How's the weather up there? Hamster's Console Archives develops a head for heights this week, adding the Famicom port of Taito's bizarrely titled (and even more bizarrely executed) platformer, Chack'n Pop.

Chack'n Pop arrived in arcades in 1984 and was ported to a variety of Japanese platforms, including the MSX, FM-7, and NEC line, not to mention consoles Famicom and SG-1000. Taito's early platform is a mixed bag of ideas, as though the developer knew they were making "A Game", and were putting the pieces together, hoping it would eventually take form and then tell them how to play it.

Players guide the titular "Chack'n", a yellow... guy with extendable legs, through a series of mazes, dodging hazards and attempting to free caged hearts (yeah, why not?) scattered within each maze. Doing so frees an army of (suspiciously familiar) monsters, who Chack'n must dodge on their way to the exit at the top of the screen.

Fortunately, Chack'n isn't totally defenceless, as they have brought a stock of grenades - Yes, Chack'n has grenades - that can be tossed at the enemies to clear them out, but don't get caught in the explosion yourself. Oh, and also, Chack'n can extend themselves to walk on floors and ceilings, but not on walls. Why? I dunno, I didn't make it.

Veteran video game fans will notice the visual similarities between Chack'n Pop and Taito's 1986 classic, Bubble Bobble. The former not only debuts the "Monstah" villains but also the fireball-tossing wizard, "Belugah". The colourfully textured, maze-like layouts are instantly comparable to Bubble Bobble's, while various power-ups, such as the flashing heart, would also return to the arcade scene in a few short years.

As such, Chack'n Pop is something of a blueprint for Bubble Bobble, and while it doesn't quite match the excitement, charm, or longevity of Bub and Bob's seminal adventure, it's fun to see the seeds of a classic planted here, eventually sprouting into one of the most beloved arcade games of all time. Kudos, Chack'n.

Chack'n Pop is available today on PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2