If nothing else you have to give Kool-Aid Man credit for ambition. This game incorporates advanced concepts you won't see in other games of the time. It even has a paper-thin storyline that unfolds over multiple stages. The game was originally only available via a mail-in promotion, so I'm surprised how common it is now.

The idea is that two kids (girl and boy) are attempting to transport three items (pitcher, sugar, and Kool-Aid mix) over to a sink to mix their favorite beverage. Both walk in tandem around in an expansive blue house rendered in a pseudo-3D style. I find it amusing how the kids tend to walk behind the doorframes, like a scene from The Naked Gun.

These kids are pursued by monstrous "thirsties" that bounce randomly around the house. At a glance you might mistake these for the Kool-Aid Man, but I think they're his evil cousins or something. On the easy skill level they move in a predictable manner, but in advanced stages they'll lock onto you like a heat-seeking missile.

The kids stick together but you can toggle between them to carry more than one ingredient at a time. That's pretty innovative. When "paralyzed" by a thirstie, a kid will unleash a blood-curdling scream! General Foods reportedly wanted this alarming sound removed from the game, but the programmer had already quit so it stayed in!

Searching the sparsely-furnished, sprawling three-story house for ingredients can be tedious. There are invisible walls to contend with and sometimes it can be a struggle to navigate the stairs. Certain ingredients may be stored on a shelf, necessitating you locate a stool to reach them.

After making Kool-Aid you're rewarded with a scene of the Kool-Aid man breaking through a brick wall just like he used to do in those commercials! Stage two is a bonus stage of sorts. Assuming the role of the Kool-Aid Man, you freely float about the house to chase down those thirstie bastards.

After that bit of excitement, it's almost disappointing to return to another ingredient-gathering round. Kool-Aid Man has its moments but it does feel plodding at times. While interesting from a technical view, it's arguably less fun than its simpler, more shallow Atari 2600 cousin. © Copyright 2025 The Video Game Critic.

I've played Lady Bug before but it's taken me decades to discover this fine Intellivision version. The manual depicts a little winged nymph winking seductively. What in the world does this have to do with the game? The manual also states "for color TV only", as if they're going to drag the VGC kicking and screaming into the 1970's! Nice try Coleco but I don't think so.

Lady Bug looks like your typical early-80's maze game, but it's better than most. You navigate ever-changing corridors while collecting X's, bonus hearts, and letters to the word "EXTRA". You're controlling an actual ladybug which is a far cry from the stripper on the instructions. Be careful to avoid deadly white skulls and wandering predator bugs. Enemies are released from the center on a timer, and once they're all loose a tasty bonus appears in the form of a carrot, radish, eggplant (!), or some other nutritious (and lucrative) vegetable.

What makes the game unique are the yellow walls you can push through and rotate like turnstiles, reconfiguring the maze on the fly. It's a very novel feature and a cool way to wall off pursuing bugs. There's a lot going on in this game; the maze feels so alive! The mushy intellivision pad won't do you any favors but that's okay because the game is slow and methodical. With arcade graphics and four skill levels, this is a nearly flawless port. Lady Bug gets extra credit for the hooker on the cover, although Scott says he'd put a bag over her antennae. © Copyright 2021 The Video Game Critic.

Despite some reservations, I was very impressed with this casino-style card game. One or two people can play blackjack or three kinds of Poker (5 card stud, 7 card stud, 5 card draw). The graphics are sharp and it's easy to read the cards, but the best aspect of the game is the dealer. Not only does he look good when he deals, but he makes some funny facial expressions (depending on how well you're doing). The Intellivision control pads are well-suited for this type of game, with specific buttons assigned to hit, stand, or double down. This is definitely one the better classic card games. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

In 1982 every console worth its weight had an obligatory maze game. Atari owned the crown jewel Pac-Man (Atari 2600, 1981), Magnavox had K.C. Munchkin! (Odyssey 2, 1981), and Mattel had Lock N Chase. Playing the role of a bank robber, it was the first game that let you be "the bad guy". Not exactly Grand Theft Auto (PS1, 2001), but those shifty eyes are devious.

You're pursued by four policemen but can "shut doors" behind you to slow their pursuit. On occasion you can even "trap" one between two doors for points. You'll notice white lines indicating where these temporary doors can be placed.

The police are relentless and intelligent, with AI that puts ChatGPT to shame! Not really. Still, you can't easily fake them out as they tend to reverse course and mimic your movements. There are plenty of close calls but at least the collision detection is forgiving.

Bonus items periodically appear including a crown, briefcase, or telephone. But the big points come from the dollar signs that periodically appear in the center. These are worth 500 points at the start and double each time you snag one. I often find myself lingering near the center while shouting "SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!" That's normal, right?

Upon clearing the maze, don't dawdle because you still need to exit through one of the two escape hatches! This game makes me wish the Intellivision had joysticks. My friend Eric is a virtuoso with the directional disc, effortlessly navigating turns and squeezing through closing doors. But for a novice it's easy to miss turns or accidentally reverse direction, sending you directly into the not-so-loving arms of the law.

The graphics boast flicker-free characters and colors that really pop. There's even a mischievous little intro tune. The game is madly addictive, but if you find your scores getting progressively worse, that's because the game baits you into taking risks. That's a sign of a good game, and when it comes to arcade action on the Intellivision, Lock N Chase set the standard. © Copyright 2023 The Video Game Critic.

Lock N Chase (Mattel, 1982) is one of those under-the-radar classics people don't talk about enough. It's got much more depth that your standard maze crawler, with plenty of personality to boot. Whenever my buddy Eric pays a visit, a few rounds of the Lock N Chase is always in the cards.

So when I stumbled upon this improved 8K version at IntellivisionCollector.com, I was powerless to resist. Details about the actual game were sparse but the robust packaging appeared to be professional grade.

Sure enough, when it finally arrived, the box was first class all the way. The glossy case opens like a book to reveal a full-color manual, a pair of overlays, and a cartridge with a real label (not just an end label). Eric and I were so intrigued by the packaging, we almost overlooked the fact that the game looked and played exactly like the original "6K" version. If there was any difference, it was not readily apparent.

Only after scouring the internet were we able to uncover a few very subtle differences. The "headliner" is a new "death" animation the box refers to as "collapsing Lupin the Thief!" When your thief gets caught, instead of just freezing in place he shrinks down until there's nothing left but his hat. I hadn't even noticed! An even more obscure change is how you supposedly "can't stop" in this version. I didn't know you could stop in the original!

Despite being so underwhelming, I have to give this 8K Lock N Chase the same grade as the original because it's essentially the same game. Technically it may be slightly better, but 2K better? I don't know about that! What I do know is that this game looks great sitting on your shelf! © Copyright 2024 The Video Game Critic.

This is a truly innovative game that demands fast thinking in addition to quick reflexes. Locomotion features a little train engine traveling through a maze of tracks. The tracks are broken up into squares, and by rearranging the squares on the fly, you guide the engine to waiting passengers while avoiding dead ends. You really have to experience this game to fully realize the genius behind it. Later stages feature runaway cabooses that make your job harder.

The controls are very good, and there's even a "panic" button that acts like a railroad version of hyperspace. The graphics don't exactly set the world on fire (the cabooses look like blobs) but the locomotive sound effects are nice. Locomotion never got the credit it deserved, perhaps because it's too difficult and complicated for its own good. Still, strategy-minded gamers looking for a challenge will love it. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.