Putty Squad (SNES)

It was a sequel to "Super Putty", and it was also a big title by System3.  This title was planned to be released for multiple platforms (Originally Amiga,  ports for MS-DOS, SNES, CD32 and Mega Drive), however,  only SNES version was released. Also, it was PAL exclusive release.  It was not so serious problem for retro gamers nowadays.  But I guess no one was glad of that situation at the time of 1994.  You know that previous "Super Putty" was not well-known as SNES title.  It was just a port of "Putty", a famous Amiga title.  So Amiga users awaited "Putty Squad" stronger than anyone else.  In addition, this title would become one of the best platform games for Amiga,  ... not for SNES. ( There were many better platformers for SNES.)  In this sense, SNES version was unfortunate.  (the left image) Original snes version I own. It works at both 50Hz and 60Hz mode.

About Amiga version:

Until xmas of 2013, Amiga version was available as cover disk demo only, like MS-DOS version. We can confirm 3 versions as diskette, however, All versions were quite the same. They were said that there were 6 levels + 2 hidden levels, 8 levels total. Exactly they were incorrect. Actually there were 7 levels total ( MAP1.dat ~ MAP8.dat, except MAP4.dat ), so each publisher misunderstood and miswrote. Anyway, these cover disks, unfortunately, are unbootable at CD32 + FDD without RAM expansion. It was said that its custom loader ( people call it "John Twiddy's Loader" ) uses very later address of chip RAM. So, if we had those disks and NO fast RAM, we had to grab kick4006 from our own consoles and make disk images (they're not difficult) then play the game on the emulator ( e.g. WinUAE ).

(the image above) Two cover disks I own.

What I mean:

	SNES version	Amiga version
General	We cannot get any scores if we got star items. Star items simply make Putty's attack stronger. ( punch - darts - electricity - gray bombs ) Even if Putty's current attack doesn't work for specific enemies, it is possible to push them simply. It makes the game easier. Imagine that Putty can push them down from a platform even if his current attack doesn't work. Putty cannot throw gray bombs without a break. ( 1 gray bomb per 1 screen. ) Sometimes it doesn't show number of score when Putty defeat an enemy. In this game, size and colors would be changed depend on its amount. ( See the right image. ) So it is a little disappointing if it doesn't show those numbers. Putty would be damaged if touch a brick which hide MIA. ( See the right image. ) In SNES version, this damage would be much smaller than Amiga version. So, in Amiga version we have to find "Nitro" bomb first to rescue MIA. It needs more strategies than SNES version which allows us rescue all MIAs with touching those bricks. Once Putty release a nitro bomb, he cannot absorb it again. It make the game much easier. For example, to defeat a soldier behind a brick, simply release a nitro then make Putty flat to avoid bombs soldiers throw. If you want to push a nitro bomb toward the brick, there are serious problem. After Putty release a nitro bomb, he cannot push it to the left even he had been walked to the left from the right. (See the image below.) So you have to move Putty to the right slightly after he released a nitro bomb. Then punch it.	We can get 100 scores per a star item. So we can also compete for higher scores. If Putty's current attack doesn't work for specific enemies, you cannot even push them. It would make the game harder than weakest punch. For gamers, it would be interesting if the game becomes harder as you collected more star items. Putty can throw 4 gray bombs without a break. ( 4 gray bombs per 1 screen.) Putty can absorb and release a nitro bomb again after once he released it. When you want to use a nitro bomb and avoid enemies or projectiles soon, you must punch a nitro bomb or avoid it itself. Otherwise, you cannot defeat that enemy by the nitro bomb. It is because Putty absorbs it immediately after he release it. You can push a nitro bomb easily. The direction which Putty pushes a nitro bomb is depend on which direction Putty had walked. (See the image below.)
Level 1-1 Tomb of the King Phut and later We can notice the difference between their resolution (width x height).	Each soldiers would turn back at the edge of a platform even if Putty appears in front of them. There are no sound effects when you call Dweezil the cat.	Each soldiers can jump toward Putty from the edge of the platform where they had been walked on. When you call Dweezil the cat, we can hear a sound effect that Dweezil braked suddenly on his skateboard.
Level 1-2 The Halls of Silence About items:	There are no bonus items (See the right image.) which award 5 stars at one time. That bonus item appears at Level 2-1 for the first time, however, their design is ugly. See this small image.
Level 1-2 The Halls of Silence About enemies:	There are no flying enemies which appear to infinity. In Amiga version, 3 species have already appeared. Pink birds and green birds wouldn't appear at even later levels in SNES version. Do you remember a green blob in previous "Putty" ? It never appears in SNES version. Obviously it makes Putty freaks sad.
Level 2-1 The Bazaar Al Kebab and later	When this enemy in the right image appears, we can hear Arabian flute sound. In Amiga version, we hear nothing. See this enemy in the right image. (People call him "Mystic".) Putty cannot defeat him by his standard punch in SNES version, however, Putty can defeat him by punching him 6 times in Amiga version. Btw, in previous "Putty", there were no enemies which were defeated by punching several times.
Level 2-3 The Palace of Baghded & Level 2-4 Kababs 'R' Us In Amiga version, they are in reverse order.	Platforms and the background change in color of a growing sunset. The mechanical trap which kills Putty instantly would disappear after Putty defeat a soldier behind the brick.	Platforms and the backgrounds don't change in color. It was a little shame. That mechanical trap would not disappear after Putty defeat a soldier behind the brick. So Putty must throw a nitro bomb against that trap even after Putty defeat the soldier. It makes the game slightly harder.

