The Ooze is a video game developed by Sega Technical Institute and released in 1995

1995 in video gaming

-Events:*May 11 – Introduction of trade magazine GameWeek *May 11-16 — The 1st annual Electronic Entertainment Expo is held in Los Angeles, California...

 for the Mega Drive/Genesis

Sega Mega Drive

The Sega Genesis is a fourth-generation video game console developed and produced by Sega. It was originally released in Japan in 1988 as , then in North America in 1989 as Sega Genesis, and in Europe, Australia and other PAL regions in 1990 as Mega Drive. The reason for the two names is that...

 console. In the game, players take the role of a slimy puddle of liquid and face off against various enemies and obstacles.

Plot

The game starts with scientist Dr. Daniel Caine sneaking into the research lab where he worked in order to find evidence that crimes were being committed using a toxic gas he created. Caine discovers that his colleagues are planning to release a plague upon the populace, and make a fortune as they held the only cure. However, the Directorate of the company discovers Caine in the lab. Caine is disposed of by means of chemical waste, but the chemicals do not kill him; instead, they alter him into the angry, sentient

Sentience

Sentience is the ability to feel, perceive or be conscious, or to have subjective experiences. Eighteenth century philosophers used the concept to distinguish the ability to think from the ability to feel . In modern western philosophy, sentience is the ability to have sensations or experiences...

, formless creature known as "The Ooze". Swearing revenge, the doctor seeks two things: his former colleagues and to assume his human form once again. He must now find the DNA helices

Nucleic acid double helix

In molecular biology, the term double helix refers to the structure formed by double-stranded molecules of nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA. The double helical structure of a nucleic acid complex arises as a consequence of its secondary structure, and is a fundamental component in determining its...

 scattered throughout the wasteland or else end up in a jar.

Gameplay

Players control Dr. Caine as a puddle of ooze with a head, who can move around and use two attacks. One is stretching out a maneuverable sliver of ooze whose length is only limited by how much ooze he currently has to attack. Players can also spit gobs of ooze, which reduces the size of the ooze. Enemy attacks deplete the size of the ooze puddle as well, and the Ooze will die either if he becomes very small or if his head is attacked directly. He can also die by dropping off the edges of certain areas, or staying on a drain for too long. Numerous puzzles must be completed in order to progress from one level to another. An optional goal of the game is finding and collecting all 50 helices, in order to see the game's good ending.

Development and releases

Dave Sanner of Sega of America, who was also behind the game Sonic Spinball, came up with the concept for The Ooze and was its lead programmer.. The Ooze was originally intended to be bundled with the Sega Nomad

Sega Nomad

The Sega Nomad was a handheld game console sold for the North American consumer market which played Mega Drive/Genesis game cartridges. The system was similar to the Japanese Sega Mega Jet, but featured a built-in color screen; the Mega Jet needed a separate monitor...

, a handheld

Handheld game console

A handheld game console is a lightweight, portable electronic device with a built-in screen, game controls and speakers. Handheld game consoles are run on machines of small size allowing people to carry them and play them at any time or place...

 Mega Drive/Genesis. Instead, the game was released near the end of the Genesis's lifecycle. The game was later included as a built-in game for the Arcade Legends Sega Genesis

Arcade Legends Sega Genesis

Arcade Legends Sega Genesis Volume 2 is a plug and play joypad released by Radica.It comes complete with a compilation of old school Sega games including: Sonic 2, Ecco the Dolphin, Gain Ground, The Ooze, Columns and Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle.-References:###...

 2 and in the compilation game Sonic Mega Collection Plus. It is also unlockable in the Japanese version of Sonic Mega Collection

Sonic Mega Collection

is a video game compilation for the Nintendo GameCube.The compilation contains twelve to fourteen games depending on the region, all originally released on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis console...

.