Awesome Possum... Kicks Dr. Machino's Butt
| Industry | Video games |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Video games |
Awesome Possum... Kicks Dr. Machino's Butt is a platform-style video game created and distributed by Tengen for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis during late 1993. Notably featuring extensive digitized voice samples, which were uncommon at the time, it was marketed as "a superb educational title suitable for all ages." The voice cast included talents such as Walter Fields, Laurie Amat, and Douglas Lawrence.
Plot
Dr. Machino, a mad scientist, unleashes robots that contaminate the planet and endanger animal life. With assistance from Killer Bee and Rad Rhino, the protagonist Awesome Possum sets out to dismantle these machines, thwart Dr. Machino’s plans, and protect the natural world.
Gameplay
Incorporating environmental awareness, Awesome Possum tasks players with gathering recyclable items and responding to ecological quiz questions to gain extra points. The game comprises four distinct worlds featuring 13 main stages alongside 12 bonus levels centered on collecting recyclables under time constraints. Players can utilize animal companions like bees for flight or rhinos to launch themselves forward, employing their special abilities to progress through the game.
Development
Richard Seaborne joined Tengen in April 1992 to develop a concept focused on environmental themes, which led to the creation of the character "Awesome Possum." By July that year, his pitch titled "Rad Rhino and Awesome Possum" received approval. Artwork production started that autumn, with Jules Marino recruited in January 1993 to enhance character animations. The final game title was settled in May 1993. The instruction manual featured a 12-page comic strip to bolster the game's branding efforts. Following Time Warner Interactive’s acquisition of Tengen and Atari Games in 1994, they secured the rights to this title. Released during a wave of animal mascot platformers, Awesome Possum took advantage of Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog 3 absence during the 1993 holiday season, meeting consumer demand alongside contemporaries such as Irem’s Rocky Rodent.
Lawsuit
On June 20, 1997, Time Warner Interactive was sued by Paul A. Roginski for alleged copyright infringement, claiming that the game had copied his comic book concept and character name. Due to Roginski’s failure to provide supporting evidence, the lawsuit was dismissed and the defendants were cleared of all charges.
Reception
GamePro commended the title’s audio quality and pace but expressed reservations about its visual presentation. Electronic Games gave it a score of 93%, highlighting its exciting gameplay experience. Brazilian publication Ação Games rated its graphics, difficulty, and entertainment value as average while awarding top marks for sound design.
In contrast, Hardcore Gamer published a harsh review in 2006, criticizing Awesome Possum for clumsy gameplay mechanics, unclear graphics, irritating music, and an overly didactic message. The reviewer found the main character’s "annoying and narcissistic" demeanor off-putting due to frequent self-praise and quips. Other negative points included a "terrible" title theme song and unsatisfactory control responsiveness.