Developer: Hudson Soft Publisher: Hudson Soft Released: 1994 Genre: Platformer Platform: SNES
It is only recently that I’ve noticed the almost complete absence of movie licensed games. Once a staple of the industry it wasn’t a question of if a movie would receive a video game adaptation but when back in the day. But with rising development costs it is only natural that these often times cheaply made games would go to mobile phones than consoles. In some cases that is a shame; every so often we were blessed with a Goldeneye or Chronicles of Riddick. But then you also have to remember the countless generic ones like An American Tail: Fievel Goes West. This is far from a bad title but still not one that most will be itching to buy.
An American Tail: Fievel Goes West is based on the second movie in the franchise. Taking place years after the first film we find the Mousekewitz family having second thoughts about having moved to America. While it was called the land of opportunity they are finding it anything but. One day the family is tricked into believing they will have an easier time in the Wild West by a disguised Cat R Waul. On the trail out west Fievel is once again separated from his family and must overcome tremendous odds to meet up once again and save them from the cat’s trap.
Fievel Goes West is an odd choice for a video game adaptation. The film released in 1991 but the game came three years later. I suppose that was par for the course with Hudson Soft; their Beauty and the Beast games were also released the same year. Of the two films in the series that were released Fievel Goes West makes the sense for an adaptation. The setting and plot of the movie were filled with action that could be mined for different scenarios. Overall the game is decent; it is not something you’ll rush to buy but if you happen to come across it at a decent price you could do worse.
Fievel is a pretty simple game mechanically. He has a pop gun as his only means of offense and that’s it. This is the biggest missed opportunity with the game. There is one power-up that gives you ice bullets to put out fires. This is welcome change of pace and one that I would have loved to have seen spread throughout the game. But alas, after the first stage you’ll never see it again.
The game makes up for its lack of interesting play mechanics through at times clever design. Each of the game’s five levels presents a different set of challenges that do not repeat. It is pretty cool how the flow of the game follows the movie’s plot. The initial stage sees you escaping the city as it is slowly catching on fire. This section of the game is the most platform heavy and treacherous. Next Fievel takes to the sewers and has to deal with flowing currents and creepy enemies. A long train trip through the desert and you’ll finally arrive in Texas, where you’ll find two of the most combat heavy stages on the way to the finale.
When I mentioned the simple mechanics as a missed opportunity it was to highlight Fievel Goes West’s lack of depth. If I had to sum up the game in one word it would be adequate. In spite of its simplicity Fievel Goes West is enjoyable thanks to challenging enemy placement and design. But at the same time its simplicity can be grating at times. At every turn it feels as though it is being held back. Maybe it was kept simple to appeal to a younger demographic, to which I question whether it succeeded. In 1994 classic platformers were a dime a dozen and games needed something special to stand out. In this case the license isn’t strong enough to help it compete against the platforming juggernauts of that year.
For a kids game Fievel Goes West presents a moderate challenge. Fievel is limited for a platform hero and the game takes advantage of this through tricky enemy placement. Many enemies attack in an erratic pattern, making your straightforward attacks ineffective. Even boss battles can present a bit of a challenge. Life restoring hearts aren’t too common and its platforming sequences such as the train segments can be tough. I like it though; it’s nice to see a kids game with some teeth every now and then.
In Closing
An American Tail: Fievel Goes West is a decent game but not one most will seek out. While it provides some solid fun there are too many stand out games in the genre to make it a priority. I had fun with it but it isn’t a particularly memorable title or one that I would give a hearty recommendation.
