Frantic Flea

It is apparent to gamers that the quantity and the quality of 16-Bit titles have been falling recently due to the push of 32- and 64-Bit systems. Gametek's latest release, however, is a unique approach to an action title. Frantic Flea features the characters of Andy Whitehurst in a Sonic-style title where mini-fleas are the replacement for golden rings.

Frantic Flea uses stage and level designs that will remind players of Nickelodeon commercial exploits. The background movement is achieved by utilizing single plane parallax with simple abstract graphics. A giant consideration in action games is the amount of replay value the title offers, and Frantic Flea shines in this area by offering players 18 zones with three levels in each plus hidden level warping stages.

Trying to halt your progress are various enemies that change from level to level. These nasty villains range from roaming vacuum cleaners searching for mini-fleas to shocking posts with timed arcing electricity. Interaction with the environment rests on your ability to use bouncing platforms, Stikko Wall Pads, Suction Tubes and the Hoverpods to get your arthropod safely through the level.

Your mission is to rescue the pre-determined number of mini-fleas and wander to the exit that will allow you to leave the level. Your only form of attack is your Tasmanian Devil-style spin that can be performed consistently by holding down the X button while in the level. The damage caused to enemies with this attack is minimal, but can be increased by your following of mini-fleas that copy your moves and also inflict damage on the opposition. Hits from enemies are absorbed by losing a small number of your following just as Sonic loses his rings. Once all of your acquired mini-fleas have been extinguished, you too can be destroyed. Gamers have seen many changes come and go in the action genre. Gametek's approach to this exhausted style may be what many players have been looking for in a title. While an equal number of more serious players may find Frantic Flea nothing more than a visually childish game with increased difficulty, the younger audience will find the cartoon-like animation and fun factor satisfying.

Frantic Flea puts another nail in the Super NES coffin with uninteresting gameplay, horrible cartoon-like graphics, obnoxious and monotonous music, and annoying, imprecise controls. Basically all you do in this game is run around and collect your little flea buddies.

Frantic Flea is as uninteresting as it sounds. Better call the exterminator.