Claw does support multiplayer gaming for up to 64 people on the internet, and Monolith Productions even has contests and level editors set up on their website. It's not often a game like this gets released on the PC, and it's even rarer to see one with this level of quality.
If you love action platform games and don't mind a difficult quest, then Claw is definitely a PC game that you'll want to have in your gaming library. On your first try you'll be lucky if you make it past the first level. It's difficult to obtain extra lives, and there are 14 big levels to beat.
The levels are full of enemies and instant deaths which can really be aggravating, especially to the younger players. Claw looks so cartoony and cute that many younger kids will probably want to play it.
The game's only downfall is its difficulty. Playing with a gamepad is highly recommended since the keyboard really doesn't do the game justice. There's disappearing blocks, moving platforms, spikes, tar pits, and just about every other hazard you can think of. Speaking of jumping, you'll be doing a lot throughout the game. It's easy to swing your sword, duck, and jump. The voice doesn't get annoying since it's not constantly being used.Ĭontrol in the game is pretty tight. Most of the time he's badmouthing the enemies, or telling the player to hurry up. As you're playing the levels, Claw will occasionally talk. The cinema scenes have music spooled off the CD, but the levels are your basic midi music. This is one of the few platform games available on the PC, and the high-res graphics really give it an edge over the console competition.Įqually impressive in Claw is the music and voice. The cinema scenes are especially good looking with animation that rivals Sierra's King's Quest VII. All of the levels have parallax scrolling for added depth. They are brightly drawn and all of the characters animate flawlessly. The graphics in Claw are some of the best I've seen. During the levels you'll be constantly collecting various coins, tokens, and other trinkets for points. There are even some magical items to further aid you. He can also pick up certain barrels and throw them at the enemies for an explosive effect. Other special weapons will be hidden throughout the various levels. Your quest won't be easy, but luckily you'll have some weapons at your disposal. In the opening cinema he's captured by his archenemies and must escape the prison and find the missing gems he needs for his amulet of nine lives. His name is, appropriately enough, Captain Claw. In an age where 3D gaming seems to be the only medium of choice, it's refreshing to be able to play an "old school" game.Īs is the case in many games of this genre, you control a cute character (a cat). This title is special because it combines the best elements of past games into a good looking, very playable high quality game.
What's so unique about Claw? Well, what sets this game apart from others isn't originality, innovation, or some new gimmick. Going back to the core of what makes a good action platform game, Monolith Productions has released Claw. Technology has forged ahead and now the companies are concentrating on 3D worlds. The console market has seen plenty of successes, most notably the Mario games and Sonic. Remember a few years ago when side scrolling platform games were all the rage? There were so many of these games that they literally saturated the market, with many of them dismally failing due to really bad design.