Chickin Chase (Commodore 64)

I've played all the classic genres today... shoot 'em up, platform games, racing games, beat 'em ups, puzzle games. It's been a rich and varied diet. But the next game I played defies classification. It has no genre... it is what it is. And what it is, is Chickin Chase.


Letting the coop run out of eggs gets you a clip round the ear. Ouch!

In Chickin Chase, you play a cockerel/rooster/male chicken. The object of the game is to, ummm, service the female chicken of the coop. Having done so, she will go and lay eggs... the number of eggs depends on how good you were/how long you were at it.

No, I'm not kidding.

Once the eggs are laid, they must hatch. The thing is, eggs are tasty, and a variety of nature's critters will come creeping into the coop in an attempt to steal the eggs. Your job, as the virile hero, is to defend those eggs by pecking the thieving bastards into oblivion.


Well, that was obviously a job well done...

This can be tricky. Once you've finished sorting out the missus, you're a bit knackered. In fact, you're walking around like a snail rather than Foghorn Leghorn at his peak. Fortunately, there's an unlimited supply of feed, and pecking at this will restore your energy. It's just finding the time to do it that's the problem.

You see, not only do you have to fend off the egg-fanciers, you have to keep topping up the egg supply. Once those eggs hatch, the chicks come down from their nests and ring a bell to signify they're up and about. And if the number of eggs ever reaches zero, you get a whack around the chops from an irate mother hen.


Look mate, it;s more than my job's worth to let you have these eggs. Alright?

And so, Chickin Chase is a bit like spinning plates. You can't ever stop for a rest. You're always either pecking away intruders, replenishing energy or servicing madam. It's a frantic little game that's a bit bonkers and a lot of fun. It actually reminds me of the old Activision VCS games, with its big, chunky graphics and appealing little jingles and sound effects. It's definitely recommended if you're looking for something a bit different.