. But Flicky is a tight 48 which feels appropriate enough.
The difficulty curve is near perfect in Flicky. The beginning stages are simple and present little danger. The game gradually ramps up but never veers into cheap territory. The weird physics may lead to a cheap death here and there but it is a mild frustration at best. Every fourth level leads to a bonus stage to rack up extra points. Even though you get extra lives you can only have five at once so the game still presents a challenge no matter how skilled you are. It is rare for puzzle games like this to strike such a nice balance; Sega knocked it out of the park here.
In Closing
Flicky entertains with smart mechanics and good level design. I expected to become bored with it in short order but instead remained entertained throughout. Sega has done an excellent job re-releasing the game on numerous compilations making it easily accessible. I say go for it if you want something a little different.
