Developer: Natsume Publisher: Natsume Released: 1992 Genre: Action
Spanky’s Quest is a game that I dismissed for years based on its silly name. In my defense I was a stupid teenager so you can imagine what my sense of humor was like. Desperation will make you do strange things however. I went to the local pawn shop to buy something new after suffering with Lagoon and Spider-Man and the X-Men for weeks. But there was nothing interesting aside from Vegas Stakes and Spanky’s Quest. The thought of playing a game about gambling and winning millions while being poor in real life did not sound appealing so I bought the game with the goofy monkey on the cover. I discovered a nice little hidden gem in the process.
If the goofy title didn’t clue you in as to how silly the game is then playing it will. Spanky can blow bubbles as his only means of attack. Bubbles on their own will only stun enemies. By pressing the attack button after tossing a bubble it will explode and turn in to a baseball. Baseballs kill enemies in one shot but this can be taken further. Juggling a bubble with your head will make it change color. First to green, at which point popping it will drop a line of soccer balls. Bounce it twice and it turns yellow and will become a volleyball that spirals outward. A third bounce produces an orange bubble that unleashes a wide group of basketballs that destroys groups of fruit in one burst. Bubbles can also grab items which becomes important late in the game.
Spanky’s Quest is a puzzle platformer along the lines of Bubble Bobble and Buster Bros. The object of each level is to collect a set number of keys to open the exit and advance to the next level. Keys can be anywhere; some are out in the open, others drop from enemies. Some enemies can even pick up the keys and carry them away. That exact scenario becomes a nightmare later in the game. There is no visible clock but like Taito’s arcade classic take too long and an invincible enemy will hunt you down. Generally each level can be completed in a few minutes although they become more complex later. Although Spanky’s Quest may seem simple its excellent level design keeps it fresh despite its light mechanics.
The level design is the true star of the game. Initially each level is incredibly simple. The keys are visible and each map is rarely bigger than one screen. The first “world” is a great playground to mess around with the mechanics with low stakes. You can experiment with techniques such as using bubbles to grab items but they aren’t mandatory. But as the levels expand it becomes a journey to simply find the exit, let alone the requisite number of keys. The maps become incredibly complex fast. Some leave enemies and keys behind an impenetrable wall, challenging you to use the mechanics to get them. Others are built around a gimmick, such as utilizing cannons to navigate a veritable maze. That the game manages to stay fresh despite its length speaks to its pacing.
Usually puzzle platformers such as this settle into a grove and become stale by their midpoint. Not so with Spanky’s Quest. There are fifty levels split into five worlds with ten levels. Each world introduces some new element or enemy. The second world introduces hats that empower your abilities in different ways. The underwater levels has conveyor belts and giant eggs that hatch invincible birds that follow you aggressively. Because the levels can be completed so quickly you have just enough time to appreciate each world’s “gimmick” before moving on.
Spanky’s Quest puts up a fight but is still only moderately difficult. Despite the strength of your attacks they still have limits. Because bubbles move in a slow arc timing is key. There are many situations where a regular baseball throw would have been nice. While I’ve praised the level design there are times where it can seem a little too clever for its own good, leading to frustration rather than exhilaration. The final set of ten levels crosses into this territory and I am still not sure whether I like them or not. What I do like are the boss battles. They are simple mechanically yet still challenging like they should be. The boss rush at the end can die in a fire however.
In Closing
There you have it. Spanky’s Quest has an unfortunate title but is a good game with great level design and mechanics. Pick this one up if you want something different.
