Vibrants - Lollypop (1994)

Composer: Vibrants (Metal & Drax)

Console: MS-DOS

Game Release Date: 1994

Bootleg Release Date: original: 2015-01-15 / re-tagged: 2020-07-02

Ripper: DOS Nostalgia

Runtime: 35:17, 26 Tracks

Well, here we are. My first 'share'. I thought this release was down but the original video is still up. The rip was originally made by blogger and podcast host, DOS Nostalgia. I will link their channel and their version of the rip below. They have shared other old DOS soundtracks. The original tracker files are available on pouet.net. 

I'll admit I don't know a lot about this game. Lollypop was a 2d sidescroller released for the MS-DOS back in 1994. Developed by Rainbow Arts and published by Softgold. Game made by Brain Bug. I only briefly played it November of 2016 but only got to level 2. My patience to properly set up DOSbox and inability to get a controller working with it led to me giving up. I also found the controls a bit stiff. Now that I use Retroarch, playing this again shouldn't be a problem and I intend to give this another chance at some point. 

Based on what I have seen and the little I played it's a really charming DOS-era platformer. It's a slow platformer with beautiful toy-like backgrounds with just a touch of surrealism. Story-wise I have no idea what is going on. You progress through levels throwing lollipops (or whatever other weapons you have) killing other toy enemies. The game opens in a factory but you eventually progress to dream-like areas, candy hills, jungle forests and more. It's not a terribly fast game but each level has a timer that the level must be completed within. You have to avoid enemies such as ghosts, wasps, slimes and more. The game doesn't seem too difficult. I'd estimate it would take probably about 2-2.5 hours depending on how good you are with platformers.

The game belongs to the early 90s DOS/Amiga/home computer platformers like Sinaria and Turrican. Graphics are in the same style. 

The game is abandonware so it's very easy to find a copy to download and run. 

I have no idea who Brainbug / Brain Bug is but it doesn't seem like they made any other games aside from Lollypop. It seems to just be one guy according to MyAbandonware comments. 

The games soundtrack is composed by Vibrants. Vibrants is a demo group consisting of 8 members, of which two Metal (Torben Hansen) and Drax (Thomas Mogensen) that has been active since the late 80s. The group has done music many games. 

Like the childlike atmosphere of the game the soundtrack features a very playful and easy listening. It makes full use of the adlib soundblaster. There's jazz and space ambient influences throughout and the music between levels shows a great variety of emotions and sound. I'll admit that I am a noob when it comes to demoscene music but this release does have a very specific style going for it. It sounds very unique compared to other demoscene tracks I've heard.

I have re-tagged it and added cover art.Cover art is the one displayed above. 

Download (DOS Nostalgia's Rip): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVxzVy4i72k

Download (SnowBlue Re-Tagged): aHR0cHM6Ly9tZWdhLm56L2ZpbGUvRFFZbFNDZ0kjNUhLVWh1eFJVMXZEUEM5ZmxDa2Y1cGlWU21pcnFpTWk4T0RoUjZVN0pFcw==

p@ss: loremipsum