Cool Spot

Virgin Games
Industry	Video games
Products	Cool Spot

Cool Spot is a platform game released in 1993, created by Virgin Games for multiple systems including the Mega Drive/Genesis, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Master System, Game Gear, Game Boy, Amiga, and MS-DOS. The protagonist, Spot, serves as the mascot for the soft drink brand 7 Up. This game emerged during a period when brand mascots such as Chester Cheetah and the Noid were frequently featured in licensed video games.

Gameplay

In Cool Spot, players engage in a single-player platform experience controlling Spot. The character is capable of jumping and attacking by shooting soda bubbles in any direction, as well as grabbing onto and climbing various objects. To complete each level, players must free other Cool Spots trapped in cages by gathering a required number of "spots," which increases with progression. The player's health is represented by a Spot face that visibly leans forward when taking damage from foes, projectiles, or environmental hazards. Levels are timed and include checkpoints marked by flagpoles; however, there is no option to save progress.

Upon finishing a level and collecting enough Spots, players unlock a Bonus Stage where they can gather letters spelling "UNCOLA," 7 Up's slogan, to earn Continues. These Continues permit restarting from the last level after losing all lives, though accumulated points reset.

Regional differences

In the European release, the 7 Up bottle was substituted with a generic soda bottle, collectible 7 Up logos were replaced by red discs featuring the Virgin "V," and the letters collected in bonus stages changed from "UNCOLA" to "VIRGIN." These modifications were necessary because PepsiCo held international rights to 7 Up, and since the 1980s, Fido Dido had been the official mascot for the brand.

Reception

Cool Spot garnered positive critical acclaim across its various platforms. Reviews for the SNES version ranged between 80% and 93%, with GameZone awarding it an 88/100 score and Total! rating it at 92%. The Finnish magazine Pelit gave it an 82% score, describing it as "one of the most enjoyable platform games in a long time." The game was lauded for its animation quality and stood out among non-Mario platform titles.

Despite prominent product placement, it secured the 88th spot on Complex's list of the 'Best Super Nintendo Games of All Time.' In 1995, Total! ranked it 65th in their Top 100 SNES Games, emphasizing Dave Perry's design expertise. MegaZone included it in their Top 50 Games in History due to its impressive graphics and gameplay mechanics. The Mega Drive edition was placed 92nd on GamesMaster’s "Top 100 Games of All Time" (1996), while Super Play positioned it at number 100 on their Top 100 SNES Games list, complimenting its visual presentation.

Commercially, Cool Spot achieved significant success by selling over one million copies.

Legacy

A follow-up title, Spot Goes to Hollywood, was released in 1995.

Gameplay

Regional differences

Reception

Legacy

See also