Most farmers, upon discovering their hen house has been raided by the wiliest of coyotes, would simply sigh, wipe the sweat from beneath their faded John Deere cap, and truck back up the long and dusty road to their homestead, to retire to the porch with a simple glass of water and reflect on the fragility of life. Most farmers, however, don't discover a magic feather in the wreckage that grants their remaining hen with extraordinary powers, and then decide to strike out to rescue the rest. That's because most farmers aren't Dale of Juicy Beasts's Dale and Peakot, who, together with his hen, Peakot, are going to save the flock and save the day.
You'll control Dale with the [WASD] keys, and fire his shotgun with [space]. You control Peakot by clicking once on a spot you want her to fly to. Be careful, since she only flies in straight lines; her tiny bird brain won't allow her to use advanced flying techniques like, you know, not flying into obstacles instead of going around them. If you double click, Peakot will unleash a burst of magical energy that can stun enemies and manipulate switches. All chickens can actually do this. They just prefer not to. If you need to take a breather, pause the game by tapping [P].
Gather eggs as you progress through levels for points, working with Peakot to stun enemies to make them vulnerable to Dale's shotgun. Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for special chests that can only be unlocked if you collect enough feathers. The extra trouble is worth it; within, you'll find extra ammunition for Dale's shotgun, more health, and even equipment for Peakot, proving that everything is better with a chicken in a helmet. I have been saying this for years.
Analysis: It's nice to see a game that's "just" every once in a while. You know, "just" a shooter, or "just" a platformer, where the developers have focused on making something fun and (mostly) traditional instead of gorging it on gimmicks in an attempt to make it stand out. Dale and Peakot is bouncy, fun, and fairly simple. Sure you've got a magic chicken, but is that any stranger than an Italian plumber who eats mushrooms that sprout from blocks? The gameplay is, for the most part, pretty standard; jump on platforms, flip switches, get points, etc., etc., etc. If you've touched a console before, you probably know the drill.
Other games have experimented with the idea of controlling two characters at once, and while Dale and Peakot is less complex, it still isn't without its problems. The game informs you that if you want to prevent Peakot from coming back to Dale, say, because you're trying to have her navigate a series of doors that open and close on their own, you need to keep her moving. This often results in having to make her zip aimlessly around while you wait for a timed obstacle to move, or she'll pop back beside Dale after a second or two. Why can't we just have a key to tap that recalls Peakot back to Dale's side? And watching Peakot rebound off a wall is cute. Watching it happen when you're trying to do something in a hurry with enemies taking chunks out of you is frustrating. And why should I still lose health simply for brushing up against an enemy even when it's stunned and unable to attack?
It's a lot easier to forgive all of this simply because it all looks so good. The visuals are sharp and vibrant, everything wonderfully detailed in a Saturday morning cartoon-ish manner that really heaps on the charm. I love seeing such clean lines in a design, and the animation is cute as a button. Even if the control is a little clunky, Dale and Peakot looks and sounds very professional. If flattening a chicken's face against a wall over and over because it's so darn cute can be considered professional. Make no mistake, there's definite talent at work here, and I'd love to see even more from them in the future.
If you're a completionist, you can spend a lot of time going back through levels, tracking down any points or secrets you might have missed. Otherwise, Dale and Peakot is a fun afternoon's play for just about anybody. While the controls may take some getting used to, and the ability to bind actions to your preferred keys would not have gone unappreciated, the game is still a bouncy, cheerful romp. Only a bird-brain would miss giving this one a shot, so don't be chicken.
... or the feathers will fly!
... I'm so, so sorry for that.
These controls are impossible! Way too many things to handle at once. I give up.
Give it a little time, brokenrecord. You'll get used to it. I promise! And it's worth it, too.
Good implementation of a simple but fun mechanic.
Too bad it gets uber-cheap real fast. Listen up: we play games to look at what we can do with your work and say "ooh, neat". Not to try to juggle 40 enemies at once, over and over, until we get lucky or give up in disgust. Real difficulty wins over "cheapness" any time.
No arrow keys makes me sad :(
I don't think the controls are all that hard. I'm using a trackpad, which made things trickier than they should have been, but even then the game was completely playable. I only wish it was longer, since it is just a demo and has only 4 levels...
