Brat (video game)
| Brat | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Foursfield |
| Publisher(s) | Image Works |
| Platform(s) | Amiga, Atari ST |
| Release date(s) | 1991 |
| Genre(s) | Action puzzle |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Brat is a 1991 action puzzle video game developed by Foursfield and published by Image Works for the Amiga and Atari ST.
Gameplay
Brat is an isometric action puzzle in which the player guides Nathan, the brat of the title, through a series of twelve levels. The isometric landscape scrolls up-screen, imposing a time limit on each level. Whilst Nathan automatically walks forwards at the same rate, if he is diverted he will begin to lag behind. If the screen catches up with him, the player loses one of three lives and must restart the level. Nathan is not controlled directly: the player must place icons onto the level to guide his movement. There are a variety of items that can be collected by Nathan, then later placed by the player to bypass certain obstacles: deadly spring toys can be suppressed with a lead weight, and building blocks can bridge gaps, for example.
Critical reception
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Brat met with moderate critical success, drawing comparison with Lemmings.[1][2][3] Reviewers praised the game's intuitive interface, challenging but achievable puzzles, clear graphical style, and original, addictive gameplay.[2][4] However, the game was criticised for its unforgiving nature when the player makes slight errors, as was some excessive disk access.[5] CU Amiga found the gameplay to be "tedious and long-winded", the level restarts too frustrating, and the puzzle elements compared unfavourably with Lemmings.[3] Amiga Power criticized the design of the titular character, describing him as nauseating and irritating.[6]
References
- 1 2 "Brat Review from Amiga Format 22 (May 1991) - Amiga Magazine Rack" (22). May 1991: 64–66. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
Brat is a cute game to watch and a vicious game to play. It calls for pixel perfect mouse work, inventive thinking around problems and excellent timing.
- 1 2 3 "Brat Review from Zero 19 (May 1991) - Amiga Magazine Rack" (19). Mirrorsoft. May 1991: 32–33. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
Yup, Brat is original and compelling stuff, it has to be said. My only worry is whether the compelling side of it is quite 'compelling' enough, as at times it can turn into a bit of a memory test.
- 1 2 3 "Brat Review from CU Amiga (Apr 1991) - Amiga Magazine Rack". Image Works/Mirrorsoft. April 1991: 61. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
...the result is an uneven puzzler/platform romp which is impressive to look at but fails in the gameplay stakes.
- 1 2 "Brat Review from The One 31 (April 1991) - Amiga Magazine Rack" (31). Image Works. April 1991: 46–47. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
Brat is an innovative and addictive a puzzle game as you're likely to see for quite some time.
- 1 2 "Brat Review from ACE: Advanced Computer Entertainment 44 (May 1991) - Amiga Magazine Rack" (44). Image Works. May 1991: 76–78. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
It's a remarkably clever game which is easy to pick up and difficult to put down. If only it didn't make you feel like taking a hammer to the TV screen on quite such a regular basis, it'd be flawless.
- 1 2 "Brat Review from Amiga Power 1 (May 1991) - Amiga Magazine Rack" (1). Image Works. May 1991: 80–81. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
Beautifully programmed and with lovely sound and graphics, Brat is utterly ruined by a colossal misjudgment of character