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This acrobatic bat began his act by swinging about his trapeze, to the astonishment of the audience. Sometimes he seemed to go left instead of right or right instead of left, confused, I think that the bat was, as he continued to be as unpredictable as the England football team.
Hidden in the wings, was a jealous individual, who not only hates this acrobatic bat but has gathered together a group of evil looking clowns to help him and his side kick, Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel rid the world of fun and amusement (a bit like Gordon Brown). The name given to this unhappiest of characters is Edgar Ektor, and he’s a clown that has lost his sense of fun and turned to the dark side of all things clowny.
This silly clown, with the assistance of his side kick Zero and other hapless fire breathing, spinning and projectile throwing clowns, set upon this poor defenseless little red bat. I watched as he was constantly chased around his centre ring (blimey)! Not satisfied with all of this ringside business, Edgar decided to set traps and puzzles about the place. Where they must be completed within a set time frame for a warp window to magically materialize, enabling Aero to continue on his strange journey (the excitement). The worst of these obstacles are the spikes, one touch and our tiny hero will be instantly turned into a battered batty and sent back to the very beginning of the act, no matter where he is in that stage. Where the audience and myself will have to endure the whole process over and over (#~&?ing Hell).
After begging for benevolence and waiting for the scenery to play catch up with this quirky little fellow, who by now was down to his final life and looking poorly animated. I began to have my doubts of purchasing a ticket for this big topped extravaganza, when this clumsy clown began to discriminately chuck refreshments into the crowds, dropping a few morsels in the process, leaving Aero free to scavenge.
Then if things weren’t bad enough a last bit of scenery finally arrived on cue, with the words Bonus Round scrawled above it. This extra contained health and lives, for our furry friend to acquire. Though once inside it wouldn’t let him out, so he’d run in circles until he died, amen.
Staying till the very end, I noticed that all the once happy faces now had the appearance of frustration and disappointment, apart from the odd one who seemed to enjoy this form of mascot-tisum. (Now they must be into pain). I tore up the program and left, muttering, “Circuses they stink”.
With the aroma of the circus still embedded into my subconscious and swearing on oath not to be involved in any kind of two dimensional big topped perversenesses, I was released into the real world once more, (will they never learn).
There I was, on Mega Drive probation, happily keeping to my gaming allowance, (as agreed by my gaming officer). When from the far reaches of mascot land of has beeness ready for another bite of becoming a big mascoted superstar appeared a refreshed and leaner looking Aero-the-Acro-Bat. Even the tunes that followed him, as he pranced and danced towards me, seemed to be a more peaceful and refreshing experience, (well there goes my probation).
Sticking closely to his behind like an angry boil, ready to explode, was a nutty squirrel called Zero, also looking refreshed and reformed as a suicidal rodent can. Holding his paw for added support and companionship after being defeated by Aero, then saved by Zero, (confusing isn’t it) was the mad clown come scientist, or is it the other way round? (Come on, I am making it up you know), Edgar Ektor. Wanting revenge, he once again starts to cause all sorts of clownie goings on for the unsuspecting paying public. With a dastardly plan to not only take over the circus but the world, (HA, HA, Ha, ha, choke, cough, splutter). What does he call this plan? Why ‘PLAN B’ of course, now why didn’t I think of that, (The fiend)!
Aero being the inquisitive vampire bat soon noticed Edgar Ektor prancing and dancing over the hill while holding Zero’s paw and must have thought that this mad clown had turned into something else altogether. With this he (for some strange reason) shot off into the nearest gym, to tone up his attributes (Mmm) and became dab handed at performing on beds and an assortment of trampolines, while swinging on bells, (I think that it’s a game)! Also as Aero could do in his previous outing, (just to show off) be propelled, without any protection at all, from a big cannon, enabling him to reach them out of reach places. He even can hitch a lift on locomotives and ride snowboards, giving this second outing a more versatile approach in overall entertainment.
With his now fully extendable attributes, Aero enters the museum (as you do) and is automatically attracted to a magicians huge curtained box. Pulling the curtains apart, with a Whoosh, he steps inside. The box begins to wobble and pulsate in a strange rocking motion. In an instant Aero is teleported into another two dimensional adventure containing 45 levels of platforming shenanigans, including bonus rounds. But don’t get too excited as you’ll have to assist this little red bat in defeating Edgar himself, thus putting a stop to the evil ‘PLAN B’ (good luck)!
