video game released in 1992 by Codemasters for the Nintendo Entertainment System. A remake of the game, retitled Cosmic Spacehead, was released in 1993 for Amiga, MS-DOS, Game Gear, Master System, and Genesis. The game features adventure elements, with locations connected by platform sections.

The game is the sequel to Linus Spacehead, which was released exclusively as part of the compilation Quattro Adventure.

Plot

Linus is an alien from the planet Linoleum who crashed into the legendary planet Earth. After returning home and expecting a hero’s welcome, Linus soon found his fellow Linomen were skeptical of the existence of the so-called “planet Earth” and decides to return to it, this time with a camera. However, he has no money (Linoleum currency is the Linobuck), and must adventure around the planet to acquire a vehicle and a camera. In his adventures, Linus leaves Linoleum (using a fake ID for Larry Flynt to compete in a bumper car contest), quashes a robot revolution in Detroitica and gets gas from an abandoned space station.

Gameplay

The game is similar to prior titles such as Maniac Mansion (1987) and later titles such as Day of the Tentacle (1993), being an adventure game in which items must be collected and later used in specific locations in order to progress. The player’s character is directed during much of the game with the use of a cursor and written commands. It also includes numerous short platforming sections, as well as other mini-games and puzzles.

Each major location of Planet Linoleum has a teleporting device, which can be activated using a card. However, they often leave Linus with a side-effect, required to complete a puzzle. To travel between adventure sections, Linus goes through arcade sections, where he has to reach the other side of the level, avoiding free falls, enemies and collecting Cosmic candy at the same time (after collecting 10, an extra life is added). Linus dies upon contact with enemies, so instead of speed-running (which can be done, since the levels are small), it may be more advisable to learn his foes’ movement patterns and wait for a safe opening. This is particularly true in NES Linus Spacehead’s Cosmic Crusade, where Linus cannot change direction in mid-jump. Passwords are scattered at key locations.