Developed by Sphinx and released by Prestige Software in the early nineties, Doofus was a side scrolling jump and run style of platform game starring a simpleton and his pet dog. It features some shooter sequences and an unusually smooth scroll, actually and oddly scrolling from right to left…the opposite of most platform games. The game was originally created for Amiga, but was completely reworked when it was converted to the personal computer for the DOS operating system. This new version, featured here, has more color, better graphics, cooler sound, and all new level design.
The Amiga version did not meet much in the way of critical acclaim, but the redone PC version is much better, and a much more entertaining play.
The game plays mostly like any other platform game, run and gun or jump and run. Doofus does add one interesting new feature, however, that changes the strategy involved in the game to some extent. Not only does the simpleton Doofus have to negotiate the levels for himself without running out of health, he also must make sure that no harm comes to his beloved pet dog. The dog simply follows Doofus along, but he is none too smart, and sometimes it is quite a challenge defending him from very obvious perils that meet the couple.
There
are a great number of bonus weapons and items available in the game that will make Doofus more powerful. He does carry a weapon, and most obstacles (both alive and otherwise) can be shot if not avoided altogether. There are bullets that will orbit Doofus and his dog to protect them, invincible shields in the form of bubbles that will encompass Doofus and pooch, and other such fun. The enemies come in several different shapes and sizes: some fly, some bounce, and others run right at the hero. Many of the enemies are palette swapped, but still provide a challenge. There are also some dangerous blocks that the user will try to stand on that will kill him. To add additional challenges, there are often numerous ways through the same platform, and one choice may be much more difficult than the others.
Doofus is a pretty standard platform game, but this reworking is better than the original. It features an unusual right to left scroll, and the addition of the dog as a companion makes it stand apart from other platform games.
