Super Granny 5
Platform: Mac, Windows
Once you reach a certain age and have a certain number of cats, you become the neighborhood cat lady. What happens, though, when that poor woman is shrunk to microscopic size (along with her cats) and set loose in the back yard by a nefarious evil scientist, who also happens to be a cat? You get Super Granny 5, the fifth in the delightful Super Granny series of platformers. Poor put upon Granny must once again round up her errant kitties while trying to find a way back to her house (and full size).
If you've ever played any of the Super Granny games you know the drill: once again the kitties are scattered across an area riddled with platforms and ladders, and it's up to the intrepid senior citizen to gather them up and see them safely through the magical cat door, all the while avoiding nasty ants, spiders, bees, angry water droplets, randomly murderous vegetables, and a whole host of other enemies. Fortunately, scattered around the area are things to help the poor cat lover fight, dig, or blow up her way around the area to rescue her lost pets. Poor woman, someone is always kidnapping her cats. Once you get her age, you're supposed to be able to take it easy once in a while.
Super Granny 5 is a classic, single screen platformer. The area is composed of fixed platforms, ladders, and monkey bars that she can walk or climb to reach her needy cats. Once granny walks past a cat it will follow her faithfully, although the cats themselves cannot use the monkey bars (or, later, the teleporters) unless they are in a carrier. Simply walk towards the magic cat door and the cats will follow and leave the area, presumably to go back home for a nice relaxing cat nap. When all the cats are rescued a lovely flower will appear, allowing our intrepid retiree to leave and continue on to the next scene. Contained in the space are objects that can be collected for extra points, as well as objects that can help Granny reach otherwise unreachable areas. Control Granny with the [arrow] keys and use the [spacebar] to dig, fight, or use the extra goodies that she can pick up along the way.
Gameplay begins simply, just Granny and her cats. Eventually, though, other elements will be added to hinder the poor woman, angry enemies that will make her fall down (and, presumably, she can't get up). Loose ground (sand or dirt) can be dug to either trap enemies or allow Granny to fall through to another platform. Solid rock cannot be dug, but eventually will be breachable with such power ups as jackhammers, blowtorches, and bombs. As the game goes on all sorts of other tricky means of transportation are introduced: umbrellas and fans so that Granny can fly, floating leaves that serve as moving platforms, and plants that can be grown into extra ladders (presuming you can find the watering can to make them grow), and more. And don't think that the little old lady is helpless, aside from trapping enemies she can fight back with weapons such as baseball bats and the hilarious Super Granny handbag of doom. Is there anything more lethal than a handbag in the hands of a ticked off senior citizen? Each scene has five "lives" to allow Granny to complete the task (rescuing the kitties). Fall more than five times and the scene resets from the very beginning.
Analysis: Super Granny 5 (and all the other installments) are a throwback to the old platformers of the 80s, with their ladders, platforms and bars, simply dolled up in bright, cheerful colors and graphics. Each level can be calm and logical (simply figuring out how to collect everything) or frantic and fast (trying to avoid a host of enemies, pitfalls, acid ponds, and even snail slime). For anyone who loves platformers, this is the game for you. As the game progresses it becomes trickier and trickier, involving a lot of logical thinking combined with good reflexes as Granny races to the rescue of her furry little babies.
The visuals are beautiful, with the little animated cats, enemies, and Granny herself against a backdrop of a backyard in giant form. Each area of the backyard has its own backgrounds and hazards, keeping the game interesting. Lively music enhances the play but the best part is Granny herself, with a plethora of amusing catchphrases sprinkled amongst the action. Cut-scenes between the backyard areas fill in the story of the evil Dr. Meow and why he's shrunk our hapless Granny.
For anyone who loves this type of retro platformer, Super Granny 5 is the game for you. With over 100 levels, the ability to go back and do each level again until you've done it perfectly (and earned one of several trophies), and even a level editor to create your own insane levels, there are hours and hours and hours of fun to be had. Granted, the game appears to be aimed at the younger set, but there's a lot of casual gameplay here that can be enjoyed by anyone.
For those looking for jittery shoot-em-ups, this is perhaps not the game for you. But if you're looking for fun involving both hand-eye coordination and logic, done up in a cutesy bow, then check out Super Granny 5. Remember, don't mess with the kitties, old ladies can be tough!
Windows:
Download the demo
Get the full version
Mac OS X:
Download the demo
Get the full version
"… the kitties are scattered across an area riddled with platforms and ladders, and it's up to the intrepid senior citizen to gather them up and see them safely through the magical cat door, all the while avoiding … a whole host of … enemies. Fortunately, scattered around the area are things to help the poor cat lover fight, dig, or blow up her way around the area to rescue her lost pets. …
"… The area is composed of fixed platforms, ladders, and monkey bars that she can walk or climb to reach her needy cats. … When all the cats are rescued a lovely flower will appear, allowing our intrepid retiree to leave and continue on to the next scene. Contained in the space are … objects that can help Granny reach otherwise unreachable areas. …
Gameplay begins simply, just Granny and her cats. Eventually, though, other elements will be added to hinder the poor woman, angry enemies that will make her fall down (and, presumably, she can't get up). Loose ground (sand or dirt) can be dug to either trap enemies or allow Granny to fall through to another platform. Solid rock cannot be dug, but eventually will be breachable with such power ups as jackhammers, blowtorches, and bombs."
Sounds like a clone of Lode Runner: The Legend Returns/The Mad Monks' Revenge. From the screenshots (especially the second one), it looks like it, too.
Yep.. it's pretty much Lode Runner. With several interesting twists:
As you collect cats, they follow you around. Depending on the terrain, they can lose your trail. Getting as many as possible to follow you to the goal (at a time) increases the challenge.
