| "Hedgehog Launch" | |
| Author: | jmtb02 |
|---|---|
| Armor Games | |
| Audio used: | The Weight of Time
Various |
| Origin: | 06/21/2008 |
| Size: | 4.2 MB |
| Score(As of March 20, 2010): | 4.38/5.00 |
| Awards: |  Daily Feature
|
| Author's comments: | |
|
Try to get into space as fast as you possibly can by tactiful flinging and flying. Grab coins and hit platforms to earn cash so you can upgrade your stuff! As your stuff upgrades you can earn more and more multipliers by launching higher and longer. Reach for the heavens and make it to space. This was a game I came up with in my free time while watching the Lakers lose terribly to the Celtics. I wanted to reinvent the sort of "fling stuff as far as you can" formula to provide more control and an objective/minor storyline. Enjoy! -jmtb02 .-=====================-. Developed by Armor Games, programmed by jmtb02 Controls: Use the mouse to pull back on the launcher, Left/Right Keys to move Music credits are to the left, thanks artists! -=====================- Feeling laggy? Launch it as a popup or changing the quality settings. Edit 6/22: Wow, I am overwhelmed by the reception and the Daily First. Thanks a lot Newgrounds :)! | |
Hedgehog Launch is a Toss game by jmtb02.
Story
The story of Hedgehog Launch is meant only to provide context for the game. The player is a citizen of the fictional nation "Minovia Cay," an island nation of about 15,000 people. Starting with a budget of only $50, the player must send the national mascot, the Minovian hedgehog, into space using what is essentially a giant slingshot.
Design
Like many Toss games made after Kitten Cannon!, every in-game day in Hedgehog Launch starts at an item shop. Here, the player can buy numerous upgrades, including the composition of the band, height of the launcher, efficiency of the rockets, the number of parachutes and emergency rockets, and the quality of the radar. Once the game begins, players try to collect as much money as possible, reach as high an altitude as possible, and stay in the air for as long as possible. These three factors are combined to determine the amount of money given to the player at the end of each level. The player wins as soon as they reach space.
Gameplay
Like most Toss games, the Hedgehog's launch power and direction is controlled by the player. However, one of the features that set Hedgehog Launch apart upon submission is the in-flight control. Unlike Kitten Cannon!, where the player simply waits for the kitten to land, the Hedgehog can be maneuvered through the air using the left and right arrow keys and its jet pack. Although jet pack fuel is limited, this maneuverability allows the Hedgehog to aim for the multi-colored dots that represent money. Multi-colored platforms also exist, and players that land on them are given an extra boost. Later in the game, players can activate E-Rockets using the Up arrow key to be pushed high into the air. They can also press the down key to activate a parachute to slow the Hedgehog's fall.
Presentation
Flying early in the game.
The graphics of Hedgehog Launch, though not as advanced as later games such as Toss the Turtle, provide a clear view of the action. The hedgehog, which is simply drawn, blurs at high speeds. It is easy to tell a dot's worth based on its color, and the sky in the background gets darker as the Hedgehog gets higher. Hedgehog Launch features several songs by Newgrounds artists, including Evil-Dog's "The Weight of Time" for the main theme.
Reception
Hedgehog Launch was moderately well received on Newgrounds. As of March 2010, it has had over 340,000 views. It is most notable for winning three awards: Daily Feature, Weekly Second, and Review Crew Pick, making it one of the only seven games in 2008 to win that award. The game was also popular enough to warrant a sequel, "Hedgehog Launch 2."