Yet another acclaim-worthy NES game, besides "Sparky," released by Rodnade!
Entitled as "Wacko," you play as a crook trying to escape a prison while gathering other prisoners along the way. But watch out! There are several guards in each level whose movement is randomized. Thankfully, they disappear once you rescue all your fellow prisoners within the level. But they're not the only obstacles you'll encounter. You'll also have to avoid bombs, security cameras and wrong exits, adding to the challenge with each level you escape! (According to the creator, this game is based on a real, sad story of a relative of his. But as curious as that leaves me, I won't ask for any details.)
Much like Sparky, Wacko's gameplay is simple, fast, very challenging and yet lacking in frustration. But rather than acting as a brain game in the same nature as Sparky, this game wants you to rely on your instincts as you navigate the prison. And the fact that you can walk off the edge of the screen and reappear on the other side adds a dynamic twist to the top-down gameplay! Which reminds me, I do note that the character designs are rather unique for an NES game, appearing reminiscent of modern games like Minecraft and Roblox. In a way, it kind of does make the game feel somewhat fresh and welcoming to a modern audience. And music composer Kevin81 really NAILS the translation of that sort of "cops vs. robbers" action genre into the sound limitations of the NES. It's just so thrilling!
There aren't many flaws I found with this game. The issue of pressing "Start" to only mute the music and do nothing else returns from Sparky. At this point, I'm convinced that it's really just a defective pausing mechanic. There are checkpoints scattered about the area, but I'd prefer that the one you walk over should be highlighted to remind you of where you'll respawn if you lose. And sometimes, the enemies get stuck going back and forth in tight spaces. I guess they... "fix themselves" if you just wait a while? But when it comes to game design, waiting does not equal fun. As for bugs, at one point in area 4, I encountered a bug where the guards disappeared after I collected three of the four prisoners. And in a rare bug, if you run Wacko into a wall, he'll look like he's spinning. That doesn't cause issues with the gameplay, but it's kind of hilarious, and I would keep that in!
If you're looking to escape from reality in a fast-paced prison adventure, then look to escape from prison in Rodnade's Wacko!
Final Score: 9.5/10
