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Telegames' Fat Bobby -Atari Lynx
Retro Gaming Review
 |
| Title: | Fat Bobby |
| Manufacturer: | Telegames |
| Platform: | Atari Lynx |
| Release Date: | 1991 |
| Part #: | |
| Rating: | 2 out of 5 |
| ESRB Rating: | N/A |
Rating: 
Telegames' Fat Bobby Screenshot:
Within the Atari Lynx's small game library, there were few platformers. Most game consoles were overrun with scrolling platformers of one kind or another. Fat Bobby could easily fill that role, but the controls are a little loose which prevents the game from really standing out.
The manual is a few pages with little more than a brief story arc and what the A and B buttons do. I am leery of games that have skimpy manuals - tell me the rich backstory if nothing else! :)
Fat Bobby Story Arc
Lead guitarist, Fat Bobby is rocking the house with his band when the evil Dr. Mephisto swoops down from the rafters. He kidnaps the band leaving Fat Bobby to finish his solo or go on a musical rampage to get his bros back.
Not one to give up, Fat Bobby takes his guitar and chases down Dr. Mephisto and his henchman. He loves to rock, but his guitar can "strum" more than notes. Musically weaponized, he's off to get his bandmates with the help of his guitar-gun (maybe it's a mortar - hard to say).
Holy shit! Check this out...
Mediocrity in the face of such a rockstar-esque backstory is a shame. It's hard to say if the developers were uninspired or rushed. It's a fun enough game, but had a drab look to it as the color palette is quite limited. This makes the action of the game blend too much into the background.
Mediocrity in the face of such a rockstar-esque backstory is a shame. It's hard to say if the developers were uninspired or rushed. It's a fun enough game, but had a drab look to it as the color palette is quite limited. This makes the action of the game blend too much into the background.
Fat Bobby Game Play
Fat Bobby is a single player platformer that primarily side scrolls, but also has some vertical territory to explore. There's nothing particularly stellar about the graphics or game play... which is a shame because I like the story - brief as it is.
A rocker sets out to rescue his band with his weaponized guitar! That's awesome and deserves a much better game to accompany that story. The graphics aren't bad, they just don't pop the way they should when a rockstar is shooting enemies with a guitar-gun. The real issue is jumping. That B button combined with directional movement can result in some unpredictable results. By "unpredictable" I mean you die.
As Fat Bobby jumps, his impressive vertical rise causes a slight jerk to the screen as it scrolls to keep him in view. Thankfully, each leap can be made
As you seek out your bandmates, you'll encounter Dr. Mephisto's henchmen and a variety of items to pick up from musical notes to egg timers and shields. Each level is timed, but you should have no problem cruising through it without watching the clock. Fat Bobby rocks out at the conclusion of each level.
Fat Bobby is a fairly rare cart, so collectors may be interested in owning it as part of a complete or eclectic Lynx game library. For those who adore platformers and are dying to try this one... you may be better off with the ROM. I can't recommend this game unless it speaks to you in some grand fashion, in which case, go for it! :)
Final Judgement:
Telegames' Fat Bobby
is a fun game but there's no mistaking it's sheer averageness and mediocrity. It could have been a much better game if only the jumping was more controlled... and some spicier graphics ;)« Return to Retro Video Game Reviews
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