<s>
Plok	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
Nintendo	I-Application
Entertainment	I-Application
System	I-Application
(	O
SNES	B-Application
)	O
in	O
late	O
1993	O
by	O
Tradewest	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
,	O
Nintendo	O
in	O
Europe	O
,	O
and	O
Activision	O
in	O
Japan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
portray	O
the	O
hood-headed	O
titular	O
protagonist	O
,	O
the	O
king	O
of	O
the	O
island	O
Akrillic	O
who	O
is	O
protecting	O
it	O
from	O
fleas	O
spawned	O
by	O
the	O
Flea	O
Queen	O
,	O
who	O
is	O
under	O
the	O
island	O
's	O
ground	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
other	O
bosses	O
trying	O
to	O
overthrow	O
Plok	B-Application
's	O
power	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plok	B-Application
!	O
s	O
history	O
began	O
in	O
the	O
late	O
1980s	O
as	O
a	O
self-funded	O
coin-op	O
project	O
by	O
the	O
two	O
Pickford	O
brothers	O
named	O
Fleapit	O
;	O
they	O
worked	O
on	O
it	O
while	O
at	O
Zippo	O
Games	O
and	O
programmed	O
it	O
for	O
Rare	O
's	O
'	O
Razz	O
Board	O
 '	O
hardware	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
cancelled	O
in	O
1990	O
following	O
the	O
closure	O
of	O
Zippo	O
Games	O
,	O
but	O
was	O
revived	O
as	O
a	O
SNES	B-Application
game	O
developed	O
at	O
Software	O
Creations	O
after	O
the	O
Pickfords	O
were	O
promoted	O
to	O
higher	O
positions	O
,	O
with	O
Ste	O
becoming	O
a	O
art	O
director	O
and	O
John	O
a	O
producer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plok	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
Plok	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
Plok	B-Application
can	O
launch	O
any	O
of	O
his	O
four	O
limbs	O
(	O
two	O
arms	O
and	O
two	O
legs	O
)	O
at	O
will	O
to	O
damage	O
enemies	O
as	O
projectiles	O
from	O
his	O
arms	O
and	O
feet	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
a	O
limb	O
instantly	O
returns	O
to	O
Plok	B-Application
's	O
body	O
if	O
it	O
hits	O
an	O
enemy	O
,	O
it	O
takes	O
longer	O
if	O
it	O
does	O
not	O
collide	O
with	O
anything	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
later	O
levels	O
,	O
some	O
puzzles	O
involve	O
having	O
to	O
"	O
sacrifice	O
"	O
one	O
of	O
Plok	B-Application
's	O
limbs	O
to	O
activate	O
scenery-changing	O
targets	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Once	O
Plok	B-Application
is	O
limbless	O
,	O
he	O
moves	O
by	O
bouncing	O
and	O
becomes	O
harder	O
to	O
control	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plok	B-Application
's	O
secondary	O
attack	O
takes	O
the	O
form	O
of	O
"	O
Speed	O
Blade	O
,	O
"	O
a	O
buzzsaw-like	O
jump	O
that	O
not	O
only	O
gives	O
him	O
increased	O
speed	O
as	O
items	O
but	O
also	O
dispatches	O
enemies	O
at	O
the	O
highest	O
damage	O
possible	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plok	B-Application
can	O
pick	O
up	O
shells	O
,	O
which	O
award	O
extra	O
lives	O
and	O
serve	O
as	O
ammunition	O
for	O
a	O
special	O
amulet	O
received	O
partway	O
through	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
amulet	O
converts	O
shells	O
into	O
power	O
for	O
Plok	B-Application
's	O
secondary	O
attack	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
are	O
also	O
"	O
Magic	O
Fruits	O
"	O
that	O
can	O
heal	O
Plok	B-Application
's	O
health	O
;	O
the	O
more	O
he	O
punches	O
a	O
fruit	O
,	O
the	O
bigger	O
it	O
gets	O
and	O
more	O
health	O
he	O
receives	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Less	O
frequent	O
are	O
bigger	O
"	O
Golden	O
Fruits	O
"	O
that	O
increase	O
Plok	B-Application
's	O
energy	O
to	O
its	O
fullest	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
some	O
levels	O
,	O
some	O
fruits	O
can	O
either	O
send	O
Plok	B-Application
to	O
a	O
timed	O
bonus	O
stage	O
where	O
he	O
must	O
reach	O
a	O
goal	O
or	O
a	O
strange	O
room	O
where	O
he	O
must	O
collect	O
all	O
the	O
shells	O
to	O
progress	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Completing	O
these	O
will	O
have	O
Plok	B-Application
warp	O
to	O
the	O
next	O
level	O
with	O
some	O
of	O
them	O
being	O
able	O
to	O
skip	O
boss	O
fights	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
"	O
Presents	O
"	O
temporarily	O
upgrades	O
Plok	B-Application
into	O
a	O
character	O
from	O
his	O
favourite	O
movies	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
"	O
Plocky	O
"	O
which	O
equips	O
him	O
with	O
boxing	O
gloves	O
,	O
"	O
Vigilante	O
Plok	B-Application
"	O
which	O
makes	O
him	O
a	O
flamethrower-equipped	O
character	O
a	O
la	O
the	O
"	O