	SNES version	Amiga version
Wizards who appear in later levels	After he appeared, he does nothing for few seconds. Then he shoots projectiles in six directions. (See the right image.) It is much easier to avoid than Amiga version. In addition, he doesn't disappear for a while. So Putty can defeat him easily using tougher weapons.	As soon as he appeared, he shoots a projectile. This projectile would chase Putty for a while. (See the right image.) To make matters worse, he would disappear soon after he shoots that projectile. This enemy makes each level much tougher than SNES version's one.
To complete final level	To make the final door to appear, only you must do is rescuing all MIAs. You don't even have to see Scatterflash. In addition, you cannot KILL him. Instead, he would be dazed by Putty's attack. To daze him, it would be enough to attack his head fewer times than Amiga version. ( However, Putty's punch doesn't work for him. It wouldn't matter.) In this sense, I'm sure that the final level itself is much easier than Amiga version.	To make the final door to appear, you must rescue all MIAs and KILL Scatterflash. To kill him, you have to attack his head much more times than SNES version. But you can also get off the rocket and punch instead of bombs from the rocket.
To enter final hidden level, " The 27th dimension "	In short: It's a little difficult than Amiga version ! Don't be confused, Scatterflash releases mysterious smoke from his left hand. And it is rarer than Amiga version's one. In addition, that smoke doesn't chase Putty. To catch it, Putty must be placed above Satterflash's head. In other words, Putty cannot catch it if he gets off the rocket. If you miss it out, you will not come across it again unless you restart. But don't worry, you can fight against Scatterflash again, so you always have a chance until all lives run out.	Scatterflash will definitely release mysterious smoke from his right hand instead of 6th barrel monster. (See the right image.) This mysterious smoke would take Putty to the hidden level. That smoke also chases Putty. Each barrel monster disappears soon unless Putty takes a rocket.  But Scatterflash is always going to open  his right hand.  So it is not difficult to come across  that mysterious smoke.  (See the left image.)

Other stuff related to "Putty Squad":

All 35 levels + hidden 18 levels comparing SNES version with Amiga version

 


At least we can understand that SNES version has all levels which Amiga version has.
In other words, new versions( for PS4, Vita, ...etc) should have more additional levels,
otherwise new versions might be received a low score.
And, please see level 1 ~ 12.  You can see 8 levels are Aztec levels except for hidden levels.
"Aztec I" , "Aztec II" and "Aztec III" seem to alike each other.
In other words, we have to play "Jungle&Tombs-like levels" at the first 34% of the full game.
It might make many players (especially beginners) boring, I thought.
But new versions( for PS4, Vita, etc) seemed to be going to solve this issue by many new objects as background.

"How to control Putty" Comparison Guide (Excerpt)

	SNES version	Amiga version
To Jump	B button	Up of the directional pad
To use an item or transform	(In a flat state) press B button	(In a flat state) press Fire button
To select an item you want to use	(In a flat state) press L or R button	(In a flat state) press Left or Right of the directional pad
To attack	To punch to the left: press L button. To punch to the right: press R button. For example, when Putty goes to the right, Putty can attack backward by L button. These control might be useful.	Press Fire button. The direction which Putty attacks is depend on which direction Putty had walked. In other words, Putty cannot attack backward. It was a little shamed, however, you also know that Amiga games usually designed for 1 button joy stick/pad.
To get off a rocket	Press X button or Y button.	Hold Fire button.
To open the door	Up of the directional pad.	Press Up holding Fire button. ( It's a little frustrating.)
To inflate	Tap X button or Y button twice. It is easier than Amiga version. You can move Putty to his left or right at the top of each map unless he explodes by pressing X or Y button many times.	Tap Up of the directional pad. (It's a little frustrating.) You cannot move Putty to his left or right on the top of map because he would explode automatically when he leach the top of map.

History of "Putty Squad"