When you think of video games with intense gameplay and memorable, high-octane chases, chances are that the 1991-platformer Flicky does not come to mind. That is not to say that the title was critically-panned or sold poorly on-release – it’s just not nearly as memorable as games like Golden Axe, and chances are you will struggle to find someone who is a huge fan of it. After Flicky was ported from arcades to the Sega Mega Drive (or Genesis, for all you yanks out there), it scored some great reviews, and was packed within Sega’s countless retro-game compilation re-releases. It may not be breathtaking-stuff, but don’t be fooled by its run-of-the-mill title or kiddie-friendly box art – this is one tough cookie.
The titular protagonist is not what you’d call ‘Mother of the Year’ material – this dopey bird seems to keep leaving her babies, known as “Chirps”, in countless buildings full of hungry predators. What you need to do is to collect every last one of them and lead them to the exit, preferably as a group for more points. You die in one hit, and have a limited amount of lives. Later levels have more complex designs, usually with smaller floating platforms and more dead ends. Escape is none too easy, as the map will keep scrolling as you move left and right.
A pack of feisty felines can be found running and jumping around each map. Being able to memorise their movement pattern is all-too important, as one slip-up could mean disaster. Wall-climbing iguanas appear in later level, too. It goes without saying that there’s not a lot of enemy variety here.
Nothing much to say about the gameplay for this one – you can run and jump, but not fly. Easy-peasy. Self-defence comes in the form of grabbing items like phones
