Jelly Boy is a platform game made by Probe Software for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and the Game Boy. It was released only in Europe in 1995 by Ocean Software.
This is is one of those SNES games hardly anyone knows about. I hadn’t heard of it either until I stumbled across it while searching for hidden gems. To my surprise, it turned out to be a really fun game.
Back Cover for Jelly Boy (SNES) (Image source)
The Story
Rain or shine, Jelly Boy can handle anything like smash enemies with a hammer, dash like a rocket, or change shape in surprising ways. He is not just a blob of jelly; he’s a hero! Is it a bird? A brick? No, it’s Jelly Boy!
Box, manual,and cartridge of the game. (Image source)
The Graphics and Sound
The best thing about the game is the color. The levels are bright, bold, and full of detail, making the graphics pretty cute and fun to look at.
The music matches the style perfectly It is upbeat and playful. But it can get a little damn repetitive after a while.
https://youtu.be/IGfRnw9oO4A?si=L5bjhft5ccSLQDHR_Gameplay video sample of Jelly Boy on the SNES. Watch in 360p for near TV resolution of that time._
The Gameplay
You play as a pink, jelly-like character who has to find puzzle pieces to unlock bosses, each giving you a key to new areas like Toy Land or Sky Land. The game feels like a mix of Plok, another platformer, and Sonic the Hedgehog.
As the titular Jelly Boy, you can jump high and also change shape using power-ups. These let him turn into things like a pogo stick for big jumps, a cannon for shooting, or even a heavy block (for fun). Some powers are needed to finish levels, but they also add challenge, like the skateboard, which is tricky to control but required in Toy Land. Jelly Boy can actually fight back by punching enemies with a stretchy fist. Enemies are few, but it is great to have a weapon in hand.
Health works like Sonic. Here you collect music notes, and when hit, you lose them. If you have none left, you die. There are also fruits to collect, which give bonuses like extra lives, more time, or temporary invincibility.
The focus of the game isn’t really on enemies but on exploring big, creative levels. Each level hides a puzzle piece needed to face the boss of that area, and there are so many levels (40+). Exploring and collecting is fun, and you can even exit a level anytime if you’re in trouble.
Replay value is very good. Platform game players will be surely replaying their favorite levels or even starting the whole game over again.
My Verdict
Jelly Boy is a winner because it is a simple but fun hidden gem of a platformer, and that kind of gameplay never loses its charm. A good platformer is always enjoyable, no matter how many times you play it.
Play it on the hotly relevant Super Nintendo/Super Famicom or play it on a likable emulator.
