Sheep, Dog 'n' Wolf

Sheep, Dog 'n' Wolf
Developer(s)	Infogrames
Publisher(s)	Infogrames
Designer(s)	Hervé Sliwa
Platform(s)	PC (Windows), PlayStation
Release	2001
Genre(s)	Platformer
Mode(s)	Single player

Sheep, Dog, 'n' Wolf (North American PlayStation title: Sheep Raider™) is a platform style game/stealth style game for PlayStation and Microsoft Windows, developed by Infogrames™ in France. Unlike a standard platformer, the game incorporates stealth and strategy.

The game is based on the popular Warner Bros. series of cartoons Sam Sheepdog™ and Ralph Wolf™. Controlling Ralph Wolf, the player must steal Sam Sheep-dog's sheep while navigating through a series of levels including two secret levels and a Bonus level.

Plot

After another failed attempt at stealing a sheep from Sam Sheepdog, Ralph Wolf returns home after his shift to relax and enjoy some television in his chair. Daffy Duck bursts in and declares that Ralph is the newest contestant on the game show "Sheep, Dog, and Wolf" or as Daffy likes to call it, "Who Wants to Be a Sheep Stealer". Daffy drives Ralph to Acme Town where the game will take place, telling him not to screw up as his performance reflects on Daffy. During a training session, Daffy explains the rules of the game which are that Ralph will be provided with numerous Acme products that can be used to formulate a plan to steal Sam's sheep who must be placed in a designated goal (marked by a white circle) alongside Ralph perfectly unharmed.

Ralph is then let loose in different environments to steal Sam's flock from him one sheep at a time assisted by Daffy who appears in different theme appropriate disguises. Several of the levels are based on classic Looney Tunes cartoons such as the level based on Chuck Jones famous hunting trilogy or a stage based on the backdrop of Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner shorts. During a later level, one of the goals is painted on a pirate ship's sail. Ralph uses a cannon to launch the sheep up to the goal and accidentally into outer space. The sail is ripped off the mast and surrounds Ralph which means that this scenario did not violate the rules for both the sheep and the wolf had been within the boundary of the goal. Ralph then continues to steal Sam's last remaining sheep and returns to the studio as the winner of the game.

Marvin the Martian crashes through the studio ceiling and informs Ralph that the sheep he launched into space crash landed on Planet X and released an army of Marvin's Instant Martians. Marvin has already captured most of the army but there are still a group of ten who have managed to isolate themselves in dangerous locations. Marvin has his sidekick and pet dog K-9 grab Ralph and the three fly back to Planet X. Marvin provides Ralph with the necessary Martian catching equipment and he goes off to capture the remaining ten Martians, knowing that without doing so, Marvin will not return him to Earth. After facing several dangers, Ralph succeeds in trapping the last of the Martians and Marvin gladly returns him and the sheep to his home.

Ralph takes the sheep inside and finds there is a lucky goal painted in the middle of the floor. He carries the sheep into the goal where it reveals itself to be none other than Sam who is about to beat Ralph for thieving his flock. It is at that moment that Ralph's alarm clock rings and he awakes in his chair, meaning that the events of the game were all a dream. Ralph then walks outside and meets Sam at the time clock ready to start another day of work.

Gameplay

The goal of each level is to steal a set number of sheep from Sam Sheepdog's flock without him noticing and escort it to a marked area. Ralph is able to jump, tiptoe as to not make noise, and dash in case he needs to escape from danger. To aid Ralph in obtaining the sheep, Ralph can mail order various gadgets from Acme, such as rocket packs and dynamite. Certain items can be combined; for example, a fan can be used on a bottle of perfume to have its scent attract one of the sheep from afar. Ralph can also collect lettuces to lure the sheep towards places where Ralph is unable to carry them, such as on a weak bridge. When approaching Sam, an icon shows up in the corner of the screen, showing that Ralph is in Sam's area. Sam's face shows where Sam's line of sight is, with the centre position looking in Ralph's direction. Whilst it is green, Sam is unable to see or hear Ralph. Whilst it is orange, Sam will be able to hear Ralph if he makes too much noise, and see him if he is not hidden in a bush or behind something. If Sam spots Ralph, the icon will turn red and Sam will chase Ralph until he catches and punishes him, or Ralph escapes from his area. Each level also has a hidden clock in machine to earn bonuses.

