Baldies

Baldies is a real time strategy video game for the Atari Jaguar CD, MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows, the PlayStation, Amiga and (under the title "Baldy Land") the Sega Saturn and Macintosh. It was initially released for the Jaguar CD in 1995, followed by the PC version, which was released November 28, 1996. It was produced by Creative Edge Software, with the Jaguar CD version published by Atari, the PC version published by Panasonic Interactive Media, and the Saturn version published by Banpresto. The PlayStation version was released in 2003 by Mud Duck Productions.

The game is a top view real-time strategy game, in the vein of Command & Conquer and Warcraft. The object of the game is to build a community of characters called "baldies", which appear as short, plump bald people, and help them against the 'hairies', who are bearded short little hairy people.

In 1998 a sequel named Skull Caps, also developed by Creative Edge Software and published by Ubisoft for Microsoft Windows, was released but had little success when compared to its predecessor.

Gameplay

The aim of the game is to kill every baldy of the opposing team, usually the hairies. This is achieved by constructing houses which breed baldies. After this, the player may construct a barracks and/or a scientist lab. A barracks builds bullets for the first stage of the house, then grenades. Soldiers outside equip these items.

Scientist labs research and create inventions, which can burn, blow up, or drown other baldies and hairies.

After constructing 4 big houses, the player may give baldies wings, which allow them to fly.

Release

Part of Panasonic's marketing campaign for the game was a tour of bald-haired promoters distributing free demos of the game in New York after its release.[1]

Reception

The four reviewers of Electronic Gaming Monthly scored the Jaguar CD original an 8.5 out of 10. Despite this high score, they criticized that the graphics are mediocre and the controls are difficult to get used to, but summarized the game as "a step in the right direction" for the Jaguar with its challenging strategy and many amusing tactics for defeating enemies.[2] A review in GamePro took a reverse position, saying that the graphics are excellent and the controls are simple and easy to master, but that the music is too repetitive. They called the game "a great sim for beginners."[3] In contrast to EGM's approach, a Next Generation critic gave Baldies a relatively modest score of three out of five stars but relentlessly praised the game. He found its greatest strength to be the freedom of the gameplay, which allows the player to delegate responsibilities any way they like among the baldies or enjoy the unpredictability of what they come up with when given only general guidance. He summarized, "Featuring cute graphics, literally hundreds of levels, and a novel game premise, this title is definitely a game worthy of a second look."[4]

In a review of the PC version, Chris Hudak of GameSpot called the game "the single weirdest game I have ever played", criticizing the concept as well as the execution of the game.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Peter Binazeski (1996-12-10), BALDIES TAKE MANHATTAN, Business Wire
  2. ↑ "Baldies". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Ziff Davis (81): 36. April 1996.
  3. ↑ "Quick Hits: Baldies". GamePro. IDG (91): 89. April 1996.
  4. ↑ "Baldies CD". Next Generation. No. 14. Imagine Media. February 1996. p. 168.
  5. ↑ Chris Hudak (1997-02-06), From initial concept to practical execution, Baldies is sick and wrong., GameSpot
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