Gargoyles (video game)

Gargoyles is a platform game developed by Disney Software and published by Buena Vista Interactive for the Sega Genesis in 1995. It is an adaptation of the Disney animated series of the same title.

Gargoyles
Developer(s)Disney Software
Publisher(s)Buena Vista Interactive
Director(s)Bob Rademacher
Producer(s)Patrick Gilmore
David Bergantino
Designer(s)Joel Goodsell
Programmer(s)Chris Shrigley
Artist(s)Thom Ang
Composer(s)Michael Giacchino
Patrick J. Collins
Platform(s)Sega Genesis
Release
Genre(s)Platform game
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay

The game loosely follows the plot of the show. The player controls the protagonist Goliath as he seeks to put an end to the Eye of Odin, a corrupted magical talisman which can transform whoever comes to possess it. Demona, the most recent owner of the Eye, ultimately becomes the main antagonist. The game contains 11 levels bookended by short cinematics which explain the story thus far, each level concluding with a boss encounter.

Throughout the game, Goliath would contend with the Vikings who ransacked Castle Wyvern in the past, as well as new, robotic foes who attack him in the present era across various venues, such as Manhattan rooftops and a subway. His arsenal of attacks to defend himself include various strikes with his fists, grapples, throws, and leaping maneuvers. He is also able to pump his wings once to increase his jumping distance, as well as climb along walls and ceilings with his claws. Gargoyles boasts a hand-drawn appearance to Goliath, Demona and the Viking enemies (not unlike Virgin Interactive's Aladdin also for the Genesis), but also a CGI-modeled look for the robot enemies.

Release

The game was intended to be released exclusively for the Sega Genesis on May 15, 1995,[2] however it ended up being released in November 1995,[3] and received reviews late in the year. A Super NES version planned for a Christmas 1995 release[4] was cancelled. In December 2012, Chris Shrigley, who programmed the game, released the source code for educational purposes to the public.[5]

Reception

The game was very well received by most critics. Scott Larry from GamePro called it "one of the best games for the Genesis, right next to Earthworm Jim 2," and added: "Topnotch gameplay and great graphics made Gargoyles one of the year's best. It's a stone-cold blast!"[6] Game Informer awarded it a score of 8.5/10, commenting: "Disney Interactive made Gargoyles into everything that would be expected from Disney's animation division. All the character movements look like a cartoon in themselves. If you found joy in Aladdin and The Lion King you'll probably receive the same thrill from Gargoyles but on a darker level."[7] Mike Salmon of Game Players and Next Generation gave it four stars and 85% ratings respectively for its "simply amazing" graphics and being "a real treat to play", calling it one of the biggest surprises and best Genesis games of the year, and positively comparing it to "similar in looks" to Demon's Crest for the SNES, adding that "with this and Toy Story, Disney has done more with the Genesis than Sega has ever done."[8][9] The four reviewers of Electronic Gaming Monthly were more conflicted about the game, giving it scores ranging from 4.0 to 7.5 out of 10. They all agreed that the game's controls were frustrating, but differed in their opinions of the gameplay and graphics (from "dingy" to "aren't the best" to "really impressive").[10]

References
  1. "Gargoyles". Sega Retro.
  2. Information from the VHS release of Gargoyles the Movie.
  3. "[Target Christmas catalogue]" (Newspapers.com). Iowa City Press-Citizen. Iowa City, IA. 25 November 1995. Retrieved 18 July 2020. Video games just released!
  4. Video game catalogs in 1994-1995 shows promotional artwork of the Super NES version, featuring cover art with Goliath about to jump off a building and take flight, with the ESRB Rating Pending symbol on it.
  5. Shrigley, Chris (2012-12-26). "Source Code Archive". shrigley.com. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
  6. GamePro 89 (February 1996), page 68.
  7. Petrified No Longer, www.GameInformer.com (November 1995).
  8. Next Generation 13 (January 1996), page 171.
  9. Salmon, Mike (January 1996). "Game Players Magazine Issue #80, Page 58".
  10. "Review Crew: Gargoyles". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Ziff Davis (78): 40. January 1996.
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