Developed by IshiSoft
Released for XBLIG (12/2008)
Also on Nintendo DS (Unofficial Homebrew Release)
Johnny Platform's Biscuit Romp is a 2D platformer-puzzler featuring a vertically-oriented playfield, which is a bit odd for these style of games outside of the arcades back in the '80's & '90's. This means that the gameplay will not take up the entire field on a standard screen and there will be a bunch of unused space. The game does have an option that allows you to rotate the image so if you have a monitor setup for vertical orientation this is a big plus.
Johnny Platform's Biscuit Romp was originally developed as a homebrew game for the Nintendo DS , which explains the vertical orientation of the action as the game was programmed with the DS's two-screen layout in mind. The Xbox 360 port is the same as the DS original but there are five additional levels as a bonus for purchasing the game (the original homebrew is free of course) and the order of certain levels were rearranged for difficulty balance. The developer states that the game is a remake of an original game on the Amiga, but lacking familiarity with that platform I'm not sure which game (please share if you know more!). The title screen does have a copyright of 2000-2008 so we know the year of origin for the game's inspiration at least.
Johnny Platform's Biscuit Romp is a throwback 2D-platformer, with each stage taking place on a single screen. Certain stages will loop around when you walk to the edge, giving you a little more room to move around. Your character has a double-jump and landing on top of your enemies is your only form of attack. The goal of each screen is to take out all the enemies which will open the exit. There are coffee cups scattered about, and collecting enough of these will earn the player an extra life. Biscuit Romp is old-school in that you have lives, and when you've used them all up it's game over! The game is nice enough to give you a checkpoint every couple levels that you can start from at the main menu, so you don't have to start over from scratch every play. You also have a button that allows you to reset the stage without losing a life should you make the level unfinishable.
Biscuit Romp relies just as much on you puzzle-solving skills as it does the platforming. Several stages feature blocks that can be pushed and cookies that can be rolled to access higher spots. Your character can also support the cookie as it rolls if he gets underneath it, allowing you to act as a bridge, which will be necessary to solve some of the trickier puzzles. The stages are well designed and give the player plenty of time to get used to the games controls before really ramping up the challenge, but Johnny Platform is up to the task thanks to the spot-on controls. The game gets pretty tough towards the end, but it never feels unfair and overcoming the challenge is always fun. The controls are tight
The graphics in Biscuit Romp are basic, but the simplicity compliments the gameplay well and everything looks good. The music is catchy but will grow tiresome before long as the game only loops one song for the entire duration of the fifty-five levels! Still, the lack of variety in music isn't bad enough to ruin the fun and it's one of those games that you don't need the volume to enjoy, so it's easy to play while listening to your favorite music, podcast or whatever. Considering that the game was made in only 2-3 weeks, it's pretty amazing what the developer achieved here and it stands as one of my favorite platformers released on XBLIG. While the game is short and doesn't really give a lot of incentive to play it again after you've run through it, the game retailed for $1 and would easily give you your moneys worth.
Final Verdict: Johnny Platform's Biscuit Romp is an excellent 2D single-screen platformer offering up 55 levels of old-school fun!
Related Links:
Ishisoft - Official Website
Developer Interview - GoGameGo Blog
Developer Interview - Cinema Blend
DS Homebrew Version Download - GBATemp
Johnny Platform's Biscuit Romp - GiantBomb.com
Johnny Platform's Biscuit Romp Review - Indie Gamer Chick
Walkthrough - GameAnyone.com
Johnny Platform's Biscuit Romp - GameFAQs
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