The Ottifants

The Ottifants

Overview & History

Released in 1993 by SEGA for the Master System (and its Game Gear cousin), The Ottifants is a charming platformer based on the famous German comic characters created by comedian Otto Waalkes. The storyline casts players as Bruno, a young yellow Ottifant, who must embark on a daring rescue mission across a whimsical, cartoonish world to save his kidnapped father and friends from the clutches of the villainous Professor Bottinator. Although the 8-bit Sega hardware was winding down commercially by '93 due to the dominance of the Mega Drive and SNES, this title proved that the Master System still had vibrant, polished platforming tricks left up its sleeve.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

The Ottifants delivers classic 2D side-scrolling action, taking heavy inspiration from contemporary titles like Disney's Aladdin and Sonic the Hedgehog. Players guide Bruno through diverse, horizontally scrolling stages filled with hostile creatures, swinging platforms, and hidden bonus areas. Bruno's primary offensive move is tossing peanuts at enemies to stun or defeat them, adding a fun projectile element to close-quarters combat. Throughout the colorful levels, players can collect golden pacifiers acting as currency and health, alongside special power-ups that modify Bruno's abilities. Interspersed between standard platforming stages are inventive mini-game segments, including thrilling minecart rides and flying sequences that break up the pacing. The game's vibrant sprite work, catchy chiptune soundtrack, and faithful homage to Waalkes' distinct visual style make it a hidden gem of the late-era 8-bit library.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move
• Action Keys: Attack / Jump
• Enter: Start / Pause