| Introduction
For a game that's hardly been heard of outside of
its native Germany, Moorhuhn is something of a cultural
phenomenon. Originally designed as a marketing tool
for Johnny Walker Scotch, the game is now up to its
third version on the PC and has also been converted
to the Playstation and GameBoy. This is its second outing
on the GBC with a third on the way and an Advance version
planned for next year. So, what an earth is all the
fuss about?
GamePlay
Moorhuhn can best be described as a type of 'Duck
Hunt'. A wonderful game that came with one of the original
NES packages and had a gun as a bonus. This was great
fun as everyone that came to your house was urged to
have a quick blast at this new computer game. Why? Because
it was simple and almost anyone could hit at least one
duck. Here we have a handheld version of that same game
and for anyone who's played the first game, this is
almost identical. Where it does differ though is that
you not only get Moorhuhn but also three additional
bonus games.
First let's look at Moorhuhn or Chicken Hunt to give
it its literal translation. The object of the game is
simple - shoot everything. At least that's what you
think at first. In fact shooting different objects makes
various things happen. I won't give too much away, but
point bonuses and minuses are to be found everywhere.
Very basically though, the further the chickens are
away from you, the more points you get, although with
only 90 seconds and constant reloads, the pressure can
give you seriously sweaty fingers and thumbs. Your viewpoint
here is of a landscape that scrolls from side to side
and your weapon of choice is a shotgun which is depicted
on screen as a cross-hair while your shells are at the
bottom. Fire a shot and a shell disappears. Use them
all and simply reload. The fact that the screen scrolls
makes the game a lot more challenging because if there's
nothing to shoot where you are there usually is somewhere
else on the landscape.
Whack-a-Chick really couldn't be much simpler or
more fun to play. In this game the screen is static,
chickens pop up and you've got to shoot as many as possible
before the time elapses. With no reloads and unlimited
ammo, you'll just keep coming back.
99 Moor Balloons is no doubt in reference to the
Nena hit of many years ago and is simply about shooting
balloons. The screen once again is static with a time
bar running across the top. The object here is to hit
the red balloons to gain points but beware as some of
the other colors deplete your time bar whilst others
give you more time.
Spinning Spiders. OK, there had to be a weird one
and this is it. As far as we can figure out you shoot
the spiders hanging from the tree to get points. Finish
one level and more spiders appear from the tree and
so on. Very strange.
Control
Throughout the game you control a cross-hair with
your 'D-pad'. 'A' is used to fire and 'B' to reload
although some modes of play reload automatically. This
really is a simple game. There are no special moves
or combinations to learn. Just keep firing and reloading.
Bliss.
Graphics
Although the introduction features a Hi-color FMV
of one of the chickens flying by the rest of the graphics
remain functional. That's not to say they're not good.
A great deal of care has gone into the overall clarity
of the graphics and you'll never miss a chicken because
you didn't see it. The backgrounds remain less detailed
with pastel colors whilst the chickens and balloons
are vibrant and very easy to see. Just right for this
type of game.
Sound & Music
The music is another one of those very fast techno
beats which the developers have had lying around somewhere
for quite some time. Turn it off and just have the sound
effects.
Final Comments
This type of game has been attempted before in the
early days of the GameBoy with a comic book tie-in called
The Punisher. The difference is it was never done this
well. With four game modes and a battery backup to save
all your scores this is a must purchase. You'll never
have such mindless fun with your GBC. Although only
available in Germany at the moment there are plans to
license the game elsewhere. If you are visiting Germany
however bag yourself a copy. You won't regret it.
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