Cheetahmen II (USA) (Unl)

Cheetahmen II is an action-platformer game for the NES, notable not for its quality but for its troubled development history and the fact that it was never officially released. Players control one of the members of the Cheetahmen team, mutated beings with combat abilities. The main objective is to navigate through levels, defeat enemies, and confront bosses.

A unique aspect of the game is the ability to switch between different Cheetahmen characters, each possessing distinct attack or movement abilities. For example, characters can punch, kick, or use some pick-up weapons. However, this feature is often limited due to game bugs and instability. Enemies include various monsters and robots, appearing scattered throughout the levels.

Level design is often simple, repetitive, and lacks variety. There are obstacles to overcome by jumping, but the control system is often imprecise and frustrating, making movement difficult. Levels often lack clear save points or checkpoints, adding to the unwanted difficulty.

As an unfinished game, Cheetahmen II contains numerous severe technical flaws. This includes characters getting stuck in terrain, graphical glitches, choppy audio, and even sudden game crashes. Many levels are impossible to complete or can only be partially played due to critical errors preventing players from progressing.

Playing Cheetahmen II is generally a frustrating and disappointing experience. However, it is precisely this "brokenness" that gives it a strange appeal, making it a prime example of what can happen when a game project is abandoned. It is not a game designed for entertainment but rather a historical artifact of game development failure. Players explore it primarily for its curiosity and the collector's value of such a rare and never-officially-released title.