Ploxterminator	B-General_Concept
,	O
"	O
the	O
Deerstalker-wearing	O
"	O
Squire	O
Plok	B-Application
"	O
equipped	O
with	O
a	O
blunderbuss	O
,	O
a	O
gun-slinging	O
"	O
Cowboy	O
Plok	B-Application
"	O
based	O
on	O
westerns	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
Rocket	O
Plok	B-Application
"	O
where	O
is	O
equipped	O
with	O
multiple	O
rocket	O
launchers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Presents	O
in	O
the	O
Fleapit	O
yield	O
high-tech	O
,	O
futuristic	O
vehicles	O
with	O
weapons	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
a	O
unicycle	O
with	O
a	O
water	O
cannon	O
,	O
an	O
"	O
off-road	O
truck	O
"	O
with	O
a	O
rocket	O
launcher	O
,	O
a	O
jetpack	B-Application
with	O
lasers	O
,	O
a	O
motorbike	O
with	O
grenades	O
,	O
a	O
tank	O
,	O
a	O
bomb-dropping	O
helicopter	B-Application
,	O
a	O
flying	B-Language
saucer	I-Language
with	O
plasma	O
cannons	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
pair	O
of	O
spring	O
pogo	O
shoes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
fleas	O
,	O
for	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
complete	O
the	O
level	O
,	O
Plok	B-Application
must	O
destroy	O
every	O
single	O
one	O
of	O
them	O
in	O
every	O
level	O
(	O
with	O
the	O
exceptions	O
of	O
Cotton	O
Island	O
,	O
Legacy	O
Island	O
,	O
and	O
Fleapit	O
)	O
,	O
where	O
the	O
last	O
one	O
drops	O
a	O
flag	O
which	O
levitates	O
to	O
its	O
flag	O
pole	O
and	O
allows	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
progress	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
king	O
,	O
Plok	B-Application
dwells	O
on	O
Akrillic	O
,	O
a	O
large	O
island	O
in	O
the	O
fictional	O
archipelago	O
of	O
Polyesta	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plok	B-Application
wakes	O
up	O
one	O
morning	O
and	O
notices	O
his	O
big	O
square	O
flag	O
on	O
the	O
pole	O
on	O
his	O
house	O
's	O
rooftop	O
has	O
been	O
stolen	O
,	O
and	O
goes	O
out	O
searching	O
for	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plok	B-Application
mistakes	O
some	O
imposter	O
flags	O
for	O
his	O
own	O
,	O
becoming	O
irritated	O
in	O
the	O
process	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plok	B-Application
encounters	O
the	O
two	O
giant	O
creatures	O
who	O
are	O
responsible	O
for	O
placing	O
the	O
fake	O
flags	O
,	O
the	O
Bobbins	O
Brothers	O
,	O
whom	O
Plok	B-Application
's	O
grandpappy	O
had	O
warned	O
him	O
about	O
,	O
and	O
fights	O
them	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
successfully	O
defeating	O
the	O
Bobbins	O
Brothers	O
and	O
getting	O
his	O
big	O
square	O
flag	O
back	O
,	O
Plok	B-Application
sails	O
back	O
to	O
Akrillic	O
to	O
find	O
the	O
island	O
has	O
been	O
infested	O
and	O
overtaken	O
by	O
"	O
fleas	O
"	O
,	O
two-legged	O
blue	O
insects	O
that	O
hatch	O
from	O
eggs	O
and	O
hop	O
around	O
;	O
Plok	B-Application
learns	O
that	O
the	O
theft	O
of	O
his	O
large	O
flag	O
was	O
simply	O
a	O
decoy	O
to	O
lure	O
him	O
away	O
from	O
Akrillic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plok	B-Application
travels	O
through	O
Akrillic	O
,	O
defeating	O
every	O
single	O
flea	O
on	O
the	O
surface	O
to	O
reclaim	O
his	O
island	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Partway	O
through	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
Plok	B-Application
places	O
the	O
big	O
square	O
flag	O
back	O
where	O
it	O
belongs	O
outside	O
his	O
home	O
,	O
and	O
then	O
takes	O
a	O
break	O
as	O
he	O
sits	O
on	O
a	O
foot	O
of	O
the	O
statue	O
of	O
his	O
grandfather	O
,	O
Grandpappy	O
Plok	B-Application
,	O
wishing	O
he	O
had	O
found	O
an	O
amulet	O
to	O
help	O
him	O
deal	O
with	O
the	O
fleas	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
dream	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
plays	O
as	O
Grandpappy	O
Plok	B-Application
as	O
he	O
sails	O
from	O
Akrillic	O
to	O
Legacy	O
Island	O
,	O
and	O
shares	O
the	O
same	O
experience	O
as	O
what	O
his	O
grandson	O
is	O
doing	O
now	O
,	O
traveling	O
through	O
bizarre	O
obstacles	O
,	O
discovering	O
artifacts	O
(	O
including	O
Rockyfella	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
dealing	O
with	O
the	O
same	O
Bobbin	O
Brothers	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
their	O
third	O
brother	O
Irving	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Back	O
to	O
the	O
present	O
day	O
,	O
Plok	B-Application
wakes	O
up	O
and	O
discovers	O
that	O
the	O
amulet	O
is	O
located	O
at	O
the	O
bottom	O
of	O
the	O
statue	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plok	B-Application
