Rascal
Release type: Freeware
Release date: 1996
Levels: 12
Author: Jon Bolden
Website: JonBolden.com
Related games: none
Not to be mistaken for Sherwood Forest Software's Rascal series.
Rascal is a fairly solid platformer with original visuals, borrowed sounds, and carefully designed levels. In designing the game, Jon Bolden was inspired by his father's cat -- apparently both the good and the bad aspects.
Although we are asked to sympathize with Rascal's journey as he scrambles around the house, yard, and town, the substance of his adventures is often comically disgusting. Rascal attacks by retching up hairballs, or by leaving poo bombs for enemies to stumble into. The character design hides no anatomical secrets, either.
Rascal makes full use of Game-Maker's features, including digitized sound, music, multimedia lists, all significant block properties (solidity, gravity, animation, object status, change on contact, counter increase and decrease), full monster and character animation, and confident level structuring.
The game's design, although undisciplined, is fully and carefully realized. Each level is thematically distinct, and designed to maximize exploration. Aside from the seven normal levels, the game includes a bonus stage and a whole secret mode where the player can revisit each of the levels with improved abilities.
Contents
Story[edit]
As Rascal walked through the valley of the shadow of death, Oops!! Sorry that was the last song I heard on the radio.
As I was saying, Rascal walked in the hallway and suddenly heard a loud cry for help from Corkey who was the neighbor's dog and Rascal's best friend. He ran to the neighbors as quick as he could.
Rascal found a note that said "Dear Mr. Chevalier, give us your T-Bird and we'll give your dog back. Rascal knew that the humans would never see him in time, so Rascal dashed off to find him.Rascal is going to look for Corkey in his house, outside, in the school, or in the pound... but will Corkey be rescued in time?
Instructions[edit]
- RIGHT ARROW: Walk right
- LEFT ARROW: Walk left
- UP ARROW: Jump straight up
Or on numeric keypad:
7 8 9 4 5 6 1 2 3
- 6-Walk right
- 4-Walk left
- 8-Jump straight up
- 9-Jump upright
- 7-Jump upleft
- G=Spew Left
- H=Spew Right
- F5=SAVE
- F6=LOAD
- ESC=QUIT
Credits[edit]
Storyline:
Graphics:
Character, Background, Menus, Animations
- Jon Bolden
Bitmaps
- Konica PC Picture Show
- Viewprint
- Microsoft Paintbrush
Pictures taking by:
- Jill & Jon
Rascal was based off of the real life pet that lives in my bedroom...
Copyright(C) 1996 Jonsoft
Availability[edit]
This game seems to have been made available on several shareware compilation CD-ROMs. More precise details TBD.
Archive History[edit]
This game was provided to the archive on September 15, 2010, by Mike Perrucci -- who in turn found it "by searching for files that every Game-Maker game uses."
Links[edit]
Interviews / Articles[edit]
- Rascal (Nap'n'Retrogaming)
Misc. Links[edit]
Downloads[edit]
- Rascal (240.3 kB)
- Level select map (7.7 kB)
- Level 1 map (37.0 kB)
- Bonus level map (10.2 kB)
- Level 2 map (12.5 kB)
- Level 3 map (49.0 kB)
- Level 4 map (34.1 kB)
- Level 5 map (24.2 kB)
- Level 6 map (8.5 kB)
- Level 7 map (52.2 kB)
