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I remember the first time I saw a Felix the Cat NES cartridge. As happy as I was in actually knowing who Felix the Cat was, something I think would be lost on today's youth even more than those who grew up during the early nineties, I was skeptical how a game based on a character from the 1920's/1950's would turn out. Upon popping the game into my friend's Nintendo, I was pleasantly surprised.
Felix the Cat plays out like most platformers of the time and is more-or-less a copy of Super Mario Bros.2 with its own cast of enemies and power-up system. The events of the game are set into motion when The Professor (Felix's arch nemesis) holds Kitty (Felix's love interest) hostage in an attempt to retrieve Felix's "Magic Bag," a satchel capable of transforming into anything its owner desires. Using his "magical bag of tricks," Felix must confront The Professor, his cast of cronies and rescue his beloved.
Of course, getting there is half the fun. For the most part, each world Felix visits on his way to the mad doctor has it's own theme: there's an Egyptian like area, a climb up a snow covered mountain, underwater excursions and mid-air encounters that lead up to the battle-scared wastes of space. As adequate as the stage design is, the better half of the gameplay lies with the power-up system. By collecting Felix icons, the player can increase Felix's magic level which provides the player with a variety of attack options, not to mention providing additional hit points. While the forms available vary depending on the type of level being played, these transformations are fueled by hearts. Hearts are consumed naturally over time and can be restored with milk, another power-up that appears upon retrieving a fixed amount of icons.
As well-rounded and creative as the power-up system is in general, there are some areas of Felix the Cat that could have used some more work. The boss encounters that conclude each world are easily the game's weakest link, the battles centered on enemies with insultingly simple attack patterns that make those used by robot masters in Mega Man look like an art form. The relatively lax level of difficulty spills over into the levels as well, as it's easy to work up a reserve of lives and beat the game in little over an hour. Still, the most disappointing aspect of the game has to be the music. The title theme and selection for world one are magnificent but the remainder of the score quickly looses focus.
While I can't exactly say I would have paid full price for Felix the Cat when it debuted, the game is easily worth what a general, non-top tier NES title goes for these days. The experience may not have longevity in its favor, but it's a well-crafted product that deserves a look after you've acquired all the other, must have NES releases.
