Niz Chicoloco (1997 video game)


 * This article is about the 1997 video game. For the 2017 re-imagining, see Niz Chicoloco (2017 video game).

Niz Chicoloco (released in Japan as CharmingBoy: The Hero Master) is a platform video game developed by DreamWorks Interactive and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It was first released in North America in August 1997, followed by Europe a month later and Japan in December. It stars the title character, a young heroic boy named Niz, and is the first game in the Niz Chicoloco series.

Niz Chicoloco received positive reviews from critics, who praised its graphics and soundtrack, although some derided it for its similarities to other platformers. The game was a commercial success, selling over two million copies worldwide, and spawned a sequel, a television series, and a reboot for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Ports of the original game for the Nintendo 64, Sega Saturn, Game Boy, Virtual Boy, and Microsoft Windows were originally announced to be developed by Silicon Knights and Climax, but were ultimately cancelled.

Gameplay
Niz Chicoloco is a platform game in which the player controls the titular character Niz Chicoloco, a twelve-year-old boy whose goal is to save his planet and rescue his love interest Kelly. Niz has several moves including running, jumping, attacking, picking up objects (such as gears), swinging, and sliding.

In the game, the player must do several tasks for other characters, and when players do the max tasks for that species, they become their companions, and let players throw them at enemies as well. When players beat the game, they can play the minigames.

Plot
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Development
In 1994, Geo G. came up with the idea of an original mascot video game in a similar vein to Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog. In 1995, he started developing the idea into a video game called Niz Chicoloco. While continuing his successful relationship with Michael Wildshill, Geo chose to pitch the game's protagonist to the newly-formed DreamWorks due to the company's lack of an existing mascot character that could compete with Disney's Mickey Mouse. DreamWorks co-founders Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg accepted this offer, and the game officially began development, although Katzenberg said the character was too similar to Gabriel Garza, another mascot created by Geo.

DreamWorks Interactive was brought in to develop the game for the PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Sega Saturn, Game Boy, Virtual Boy, and Microsoft Windows, although they made the game a PlayStation exclusive. The game's soundtrack was composed entirely by Bill Brown. Geo directed and designed the game, with art direction by Geo and Craig Kellman, the latter being the art director for the animated series.

Niz Chicoloco was announced by Sony in May 1996, and was first shown off at the 1996 Electronic Entertainment Expo in June 1996. The game was released in North America on August 30, 1997 for the Sony PlayStation, and later on in Europe on September 5, 1997. The game was released in Japan on December 11, 1997 as CharmingBoy: The Hero Master.

Reception
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Screenshots
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Videos
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Trivia
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