Frank N Stein

Copyright : Amsoft | Reviewed by : Ritchardo

Guide Professor Stein around the dungeon, picking up the bones which will complete his masterpiece enabling him to breathe life into his creation. This in essence may seem a simple task but your speed for completion will determine the level of difficulty that you will encounter on subsequent levels

Graphics

Using mode 1, Frank N. Stein looks neat and tidy but doesn?t utilise the limited colours at all well. The platform colours make it look as though the game has crashed as the top of the screen has yellow and the lower part has green with no real rhyme or reason.

The sprites are varied but uninspiring to be honest and while the main character looks quite charming in a ruggish way, the animation still leaves a little to be desired although he does look quite cute when skidding over the icy patches!

There are some original touches in there though: the level timer is indicated by a power gauge at the top of the screen next to your monster.

It?s undeniably basic looking but it?s not the ugliest game in the world either and while it?s unlikely anyone?s going to be ripping from the graphics anytime soon, it?s just about passable.

Sound

Very basic sound effects for falling, picking up body pieces and dying. No tune and a little drab.

Gameplay

A deceptively clever game, Frank N. Stein might not look much and for your first few attempts, you?ll probably think it doesn?t play like much either, perseverance reveals Frank N. Stein to be a curiously addictive little action puzzle game.

The task is simple: Pick up the pieces of your skeleton monster in the right order, return to the top of the screen and flick the switch to bring it back to life. The difficulty comes in the fact that you can?t destroy any of the various things (sorry but it?s hard to find a collective term for seemingly random tanks and erm? other stuff?) or jump over them. The only way to get between platform levels is by using the coiled springs. This is easier said than done as you have to be positioned absolutely perfectly or you wont move - a real problem when you consider the high timing element involved in avoiding the nasties.

Having said that though, the first level is one of the tougher in the game that I have played and if you can manage to escape from that then you?ll not only be doing well but will have a good idea of how the game works. With 50 levels to work through, Frank N. Stein will provide a long lasting challenge if you manage to get over the frustration of the first level!

As well as this type of level you also get a pseudo Donkey Kong type of game where you have to make it to the top of the screen while avoiding the ball that he throws occasionally and the usual hazards that are in the other levels. Quite bizarre and unexplained, it?s nowhere near as good as the puzzle levels.

It might not be the greatest game in the world and it?s not going to win any greatest game polls in a hurry but it?s still pretty good fun and a well implemented little puzzler.