Mr. Nutz
A platform game starring an anthropomorphic red squirrel.
Mr. Nutz is a 2D side-scrolling platformer from Ocean Software. It first appeared on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in Europe near the end of 1993, then in North America and Japan the following year. In 1994, it also became Ocean’s debut title for the Sega Mega Drive, and a Game Boy version arrived that same year. Later releases included a Sega Channel version in 1995, a Game Boy Color port in 1999, and a Game Boy Advance remake in 2001.
Players control a single character: Mr. Nutz, an anthropomorphic red squirrel. The game has six themed levels, and the goal is to stop Mr. Blizzard, a yeti who wants to freeze the world with his magic. Nuts serve as ammunition; the player can collect them and throw them at enemies.
Ocean had originally planned an Amiga version. When that conversion was shelved, the company released a different Amiga game in 1994 called *Mr. Nutz: Hoppin’ Mad*. Developed by Neon Studios, it kept the same squirrel character but offered faster, more open gameplay, unrelated levels and enemies, a different story, and a large overworld map instead of a linear mini-map path. *Hoppin’ Mad* was also planned for the Sega Mega Drive in 1995 as *Mr. Nutz 2*, but that project was canceled. A playable build exists, having leaked as source code and later compiled.
**Gameplay**
Mr. Nutz can run, jump, swim in certain levels, and pick up items. He can defeat most enemies by jumping on them, hitting them with his tail, or throwing collected nuts. Bosses are an exception—most other enemies go down in one hit. Contact with hazards or enemies that aren’t fully defeated costs one health unit, followed by a few seconds of invulnerability while the character sprite flashes. No version has a time limit; players can take as long as they like on each level, though some versions award bonus points for finishing quickly. Coins found in levels give points and bonuses during play, and the total collected determines the end-of-level completion bonus. Coins, health, and extra lives are often hidden.
The player starts with a set number of lives and health units, which vary by difficulty and port. Losing all health costs one life, and the player restarts at the beginning of the current journey. After all lives are gone, the player can accept a game over or continue, but must restart from the first journey of the current stage with default lives and health, and
- First release
- 1993 (Super NES, Europe)
- Publisher
- Ocean Software
- Platforms
- Super NES, Mega Drive, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Sega Channel
- Genre
- 2D side-scrolling platform
- Character designer
- Philippe Dessoly
- Programmer
- Pierre Adane
Lore & Background
The game was conceived by character designer Philippe Dessoly and programmer Pierre Adane after the closure of Ocean France in 1990. Dessoly initially considered a turtle or parrot for the protagonist, but his wife suggested a squirrel. The working title was Squirrel's Game, later changed to Mr. Nuts, which was deemed too pejorative and vague, finally becoming Mr. Nutz. Development took 18 months for the Super NES version and 6 months for the Mega Drive version. Some levels, such as a water stage, were removed from the final version but later included as bonus levels in the Game Boy Advance remake.
The player controls Mr. Nutz, an anthropomorphic red squirrel, through six themed levels to stop Mr. Blizzard, a yeti using magic to turn the world into ice. Mr. Nutz can run, jump, swim in some levels, and collect nuts to throw at enemies. Most enemies can be killed with one strike, and contact with hazards results in losing health with brief invulnerability. No version has a time limit, but some reward bonus points for quick completion. Coins collected determine the level completion bonus. The player starts with limited lives and health, varying by difficulty and port. Losing all health costs a life and restarts the current journey; after all lives are lost, the player may continue but restart with default stats. Passwords are available in all versions except the original Super NES version.
Ocean originally planned an Amiga release but shelved it, instead releasing a different game in 1994 for the Amiga under the name Mr. Nutz: Hoppin' Mad. Developed by Neon Studios, it featured the same character but different, faster gameplay, unrelated levels and enemies, another story, and a large overworld map. Hoppin' Mad was intended for the Sega Mega Drive in 1995 as Mr. Nutz 2 but was shelved; a playable build exists, leaked as source code and compiled.
Reader's Guide
Mr. Nutz holds significance as Ocean Software's first Sega game and as a cross-platform title that appeared on numerous systems from the Super NES to the Game Boy Advance. Its development history illustrates the shift from personal computers to consoles due to piracy and profitability concerns. The game received mixed to positive reception: SNES N-Force gave it 90%, praising controls and graphics likened to a good children's book, while GamePro commended the parallax scrolling and backgrounds but found the gameplay uninteresting. The Super NES version won 'Best Platform Game' for 1993 by Consoles + magazine. The character's legacy extends to a video game developer named Mr. Nutz Studio. The unreleased Mr. Nutz 2 and the Amiga spin-off Hoppin' Mad add to the game's lore, with a leaked playable build of the sequel preserved by enthusiasts.
Did You Know?
- The working title for Mr. Nutz was Squirrel's Game, later changed from Mr. Nuts because it was considered too pejorative and vague.
- The Game Boy Advance remake includes bonus levels that were removed from the original Super NES version, such as a water stage.
- A different game called Mr. Nutz: Hoppin' Mad was released for the Amiga in 1994, featuring the same character but different gameplay and story.
- A playable build of the shelved Mr. Nutz 2 for the Sega Mega Drive exists, leaked as source code and compiled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mr. Nutz?
Mr. Nutz is an anthropomorphic red squirrel who serves as the sole playable character in a 2D side-scrolling platformer published by Ocean Software. The character was designed by Philippe Dessoly and first appeared in a 1993 Super NES title.
What is the objective in Mr. Nutz?
The player guides Mr. Nutz through six themed levels with the goal of stopping the antagonist Mr. Blizzard. The gameplay follows a classic side-scrolling platformer format.
What platforms was Mr. Nutz released on?
The game launched on the Super Nintendo in Europe in late 1993, then expanded to the Sega Mega Drive, Game Boy, Sega Channel, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance between 1994 and 2001.
Who made Mr. Nutz?
Ocean Software published the title, with Philippe Dessoly credited as the character designer and Pierre Adane as the programmer.
When did Mr. Nutz first come out?
The game debuted in Europe on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System near the end of 1993, with North American and Japanese releases following in 1994.
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