Developer: Iguana Entertainment Publisher: Sunsoft Release: 11/94 Genre: Platformer
I never expected Sunsoft to get in on the mascot platformer craze. But they were one of the few that were able to successfully create a character that resonated with gamers in Aero the Acrobat. The game was even successful to not only get a sequel but also a spinoff too. How many other mascots can claim that? You don’t see Dr. Machino kicking other people’s asses as revenge now do you? I kid, I kid. Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel while also being a platformer has a very different feel from his arch nemesis and is a great game on its own.
During the events of Aero the Acrobat 2 Zero receives a telegram from his girlfriend Amy notifying him that an evil lumberjack named Jacques Le Sheets is deforesting their homeland. It seems Le Sheets is in to printing counterfeit money and to insure no interference he kidnaps Amy’s father. Zero does not care and is shot down while returning home and must make the rest of the journey on foot.
In terms of mechanics and movement Zero definitely feels different from Aero. He has just as many tools at his disposal. Aside from shuriken he has a pair of nunchaku for melee attacks. While shuriken are more plentiful the number of enemies that either block them or are unaffected is absurd. Zero can perform a flic-flac, a forward leaping attack with his legs that travels further the longer the button is held. But there is more! Zero is a flying squirrel and has a number of daring maneuvers in the air. He can double jump which catches major air. While airborne you can perform a swooping attack that travels a good distance.
The coolest is the dive. The dive attack can damage enemies but is more important for flight. While diving from a great height you will build momentum. You can change direction in midair and if you are fast enough fly upwards a good deal. It is hard to pull off but an awesome mechanic nonetheless. The game begins to call on flying a lot more toward the end of the game. While it is tricky the situations that use it are not life and death. At most you will have to retrace your steps and try again. For those that do master it there are secrets abounds. You will notice items underneath platforms and in out of the way places that seem impossible to reach. But mastering the flight mechanics will lead to suitable rewards.
Zero starts out like a typical platformer with simple level design but quickly begins to forge its own path. The levels are large and wide open but not because it wants you to explore. While there are secrets that is not the focus. Instead they are big playgrounds to play around with the game’s varied mechanics. This is especially notable in the second half where the game expects you to have a decent handle on flight. There is also a heavier emphasis on combat as there are more enemies and they are quick to attack. Boss battles are frequent and legitimately challenging as well. The game knows what it wants to be and sticks with it. This is in clear contrast to Aero 2 where it seems the designers threw in everything to see what would stick and is lesser for it.
Pacing wise Sunsoft nail it. There are seven worlds with two levels each. These are medium sized and never over stay their welcome. In fact some of the levels are pretty short. There are two vehicle based stages and while a little repetitive they are a nice change of pace. The only stages that are a dud is the forest. These two levels are the largest but also suffer from confusing and repetitive design. I found it far too easy to get turned around because the environment was too similar. While they do offer some of the best flying moments the journey to reach them is not fun at all.
I am happy to report that Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel is far easier than the series that spawned it. Spikes do not cause instant death for one and there is less of them. Health items are plentiful to the point you will spend an inordinate amount of time at full health. Even though you will probably suffer some cheap hits from enemies they usually also drop health as well. Extra lives are not too common but enough that you generally will not fear death. There are infinite continues regardless and you restart from the current stage. Even the boss battles, as challenging as they can be, are not frustrating as any damage carries over if you die. This is a game clearly designed with the faults of its forefather in mind and it shows.
In Closing
Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel is an unexpected surprise. I thought it was odd that Sunsoft would create a dedicated game for a character with minimal screen time in his first appearance. But they saw something I did not and crafted a fun adventure wholly separate from their main series. Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel does not break new ground but entertains through solid platforming and fun mechanics. I would not mind seeing the Aero universe continue but alas, the mascot game is a cruel one and the road is full of casualties.
