Tonic Trouble
| Tonic Trouble | |
|---|---|
 North American Nintendo 64 cover for Tonic Trouble | |
| Developer(s) | |
| Publisher(s) | Ubi Soft |
| Director(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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| Designer(s) |
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| Programmer(s) | François Mahieu |
| Artist(s) |
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| Writer(s) |
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| Composer(s) | Eric Chevalier |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color |
| Release date(s) |
Special Edition
Nintendo 64 Windows Game Boy Color
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| Genre(s) | Platform, action-adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Tonic Trouble is a platform action-adventure video game developed by Ubi Soft Montreal and Ubi Soft Montpellier, and published by Ubi Soft. The game was first released on the Nintendo 64 in North America on August 25, 1999, and in Europe on October 24, 1999. It was released for Microsoft Windows on December 6, 1999, in North America and on January 21, 2000, in Europe. A Game Boy Color adaption of the game was developed by RFX Interactive, and released on April 23, 2000 for the European market.
Additionally, a beta version of the game for Microsoft Windows was released to the European market on April 6, 1999. Labeled Tonic Trouble Special Edition, it was given away with new Compaq computers running Windows 98. The version featured very different level designs and control schemes, additional guards excluded in the final version, larger and more open level designs, red spades instead of thermometers for health power-ups, and the lack of a final boss.[1]
A sequel, titled Tonic Adventure or Tonic Trouble 2, was originally planned but later abandoned because Tonic Trouble "would have not been a popular IP".[2]
Synopsis
Plot
The story varies depending on the version.
In the N64 version, while Agent Ed, the main protagonist, cleans up the spaceship he is on, he finds a bug and tries to swat it. In the PC version, he is contemplating giving a present to a girl he loves, but fails when she is already in relationship with one of the ship's guards named Burk, and manages to flee him. Ed later finds a can full of a strange substance sitting on a table. He drinks it, but finds that it tastes terrible, so when a horrible sensation happens in his mouth, Ed spits the fluid out onto the floor, and some screws come to life. In the N64 version, Ed accidentally drops it into an open hole caused by the screws opening up; in the PC version, Ed panics and disposes of the can down a garbage chute.
The can falls to Earth and lands near Grögh, a drunkard who was just thrown out of a bar for not paying his tab (only in the PC version). He notices the fluid's mutagenic properties, as it transforms the surrounding environment, and upon drinking, he is pleased with the results, becoming all-powerful. When Ed's superiors find out what happened, he is ordered to clean up the mess he made and retrieve the can from Grögh.
Upon arrival on Earth, Ed is instructed to free the Doc, who is held prisoner in his cave by his malfunctioning Robosuitcase. Ed kills Robosuitcase, takes his stick, and releases Doc, who tells him to collect the parts he needs for a machine that will get him into Grögh's kingdom. Ed collects six each of springs at Vegetables HQ, propellers at North Plain, jumping stones at the Canyon, feathers at Glacier Cocktail, dominoes at the Pyramid, and pigs at the Pressure Cooker; however, the last pig is stolen by the Magic Mushroom, who intends to use it to reign supreme and wipe out mankind. After a long battle, Ed kills the Magic Mushroom with his Peashooter and recovers the last pig.
With his machine completed, Doc catapults Ed into Grögh's Kingdom, where Grögh pilots a robot and fights Ed. Ed defeats Grögh, who admits defeat and gives the can back. Earth is restored to normal.
Characters
Agent Ed: Agent Ed is the main protagonist of the game. He is set to clean up the disaster he made on Earth, and retrieve the mysterious can to his mothership, the S.S. Albatross.
Suzy: Suzy is the daughter of the Doc, who Agent Ed encounters upon reaching Earth. They fall in love, and she supports him with useful information regarding his adventures.
The Doc: Once free, the Doc helps Agent Ed to get to Grögh's Kingdom and retrieve the can.
Grögh: Grögh is the main antagonist of the game. A former drunkard, who, after getting himself evicted from a bar for not paying his tab, managed to drink the Tonic and thus as a result, he gained supernatural powers and crowned himself ruler of Earth.
Reception
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The game was met with very mixed reviews, as GameRankings gave it a score of 53.32% for the Nintendo 64 version,[3] and 70.00% for the PC version.[4] Critics cite poor controls, a wordy exposition, and sloppy graphics.
References
- ↑ Taborelli, Luca (April 4, 2008). "Tonic Trouble (ED) [Beta – N64 / PC]". Unseen64. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
- ↑ Taborelli, Luca (September 21, 2015). "Tonic Adventure (Tonic Trouble 2) [Cancelled Concept]". Unseen64. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
- 1 2 "Tonic Trouble for Nintendo 64". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
- 1 2 "Tonic Trouble for PC". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
- ↑ Liu, Johnny (January 1, 2000). "Tonic Trouble Review - A Disgrace to Janitors All Around the World.". Game Revolution. CraveOnline. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
- ↑ Stahl, Ben (June 24, 1999). "Tonic Trouble Review - If this game is remembered at all, it will be as the game that's not Rayman 2.". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
- ↑ Casamassina, Matt (October 13, 1999). "Tonic Trouble - Ironically, Tonic Trouble cannot compare to the platform franchise it was inspired by. Full review.". IGN. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
- ↑ Lopez, Vincent (December 17, 1999). "Tonic Trouble - Ed follows in the footsteps of Rayman, and breaks an invisible ankle.". IGN. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
- ↑ Jones, Tim (May 30, 2000). "Tonic Trouble - Rayman's younger brother turns up on the Game Boy Color scene, desperate for similar praise.". IGN. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved September 22, 2015.