Flicky
System: Genesis
Release Date: April 1991
Developer: Sega CS
Publisher: Sega
Genre: Action
Save all your bird friends and take them to the exit in Flicky! Take control of a little blue bird who needs to save his little yellow buddies from a pair of hungry felines and their slimy lizard pal. There are 48 rounds standing in front of you before they loop around at a quicker speed. How far can you get before it’s game over?
This is a very simple collect-a-thon title. Flicky runs around on a screen that wraps pretty quickly on itself. The birds are floating at set spots on screen and you can see where your enemies will come from, as there are two little boxes strewn about. Flicky jumps with any of the lettered buttons and you’ll need to become adept at this to make it to higher platforms and avoid the cats. There are also items scattered around the stage that you pick up and then launch ahead with the lettered buttons. Hitting multiple enemies will turn them into diamonds for extra points.
The birdies follow behind you in a line and will continue to unless they get touched by a cat. Then they either stand there and meander or if they’re wearing sunglasses, run quickly in a direction as far as they can. The cats follow a predictable pattern, trying to be at the same vertical level as you. You can use this to your advantage, but it can also lead to you getting trapped. Taking big lines of birds to the exit all at once give you the most points and finishing the stage quickly gives you a time bonus. Every few levels is a bonus stage where you need to collect 20 birds before they fall to the ground. Points get you extra lives, so do your best to max out.
Graphics: 1.0
This looks like an 8-bit game with some more colors.
Sound: 1.0
The same song plays over and over and the sounds are poor.
Gameplay: 2.5
Flicky’s running and jumping work as expected, but it’s not complex at all.
Difficulty: 3.0
The levels are set up mostly fair, and the cats can be manipulated to go where you want.
Fun Factor: 2.5
I enjoyed myself, but not a whole lot.
Overall Rating: 2.0
Flicky earns a C. This is an easy play that is quick and not very complex.