Cool Spot is a shameless plug for the 7-Up brand of carbonated soda pop. This game is similar to Zool and Zool 2’s push for the Chupa Chup lollipops. Like the Zool games, Cool Spot is a side scrolling, colorful platform game. It was developed and released by Virgin Interactive Limited, and hit the market in the early nineties. It is shown in the third person perspective. The protagonist of the story is the little red spot that replaces the “-“ on the modern 7-Up cans.
It is a single player platform game.
The red spot, Cool Spot, was a small red dot that was given arms, legs, flashy white tennis shoes, and cool dark shades to become the mascot for 7-Up soda. In this game created around it, the goal is to collect bonus items in each of the several colorful levels in order to free the captive spots. The bonus items were found in large piles and quantities around the levels and also look like little red dots. The other spots are being held in a cage at the end of the level, which could be located anywhere on the map. The setting of the game is a sunny beach or a seaside port.
As the Cool Spot progresses
through the levels, he will encounter various enemies. In order to vanquish his foes, the spot must fire soda pop bubbles at them. He is also able to jump, and has the ability to fire in any direction when in the air from a jump. He can also climb walls and other things in an effort to reach bonuses and avoid baddies. The idea of the cool spot further permeates the game in the form of the health meter. The user monitors his status by peeking at a Cool Spot face that continues to fall forward as health declines. It eventually ends up face down, indicating death.
There are several ways to end the Cool Spot’s life. First of all, each level is timed, and if the level is not completed before time expires, the Cool Spot loses his life. He can also take damage by touching some level obstacles, enemies, and the enemies’ projectiles. Fortunately there are checkpoints around the levels where the user can restart if he loses a Cool Spot.
Despite being a silly theme and a blatant advertisement, Cool Spot is a solid platform game with decent graphics, smooth game play and good sound. It is cutesy, but not totally cute, and does have merit as a standard side-scroller. Give it a try.
