Spiky Harold (9Mb)
Spiky Harold is an older and very retro platformer, which is also notably difficult to complete! There are 57 items to collect and many enemies to avoid. Harold is a large sprite, so avoiding these enemies often needs almost pin-point precision. You have one item to collect from each screen, and there are hidden caves to explore as well. It reminds me quite a lot of Cosmo’s Cosmic Adventures in its style of gameplay. It was originally released on a number of platforms, including the Spectrum, Atari and Amstrad.The 'Sir Lancelot' remake by the same author can be found Here.
The very cute graphics aren’t amazing, but they are a very considerable upgrade to those in the original Spectrum version. And the ending, ie a congratulations message to say you have completed the game is somewhat weak, but you will have a hard time getting there! What saves the game is the thoroughly endearing gameplay.
You need to get Harold the hedgehog, to collect enough food and drink before he can return to his cave and hibernate for the winter. Controlling Harold couldn’t be easier, ‘L/R’ arrow keys to move and ‘up’ arrow key to jump. Timing though is down to you!
The ‘F1’ key will release Harold if you are stuck through entering a screen while jumping. There are two difficulty levels, redefinable keys and joystick/gamepad support. There’s a health bar additionally in easy mode. It runs windowed or full-screen and has a cheat mode, though you do get 20 lives to start with, with extra lives available to get while you play. As it happens you need them as it’s very easy (as in, almost too easy!) for Harold to get himself killed! Watch out for the moving clouds, in fact anything that moves is mostly harmful to Harold!
The graphics are designed to be retro, and you can adjust sound and music levels from the game menu, though the music only plays in-menu. ‘Esc’ key exits the game. Harold restarts from near his present position when he is killed.
It’s a fun and cheerful title and just the thing to while away the odd moment or two (or many!).
Ok, so it’s something of a ‘golden oldie’ from 2006, and the graphics (deliberately) wouldn’t shame some old DOS games, but it’s a lot of fun to play. It’s entertaining and rewarding, if somewhat frustratingly difficult at times!