's	O
mission	O
on	O
getting	O
his	O
island	O
back	O
continues	O
,	O
now	O
with	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
"	O
charge	O
"	O
a	O
buzzsaw	O
jump	O
ability	O
by	O
sacrificing	O
the	O
shells	O
he	O
has	O
collected	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plok	B-Application
then	O
heads	O
into	O
various	O
locations	O
around	O
the	O
island	O
while	O
facing	O
other	O
creatures	O
trying	O
to	O
overthrow	O
Akrillic	O
:	O
Penkinos	O
,	O
a	O
group	O
of	O
inflatable	O
,	O
floating	O
magicians	O
of	O
mysterious	O
origin	O
living	O
in	O
the	O
North	O
of	O
the	O
island	O
;	O
Womack	O
,	O
a	O
spider	O
living	O
in	O
the	O
island	O
's	O
center	O
with	O
its	O
long	O
legs	O
being	O
weak	O
points	O
;	O
and	O
Rockyfella	O
,	O
the	O
spirit	O
of	O
the	O
island	O
's	O
soil	O
residing	O
under	O
in	O
the	O
mountains	O
of	O
the	O
island	O
's	O
southeast	O
who	O
is	O
vengeful	O
against	O
Plok	B-Application
for	O
the	O
flagpoles	O
he	O
dug	O
in	O
the	O
ground	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
clearing	O
out	O
all	O
the	O
enemies	O
on	O
the	O
island	O
,	O
Plok	B-Application
journeys	O
into	O
the	O
source	O
of	O
the	O
fleas	O
,	O
the	O
Fleapit	O
,	O
where	O
he	O
uses	O
various	O
weapon	O
vehicles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
summer	O
of	O
1988	O
,	O
Ste	O
and	O
John	O
Pickford	O
,	O
workers	O
at	O
Zippo	O
Games	O
which	O
was	O
owned	O
by	O
John	O
and	O
their	O
friend	O
Steve	O
Hughes	O
,	O
were	O
struggling	O
to	O
complete	O
games	O
for	O
16-bit	O
Atari	B-Device
ST	I-Device
and	O
Amiga	B-Device
computers	I-Device
,	O
many	O
getting	O
canceled	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
initial	O
skepticism	O
against	O
the	O
NES	O
,	O
the	O
Pickfords	O
 '	O
experience	O
working	O
on	O
Ironsword	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
playing	O
Mario	B-Application
and	O
Zelda	B-Application
games	O
on	O
the	O
console	O
as	O
required	O
by	O
the	O
Stamper	O
brothers	O
,	O
gained	O
them	O
an	O
appreciation	O
for	O
the	O
console	O
and	O
changed	O
their	O
development	O
focus	O
from	O
being	O
on	O
technical	O
finesse	O
to	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
experience	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
what	O
they	O
had	O
for	O
Plok	B-Application
!	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plok	B-Application
's	O
name	O
was	O
then	O
spontaneously	O
coined	O
when	O
John	O
was	O
placing	O
letters	O
from	O
a	O
cassette	O
tape	O
cover	O
on	O
his	O
computer	O
mouse	O
;	O
his	O
full	O
name	O
was	O
"	O
Plok	B-Application
the	O
Exploding	O
Man	O
"	O
to	O
describe	O
his	O
separable	O
design	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
being	O
impressed	O
by	O
the	O
hardware	O
's	O
innovative	O
graphics	O
system	O
,	O
the	O
Pickfords	O
also	O
saw	O
an	O
opportunity	O
to	O
make	O
a	O
"	O
real	O
arcade	O
game	O
"	O
like	O
the	O
ones	O
in	O
their	O
youth	O
;	O
they	O
previously	O
worked	O
on	O
an	O
Amiga-based	O
coin-op	O
system	O
for	O
World	O
Darts	O
,	O
but	O
never	O
a	O
"	O
real	O
"	O
arcade	O
title	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ste	O
vaguely	O
recalled	O
Fleapit	O
in	O
a	O
2014	O
interview	O
,	O
comparing	O
its	O
gameplay	O
to	O
Excitebots	B-Application
:	I-Application
Trick	I-Application
Racing	I-Application
(	O
2009	O
)	O
in	O
that	O
the	O
player	O
had	O
to	O
catch	O
one	O
of	O
several	O
flying	O
footballs	O
to	O
score	O
a	O
touchdown	O
in	O
the	O
middle	O
of	O
a	O
level	O
;	O
he	O
reported	O
the	O
product	O
being	O
only	O
a	O
little	O
more	O
"	O
primitive	O
"	O
than	O
Plok	O
!,	O
featuring	O
stages	O
only	O
scrolling	O
horizontal	O
and	O
vertically	O
,	O
more	O
"	O
set	O
pieces	O
or	O
one-off	O
levels	O
,	O
"	O
backgrounds	O
made	O
of	O
food	O
like	O
sausages	O
and	O
doughnuts	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
space	O
level	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1989	O
,	O
Rare	O
,	O
the	O
first	O
company	O
outside	O
of	O
Japan	O
to	O
have	O
a	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
,	O
instructed	O
Zippo	O
Games	O
to	O
develop	O
a	O
game	O
for	O
the	O
handheld	O
console	O
;	O
however	O
,	O
this	O
meant	O
stopping	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
Fleapit	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rare	O
and	O
Zippo	O
Games	O
 '	O
relationship	O
worsened	O
;	O
Zippo	O
never	O
completed	O
a	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
product	O
as	O
instructed	O
and	O
was	O
bought	O
out	O
by	O
Rare	O
in	O
1990	O
to	O
be	O
renamed	O
Rare	O
Manchester	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
shut	O
down	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Late	O
in	O
Fleapits	O
development	O
,	O
the	O
brothers	O
obtained	O
comedian	O
Chris	O
Sievey	O
to	O
voice	O
Plok	B-Application
,	O
contacting	O
him	O
in	O
1990	O
via	O
the	O
number	O
on	O
the	O
name	O
of	O
one	O
of	O
his	O
songs	O
,	O
"	O
969	O
1909.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
leaving	O
Zippo	O
,	O
John	O
phoned	O
Richard	O
Hay	O
,	O
the	O
head	O
of	O
Software	O
Creations	O
,	O
the	O
first	O
company	O
outside	O
of	O
Japan	O
to	O
have	O
a	O
development	B-Application
kit	I-Application
for	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
Nintendo	I-Application
Entertainment	I-Application
System	I-Application
(	O
SNES	B-Application
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hay	O
hired	O
the	O
Pickfords	O
right	O
away	O
to	O
use	O
it	O
to	O
design	O
and	O
program	O
Equinox	B-Application
(	O
1993	O
)	O
,	O
a	O
sequel	O
to	O
the	O
NES	O
title	O
Solstice	B-Application
(	O
1990	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Near	O
the	O
completion	O
of	O
Equinox	B-Application
,	O
the	O
Pickfords	O
showcased	O
Fleapit	O
to	O
Hay	O
,	O
pitching	O
it	O
under	O
a	O
new	O
name	O
:	O
Plok	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	O
brothers	O
and	O
Hay	O
considered	O
many	O
consoles	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
NES	O
,	O
Super	B-Application
NES	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
,	O
only	O
a	O
Super	B-Application
NES	I-Application
title	O
came	O
into	O
fruition	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plok	B-Application
!	O
s	O
team	O
consisted	O
of	O
the	O
two	O
brothers	O
as	O
producers	O
,	O
art	O
directors	O
,	O
and	O
designers	O
;	O
John	O
Buckley	O
as	O
programmer	O
;	O
Lyndon	O
Brooke	O
as	O
graphic	O
artist	O
;	O
another	O
set	O
of	O
brothers	O
,	O
Tim	O
and	O
Geoff	O
Follin	O
,	O
developing	O
the	O
music	O
and	O
sound	O
;	O
Kevin	O
Edwards	O
and	O
Stephen	O
Ruddy	O
as	O
compressors	O
;	O
Dan	O
Whitworth	O
creating	O
additional	O
graphics	O
;	O
and	O
an	O
18-year-old	O
Chun	O
Wah	O
Kong	O
joining	O
in	O
spring	O
1993	O
as	O
a	O
tester	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Software	O
Creations	O
,	O
for	O
some	O
of	O
their	O
games	O
,	O
hired	O
animators	O
recently	O
laid-off	O
from	O
a	O
Manchester	O
studio	O
,	O
and	O
Whitworth	O
was	O
no	O
exception	O
;	O
he	O
animated	O
the	O
title	O
screen	O
(	O
where	O
Plok	B-Application
plays	O
a	O
harmonica	O
to	O
the	O
theme	O
song	O
)	O
while	O
Ste	O
was	O
on	O
a	O
two-week	O
holiday	O
,	O
and	O
Whitworth	O
's	O
work	O
was	O
enthusiastically-received	O
by	O
the	O
staff	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plok	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
Buckley	O
later	O
admitted	O
to	O
Plok	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
and	O
Kong	O
admittined	O
that	O
his	O
experience	O
as	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
tester	O
prepared	O
him	O
for	O
being	O
lead	O
designer	O
on	O
Team	O
Soho	O
's	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
title	O
The	B-Application
Getaway	I-Application
(	O
2002	O
)	O
:	O
"	O
QA	O
is	O
great	O
grounding	O
for	O
designers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
settle	O
the	O
dispute	O
,	O
the	O
first	O
eight	O
stages	O
which	O
were	O
originally	O
for	O
Cotton	O
Island	O
were	O
moved	O
later	O
as	O
the	O
Grandpappy	O
Plok	B-Application
dream	O
stages	O
,	O
with	O
eight	O
new	O
easier	O
Cotton	O
Island	O
stages	O
created	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Kong	O
also	O
reported	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
publishers	O
wanted	O
the	O
first	O
level	O
's	O
difficulty	O
decreased	O
,	O
so	O
the	O
staff	O
decreased	O
the	O
bouncing	O
sprouts	O
 '	O
hit	O
points	O
from	O
two	O
to	O
one	O
;	O
however	O
,	O
in	O
the	O
tutorial	O
segment	O
of	O
the	O
final	O
game	O
,	O
the	O
sprouts	O
take	O
two	O
hits	O
as	O
Plok	B-Application
fires	O
an	O
extra	O
arm	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
of	O
Plok	B-Application
!	O
s	O
visuals	O
were	O
formulated	O
during	O
its	O
Fleapit	O
stage	O
,	O
where	O
it	O
was	O
being	O
programmed	O
for	O
the	O
Razz	O
Board	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
game	O
,	O
Brooke	O
designed	O
two	O
new	O
fonts	O
for	O
16x16	O
and	O
8x8	O
bitmap	O
grids	O
:	O
one	O
based	O
on	O
Ste	O
's	O
font	O
for	O
Fleapit	O
,	O
in	O
turn	O
based	O
on	O
his	O
lettering	O
in	O
concept	O
drawings	O
,	O
and	O
another	O
for	O
the	O
silent	O
movie-esque	O
screens	O
in	O
the	O
Legacy	O
Island	O
levels	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Software	O
Creations	O
 '	O
leader	O
and	O
Plok	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
executive	O
producer	O
Mike	O
Webb	O
reported	O
compressing	O
50%	O
on	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
16-megabit	O
graphics	O
data	O
(	O
equivalent	O
to	O
Street	B-Application
Fighter	I-Application
II	I-Application
)	O
to	O
eight	O
megabits	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
the	O
project	O
turned	O
into	O
a	O
16-bit	O
SNES	B-Application
game	O
,	O
the	O
color	O
scheme	O
(	O
although	O
generally	O
the	O
same	O
)	O
was	O
more	O
detailed	O
with	O
a	O
wider	O
palette	O
,	O
and	O
Ste	O
used	O
magic	O
markers	O
to	O
color	O
concept	O
art	O
;	O
it	O
was	O
used	O
not	O
only	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
but	O
also	O
for	O
other	O
titles	O
and	O
products	O
of	O
a	O
potential	O
franchise	O
and	O
as	O
illustrations	O
for	O
the	O
instruction	O
manual	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
John	O
's	O
first	O
plan	O
for	O
taking	O
the	O
most	O
advantage	O
of	O
the	O
Razz	O
Board	O
was	O
with	O
how	O
Plok	B-Application
was	O
animated	O
;	O
since	O
he	O
had	O
separable	O
limbs	O
,	O
all	O
of	O
his	O
six	O
parts	O
were	O
independently-moving	O
static	O
sprites	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
separated	O
limbs	O
of	O
Plok	B-Application
made	O
him	O
easy	O
to	O
animate	O
and	O
took	O
less	O
graphical	O
data	O
,	O
as	O
static	O
parts	O
could	O
be	O
coded	O
to	O
move	O
and	O
rotate	O
instead	O
of	O
creating	O
multiple	O
frames	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ste	O
also	O
had	O
Plok	B-Application
's	O
boots	O
and	O
gloves	O
be	O
gigantic	O
in	O
order	O
for	O
his	O
detachable-limb	O
design	O
to	O
work	O
to	O
its	O
full	O
potential	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
console	O
,	O
Brooke	O
altered	O
the	O
design	O
of	O
Plok	B-Application
and	O
the	O
fleas	O
only	O
slightly	O
,	O
but	O
Plok	B-Application
's	O
animation	O
method	O
was	O
transformed	O
;	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
has	O
the	O
traditional	O
bitmap	O
method	O
of	O
executing	O
pixels	O
,	O
thus	O
he	O
was	O
animated	O
frame-by-frame	O
by	O
Brooke	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fleapit	O
characters	O
not	O
in	O
Plok	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
The	O
Bobbins	O
Brothers	O
and	O
Womack	O
were	O
transferred	O
from	O
Fleapit	O
(	O
although	O
Womack	O
went	O
through	O
a	O
massive	O
redesign	O
by	O
Brooke	O
that	O
Ste	O
appreciated	O
)	O
while	O
the	O
Penkinos	O
were	O
originally-conceived	O
for	O
Plok	B-Application
!	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
idea	O
of	O
costume	O
and	O
vehicle	O
power-up	O
had	O
also	O
been	O
around	O
since	O
Fleapit	O
,	O
although	O
the	O
set	O
of	O
power-ups	O
changed	O
with	O
only	O
the	O
helicopter	B-Application
carrying	O
over	O
;	O
Fleapit-only	O
power-ups	O
included	O
"	O
Robo	O
Plok	B-Application
,	O
"	O
a	O
robot	O
form	O
that	O
improved	O
maneuverability	O
and	O
was	O
inspired	O
by	O
Ro-Jaws	O
from	O
the	O
2000	O
AD	O
comics	O
;	O
"	O
Ninja	O
Plok	B-Application
"	O
which	O
armed	O
him	O
with	O
an	O
endless	O
amount	O
of	O
throwing	O
stars	O
;	O
and	O
"	O
Super	O
Plok	B-Application
,	O
"	O
a	O
superhero	O
with	O
flying	O
abilities	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plok	B-Application
also	O
had	O
the	O
"	O
smart	O
bomb	O
,	O
"	O
an	O
ability	O
where	O
he	O
enraged	O
himself	O
to	O
the	O
point	O
of	O
exploding	O
and	O
wiping	O
out	O
all	O
enemies	O
on	O
the	O
screen	O
(	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
his	O
own	O
limbs	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
the	O
start	O
of	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
game	O
,	O
Buckley	O
did	O
n't	O
have	O
Fleapits	O
code	O
;	O
thus	O
,	O
he	O
started	O
programming	O
out	O
of	O
what	O
he	O
saw	O
in	O
the	O
VHS	O
footage	O
,	O
including	O
Plok	B-Application
attacking	O
fleas	O
with	O
his	O
limbs	O
and	O
skid-ing	O
down	O
slanted	O
platforms	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Brooke	O
conceived	O
triggering	O
parts	O
of	O
the	O
scenery	O
with	O
limbs	O
,	O
reasoning	O
they	O
"	O
looked	O
a	O
