Catch 'Em

About

Catch 'Em is a quirky platformer where you play Jeff, a zookeeper who accidentally let all his primates loose. Your job is to navigate wobbly platforms and dodgy traps while herding 35 levels worth of escaped monkeys. The controls are tight but unforgiving, one slip and you’re back at the start. Each level is a puzzle of timing and precision as you avoid banana peels, spinning fans, and other hazards. The game’s 1992 DOS and Amiga release means visuals are pixelated but expressive, with animations that still feel surprisingly smooth for the era. What makes it stick around is the charm. The primates chatter and misbehave in delightfully dumb ways, and the soundtrack of 10 upbeat tunes keeps the pace light. Community archives note the 250 KB animation size was impressive for the time, pushing hardware limits with fluid character movements. While the difficulty spikes can feel harsh, the instant restarts and short level length keep frustration in check. Retro players on forums like Lemon64 cite it as a forgotten gem, with its mix of slapstick and challenge holding up better than many contemporaries.

Storyline

You play a zookeeper called Jeff, who has been careless enough to let all the primates escape from his zoo.