Being a lefty with a left-handed mouse, the controls are quite challenging. What happened to arrow keys? Or at lease allow for reassignment.
But still, an interesting game.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this game, too bad its just a demo. However, the boss at the end of level 5 is giving me fits! I have no idea how to kill him! ANy help?!?!
I couldn't find a way to climb walls using Peakot. Even with the Gaia helmet, Dale would fall too quickly before the branch would sprout for him to land on.
It was pretty fun until I got to the first boss fight, then I quickly reached ragequit because it was too difficult.
Sometimes I think game programmers forget that a game is supposed to be FUN.
I agree with the last guy. I quit when I got to the first boss because it was ridiculously hard. The fun is seriously impeded by the difficulty.
@RT Ideas
How to kill Mr. Bear.
You need to get the boxes so there are only 5 left. Send Peakot over to stun him. He gets pissed and metal boxes come down. Send Peakot to lift up the platform. The bear will start to kick the metal boxes at you, jump over them. When he gets down to 2 metal boxes, jump on the platform to shoot him.
You need to do this three times (basically shoot him three times).
@Fleebnork
Peakot gets a helmet upgrade later that will allow you to sprout multiple branches.
The controls actually make sense, if you use the reload button. I agree, they should add the ability to change the controls though. I thought this was a great game and played each level over again to make sure I had all the chests.
To get the code:
Go here http://www.juicybeast.com/, enter you email on the upper left in the code generator
Then you get...
a magical magnifying glass that tells you how many secret chests there are in each level.
Love the game, beautiful design and great fun!
Some issues though:
-the swinging spike things are too hard to avoid, I think
-make Peakot stay where he is until you recall him with a button (review also mentioned that)
-configurable controls would be good
-the friggin' bear spawn WAY too many bombs. There's really no way to avoid them and I can't seem to get >6000 points to respawn twice :(
-what are the golden eggs good for?
Ok, I went back and managed to kill Mr. Bear, but I still felt that the difficulty was too steep.
I did enjoy the graphics and overall polished look of the game, however.
@Fleebnork - funny but I did the same thing..
I have to admit that once you get the hang of it, it becomes much easier, also I couldn't find the second helmet upgrade for a long time and that is really what led to my frustration.
The second helmet is in level 4. You can see the chest. I kept missing the way down to it. Just before you see the first roll-y hamster thing, there is a hole in the ground. Go down there.
I was assuming I needed to get another item that allowed me to 'break' the bridge open to get to the chest..
Ok, third comment here..
I just have to say that after giving this a second chance and getting used to the controls, uncovering more secrets and easily beating the boss, I now really, really like this game and it has me itching for more.
Here's a tip:
Get used to sending Peakot ahead of you wherever you go, there isn't much reason to keep him with you. Once you get used to it, you can handily block enemies and keep the way clear for yourself and keep that chicken flying all over the place.
It really is a magical chicken.
The control is easy for me, but that because I use a tablet-- aka instant move and click. Fun game, the boss frustate me though.
Does anyone know where the chests are? I need all of them, but the hidden one in level 1 is the most I need...
Whats the code for the secret chest?
i hav every chest..why do I hav just 95% of the game? i beat the final boss too
i put the code too..what do i hav to do for the 100%
@rxhnd01:
How the heck do you go down that hole on Level 4? I'm pressing down, I tried jumping, then holding down... nothing works.
i know the walkthrough to frogtastic is
rainbow, frog, little alien and the rainbow.
@charlatan The golden eggs are for multiplying your score. Look at the top of the game screen.
If it says 2x eggs and monsters multiply thier points by 2.
You can also multiply your score by 3, 4, 5, 6.
etc. etc. etc.
@fleebnork
I don't think you're thinking of the right place.. If you're thinking what I think you're thinking then you need to keep going farther.
As for the chest in lvl 1:
You need to get the upgraded helmet, then you can use the mushrooms at the very beginning of the level to bounce up into the sky.
Here's a tricky chest location:
At the end of lvl 4 just after you beat the last wave of baddies, stand on the rock wall and send peakot to flip the switch to raise you up to the platform where the switch is.. You should be able to take it from there.
