The Collection Chamber: QUIK THE THUNDER RABBIT

Sunday, 29 March 2015

QUIK THE THUNDER RABBIT

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 that deplete over time, 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!

Except you might not. If you find yourself in a level with Roman-style statues in the background, it means you have to find a magical clock somewhere in the level. Well, I say they're in the level, but in fact they're in a mini-stage accessed via a hidden door within the level. It will take you back in time making you climb to the top of a bunch of platforms while avoiding a pesky bird or bird-like thing that will hinder your progress if it catches you. Only then will the Playboy bunny let you pass.

Much like Horror Zombies from the Crypt, this game also came out on the Amiga, but the DOS port doesn't really hold up. Compared to the original Amiga disks, there's not much difference in the graphics and both control nicely (if you can get around the moon physics). Find the Amiga AGA version and you'll be greeted with more detailed backgrounds. the original machine couldn't handle adaptations, It's the CD32 version that's the best of the lot. Not only does it have these better backgrounds, but it has nicer music and a sweet animated intro too. All 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.

** UPDATE. The leaked prototype of the cancelled Super Nintendo sequel is also included in the package. It's vastly different in tone and gameplay, and while playable, it lacks music and will crash when you reach levels or parts of a level that hasn't been fully programmed. It could've been a decently average platformer had it released in 1994 - around the same time as the Amiga original - or earlier but by the time this would've been ready the competition would've been overwhelming not to mention the burgeoning releases of the next generation. An interesting curio nonetheless.

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

03.02.2026 - Version 3 - Updated FS-UAE to version 3.2.35 with WHDLoad Launcher

Replaced Amiga floppies with WHDLoad version

Added Amiga AGA and Amiga CD32 WHDLoads

Added Amiga CD32 CD-ISO alternative

Updated DOSBox to DOSBox-X 2026.01.02 64-bit SDL2 Visual Studio build

Replaced DOSBox pre-installed floppy version with CD version

Added leaked Super Nintendo sequel prototype running on the Mesen-S core in Retroarch

Added CD32 Manual

Added X-Input support

Overhauled custom menu

Fleshed out ChamberNotes to reflect changes

File Size: 196 Mb. Install Size: 512 Mb. Need help? Consult the Collection Chamber FAQ