bit	O
rough	O
"	O
when	O
constantly	O
looping	O
;	O
however	O
,	O
carrying	O
it	O
out	O
was	O
difficult	O
due	O
to	O
affecting	O
the	O
collision	O
detection	O
and	O
causing	O
Plok	B-Application
's	O
movements	O
to	O
be	O
jolty	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
it	O
came	O
to	O
NES	O
and	O
SNES	B-Application
titles	O
,	O
Software	O
Creations	O
was	O
notable	O
for	O
pushing	O
the	O
limits	O
of	O
a	O
hardware	O
's	O
sound	O
,	O
including	O
with	O
Plok	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
Work	O
on	O
Plok	B-Application
!	O
s	O
soundtrack	O
,	O
composed	O
by	O
Tim	O
and	O
Geoff	O
Follin	O
,	O
began	O
halfway	O
into	O
development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plok	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
A	O
breathing	O
sample	O
in	O
the	O
boss	O
theme	O
was	O
also	O
used	O
in	O
Equinox	B-Application
and	O
Spider-Man	B-Application
and	I-Application
the	I-Application
X-Men	I-Application
in	I-Application
Arcade	I-Application
's	I-Application
Revenge	I-Application
(	O
1992	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rare	O
composer	O
David	O
Wise	O
has	O
expressed	O
admiration	O
for	O
Plok	O
!,	O
claiming	O
his	O
work	O
on	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
to	O
be	O
inspired	O
by	O
the	O
Follin	O
brothers	O
 '	O
soundtrack	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Software	O
Creations	O
was	O
so	O
confident	O
in	O
Plok	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
Shigeru	O
Miyamoto	O
expressed	O
a	O
strong	O
interest	O
in	O
working	O
on	O
the	O
game	O
;	O
when	O
Plok	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
was	O
only	O
half-finished	O
,	O
he	O
wrote	O
a	O
letter	O
to	O
Hay	O
claiming	O
it	O
was	O
the	O
third-best	O
platform	O
game	O
below	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
Mario	B-Application
and	O
that	O
he	O
would	O
make	O
it	O
the	O
second-greatest	O
in	O
the	O
genre	O
above	O
Sonic	B-Application
but	O
below	O
Mario	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tony	O
Harman	O
,	O
product	O
acquisitions	O
and	O
development	O
manager	O
at	O
Nintendo	O
of	O
America	O
,	O
also	O
attended	O
the	O
studio	O
to	O
play	O
Plok	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
For	O
unknown	O
reasons	O
,	O
however	O
,	O
Nintendo	O
only	O
published	O
Plok	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
Although	O
reasons	O
for	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
rejection	O
have	O
n't	O
been	O
disclosed	O
,	O
Ste	O
inductively	O
reasoned	O
Miyamoto	O
found	O
it	O
too	O
similar	O
to	O
a	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
World	O
sequel	O
in	O
development	O
,	O
particularly	O
with	O
its	O
mini-race	O
levels	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tradewest	O
set	O
Plok	B-Application
!	O
s	O
primary	O
demographic	O
at	O
gamers	O
six-to-fourteen	O
years	O
old	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
published	O
by	O
Tradewest	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
Plok	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
still	O
received	O
promotion	O
from	O
Nintendo	O
of	O
America	O
;	O
a	O
complete	O
guide	O
and	O
review	O
was	O
published	O
in	O
the	O
October	O
1993	O
issue	O
of	O
its	O
magazine	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Power	I-Application
,	O
and	O
a	O
two-page	O
section	O
in	O
a	O
Nintendo	O
Player	O
's	O
Guide	O
book	O
for	O
Mario	B-Application
Paint	I-Application
(	O
1993	O
)	O
included	O
templates	O
of	O
body	O
part	O
stamps	O
to	O
animate	O
Plok	B-Application
and	O
the	O
flea	O
enemies	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
background	O
painting	O
based	O
on	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
Cotton	O
Island	O
levels	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
United	O
Kingdom	O
,	O
Nintendo	O
released	O
a	O
VHS	O
tape	O
,	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
All-Stars	O
Video	O
(	O
1993	O
)	O
;	O
hosted	O
by	O
Craig	O
Charles	O
,	O
the	O
video	O
features	O
a	O
segment	O
of	O
testers	O
at	O
Nintendo	O
UK	O
promoting	O
upcoming	O
games	O
,	O
including	O
Plok	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
Club	O
Nintendo	O
,	O
Germany	O
's	O
official	O
Nintendo	O
magazine	O
,	O
ran	O
a	O
comic	O
strip	O
where	O
Plok	B-Application
races	O
with	O
Mario	B-Application
at	O
an	O
Olympic	O
match	O
in	O
space	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tradewest	O
's	O
US	O
print	O
