I found the following thanks to AlexSJ, who asked me if I remembered it; so a quick check found some download sites where you can get it for free. It’s a straightforward platform game called Bonkheads which was released in 1998 for the Amiga, C64 and PC (DOS), though it’s not really your typical platformer because your characters , called Grag and Thog (already you can tell this is going to be a wacky game, just from the names, lol) have to use their heads to kill enemies; by bonking them on the platform above them. The graphics are excellent and the game plays really well on XP woth SP3 despite it being a DOS based game; though I’ve not had time to test it on my Vista system yet.
Bonkheads: (3.8Mb)
Bonkheads is a fun 2D action game designed for kids. The Troll brothers Grag and Thog must rid their home of annoying pests in each of the 144 levels that comprised Trollsville. You can play solo as Grag, or have a partner join the game as Thog to work together to save the town. You have to be careful, though, as giant bosses Shrew-Man-Chew, T. Wrecks, and D. Evil will do everything to stop you. Although you play a big Troll, you can't beat your enemies to a pulp in this game (contrary to conventional wisdom about Trolls). Instead, you knock them out by 'bonking' them from below, then kick them away quickly before they wake up. If you wait too long and they wake up, they become more aggressive. And if they make it to the bottom of the screen, they 'warp' back from the top with an even faster speed. Dogs, raccoons, bees, and many more animals will charge at you from all cardinal directions, the action is fast and furious most of the time. Fortunately, you also can 'warp' (similar to Pac-Man) from left to right as you reach the edge of the screen, and there is plenty of power-ups to make your job easier. These include cases of TNT, cash (used to buy more stuff), speed-ups, and more. Trollsville's wisest elder Huntho is also ready to lend a hand, or at least a tip or two, when the going gets tough. The furious action is enhanced by colorful, detailed SVGA graphics that are smoothly animated. There is a number of settings you can change, including the difficulty level (easy, medium or hard). Although the game is not very difficult at first, the action gets more intense the more you play, so watching a demo is a good way to learn the basics. Although the solo game is already a lot of fun, Bonkheads really shines in two-player mode. You can play either co-operative or competitive mode, and they are both a blast. With a lot of levels, many different enemies, and an all-around solid game play, Bonkheads is a keeper. Highly recommended, especially for budding action gamers in your house.
Reference: Home of the Underdogs
Video’s:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DaJk4_IC4Y&
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41QmltIOtBw&
Cheats
If you find the game a little hard, you can use the following cheats to help you along the way. Please note these are considered spoilers, so I would only use them if you are really stuck. During gameplay quickly type the following codes exactly as you see them to obtain the desired effect:
Code………………………………..Effect
Iamfreetroll…………………………Bonus Lives
Iamtnt………………………………Get more TNT
Iamfast……………………………...Increase Player Speed
Iamskip……………………………..Level Skip
Iamslow……………………………..Slower Pests
Reference:
Gamefaqs: http://www.gamefaqs.com/computer/doswin/data/918404.html
Download:
http://www.abandonware-utopia.com/index.php?page=telechargement&id=747 (click on telecharger, then on the next page the link below where it says telechargment - via the old symbol for a zip file)
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Here's a second Platform game called The Lost Vikings, which was released in 1993. It's another DOS based game that requires DOSBox to work properly. It will play on XP, but is very slow. You have to set the game up by clicking on setup first, then click on the executable.
The Lost Vikings: (1.66Mb)
The Lost Vikings is one of the most charming and unique puzzle games you'll ever come across, despite some console-style quirks. Three stalwart Vikings are accidentally sucked into an alien spaceship during one of their pillaging voyages... and find themselves in unknown land. It is up to you, of course, to guide them home. Gameplay in The Lost Vikings is best described as puzzle-based platform, similar to Lemmings or more recently The Humans: the goal in each level is to get all three Vikings to the exit. To do that requires co-ordinating and timing the use of the Vikings' unique skills. Eric can jump, run and bash through walls with his tough helmet. Olaf has a shield which can block attacks, function as an air glider or as a step to stand on. Baleog can shoot things with his arrows or kill things with his sword. He can also flip switches from afar by shooting them with an arrow. You will have to use the three Vikings as a team, if you hope to get past the increasingly difficult levels and puzzles, switching back and forth between them as necessary. Needless to say, each new level is more difficult than the last, and timing as well as reflexes (i.e. quickly switching between Viki ...(more) ngs) become critical to success. Fortunately, help comes in various ways that keep frustration down to a manageable level. Hint buttons strategically placed throughout the game aid you through tough spots, especially in later levels. The Vikings have a "health bar" which can be regenerated by eating food found on the level, and can sustain some damage from aliens' attack. This allows for multiple solutions to some puzzles; for example, you can run Erik past the shooting aliens if you can think of no way to get him past them (and Baleog and Olaf are stuck somewhere), hoping that he won't die before making it through. There is of course the "optimal" way to finish each level without lowering any Viking's health, but the possibility of finishing it in different ways is a welcome feature that any puzzle beginner will appreciate. As icing on the cake, there are many different, diverse worlds to explore, ranging from Prehistoria, to Egypt, The Great Factory, Wacky World and more. The Vikings come alive as they talk, bicker, and fight each other in humorous cartoon captions between levels. The only bad thing I can think of about this underrated classic is that the lack of in-game save splots. Some levels are very long, so when you get back to them, you may via password, you may have to backtrack a great deal. Other than that, the game's flawless gameplay and great graphics will keep puzzle lovers entertained for hours. Two thumbs up!Note: Although Interplay's game page still exists, the game is sadly no longer sold. We have therefore put the game up for download below. Anyone who likes this game should definitely check out its superior sequel, Lost Vikings II: Norse by Norsewest, which Interplay is selling as part of the excellent 15th Anniversary Anthology
Reference: Home of the Underdogs
Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXqVSISmfSo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FYKtjWBkMg
You can also download the games manual from the same download page.
Download:
http://www.thehouseofgames.net/index.php?t=10&id=173
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If you like either of the above games you’ll almost certainly love the two games in the Oddworld series. Though you’ll have to pay for them. You can get them either on Steam, or better still via Good Old Games, for $9.99 each. Brilliant platform games.
Abes Exoddus:
http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/oddworld_abes_exoddus
Abe’s Oddysee:
