Sometimes there's a character -- I won't say a hero, because what's a hero? -- but sometimes there's a character, who, well, he's the right character for his time and place, he fits right in there. And that's Bad Cat in the 80's.
It was 1987. Michael Jackson had gone into hiding, Knight Rider was off the air, and Vanilla Ice hadn't hit the scene yet. The world needed a new hero.
What the world got... was Bad Cat.
Rainbow Arts, creators of such classic games as "Down at the Trolls" and "Lollypop", had finally outdone themselves. Bad Cat hit the scene in a whirlwind of controversy and gray fur. In fact, in America the title had to be changed to Street Cat to "protect the children."
Nervous Americans deemed the name "Bad Cat" to be too edgy.
Rainbow Arts really had their finger to the pulse of
the Amiga gaming community.
The cover art for Bad Cat has reached almost mythical status. Let's take a closer look at this Mona Lisa for the modern age...
Sure, you thought Axl Rose started the whole scarf head band thing, but you were wrong. It was actually Bad Cat, the coolest video game character of all time.
Coolest of all time? Well, let's face it, how many cats do you know with such a bad ass vest? The studded wrist band and black shades complete the look and leave no doubt that Bad Cat is all about business.
Notice Bad Cat removed his glasses for the cover shot. He wants you to see those stone cold killer eyes. I think the best thing about the picture is the expression on Bad Cat's face. Sure, he's a hardcore gangster, but that doesn't stop him from giving you an ironic smile. It shows he knows you know that he knows he 0wns you. It also looks like he has a hair ball stuck in his throat. The double chin shows Bad Cat is no stranger to excess, and he doesn't hold back from enjoying the finer things (like bitches and candy).
Not many people know that Axl Rose based his whole look on Bad Cat.
One has to wonder how Amiga didn't take over the gaming industry with Bad Cat on their side. Here's the description of the game from the back of the box:
| It's the year 1984 and Los Angeles prepares for the Olympic
Summergames. The dignitories(sic) and celebrities prepare their
speeches, preparing for the huge crowds who are expected to attend. But, there are still the straying city-dweller cats - despised by all. The infamous cats are well known for they are planning their own competitive games. Will Bad Cat live up to his name? |
With a premise like that, Bad Cat couldn't help but be the greatest game of all time. One has to wonder why Hollywood hasn't adopted it into a big summer blockbuster. I can picture it now... "Jerry Bruckheimer presents Nicholas Cage in... Bad Cat: The Movie".
It's bound to happen.
The subtext in the story seems to be that the city cats wanted to participate in the real Olympics but were barred because of their gangster backgrounds. Just another example of the man keeping the brother down.
For reasons inexplicable to even the most ardent observer, Bad Cat disappeared from the scene not long after the game was released. It was only recently that his name popped up in the news again.
Yes, Bad Cat is the suspected murderer of Garfield. Guilty or not, I think it only adds to his legend. And besides, Garfield had it coming.
Needless to say, Bad Cat's impact on society is still being felt. Bad Cat, this page is dedicated to you.