Psycho Fox

There was just something about Psycho Fox that struck a chord with me, my sister, and our friends. As a game it can be fast and challenging, but at the same time funny and rewarding when at last completing a level. At no time is it so difficult that you would throw the controller in despair, but it is not so easy that you feel like you are wasting your time. Apparently the game is a newer version of Kid Kool, which looks all but identical though with a different character to play with.

The gameplay? It is a side scrolling platformer that demands you deal with bouncing enemies, collapsing bridges, skipping bodily across water like a stone and flinging yourself via big bendy poles. Despite the title, there are actually several animals that you can play as (each with different abilities) and it is essential to make the switch to a new identity to complete some levels. One hit will kill you unless you have collected a furry bird that you can throw at enemies from a distance which allows you an extra hit.

I can remember participating in marathon all night sessions with my sister and a group of friends, each taking the controller in turns at the loss of a life. There are invisible blocks that reveal portals to future levels, but we never wanted to take them because we were enjoying the game so much. And with unlimited continues that enjoyment lasted a long time.