advertisement	O
depicted	O
the	O
top	O
half	O
taken	O
up	O
by	O
Double	B-Application
Dragon	I-Application
and	O
Battletoads	B-Device
,	O
the	O
bottom	O
half	O
a	O
picture	O
of	O
the	O
Plok	B-Application
character	O
;	O
the	O
only	O
info	O
revealed	O
was	O
that	O
Plok	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
Nintendo	O
's	O
UK	O
print	O
ad	O
depicted	O
a	O
faux	O
desktop	O
screenshot	O
with	O
an	O
image	O
of	O
an	O
angry	O
old	O
lady	O
in	O
the	O
house	O
as	O
the	O
wallpaper	O
;	O
the	O
only	O
Plok	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
other	O
print	O
advertisements	O
were	O
much	O
more	O
true	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Tradewest	O
's	O
series	O
of	O
comic	O
book	O
panel	O
ads	O
named	O
The	O
Adventures	O
of	O
Plok	B-Application
with	O
Plok	B-Application
's	O
origins	O
at	O
the	O
storyline	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plok	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
Tradewest	O
presented	O
Plok	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
at	O
the	O
summer	O
1993	O
Consumer	O
Electronics	O
Show	O
;	O
a	O
GameFan	O
writer	O
called	O
Tradewest	O
"	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
 [ show's ] 	O
most	O
impressive	O
third	O
party	O
line-up	O
,	O
"	O
highlighting	O
Plok	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
Upon	O
release	O
,	O
some	O
critics	O
declared	O
Plok	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
Plok	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
A	O
frequent	O
comparison	O
was	O
with	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
(	O
1991	O
)	O
,	O
particularly	O
in	O
its	O
"	O
sugary	O
"	O
tone	O
and	O
Plok	B-Application
's	O
speed	O
ball	O
attack	O
;	O
GameStars	O
FI	O
derogatorily	O
labeled	O
the	O
titular	O
character	O
as	O
"	O
a	O
puny	O
version	O
"	O
of	O
the	O
Sega	O
franchise	O
's	O
blue	O
hedgehog	O
,	O
criticizing	O
his	O
weird	O
design	O
and	O
calling	O
it	O
names	O
such	O
as	O
"	O
hot	O
pink	O
reddy	O
coloured	O
duck	O
penguin	O
thing	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
freaky	O
pork	O
chop.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
other	O
reviewers	O
opined	O
Plok	B-Application
as	O
distinguished	O
in	O
the	O
genre	O
,	O
noting	O
innovative	O
aspects	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
costume	O
and	O
weapon	O
power-ups	O
and	O
limb	O
mechanics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reviews	O
also	O
enjoyed	O
its	O
humor	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
with	O
Plok	B-Application
's	O
limbless	O
movements	O
,	O
his	O
power-ups	O
,	O
and	O
nonsensical	O
story	O
;	O
Humphreys	O
felt	O
it	O
would	O
help	O
the	O
game	O
be	O
enjoyed	O
by	O
even	O
the	O
biggest	O
detractors	O
of	O
kid-friendly	O
platformers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
critics	O
were	O
addicted	O
to	O
Plok	B-Application
!	O
s	O
gameplay	O
and	O
eulogized	O
its	O
playability	O
,	O
perfect	O
control	O
,	O
and	O
variety	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plok	B-Application
!	O
s	O
difficulty	O
was	O
also	O
highlighted	O
,	O
mostly	O
attributed	O
to	O
lack	O
of	O
a	O
password	O
system	O
,	O
save	O
feature	O
,	O
and	O
requirement	O
for	O
continues	O
to	O
be	O
earned	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
some	O
reviewers	O
approved	O
how	O
hard	O
Plok	B-Application
was	O
,	O
others	O
disliked	O
not	O
being	O
able	O
to	O
save	O
or	O
use	O
passwords	O
,	O
reasoning	O
it	O
was	O
annoying	O
to	O
replay	O
earlier	O
stages	O
over	O
and	O
over	O
again	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
cartoony	O
graphics	O
were	O
praised	O
as	O
colorful	O
,	O
surreal	O
,	O
adorable	O
,	O
and	O
featuring	O
"	O
vivid	O
backgrounds	O
"	O
;	O
one	O
reviewer	O
called	O
them	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
on	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
Nintendo	I-Application
,	O
while	O
another	O
compared	O
it	O
to	O
Equinox	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
FI	O
appreciated	O
the	O
detail	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Plok	B-Application
's	O
breathing	O
animation	O
when	O
standing	O
still	O
and	O
the	O
many	O
"	O
little	O
coloured	O
flowers	O
everywhere	O
,	O
looking	O
like	O
real	O
flower	O
power	O
stuff.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
John	O
Pickford	O
and	O
Kay	O
had	O
faith	O
in	O
Plok	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
The	O
Pickford	O
