Cool Spot (video game)

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Cool Spot

Developer(s) Virgin Interactive
Publisher(s) Virgin Interactive
Platform(s) Mega Drive/Genesis, Sega Master System, Game Gear, Amiga, Super NES, Game Boy, DOS
Release date Mega Drive/Genesis
EU 1993
NA 1993
JPN February 18, 1994
Amiga
EU 1993
Master System
EU 1993
Game Gear
NA 1993
SNES
NA September, 1993
JPN December 10, 1993
EU February 24, 1994
Game Boy
NA 1994
MS-DOS
1994
Genre(s) Platform
Mode(s) Single player
Media Cartridge or Disk

Cool Spot was a mascot for 7 Up in the first half of the 1990s. During this time, the red spot in the 7 Up logo was anthropomorphized -- given arms, legs, a mouth, and sunglasses. Many choose to link this design to the 'cool mascot' trend of the time started mainly by the success of Sonic The Hedgehog. British video games developer Virgin Interactive produced a platform game starring the 7 Up Spot, entitled Cool Spot. Set in a vivid beach/seaport, it was praised for its challenging gameplay and smooth graphics, as well as most of its background music by Tommy Tallarico, for which it won awards. The game won many fans, even among those who were turned off by the commercial connections or in areas where the mascot was not used. It was originally coded by David Perry for the Mega Drive/Genesis, and then ported by other teams to other systems.

Cool Spot was released for the Mega Drive/Genesis, Amiga, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear, and Super NES, in 1993. It was released for DOS and Nintendo Game Boy in 1994.

Contents

[edit] Gameplay

Cool Spot in action
Cool Spot in action

The game is a 1-player platformer in which the player controls Cool Spot, who can jump, and attack by firing soda bubbles, which could be shot in all directions and while jumping. Cool Spot could also cling to and climb various things by jumping up in front of them. In each level the player must rescue other cool spots, who look exactly alike, from cages at the end of that level, which is not necessarily the point at the far right of the level map. In order to do so, the player is required to collect a certain number of "spots" that would change (usually increase) as the game progressed. "Spots" were placed across the level in large quantities, and were the game's substitute for items such as Sonic the Hedgehog's gold rings (these were often used in this style of game, mostly for points). A player's health is monitored by a humorous Cool Spot face that gradually bends forward and will eventually fall from its position as damage occurs. Damage is taken by touching enemies, their projectiles, or certain level obstacles. Each level is played with a time limit. If the clock reached zero, a life would be lost regardless of a player's health.

The game had no save feature but did use checkpoints in the form of flagpoles. Once walked past, the flag would raise and a trumpet would sound. If a player lost a life after reaching a checkpoint, the player could restart further in the game.

[edit] Sequel

Spot Goes to Hollywood
Spot Goes to Hollywood

While Cool Spot was a side-scrolling platform game, its sequel, Spot Goes To Hollywood, was more 3D in orientation and featured gameplay inside various movies. Despite excellent visuals, its isometric perspective and unusual controls made it an exceedingly difficult game. This game, published once again by Virgin Interactive, was developed by Eurocom. It was released for Mega Drive/Genesis in 1995, Sega Saturn in 1996, and Sony PlayStation in 1997, with the 32-bit versions featuring revamped graphics and more levels than the Mega Drive/Genesis versions.

[edit] 7up Spot puzzle game

Another game featuring the 7up Spot character was released for the 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System, the Nintendo Game Boy, DOS, the Amiga computer, and the Atari ST. This was a version of the puzzle game Ataxx. The NES version, entitled Spot, was released in 1990 by Arcadia Systems, Inc. Coded and Produced by Graeme Devine. Art/Animation and Co-Producer, Robert Stein III.

[edit] Version differences

7up Bottle, missing in the PAL release
7up Bottle, missing in the PAL release

In the PAL (UK & Europe) release the 7 Up bottle was removed from the intro and replaced by a generic soda bottle of similar colour (albeit lacking the label). Presumably this marketing decision was made to avoid associating the 7 Up Spot with the 7 Up brand, in a region where Fido Dido has been considered the firm's official mascot since the 1980s.

There is a difference between the word players must make by collecting the letters in the bonus levels. On some versions of the game, the word is "VIRGIN," thereby making references to the company that developed the game. However, in the Nintendo, Sega Genesis and Game Gear versions of the game, the word is "UNCOLA," which refers to an advertising slogan, "7 Up, The uncola refreshing drink," which was being used at the time by 7 Up. No official reason for this has been given by Virgin Interactive or 7up, but a number of rumours have been created by the game's fanbase, one being that Virgin did not want to put too many 7 Up related things in the game and/or wanted more credit. Another was that the word "virgin" was too much for Nintendo of America's censorship policies at the time, which is unlikely, considering Virgin's position as a company.

[edit] Awards

  • "Best Cartridge Music of the Year", 1993, Sega
  • "Best Sound", 1993, Electronic Games Magazine [1]

[edit] External links

Languages