Happy Tree Friends: False Alarm

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Happy Tree Friends: False Alarm
DateJune 25, 2008[1]
DeveloperStainless Games Ltd.
PublisherSega
PlatformWindows
Xbox 360
GenreAction


Happy Tree Friends: False Alarm was a Happy Tree Friends video game released for Windows via Steam and Xbox via Xbox LIVE Arcade, developed by Stainless Games Ltd. and published by Sega. False Alarm is a puzzle-oriented action game and the first and only Happy Tree Friends video game to utilize 3D models instead of only 2D sprites. It is no longer available to download legitimately from either distribution.

False Alarm features a Happy Tree Friends short movie that is first played upon accessing Story Mode for the first time. However, the movie ends halfway through. As the game explains, the player has to complete all 10 zones and earn at least one Gold Award in the junkyard zone in order to unlock the rest of the movie.

The full game cost $19.99 or 800 Microsoft Points, but a trial version was available that lasted up to 2 hours.

Gameplay

The message after viewing the included movie for the first time.
False Alarm gameplay featuring Flippy, Flaky, Mole, Russell, and Giggles.

False Alarm can be played with either keyboard and mouse or an Xbox 360 controller. The player is represented by Lumpy, while 5 out of 8 Happy Tree Friends characters appear in a level as victims that need to be rescued. The Happy Tree Friends move automatically towards the destination located at the end of a level. However, obstacles can impede or outright kill them. The player, however, has four abilities that can be used to manipulate either the level environment or the Happy Tree Friends' movement:

  • Water: Freezes Happy Tree Friends to stop them from moving. Holding down the use button while the Happy Tree Friends are close together will freeze the group entirely. This ability can also put out fires, temporarily block off vents, and freeze certain objects to prevent danger.
  • Nitro: Thaws out frozen Happy Tree Friends and destroys certain objects. Holding down the use button will increase its blast radius.
  • Fire: Scares off Happy Tree Friends to make them run temporarily. This ability can also be used to burn down certain objects.
  • Action: Used to interact with pumps, switches, levers, or handles.

In a level, the player controls a colored reticle (nicknamed "rescuer aim") on the screen and the camera. The reticle is used to point at any part of the level, but if a suitable ability is used, an object can be affected. This is indicated by the reticle pulsing. The reticle's color depends on the ability currently selected, so a blue reticle means the player currently has the Water ability active, yellow is Nitro, red is Fire, and green is Action. Holding down the use button can amplify an ability's range, but this is limited by the blue gauge located on the left of Lumpy, meaning that overusing it will make the gauge take longer to recharge.

The Happy Tree Friends walk by default. Leaving them frozen or exposed to certain debilitating hazards will stop their movement. Placing Fire behind them will make them run, increasing their movement speed. The Happy Tree Friends can also collapse briefly after using a lift, swim across safe liquids, or flung off using ramps (they cannot jump on their own). However, level hazards serve as threats to the Happy Tree Friends. Most hazards will cause a Happy Tree Friend to take damage, which is reflected on their respective red gauge on the damage indicator and their 3D models showing injuries. Some slow them down temporarily (a numeric timer appears on the affected character), some stop them in their tracks as they take damage (like being electrocuted), but some kill them regardless of their remaining health (like getting cut in half). If a Happy Tree Friend falls down a pit, though, they will respawn on nearby safe ground. The damage indicators on the HUD also change depending on the current state of the Happy Tree Friends. For example, a frozen over indicator means a Happy Tree Friend is currently frozen.

Every level is timed. This is tracked on the Scoreometer located on the upper right corner of the screen. It has three segments which determine the Award earned from clearing the level, going from Gold, to Silver, and then to Bronze. The Scoreometer goes down steadily, but it can be brought back up if a Happy Tree Friend successfully arrives at the end of the level. On the other hand, the Scoreometer is reduced significantly if a Happy Tree Friend is dead.

After a level clear, score is calculated based on the Happy Tree Friends saved multiplied by 5 (Rescue Multiplier) plus an additional multiplier depending on the Award attained (x3 for Gold, x2 for Silver, x1 for Bronze). Score from all levels are cumulated as Career Score.

Controls

On mouse and keyboard, the controls are as follows:

  • Mouse: Move reticle.
  • A or left arrow key: Move camera to the left.
  • D or right arrow key: Move camera to the right.
  • Left mouse button: Use ability.
  • Right mouse button or mouse wheel: Switch abilities. Selection cycle is done in a clockwise manner.

Gallery

References