The early to mid-nineties; a special time when every platformer ever conceived wanted to be either Sonic the Hedgehog or Mario the plumber. Some were not particularly shy in hiding this fact and none more so than Titus Software's 1994 attempt - Quik The Thunder Rabbit...
"Quik, the rabbit that goes faster than any hedgehog" has been tasked with finding the Ultimate Seed (Chaos Emerald or 'McGuffin') has to travel from Angels Meadow (Green Hill Zone) in order to claim it from the sorcerer Quok (Dr Robotnik, except nice). His main attack is a spin attack, he travels to the right through labyrinthine levels and can travel to special bonus stages, though they are mandatory in the Angels Meadow.
While there certainly are similarities, there are many things this game does differently. When playing a particularly long level, you might find yourself suddenly dying. This is due to a unique mechanic that replaces the standard timer. Not only do you have a health bar, which depletes after every hit, but you have a food and water bar as well. They will gradually deplete unless you collect white vials of water or carrots that are found around the stage or dropped by defeated enemies. If any one of these meters drops to zero, you lose a life.
The game starts easy enough. The first thing you'll realise is that you can't jump on an enemy unless you are spinning. If you hit a wall while spinning, you'll bounce of much like a pinball. This, along with the different meters adds an extra strategy to the game. Do you defeat the enemy now, or jump over him in case you need the carrot that he might drop later?
At the end of each level, you'll be greeted by your girlfriend dressed in a Playboy bunny outfit! Now that's a reward for completing a level!
Much like Horror Zombies from the Crypt, this game also came out on the Amiga, but the DOS port fares much better. There's not much difference in the graphics and both control nicely (if you can get around the moon physics). Both are included in the download so you can play your preferred choice.
This is one of the better attempts to take on the console platforming heavyweights, and the presentation does just enough to separate it from what I call the 'Apogee syndrome' (bland, rushed and indistinguishable) that bogs down many of other PC platformers. It's not one of the best platformers ever, but it was one of the better ones for home computers in 1994.
To download the game, follow the link below. This custom installer exclusive to The Collection Chamber uses DOSBox to bring the PC version to modern systems and FS-UAE to emulate the Amiga version. Keyboard controls for the Amiga version are mapped to my preferred optimal specifications. Tested on Windows 7.
07.11.2015 - Version 2 - Improved installer
File Size: 13 Mb. Install Size: 28 Mb. Need help? Consult the Collection Chamber FAQ
Download
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Quik the Thunder Rabbit is © Titus Software
Review, Cover Design and Installer created by me
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