Hard 'n' Heavy

Hard 'n' Heavy is a platform action game developed by Rainbow Arts and published by reLine in 1989. The game created for the Commodore 64 was also ported to the Amiga and Atari ST. The platformer was initially conceived as a sequel to The Great Giana Sisters, but legal pressure from Nintendo over the similarities between Giana and Super Mario Bros. forced the developers to completely retool the project into an entirely different game.

This turbulent development history is evident in the final product, which feels like two different games awkwardly merged together. The core platforming mechanics clearly derive from the Giana Sisters template, featuring similar jump physics and level progression. However, the addition of heavy metal aesthetics and weapon-based combat creates an identity crisis that the game never fully resolves.

You control a robot navigating through industrial and hellish environments while wielding various weapons against demonic enemies. The heavy metal theme permeates everything from the visual design to the soundtrack, creating a darker, more aggressive tone than typical platformers of the era. The graphics are competently executed, although the Amiga version is not so different from the Commodore 64 one.

The gameplay combines traditional platforming with shoot-em-up elements, as your character can collect and upgrade various weapons to battle increasingly challenging foes. While this hybrid approach shows ambition, the execution feels uneven. The platforming segments work reasonably well, but the combat mechanics lack the precision and feedback needed for satisfying gunplay.

The level design suffers from the game's confused identity. Some areas clearly show their Giana Sisters DNA with colorful, whimsical elements that clash with the heavy metal presentation. Other sections embrace the darker theme more successfully, featuring genuinely challenging obstacle courses and enemy encounters.

The soundtrack deserves special mention, featuring compositions by Chris Hülsbeck. The music represents perhaps the most successful aspect of the transformation from cute platformer to futuristic mayhem.

Unfortunately, Hard 'n' Heavy's rushed development shows in its overall polish. Controls can feel imprecise during crucial platforming sequences, and the difficulty spikes inconsistently throughout the experience. The weapon upgrade system, while interesting in concept, lacks the depth needed to sustain long-term engagement.

Despite its flaws, Hard 'n' Heavy represents an interesting footnote in gaming history - a rare example of a game completely reinventing itself mid-development due to legal pressure. While it never quite succeeds as either a platformer or action game, it offers a unique experience that stands apart from both The Great Giana Sisters and conventional shoot-em-ups.