Dennis the Menace (video game)

This article is about the video game. For other uses, see Dennis the Menace (disambiguation).

Dennis the Menace
Cover art of Dennis the Menace (Super NES version)
Developer(s)	Ocean Software
Publisher(s)	Ocean Software
Series	Dennis the Menace
Platform(s)	Super NES Game Boy Amiga
Release date(s)	SNES EU 1993 NA December, 1993 Game Boy[1] EU 1993 NA 1994[2]
Genre(s)	2D Platformer, Action
Mode(s)	Single-player
Rating(s)	ESRB: n/a (not rated)
Media/distribution	Cartridge Floppy disk

Dennis The Menace (known simply as Dennis in Europe) is a multiplatform video game based on the 1993 movie of the same name. The object in all versions of the game is to defeat a burglar who managed to find Dennis' town via the local railroad connection. Stages include Mr. Wilson's house, the great outdoors, a boiler room, and eventually the big boss battle with the burglar himself.

Gameplay

General gameplay

Before the actual playing takes place, Dennis has just discovered that he left Mr. Wilson's door unlocked, and a thief has stolen Mr. Wilson's entire coin collection. Dennis must retrieve all of the coins before Mr. Wilson finds out. The object of the game is to collect six large coins scattered throughout each level. The same coin-collection game is present throughout the entirety of the game (with the exception of two stages in the first park stage set, wherein Dennis must traverse the park on a wagon led by his dog). After each sixth level, there is a boss stage, followed by a new set of levels. The sets of levels are, in order, Mr. Wilson's House, Park, Boiler Room, Sewers, and finally, Woods. The end of the woods levels, and the subsequent beating of the final boss, marks the end of the game.

Health bars

Health is represented by hearts, located at the top-right of the screen. If touched by an enemy, one heart will disappear. Each touch by an enemy removes one heart (as well as temporarily stunning Dennis). Once all of the hearts are gone, the player must restart the level (but retains all main coins found). Restoring health is a matter of finding the pieces of candy located throughout the levels. Each piece of candy restores 100% of Dennis' health.

Time

Time is an important factor in Dennis The Menace. There is a clock, located in the top-middle of the screen, that starts at 999 seconds (16.7 minutes) and counts backwards down to zero seconds. Once the clock is at zero seconds, there is an immediate and automatic game over screen, which completely eradicates all work done on a level. The amount of time taken during a level, even after Dennis loses a life, remains the same (if the time is at 456 seconds, and Dennis loses a life, he will restart the level with 456 seconds).

References

1. ^ "Release date". GameSpot. http://au.gamespot.com/snes/action/dennisthemenace/index.html?tag=result;title;0. Retrieved 2008-04-28. 
2. ^ "Release date". GameSpot. http://au.gamespot.com/gameboy/action/dennisthemenace/index.html?tag=result;title;1. Retrieved 2008-04-28.