Putty Squad

Putty Squad is a 1994 video game developed by System 3 and published by Maximum Games and Ocean Software.[1] It was originally developed for the Amiga 1200, but that version was not released until the end of 2013; prior to that date the SNES version was the only one to be released. Sega Mega Drive and MS-DOS ports also existed, but were cancelled.[2][3][4] It is the sequel to Putty (1992). In December 2013, the Amiga version was released as a Christmas gift on System 3's website.[5] In October 2015, the Mega Drive version was also released by a Sega-16 user who got a hold of a working prototype.[6]

Putty Squad
Developer(s)System 3
Dynamic Interactive Computer Entertainment (MD)
Publisher(s)Ocean Software
Designer(s)Phil Thornton
Platform(s)SNES, Amiga, Sega Mega Drive (cancelled), DOS (cancelled)
ReleaseSNES
Amiga
  • EU: 24 December 2013
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)Single-player

A remake was released in November 2013 for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo 3DS, Xbox Live Arcade, and Microsoft Windows. In November 2017, Super Putty Squad was released for Nintendo Switch.

Overall, while the original versions received positive reviews, the 2013 remake received mixed reception from critics.

Gameplay

Putty Squad is a platform game in which the player controls an amorphous blue blob, tasked with rescuing imprisoned putties. The player's putty can stretch in a variety of ways: sideways to cover ground faster, squash flat to absorb pick-up items, stretch upwards to climb, morph a fist to attack, or inflate to float upwards.

Putty can collect stars that increase his attack power: at first increasing the potency of his punch, but later allowing him to blow darts, electrocute enemies or throw bombs. This star power is reduced every time Putty is hit by an enemy.

Original versions
Screenshot from the Amiga version, originally announced and developed in 1994, but ultimately published two decades later in 2013.

The Amiga version of Putty Squad, although left unpublished until December 2013, was completely developed in 1994 to the point of demo versions being issued to magazines for release on cover disks, and Amiga magazines were also sent full review copies of Putty Squad, for which it received critical success. Amiga Format awarded a "Format Gold".[7] Amiga Power awarded 91%, highlighting the varied level shapes, masterful animation, influence from the Mario video games (using a stunned enemy as a projectile weapon, secret doors, items hidden in blocks) and consistent game logic. Several instant-death situations were criticised: the bottom of the level is often difficult to distinguish, and falling through it kills Putty. Several enemies can also instantly kill Putty.[8] CU Amiga awarded 94%, highlighting the fluid control and movement of Putty, balanced learning curve, presentation, and good use of the Amiga's AGA palette.[9] This critical success, but lack of a published version, has made Putty Squad one of the most sought-after Amiga titles before its release in December 2013.[2]

The Sega Mega Drive version was reportedly completed in 1995 and reviewed in several European magazines which were sent full review copies, like Spanish Hobby Consolas (#45, June 1995) [10] and German GAMERS (August 1995 issue),[11] but the game remained unpublished due to Ocean's diminishing support of the console and lack of interest from retailers. Prototypes of the game are known to exist, although none of them have been leaked into the public domain, making it a sought-after title in the scene of Mega Drive unreleased games. It was finally released by a Sega-16 user who got a hold of a working prototype and dumped the ROM in October 2015.

The PC MS-DOS version was projected by System 3 in late 1995 and demo versions were issued to magazines for release on cover disks, much like the Amiga version. The PC version was improved in several ways, including CG introductory cutscenes prior to the levels. But due to lack of interest from publishers, the PC version never went beyond demo state and was not even finished by the developer unlike the other unreleased versions.

The Super Nintendo version is the only version of the original game to have been released prior to the long-awaited Amiga version in December 2013.

