Tom vs. Jerry: The Chase is On! (also known as Tom & Jerry 2 or Tom vs. Jerry) is an unreleased game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It was published by Hi-Tech Expressions and developed by Software Creations Ltd at 1995.
Development and Cancellation[]
During its development, the game was known externally as Tom & Jerry 2, though it is unclear if it was a working title or if it was meant to be the direct sequel to Hi-Tech Expressions' Tom & Jerry, developed by a different studio, Riedel Software Productions, and released for the Super Nintendo in 1992. While the 1992 game was a traditional platformer, The Chase is On was planned to be more action-oriented, with Jerry constantly having to run away from Tom as he collects all pieces of cheese available in the level, although being able to defend himself by carrying a mallet or frying pan, leading Tom to a set of mousetraps, and/or catching special pieces of cheese that grant him superpowers. According to Nintendo Fun Vision, an officially licensed German magazine focusing on Nintendo products set a release date in July 1995.
The game was quietly cancelled, likely due to Hi-Tech Expressions’ financial troubles in the mid-1990s, which led to its eventual closure in 1997.It was canceled when Ted Turner bought Hanna-Barbera in 1991 along with many other Hanna-Barbera projects being canceled. However, it's also possible that the game was canceled along with many other Hi Tech Expressions projects because of a possible company closure that same year.
Prototype[]
- In comparison to the July 11, 1994 prototype, this build contains:
- A different title screen that includes a proper title ("TOM VS JERRY THE CHASE IS ON!" instead of simply "TOM & JERRY"), a trademark symbol, and a high score count. The title screen also lacks the animation test for Tom that was featured in the earlier prototype.
- Gameplay demos after the title screen.
- Level intro title cards.
- The score count is gray in this prototype whereas it's red in the earlier prototype.
- The heart icons that indicate health are closer together in this prototype.
- More, shorter levels, but with many segments.
- The level concludes when Jerry reaches the end of the level.
Notes[]
- Tom & Jerry’s sprite animations make references to several classic shorts, most notably the 1947 short Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Mouse, where a muscular Jerry grabs Tom by the tail and slams him against the floor repeatedly.
- The sprite animation where Tom breaks the fourth wall and closes down a black curtain after catching Jerry might be a reference to 1955’s Southbound Duckling, a short notable for being one of the very few that ends with Tom emerging victorious over Jerry.
- Vince Desi, who worked on the game at Software Creations, claims that the game was cancelled due to Ted Turner buying Hanna-Barbera in 1991, leading to the cancellation of several Hanna-Barbera-related projects. This statement is inaccurate because, despite William Hanna and Joseph Barbera being the creators of Tom & Jerry, Metro Goldwyn Mayer was the rights holder of the characters after the duo left the studio to form their own. Ted Turner bought the rights of Tom & Jerry from MGM, as well as most of the studio’s film and television library, in 1986, five years before Ted Turner’s acquisition of Hanna-Barbera Productions. Desi might think of Time Warner's acquisition of Turner Broadcasting System Inc., which owned both Hanna-Barbera and Turner Entertainment Co. (this led to all video games rights from properties of both companies to be managed under Warner Bros. Interactive). This however happened on October 10th, 1996, more than a year after Hi-Tech Expressions quit the video game market and a few months before the company closed its doors.
Sources[]
- https://lostmediawiki.com/Tom_vs._Jerry:_The_Chase_is_On!_(found_prototypes_of_unreleased_Super_Nintendo_action-platformer;_1994-1995)
- https://archive.org/details/tom-vs-jerry-later-proto-cartjpg
- https://hiddenpalace.org/Tom_vs._Jerry:_The_Chase_is_On!_(Jul_11,_1994_prototype)
- https://tcrf.net/Tom_vs._Jerry:_The_Chase_is_On!