"AUEHHH?"
1994 licensed Platform Game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, based on the sitcom Home Improvement. A Sega Genesis version was planned, but never released.
Tim Taylor's Tool Time is going pretty well, but just as Tim is about to unveil the new Binford ultra power tool line named after him, the Binford-Taylor Turbo Power Tool Line, he discovers they are missing, with a mysterious note left by the thief challenging Tim to find the power tools. So the mission is on. With power tools in hand, it's up to Tim to explore different film sets around the studio, recover the missing power tools, and save his show.
Power Tool Pursuit! is a 2D platformer. You play as Tim "The Toolman" Taylor as he explores different studio sets, fending off enemies and other dangerous foes with his multitude of tool weaponry. Tim's greatest attribute is his tool arsenal: He can use nail guns, blowtorches, jackhammers, hammers, electric rail guns, and more. Each tool/weapon has its own particular function, like busting through walls or striking smaller enemies. The mission of each stage is to find five crates, with contain missing pieces of the power tools. Levels are very large and spacious with lots of nooks and crannies.
Power Tool Pursuit! contains examples of:
- Big Boo's Haunt: The third set is a haunted castle/horror movie set complete with ghosts and other creepy crawlies.
- Build Like an Egyptian: The second set is an Egyptian desert setting.
- Chainsaw Good: One of Tim's special weapons. It's so good, it also functions as a Laser Blade.
- Death Is a Slap on the Wrist: You have infinite continues.
Be thankful for that. - Excuse Plot: A mysterious thief has stolen Tim's power tools, and he has to travel through several massive, improbably realistic TV show sets filled with deadly, improbably realistic animatronics to find them. Per Arne of Encyclopedia Obscura noted that the story wouldn't have been that much more fantastical had the creators simply done what they apparently really wanted to and just sent Tim on an actual journey through time and space.
- Genre Savvy: When Tim discovers the power tools are missing, he immediately suspects Al of hiding them. While technically true, he didn't act alone...
- Guide Dang It!: Don't know what to do or where to go in this game? Too bad. Figure it out yourself, because the "instruction booklet" sure isn't telling you.
- Hints Are for Losers: The game infamously came with an "instruction manual" with a fake sticker plastered over saying "REAL MEN DON'T NEED INSTRUCTIONS". At least it also says that if you really do need instructions to look at the blueprint poster also included with the game for hints.
- Hit Points: Similar to the Sonic games, Tim doesn't have a typical life meter. Taking a hit causes him to lose whatever nuts and bolts he has, only losing a life when he takes a hit while he has none. He can grab them back if he's quick enough.
- Leitmotif: The Home Improvement theme song makes its appearance here, and parts of it are referenced in different forms throughout the game's soundtrack.
- Macguffin: The missing power tools.
- Practical Joke: The mysterious power tool thief? It was all an elaborate prank on Tim done by Al. Brad, Randy and Mark were also in on the gag.
- Prehistoria: The first set. Complete with fierce dinosaurs.
- Rule of Cool: Tim Taylor battling dinosaurs with laser blade chainsaws and blowtorch flamethrowers. Yes.
- "Shaggy Dog" Story: So, Tim successfully recovers the missing tools and finds the culprit, but the Tool Time show reaches its conclusion before he can show them off. And the game ends.
- Studiopolis: Each level in the game takes place on a stage for a different TV show.
- Sword Beam: The chainsaw weapon fires beams of energy.
- Timed Mission: All levels have a time limit.
- Tim Taylor Technology: Very much in line with the show, the power tools Tim uses are standard, but with MORE POWER, making them effective weapons, like a chainsaw that fire sword beams, a blowtorch that is a flamethrower, and electrical wiring that is also a Rail Gun.
- Tomorrow Land: The fourth and final set has Tim exploring a futuristic setting on the moon.
- Triumphant Reprise: An upbeat and heroic version of the Home Improvement theme plays whenever Tim clears a level.
- Utility Weapon: Inverted. Tim's tools naturally have utility, but they also function as powerful weaponry.
- Video Game Flamethrowers Suck: Averted. The blowtorch weapon is very powerful, with the added bonus of spreading flames outward that also damage enemies.