Remake
Putty Squad (remake)
Super Putty Squad
Developer(s)System 3
East Point Software
Publisher(s)System 3
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox Live Arcade
ReleasePlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 3
  • EU: 29 November 2013
  • AU: 5 December 2013 (PS4)
  • NA: 11 March 2014 (PS4)
  • AU: 16 April 2014 (Vita: PSN)
  • NA: 22 April 2014 (Vita)
  • AU: 25 June 2014 (PS3: PSN)
  • JP: 10 December 2015 (PS4: PSN)
Nintendo 3DS
  • EU: 17 April 2014
  • NA: 20 May 2014
Xbox Live Arcade
  • WW: 25 June 2014
Nintendo Switch
  • NA: 9 November 2017
  • PAL: 16 November 2017
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)Single-player

On August 12, 2010, System 3 announced that a source port/remake version of the game would be made for the PlayStation 3, iPhone, iPad and PlayStation Portable.[12] Furthermore, a version for the PlayStation Vita was announced on November 22, 2011.[13] In May 2013, the game was announced for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS.[14] Only the Nintendo 3DS version was eventually released in 2014.

An HD port of the game was released for the Nintendo Switch in 2017 under the new title Super Putty Squad.[15] The game was released worldwide via Nintendo eShop in November 2017, whilst physical retail copies launched only in Europe on 1 December 2017.

Maximum Games published the game in North America for PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and Nintendo 3DS as retail releases, whilst System 3 themselves published all other releases.

The remake received very critical reviews, scoring a 38/100 on Metacritic, with reviews stating that the game has not been improved for the more modern consoles.[16] However, the 3DS version had a more favourable response, with a 54 out of 100.[17]

References
  1. "Putty Squad for SNES". Moby Games. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  2. "Amiga Games That Weren't: Putty Squad". Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  3. "Unreleased Putty Squad for the Mega Drive". Guardiana. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
  4. "Putty Squad (a.k.a. Silly Putty 2)". PC Games That Weren't. Archived from the original on June 25, 2008. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
  5. "Putty Squad : Hall Of Light – The database of Amiga games". Hol.abime.net. Retrieved 2016-02-11.
  6. Buchanan, Adam (October 7, 2015). "Unreleased Mega Drive Port Of 'Putty Squad' ROM Leaked Online". RetroCollect. Archived from the original on 2015-10-09. Retrieved 2020-12-09.
  7. McGill, Steve (September 1994). "PUTTY SQUAD". Amiga Format (63): 50–51. Putty Squad is the best platformer that I have played for a while. The graphics are absolutely lush. The animation is top notch. The game play and difficulty levels are just about perfect and the attention to detail is staggering. (61)
  8. Winstanley, Cam (September 1994). "PUTTY SQUAD". Amiga Power (41): 34–37. We play games all the time because it is our job, but if there is one thing guaranteed to ruin our day, then it is another bland platformer. Just when I was beginning to think that every forthcoming platform game was going to be terrible, Putty Squad has come long and restored my faith in the future of video games. (36)
  9. Dillon, Tony (August 1994). "PUTTY SQUAD". CU Amiga: 62–63. Putty Squad is a lot of fun to play, and a lot of fun to watch. The whole game has a polished feel to it that most games don't seem to catch these days, and that in itself should be enough to keep most people hooked for weeks. (63)
  10. "Hobby Consolas (Spain) review, issue 45, June 1995". Segasaturno.com. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
  11. "GAMERS (Germany) review, August 1995". Segasaturno.com. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
  12. "Putty Squad Returns In High Resolution!". System3.com (Press release). Archived from the original on 2011-10-09. Retrieved 2010-08-12.
  13. "PUTTY SQUAD ANNOUNCED AS VITA LAUNCH TITLE!". Gamasutra.com (Press release). Retrieved 2011-11-22.
  14. McFerran, Damien (15 May 2013). "Amiga Classic Putty Squad Morphing Its Way To The Wii U And 3DS". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  15. Calvert, Darren (10 October 2017). "Super Putty Squad To Bring Amorphous Blue Blob Action To Switch In December". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  16. "Putty Squad For PlayStation 4 Review". Metacritic. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
  17. "Putty Squad For 3DS Review". Metacritic. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
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