Play The Tick Online

I picked up The Tick for the Sega Genesis back in 1994, a game developed by Software Creations. It was one of those licensed titles that came out during the 16-bit era, based on the comic book and cartoon about the absurd, nigh-invulnerable superhero. It didn't get a ton of attention, but it had a certain charm if you were into beat 'em ups with a weird sense of humor.

You control The Tick, moving through levels screen by screen, punching and throwing an endless supply of ninjas, robots, and other odd villains. Your main goal is to rescue Arthur, your moth sidekick, who gets captured at the start. The gameplay mixes standard brawling with some interactive environments; you can pick up and throw objects like mailboxes or villains themselves. The perspective shifts between side-scrolling and an awkward pseudo-3D view during certain sections, which can be disorienting. The pacing is frantic, and the difficulty spikes in places, but there's a goofy satisfaction in plowing through waves of enemies with exaggerated super moves. It feels chaotic and silly, like you're playing through a Saturday morning cartoon where anything can happen.