There are several enemy types, who move at different speeds; some can travel on the bars; and they have different algorithms for "finding" you.
I currently can't get this to run on my Mac, but if it's like others in the series, there are multiple goals per level. The Cat Portal is in a different location than the end-of-level goal. There are flowers to collect for a bonus target. Hard-to-reach coins can be spent on upgrades. At least one game in the series has multiple Grannies which must cooperate to solve the level.
And finally, a senile old lady trying to save her kitties from dastardly villians with Mr. Magoo-like charm is much more comical than collecting gold nuggets.
I can't get enough of this series!
Although some people complained about SG5's "childish" look, this game is really quite engaging. :D
Turns out this title isn't as compelling as others in the series.. no bonus flower, no coins, no upgrades, no multiple grannies... the only new feature seems to be the "oh gee i'm small" gimmick -- which has no effect on the gameplay. On a scale of 1 to 10 I give it a Meh.
I like the "Granny" games. just got granny 5 but can't finish level 25. can't get the cat on the lower right side. Can anyone help?
I am stuck on level 2-9. There is a cat stuck in a very hard to reach area in the lower right hand side of my screen. Try as I might I just cannot seem to reach this kitten. Has anyone figure out how to yet?
Go to the left as far as you can without falling down and turn around and dig. It worked for me
Please stuck on basement level 23 I can not figure out how to get the 2 kitties on the sides with only 2 spaces wide and 2 levels deep sand as you need 3 spaces wide to get through 2 levels of sand there is no bombs or drills please help been stuck here for a week or is it a game fault
I am also stuck on basement level 23. Just can't figure out how to get out.
For level 23 "get your dig on", she doesn't always need that much room to dig in this version of Granny, while she still can "only dig in front of me dear," she can stand on the very edge of a previously dug hole or drop-off point and dig a hole. You just have to make very small movements, it's not easy, but with practice it can be done. I hope this help.
Level 26 has me crazed. Not very good memory and just can't finish it up. Any help?
Help Level 2-3 cant figure out what to do with the boxes!
I cannot save my game. I have to start over every time i open the game.
Help
I cannot save my game. I have to start over each time I open it.
Any ideas? help?
I'm stuck on 24, Breaking the Seal. I can't get the blocks into the gaps to get the kittens to the meow goal.
Danne -
This sounds like a technical problem. Contact the technical support of the vendor where you purchased the game, they may have a fix.
I have the same problem Danne. Wrote to Oberon tech support - they said play through level 6-9 and then it should start saving .... that did not work for me. I finally gave up and am waiting for a "patch/fix". Darn ... addicted to Granny since SG1. :(
I have played all of the Super Granny games and enjoyed them a lot. But I find Super Granny 5 to be frustrating. Normally I can figure my way out of or arounds most situations. But I am on level 38 and cannot figure how to get this last kittie next to the transportor on the right side. I have tried everything I can think of but I can't dig from above because of the hole that is there in the dirt and the rocks that I cannot dig through. Any ideas?
I have tried for hours to get that kitty on the far right in level 2-9. It is impossible for me.
I have been addicted to Super Granny from the first game and have them all.
I am very disappointed in Super Granny 5.
Can there be a patch made for level 2-9 to add a bomb?
im stuck on level 5-11 dont know how to get to the cats meow house can any one help PLEASE
I am stuck on level 12 in the bathroom. can anyone help me? I can't figure out how to get the crates down. i have figured out 2 of them Please help :)
Too colourful and unrealistic. I preferred the realism of the rocks and so forth in 3 and 4. I think Super Granny 3 is the best (you also don't need to go to the mouse to continue it - you can just hit the spacebar).
Hi Lora - I'm also stuck on level 2.3 with the boxes. Figured it out yet?
I am stuck on the basement level 6:Masterlocked. If you have the strategy worked out, please let me know. This is the level that is filled with locked doors.
Thanks
Level 38 - if it's the one I think, you have to dig down. I know! But move in very small increments. You can actually perch on the edge of where you want the hole and be able to dig down. It works from either side, but going left and digging to your right is easiest. This only works for places where you can't stand to the side of where you need to dig.
I need help on the first level in the basement. I evidently figured it out the first time around, but the second time I can't get past it.
I simply cannot use the "goo" to jump high enough to get the top levels. Anyone have a tip to help me?
I am stuck on level 20. Can anyone help me?
Help!! I am stuck on the "last" level of SG5..I cannot figure out how to get over to the "exit" with the kitties...do the teleporters have anything to do with it? Why are they not working? How the heck do I get over there?????
yay!! I finally figured it out...what I thought of as transporters really opened the cages AND released the billiard balls...I finally finished the level and all on the first life!! Go Granny!!
I am stuck on Level 30, Gathering Dust. Can't figure out how to get the second box over the button. Can anyone help?
I am stuck on Basement Level 12. I can't seem to figure out HOW to move the boxes, other than the very top left one. Where do I move the pool balls? Thanks
Hi! I'm stuck on level 3 - 14.
I cannot release the 3rd crate.. i've tried every combination there is but i can't figure it out.... it's the bath-room level...
please help me!
Thank you :-)
I am stuck on level 9 on super granny 5. There is no way to dig. Not enough room, whether i go righ or left not enough room.
I'm stuck on level 19 in the garden called Mulch for the win. Does anyone know how to rescue the kitties at the top of the right side? Help!
help my granny stuck in the bathroom lvl.12 crates away can anyone help me? I can't figure out how to get the crates down. i have figured out 2 of them Please help...
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