#gameslikeflicky

Ape Escape 2001 Developer: Japan Studio Format: PlayStation 2 Year: 2001

The circular, rotating maze section of the MOON 1 stage of Gunstar Super Heroes (GBA, Treasure Co. Ltd., 2005) is a homage to Flicky: you have to collect the chicks and drop them at the exit.

Pix the Cat Developer: Pastagames Format: PlayStation 4 & Vita Year: 2014

8-bit Doves Developer: Nitrome Format: Mobile Year: 2014

The next game in the occaisional “Games Like Flicky” series features a Gameboy-styled downloadable game for Mobile.

8-bit Doves sees you take control of the sleepy dude who has to get to the exit of each level whilst optionally picking up as many doves as possible by flying near them. There are no enemies (as far as I can tell) but there are moving hazards on the levels. Levels are split into packs of 10 and get progressively more difficult.

My issue is that the control mechanic could be single button but is actually two button. And the directions flip depending on the orientation of your character, which makes it infuriating at times. I think the control mechanism was made obtuse to make the game more difficult but the developer has gone a step too far with it. I'm not sure I'll stick with it because of that.

Worth playing if you can get it for free (as it us as of right now) or at a bargain price.

たぬキッズ (Tanukids) Developer: Compile Format: PC-9801 Year: 1996

The first in a new, occaisional series "Games Like Flicky" features an obscure Japanese game released on the PC-9801, a range of Japanese Desktop PCs from the 1990s.

Tanukids sees you take control of a Father Tanuki who has to collect a number of Tanuki Kids, avoid roaming enemies, and then drop the kids of at the exit. Does this sound familiar?

Whilst the gameplay is very much like Flicky, the level layout has more in common with Pac-Man. Other twists include the fact that collisions with your tail of kids not only sets them loose but also reduces the time you have to complete the level.

There are only eight levels but they are kept fresh by having different environments and graphical themes, each have their own hazards, and the enemies they contain are varied in both appearance and ability.