Alfred Chicken
Encyclopedia
Alfred Chicken is an action-adventure game
originally created by Twilight
. It was released in the United Kingdom
in February 1993 for the Amiga
, Amiga CD32
, Nintendo Entertainment System
and Game Boy
. It was released in the United States
in February 1993 for the Game Boy
and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System
.
To complete a level, Alfred must find and peck all the balloons. The last balloon will take him to a boss fight. If Alfred dies, he starts as an egg located at the last balloon pecked.
Alfred can receive a few powerups during the game. For one power up, he must answer a telephone in secret areas to make Mr Pekles (a giant flower) give him a pot of jam. The jam gives Alfred the ability to shoot a bomb (about the size of Alfred himself) which bounces around the screen collecting things and hurting enemies. Another power up is a worm that spins around Alfred destroying enemies that it touches. You must find a can of worms to get this power up.
version with a level select feature, the latter was developed by Hookstone
and released by Sunsoft in Japan.
in the Christchurch, Dorset
constituency. The exercise was done to promote the original game's release. Fitzhugh finished second last with 18 votes, two votes ahead of the Rainbow Party candidate.
The marketing attempt was partially successful. The Alfred Chicken Party was cited, along with other "frivolous or 'commercial' candidates" as a reason to increase the number of signatures required for an individual to be nominated as a political candidate at election.
There was also a toll free number set up after the US release, which could be called to hear Alfred himself give a promotional speech about the game.
Action-adventure game
An action-adventure game is a video game that combines elements of the adventure game genre with various action game elements. It is perhaps the broadest and most diverse genre in gaming, and can include many games which might better be categorized under narrow genres...
originally created by Twilight
Twilight (game developer)
Twilight was a UK video game development group, active from 1989 until ~1995. Originally developing game conversions for Hi-Tec Software, Ocean Software and Thalamus Ltd on the 8-bit platforms: the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC and Commodore 64....
. It was released in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in February 1993 for the Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
, Amiga CD32
Amiga CD32
The Amiga CD32, styled "CD32" , was the first 32-bit CD-ROM based video game console released in western Europe, Australia, Canada and Brazil. It was first announced at the Science Museum in London, United Kingdom on 16 July 1993, and was released in September of the same year...
, Nintendo Entertainment System
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
and Game Boy
Game Boy
The , is an 8-bit handheld video game device developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on , in North America in , and in Europe on...
. It was released in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in February 1993 for the Game Boy
Game Boy
The , is an 8-bit handheld video game device developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on , in North America in , and in Europe on...
and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
.
Gameplay
The player takes the role of a chicken named Alfred who must find his way through bizarre levels full of balloons, telephones, cheese and other strange elements. While he is on the ground, Alfred can walk, jump, and peck balloons and ground switches. While he is in the air he can dive bomb enemies or springs. Dive bombing enemies will destroy them. Dive bombing springs will bounce Alfred much higher so he can reach platforms well above his normal jumping ability. If he does not hit an enemy or a spring, Alfred will get stuck in the ground for a short time.To complete a level, Alfred must find and peck all the balloons. The last balloon will take him to a boss fight. If Alfred dies, he starts as an egg located at the last balloon pecked.
Alfred can receive a few powerups during the game. For one power up, he must answer a telephone in secret areas to make Mr Pekles (a giant flower) give him a pot of jam. The jam gives Alfred the ability to shoot a bomb (about the size of Alfred himself) which bounces around the screen collecting things and hurting enemies. Another power up is a worm that spins around Alfred destroying enemies that it touches. You must find a can of worms to get this power up.
Game Boy game
This was the original version. two revisions exist; the mono original, and a Super Game BoySuper Game Boy
The is a 16-bit adapter cartridge for Nintendo's Super Nintendo Entertainment System, as well as the Super Famicom in Japan. The Super Game Boy allows game cartridges designed for use on the Game Boy to be played on a TV display using the SNES/Super Famicom controllers. When it was released in...
version with a level select feature, the latter was developed by Hookstone
Hookstone
Hookstone was a UK video game development group, active from 1994 until ~1998.The group members were Jason McGann, Peter Tattersall, Cliff Davies, Ian Bowden, Dave Box, Justin Johnson, Gordon Hall, James Smart and Chris White....
and released by Sunsoft in Japan.
NES game
The NES edition of the game is essentially a watered-down port of the Game Boy version. It features only 5 levels, which were originally in the Game Boy game.SNES game
Dubbed "Super Alfred Chicken", this game can be considered a sequel rather than a direct port of the other versions. It boasts brand-new levels and reuses the sprites of the Amiga version. There are a total of twenty one levels in all, and is the lengthiest game in this series.Amiga game
This version is a direct port of the Game Boy game, and is identical except for its colour graphics and increased screen resolution.PS1 Game
This game was released only in the PAL region. It features 2.5D action and is a brand-new game rather than a port. It was developed by Mobius Entertainment and released by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe in 2002.Marketing
Karl Fitzhugh, the Product Manager of the Amiga version of the Alfred Chicken video game, ran as the Alfred Chicken Party candidate in the 1993 by-electionBy-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
in the Christchurch, Dorset
Christchurch, Dorset
Christchurch is a borough and town in the county of Dorset on the south coast of England. The town adjoins Bournemouth in the west and the New Forest lies to the east. Historically in Hampshire, it joined Dorset with the reorganisation of local government in 1974 and is the most easterly borough in...
constituency. The exercise was done to promote the original game's release. Fitzhugh finished second last with 18 votes, two votes ahead of the Rainbow Party candidate.
The marketing attempt was partially successful. The Alfred Chicken Party was cited, along with other "frivolous or 'commercial' candidates" as a reason to increase the number of signatures required for an individual to be nominated as a political candidate at election.
There was also a toll free number set up after the US release, which could be called to hear Alfred himself give a promotional speech about the game.