ANIMANIACS: SPLAT BALL

Ready, Aim... SPLAT!

Who will be named the Sultan of Splat Ball and who will just get dirty? Get ready for a fast-paced. splat 'em up free-for-all pitting 'toon against 'toon in ANIMANIACS SPLAT BALL.

Your mission - stay clean! As head of Team YAKKO, WAKKO, and DOT, you'll compete against RALPH THE GUARD, DR. SCRATCHANSNIFF and THADDEUS J. PLOTZ for vicory. Race through the Warner Bros. studio, dodge past the Old West sets, sprint by the Sci-Fi Stages and dash across the Studio Backlot. Like Capture-the-Flag, your goal is to take the other team's balloon and bring it back to your camp first, without getting splatted.

Good luck. It's going to get pretty messy.

• 3 enormous playing fields and 72 action-packed levels.
• Non-violent, fast-paced action.
• Single player or up to 6 person multi-player
• MSN Gaming Zone Internet play.
• Selectable difficulty challenges all skill levels, from beginner to expert
• Humorous action and voices of the ANIMANIACS chacters.

~from the back of the box

 

Those dog thing siblings are at it again, running amok in the Warner Bros movie lot armed with paintball guns. That's what Animaniacs: Splat Ball is - a simple capture-the-flag sports game with little variation and a janky control scheme. I wouldn't have expected much more for a budget game made for little kids.

In single-player mode, you control Yakko, Wakko and Dot as they fight against Ralph, Dr. Scratchansniff and Thaddeus J. Plots for control of balloons. Floating in their base at the other end of the level is a blue rubber sphere which you need to take back to your own base. Not only that, but you'll only score the point if you have control of your own red balloon. Score three and you win the match - one of 72 in total (and each as exhausting as the last).

Of those 72 levels, there are only three themes; the standard backlot, the wild west sound stage and the sci-fi themed movie set. None of them have anything more to them than that. Sure, it's nice to see a Goodfeather or Rita cameo here and there but ultimately it's just window dressing. 

There are a few pickups which do keep things interesting. Some give you super-speed, others temporarily upgrade your weapon, but the ones to really look out for are the simple buckets and soap bars. You can run out of paint fairly easily, so these buckets refill a small amount. The soap bars allow you to clean off any hits. If you're splattered more than four times, your character will stop in his tracks and slowly meander back to his base, dropping the balloon if he's holding it. 

 

These power ups are finite and from what I can tell don't replenish. It's a strange decision which takes away some of the chaos I expected the game to have. There's nothing like wandering a barren stage looking for ammo just so you can play the darn thing. 

Nevertheless, the Animaniacs themselves are represented well enough. Their jibes and one-liners still ease out a smile from my lips, but ultimately the lack of a budget or ambition hinders the premise greatly.

To download the game, follow the link below. This exclusive installer uses PCem running Windows '95. Press Ctrl-Alt-PgDown to toggle fullscreen. Press Ctrl-End or middle mouse button to release the mouse. Tested on Windows 10.

IMPORTANT - Remember to shut down the emulated version of Windows before exiting PCem. This could potentially result in errors, lost saves and corrupt data. Close the program only when it is safe to do so.

File Size: 312 Mb.  Install Size: 646 Mb.  Need help? Consult the Collection Chamber FAQ

Download

Animaniacs: Splat Ball is © SouthPeak Interactive

Animaniacs (the series) is © Warner Bros.

Review, Cover Design and Installer created by me

Like this? Try These...