Hey, having trouble with some feathers
I got all the chests, checked with the magic glass thing obtained with the code. So, I got full shotgun, full health, 20 feathers. I don't have the 2 last achievements, the 100,000 point one and the 25 feathers one. Do you get the last five feathers from the 100,000 point achievement or is it really impossible to find the remaining five, as the 25-feather achievement's title, "It's impossible to... find 25 feathers", implies?
Thank you.
in the netherlands we call this
een "zenuwspel"
[Edit: "What would mean: It makes me crabby, it is kind of annoying" Greetings, Kayleigh]
Frogtastic solution is rainbow, frog, alien and boot
how do i get to the higher platforms in level 2? is that were the helmet is? ack! thanks
about last feathers:
to get all the feathers you just need to score points on each lvl,that written on the desk at the beginning of each lvl
P.S. That game is so good
the idea of the game is great.
how do you put the code into game to use the "glass"?
I cannot for the life of me find two of the chests in level four. I can see an area where there are some eggs
above the chest in the area where you have to jump on the mushroom and get on the rickety floaty thing. And then you fight a coyote and a fire shooting statue.
but I can not for the life of my figure out how to get up there. Anybody know where all the chests are?
This game was challenging to complete 100% but not impossible. Leave it as it is, a game is not supposed to be a cakewalk or unbeatable. If people take time, there is always a way to get past all of the obstacles. I cant believe this game got complaints.
Insanely addictive and great game!!
Does anyone know the code for the statue in lvl 5???
@Kayleigh
Hahaha True dat!!
Just was too amped to translate XD
@ Chelito:
Near the fire shooting statue there's a hidden spot where you can drop through the ground. You will find yourself inside a cave where you eventually will exit through the tunnel you can see.
I cant figure out how to get the second helmet upgrade on the fourth level. i don't know how to get down below the bridge, I've tried everything. Please help with clear directions how to get down below. thanks
I bloody HATE Mr. Bear. He's so freaking overpowered that he ruins the game.
heya!
the best game i've played in a long time! the controls and also the gameplay is neat! i love that when i get a better equip i can go back and get more points/feathers...
and guys the swinging spikes are easy just jump in a perticular moment and oh yeah the bear is easy... when he drops the woden boxes shoot than and get the peakot to the bear and blast him... than he'll throw down the iron ones than get the peakot to the mechanism wheel in the left upper corner and keep the iron plate in the air than avoid the bombs and the boxes the mean fat bear kicks and wait untill thers just 2 boxes left jump from the iron platform you've been keeping up in the air and shoot at the bear... thats it! Simple!
I WANNA PLAY THE FULLLL GAMEEEEEEEE :'(
missing a chest in level 3, i've searched the whole level several times, where the heck is it?
nevermind, post and solve :D
Feathers that aren't in chests are gotten by:
getting the amount of points shown on the signs at the beginning of the level, (and then the feathers are found at the end of the level), or by using the very, very last trampoline, after you beat the bear. It's well disguised.
The bear is a trampoline!
If you can't see why you're jumping, even then, just continue to do so and it will become clear.
how do you get the helmet??? i need the helmet to get past level 3 but in all the walkthroughs that ive watched, peakot already has the helmet and it doesnt show how to get it. i think its in the first chest on the third level, the one i need 2 feathers to open, but i think i already have 2 feathers but it still wont open. heeeelp!
I really want to like this game because the mechanics are great and the visuals are solid. However, the controls are just a really big headache and are very frustrating. Having to use the mouse and keyboard simultaneously only really works in 3D games. The mouse really only works in games like these if it is the sole input, but that's just my opinion. Sure "R" for reload and "P" for pause makes sense, as stated earlier, but it is all about the functional interactivity. If it is lacking, then players are going to turn a blind eye to your game, no matter how good it is.
To open chests you have to
shoot them and jump over top of them.
what the heck is the code for the statue in lvl5
soeperik, must have silver boots to move statue head to statue.
Where is the head of the statue in level 8?
@Freak
I don't get why I'm supposed to jump on Mr. Bear. There's nothing there!
omg how do you kill the very last boss in the cave?? help?!!
The game does pretty much what it wants with the controls. When the situation gets messy the game takes Dave whenever it wants: it keeps walking when you want him to stop, it doesn't jump when you want him to jump. And of course it stops when you want Dave to walk. Too bad since it is a very interesting game.
Update