I first played Alley Cat when I was about 10 years old. I immediately fell in love with it. Up until then it was the most advanced computer game I'd ever seen.
You are the little black Alley Cat whose mission in life is to complete different tasks and find love, to become the top Alley Cat. Starting out as a Kitten, you jump from trash can to trash can, trying to avoid that mean old white tomcat (if he sticks his head out while you're on the trash can you will be pushed off, but it also triggers a bulldog who can cost you a life) up onto the fence.
From here you have to dangle from the clothesline, catching mice (and being careful not to get squeaked at and fall off) while avoiding objects being thrown out the windows.
Inside each window is a different task. All tasks are related to being the cute little cat that you are, for instance knocking the cage off the table and catching the butterfly, drinking the milk out of bowls and not waking up the mass of bulldogs in the room, catching mice in a big cheese. However, tasks are not as simple as they seem and you will have enemies trying to hind your progress in whichever task you get. Enemies range from Bulldogs to Flying brooms that toss you out the window or into
dangers path, electric eels or spiders.
Once the task is completed you will be allocated a score based on how fast you managed to do it. You are then back outside and the windows change to 'Meow'. It’s time for Kitty to find love! Collect a present for your girlfriend to activate the screen (she won't love you unless you bring her something) and then jump on the red love hearts to the top of the screen. Again, easier said than done. On each row are angry cats who will knock you off their level if you come in contact with them. Not to mention that there are arrows changing the love hearts flying around which will also knock you off your level. Once you get to the very top level you find your love and move up a level.
Tasks get increasingly harder as you continue to move up the Alley Cat scale.
I think this game is adorable. It’s nice, clean fun which kept me entertained for hours when I was a kid. However, as an adult I soon grew tired of how repetitive the game can be. But for first-timers or those wishing to stroll down memory lane, I would definitely rate this game as a keeper!
