gPltrE*

Designrer uncrediled. (GCE, Vechexcop<rtible @tidge. $39 crpprox.)

Dyfiarf Lvoco
What is thi" thing called "cute"? How
much shcmH "cute' e:<cr:se? Sprke, one of tle latest in the laddergame genre, is cerbinly crammed with "cute." So much so, in fact tlnt ihere's appare.ntly no room left
over for play value or, despite a super{icially clever facade, much originality. Spr,te s distinguished, however, by virh-ie of being GCE's firsi hlking Vechex game. But thouqh Sp*e may taik, it says very little: "Eek! Help! Spikef and'Oh, no! Molly!" This exchange-with a minor variation, the sum of uttered by a par oi pelsonlied stars when tlre heroine, Molly, is abducted by the villain, Spud, in ihe opening secpence. Paradoncally, ihis blking opening is played as a silent-movie but for some reason, only the villainis silent. Ycnr maneuver Spike, in purzuit of his beloved Mo\, through the plafiield, which

Sp*e's

corsisb

of thee

moving altematedjreciion

sidewalks, where he climbs ladders, Donkey

Kongr-styie,

ftom one

plane to the oiher, lioqgrer slyle. Spike can

jump, of course, and, in the game's ore foesh touch, can hck deadly birds and buncels, which look more like W seb with
springs tlnn tlre big quys at the local afterhor.rs joint. With just tluee planes ard an equal

number

repetitiveness of ib theme and lb vocai interludes, Sprke should have ib rnmesake driven through ib heart.

of phyfield variatiors, phrs ihe