brothers	O
garnered	O
IP	O
ownership	O
for	O
the	O
Plok	B-Application
character	O
,	O
common	O
in	O
other	O
media	O
economies	O
but	O
rare	O
in	O
the	O
video	O
games	O
industry	O
;	O
and	O
planned	O
a	O
franchise	O
out	O
of	O
it	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
sequels	O
,	O
ports	O
,	O
and	O
merchandise	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
Mega	B-Operating_System
Drive	I-Operating_System
version	O
was	O
planned	O
using	O
a	O
Software	O
Creations	O
worker	O
's	O
software	O
for	O
automatically	O
converting	O
SNES	B-Application
titles	O
into	O
Mega	B-Operating_System
Drive	I-Operating_System
games	O
;	O
80%	O
of	O
the	O
code	O
was	O
automatically	O
converted	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
Ste	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
other	O
20%	O
requiring	O
hands-on	O
work	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Pickfords	O
planned	O
sequels	O
to	O
involve	O
Plok	B-Application
searching	O
for	O
the	O
fleas	O
 '	O
home	O
,	O
introduce	O
a	O
setting	O
named	O
Tower	O
Island	O
,	O
and	O
make	O
Plok	B-Application
's	O
comfy	O
chair	O
(	O
which	O
he	O
sleeps	O
on	O
in	O
the	O
end	O
credits	O
of	O
Plok	B-Application
!	I-Application
)	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Pickfords	O
also	O
drew	O
concepts	O
for	O
toys	O
used	O
for	O
pitches	O
of	O
the	O
SNES	B-Application
game	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
a	O
doll	O
where	O
limbs	O
were	O
joined	O
and	O
detached	O
with	O
velcro	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
marketing	O
,	O
a	O
Plok	B-Application
model	O
was	O
created	O
in	O
3D	B-Language
Studio	I-Language
4	I-Language
for	O
a	O
promotional	O
photo	O
of	O
Software	O
Creations	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
1992	O
,	O
late	O
in	O
Plok	B-Application
!	O
s	O
development	O
,	O
saw	O
the	O
beginning	O
of	O
a	O
saturation	O
of	O
colorful	O
platform	O
games	O
starring	O
cute	O
mascots	O
,	O
like	O
Bubsy	O
and	O
Zool	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
selling	O
decently	O
over	O
a	O
long	O
period	O
,	O
none	O
of	O
the	O
revenue	O
went	O
to	O
the	O
Pickfords	O
,	O
and	O
Ste	O
suggested	O
the	O
saturation	O
hindered	O
its	O
commercial	O
performance	O
significantly	O
;	O
this	O
plus	O
Software	O
Creations	O
constantly	O
changing	O
publishers	O
between	O
projects	O
rendered	O
a	O
Plok	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
In	O
2009	O
,	O
North	O
American	O
company	O
Super	O
Fighter	O
Team	O
released	O
Zaku	B-Application
,	O
a	O
horizontal	O
shooter	O
for	O
the	O
Atari	B-General_Concept
Lynx	I-General_Concept
which	O
features	O
a	O
special	O
guest	O
appearance	O
by	O
Plok	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Pickfords	O
later	O
launched	O
a	O
Plok	B-Application
webcomic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
later	O
years	O
,	O
Plok	B-Application
was	O
ranked	O
the	O
26th	O
all-time	O
best	O
SNES	B-Application
title	O
(	O
which	O
also	O
named	O
it	O
the	O
best	O
platformer	O
produced	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
Kingdom	O
)	O
in	O
1996	O
,	O
the	O
19th	O
best	O
platform	O
game	O
by	O
Gamereactor	O
in	O
2014	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
listed	O
in	O
Edge	O
editor	O
Tony	O
Mott	O
's	O
1001	O
Video	O
Games	O
You	O
Must	O
Play	O
Before	O
You	O
Die	O
in	O
its	O
2013	O
edition	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Video	O
game	O
elements	O
introduced	O
in	O
Plok	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
Games	O
starring	O
characters	O
with	O
floating	O
body	O
parts	O
used	O
as	O
weapons	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Dynamite	B-Application
Headdy	I-Application
(	O
1994	O
)	O
and	O
Rayman	B-Application
(	O
1995	O
)	O
,	O
were	O
released	O
shortly	O
afterwards	O
and	O
garnered	O
much	O
wider	O
exposure	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
listing	O
Plok	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
also	O
provided	O
players	O
with	O
power-ups	O
and	O
vehicles	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
flamethrowers	O
and	O
jetpacks	B-Application
,	O
the	O
likes	O
of	O
which	O
had	O
not	O
been	O
seen	O
in	O
a	O
single	O
game.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Sepia-toned	O
flashback	O
stages	O
also	O
made	O
up	O
a	O
chunk	O
of	O
Mickey	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
(	O
1994	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