Aero’s original outing into the real world of competitive mascoting (sounds painful), was a bit of a wake up call for this poor little bat, especially with the likes of Sonic Hedgehogs and Italian plumbers sitting high up on their podium of platform greatness. It was no wonder that this first adventure received such a mixed reception. Few actually found it entertaining; some loathed the overall experience, while others just seemed to persevere with the games tricks and trips.
Aero must have listened to all of the criticism or taken it personally, because his second outing, though similar in style and playability was a more playable and responsive gaming journey. Not only improving on the total outlook of the game, but with the added introduction of checkpoints, in the form of barbers poles and a password system, giving the game a whole new dimension.
When I’m on one of my many, many, day dreams (sad I know), I often wonder if this character Aero the Acro-Bat would have gone as neglected as he had, if the first attempt was as polished and detailed as Aero 2. So if you happen to come across a lonely looking red vampire bat hanging around your local car boot or second hand games shop, go on have pity and give him a second chance as he’s fast becoming an endangered species.
Ready for another big game expedition into the depths of the Mega Drive jungle, I continued looking for a rare and exotic character of many guises, known as the mascot.
With Sonic the Hedgehog and Aero the Acro-Bat already bagged, I slowly and nervously carried on in my quest. The tension was getting smelly and uncomfortable, but I had to go on, I had to be brave. While resting and having some more liquid refreshment, a troubled looking squirrel suddenly rushed past me clutching his nuts. Screaming, like a big baby (sorry, that was me), he disappeared back into the darkest realms of my over excited imagination. Strange, I thought, I’m certain I’ve seen him before! (Sure, he used to be Aero’s deadliest foe).
My trusty controller in hand, I desperately tried to tame this new species of mascot, but he was too quick, there was only one option left, the pause button (coward). There stood Zero, the Kamikaze Squirrel, wearing ripped jeans a banana (sorry) bandana and shruikens, to throw or stab at his enemies. Also using the normal routines of hop-scotch (okay) jump, kick, punch and mid air super back flicking dives, giving him the appearance of an all action hero; not only strange looking bats can be super hero’s, so can be peculiar looking squirrels, (the mind boggles).
The culprit responsible for turning Zero to the lighter shade of all things peculiar is a lumber jack, Jacques Le Sheets, who just happens to be an expert in counterfeiting money (What)! But to continue producing all of this extra cash he needs a good supply of paper, (give me a chance, it will become clear), so he pulls out his chopper and starts to fell forest after forest, including Zero’s ancestral family tree, (what a Sheet). On hearing and for some strange reason believing that a strange man is throwing his chopper about back home, Zero races to rescue his family and fellow kamikaze squirrels. To the annoyance of his best chum Edgar Ektor, who will now have to put his plans of world destruction on hold (shame).
A few times my controller did loose track of this newly discovered mascot, as he would wonder off into the vastness of his environment, (they do things like that). After causing me some emotional distress, the nutty squirrel would suddenly reappear in a cloud of dust, with an army of robotic choppers hot on his tail, as he attempts to outwit and avoid certain obstacles at the same time. He even has a choice of vehicles to play on including a speedboat and jetpack, the lucky squirrel.
Imagine it, a squirrel wearing ripped jeans and a bandana, screaming in a high pitched kung-fu chant looking some what confused, while driving a speed boat or flying a jetpack, being pursued by a monstrous chopper welding lumberjack, (Good grief).
Believe me; at that time when everybody wanted to cash in on the mascot phenomenon, some truly strange story lines did make an appearance. Zero was one of these mascots, who so much wanted to be a big star following on in the Aero the Acro-Bat franchise. Zero did look the part, as he’d had a face lift or two, to help him cope with the increased amount of moves and animation, which he would have to perfect in order to continue on in his adventures.
Seriously though, this is a much improved adventure, taken from the Aero franchise, both in sound and animation. The level of in game challenge seems to me to be okay. Though the lack of a password feature means that without any remorse you will have to play and replay certain levels over and over.
With the woes and whines of an amateur gamer, who says that games should be fun, thinks that this character Zero is well worth a go. So next time you see a mad lumberjack chasing a kung-fu looking bandana wearing squirrel, don’t rub your eyes and look the other way, offer him a nut or two to help him on his way.
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