I Played ‘Putt-Putt Saves The Zoo’ For The First Time In 20 Years & Yes, It Still Slaps
I don’t have many memories of being a young child but one of the things I definitely do remember is Putt-Putt.
Created by Waldensoftware, Putt-Putt was a very cute, small, purple car that drove around a bunch of different lands completing missions and saving the day.
Putt-Putt had a retractable antenna which he used as a means of grabbing things and let me tell you, it was the most adorable thing in the entire world. Low-key more adorable than my Baby Born.
I usually played Putt-Putt after school via a CD-ROM in my dinosaur of a computer. It took ages to load, but all-in-all it was super worth it.
Putt-Putt In A Nutshell
To rejig your memory, the Putt-Putt series consisted of point-and-click games for kids.
The user would hover their mouse across the screen and click when they were prompted to do so. Clicking on objects subsequently prompted the user to participate in mini-games or watch random videos and of course, take the necessary steps to complete the overarching mission. Pure genius, really.
Ultimately, curiosity was rewarded and for that, I absolutely loved playing it. I had no idea what I was doing, but in my head, I was doing so much. Seriously, I felt like I achieved more in one gaming session than all of grade one in primary school.
It Was An Aesthetic Masterpiece
Putt-Putt was such a treat for the eyes. Not only was the protagonist super cute, but all the bright colours made it hard to look away from the screen.
On the screen at all times was Putt-Putt’s dashboard, which featured his cute puppy and the ability to honk a horn. Now, when I tell you that the dashboard alone could have kept me going for hours, I really mean it. Who knew inventory could be so fun? I certainly didn’t.
But enough about Putt-Putt generally, let’s talk about Putt-Putt Saves the Zoo. This game is the third in the original series but definitely the most popular and the one that you would have eyed-out in Dick Smith or Grace Bros’ technology section.
The Plot Of Putt-Putt Saves the Zoo
In this game, Putt-Putt attends the opening of the Cartown Zoo and is tasked to deliver some chowder to the Zoo’s owner, Outback Al. Side note: Outback Al, by the way, is Australian, a fact we absolutely stan.
However, after delivering the chowder, it appears that the zoo is not ready for the opening because several of the baby animals have gone missing. As a result, it’s up to Putt-Putt to reunite the baby animals with their parents through a series of tasks.
Does this not sound like the greatest plot ever written? Tea.
As you’re tasked with finding the six lost animals, you need to work your way around the zoo and sometimes retrace your steps.
For example, when entering Arcticland, you’ll come across a blocked roadway, which requires a shovel from somewhere else in the map. This was probably the first time I stored information in my working memory if I’m being honest. And I am forever grateful.
How To Play Putt-Putt Saves the Zoo Now
Anyway, I have since realised that Nimbus Games has put Putt-Putt Saves the Zoo on the Apple App Store and on Steam. So, if you feel like getting an incredible dose of nostalgia into your body, then hurry up and get on it.
It cost me approximately $8 AUD, but who can put a price on fun?
But, How Are The Graphics?
In terms of the graphics, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much they hold up. I know, shocking.
Sure, it’s not like you can play this in 8K on the PS5, but, for a game that came out in 1995, it’s pretty solid.
If I had to fault anything, it would just be the horrible synching of the words to the movement of Putt-Putt’s mouth. But, at the end of the day, he’s a talking car…so, what are you going to do?
Speaking of nostalgic games, I’m definitely in the mood to play SingStar right now.