... Oh, any of them huh?
Well, the CD32 needs a game starring a super cool coyote and we
got one. This isn't just any cool coyote though. Oh no. This one can shoot ice pellets
from his nether regions. How many cool coyotes do you know that can do that? None right?
Yeah, thought so.
Your basic platformer, Fire & Ice takes players across various lands, freezing enemies and then brutally smashing them once frozen. Your goal in each stage is to find pieces of a key, find the exit, and get out ASAP. Pieces can be hidden inside enemies (not quite sure how they would get there) or just laying around in the stacks of various power-ups. Eight stages round out the experience and are made up of five smaller sections each.
No platformer is complete without a spattering of enemies and Fire & Ice is no exception. From penguins, to Eskimos, centipedes, and birds that need a bottle of Immodium, everything will make an attempt to impede your progress. Everything is also bursting with color and animation is on par with other games, but this is by no means pushing the consoles power. Then again, the chances of seeing some of the best stuff the game has to offer is slim and none.
Mostly due to the control config, this game is brutal. Jumping is done by pressing up on the D-pad and firing is controlled by the red button. Jumping is floaty at best and landing on a viscous Eskimo is a common occurrence. Level 4 offers up a tip of the hat to the classic "Pitfall" and requires precise jumping across the heads of crocodiles. If you can make it past this section, consider yourself the next Steve Irwin.
Thanks to the practice mode (available by pressing the R trigger
on the title screen), you do stand a small chance with some work, but this is assuming
your patient enough. You can also choose to listen to your music from the CD or the
systems sound chip. The CD mix is catchy, enough to a point where your co-workers will
send a glance your way while your humming the tracks for 8 hours.
If you're desperate to play the daring adventures of a cool coyote, this is probably your only choice. That's a shame too. There's a lot that could be done in the cool coyote genre and it has yet to be done justice. With the right programmers, budget, and time, maybe someday the cool coyote will get his due credit. Until then, you'll have to live with this and try and make it past level four.