Characters

Ralph Wolf

Ralph has been trying to steal sheep for years, but he has constantly been foiled by Sam Sheep Dog. He bears a striking resemblance to Wile E. Coyote. Ralph is invited onto Daffy Duck's TV game show, where the aim of the game is to steal Sam's entire flock.

Daffy Duck

Daffy is the host of the game show Sheep, Dog 'n' Wolf. He also acts as the player's guide throughout the game, appearing in numerous disguises. He admits that he is only involved with the show until he becomes a super star. His motivations for assisting Ralph are less than noble as he knows since he found and trained Ralph, a bad performance from him will most likely lead to Daffy being fired.

Sam Sheepdog

Sam Sheepdog is Ralph Wolf's main enemy in the game, as the objective is to steal sheep from the flock which he is guarding constantly. As his sheep continue to disappear, his vigilance increases causing further difficulty for the player.

Sheep

Rather slow-witted, they tend to graze continuously, until they are attracted by something, usually lettuce or strong smells. As per rules of the game show, none of the sheep are harmed or eaten by Ralph Wolf.

Minor characters

• Road Runner - Appears in the training area as the player learns to use the running ability. He returns in the penultimate level to stop Ralph from catching a train containing Sam's last sheep.
• Porky Pig - Porky plays the role of a farmer. He provides the Ralph with lettuce and informs him on the ways it can be used to attract Sam's sheep.
• Elmer Fudd - A rabbit hunter who tries to hunt Ralph when disguised in a Bugs Bunny costume. Daffy becomes involved when he believes Ralph to be the real Bugs Bunny as well and tries to trick Elmer into shooting Ralph.
• Yosemite Sam - Short-tempered Texan appearing in a pirate costume ala Bugs Bunny: Lost in Time. He mistakenly assumes that Ralph is after the treasure he and his crew seek. His short temper and love of gold ends him up in jail.
• Marvin the Martian - Visits the Earth from Planet X to make Ralph clean up the mess he made from launching a sheep into space and knocking over a case of dehydrated Instant Martians who infest his lab.
• Toro the Bull - A bull found in various stages of the game, he will charge at Ralph if he is awoken from his sleep. When faced with the color red, Toro will start a mad charging frenzy making Gossamer the monster a particularly unfortunate foe.
• Gerry the Sneezing Dragon - A dragon from the distant past with an unfortunate illness. When Ralph uses the Acme Magical Chronometer to visit Gerry's time, Gerry drives Ralph away with his dangerous fiery sneezes. He is brought back to Ralph's time and is attacked by Sam for coming to close to Sam's flock of sheep.
• Gossamer - The game's only boss. Trapped in the distant past with Gerry the Sneezing Dragon, he wanted to befriend Ralph who brought him back to the present and used him to distract Toro the bull. After being brutally rammed by Toro, Gossamer tried to get revenge by cornering Ralph in the castle of a later stage. Also, if you look closely, he appears in the studio audience.
• K-9 - Marvin's loyal canine sidekick. He appears in the cutscene before the final level, where he picks up Ralph with a mechanical claw and takes him into the spaceship.
• Bugs Bunny - Although Bugs does not appear in person during most of the game, Ralph can wear a Bugs Bunny costume although this is not a good idea during rabbit season. He does appear in a painting in level 10 and in the studio audience in a cameo.
• Taz - Makes a cameo appearance in the credits, where he has his own 3D model.
• She-Devil - Taz's wife appears as a member of the studio audience.
• Foghorn Leghorn - Appears as a member of the studio audience.
• Witch Hazel - Appears as a member of the studio audience.
• Rocky - Appears as a member of the studio audience. Also if you look closely, you can see he has Tweety on his hand.
• Granny - Appears as a member of the studio audience and also makes a cameo appearance in a hot air balloon with Sylvester in level 3.
• Sylvester - Appears as a member of the studio audience and also makes a cameo appearance in a hot air balloon with Granny in level 3.
• Hector the Bulldog - Appears as a member of the studio audience.
• Speedy Gonzales - Appears as a member of the studio audience.

Cast

• Joe Alaskey - Daffy Duck, Gossamer, Marvin the Martian, Phantom
• Bob Bergen - Porky Pig
• Greg Burson - Elmer Fudd, Phantom
• Maurice LaMarche - Yosemite Sam

Reception

Official UK PlayStation Magazine gave the game high praise, with a 9/10 score, and summarised it like so: "Has adventure, puzzles and comedy visuals galore. A brilliant must-buy classic."