Glover (game)

*This article is for the Nintendo 64, Windows, and Steam release of the game. For the Playstation version, read Glover (Playstation).*

## Basic Information

### Developer:

Interactive Studios (N64, Windows)
Piko Interactive (Steam)

### Platform(s):

Nintendo 64
Windows (98+)
Mac
Steam Deck
**Upcoming:**
Nintendo Switch
Xbox One
Xbox Series X/S
*Playstation 4 & Playstation 5* (possibly)

### Release date:

**Nintendo 64, Windows:**NA: November 16th, 1998
EU: November 24th, 1998
**Steam:**
April 20th, 2022
**NS, PS4, PS5, XBO, XX/S**:
TBA

### Game modes:

Main Game
Practice
Time Trial

**Glover** is the first (& technically last,) game in the Glover franchise. It debuts Glover, Glovel/Cross-Stitch, The Wizard, and many more. The game follows Glover as he goes through different levels to retrieve the castle crystals, which protected the castle from any danger, after his body, The Wizard, falls down from the events following "The Accident."

## Gameplay

Players control a magical hand known as Glover, to complete the game's main objective. The objective of the game is to maneuver the ball to the goal of a stage, and once completing all 3 stages, fights a boss. When completed however, a crystal is returned to the castle. This is all said easily, but how is it done? Glover has multiple abilities to use, such as running, jumping, and even slamming his face on the ground. Glover also has the abilities to cartwheel, crawl, and cast spells, which are all very useful abilities in the adventure.

When in contact with the ball, Glover is able to collect Garibs, card like objects littered throughout levels. The ball is able to do many moves, mainly bouncing up and down, and being able to be thrown at a distance. Glover is also able to jump on his ball to walk on it, however the controls are in reverse when on top of the ball trying to traverse the level (unless easy mode is selected).

### Controlling Glover

*Transcript taken from the Glover manual for the Nintendo 64.*

* **Control Stick: Tiptoe/Walk/Run**
	+ Use the Control Stick to move Glover. The farther you tilt the Control Stick away from the center, the faster Glover will move.
* **A button: Regular Jump**
	+ Press A once to jump.
	+ **Double Jump:**
		- A + A makes glover jump higher. To jump extra high, wait until Glover is at the top of his first jump, then press A again.
* **B Button: Location ball/Next level:**
	+ Hold B to make Glover point to the location of the ball (which is very helpful if you've lost it). This can also show you which level or levels are open for you to explore.
	+ **Grab ball:**
		- Tap B when Glover is next to the ball. This makes him grab it (which is extremely useful if the ball is on the edge of a platform).
* **Z Button: Cartwheel:**
	+ Tap Z to make Glover do a cartwheel. Use the Control Stick to seer him. This is useful for negotiating narrow gaps.
	+ **Crawl:**
		- Hold Z to make Glover lay flat. Use the Control Stick to move him in this position.
		- **Fist slam:**
			* Press A then Z to make Glover jump into the air, turn into a fist, and slam down. Use the fist slam to destroy or stun certain enemies, or to activate certain switches.
* **R button: Locate Garib/Cast Spell:**
	+ Press R to locate the near Garib, or to cast a spell. To cast a spell you must pick up an appropriate power-up.

**Note: "Locate Garib" is only available in Easy mode.**

### With the Ball...

* **Control Stick: Maneuvering while holding the ball:**
	+ When Glover encounters the ball, he will automatically grab it. Use the Control Stick to maneuver Glover and the ball in the same way that you control Glover without the ball. Important! You may combine moves. For example, when bouncing the ball, use the Control Stick to control the direction in which you bounce.
	+ **Maneuvering while standing on the ball:**
		- You can make Glover jump up on top of the ball by jumping onto it, and use it to maneuver over water or land. You can also press the left shoulder button to make Glover hop on top of the ball, if he is holding it. Important! The direction controls are reversed while on top of the ball (unless you are playing in Easy mode).
* **A button: Lob Ball:**
	+ Tap A to make Glover lob the ball almost straight up. This is great for throwing the ball on to high platforms or checkpoints that are close.
	+ **Slap Ball:**
		- Hold A + Control Stick to make Glover slap the ball in the direction you hold the Control Stick. You will see a dotted line indicating where the ball will land. Let go of A to release the ball. The slap makes the ball go further than the throw but it also bounces further. When combined with the bowling ball, you can stun certain enemies, and even break walls.
		- HINT: When aiming the ball, be sure to hold the Control Stick in the direction you wish for the ball to go to.
		- **Trampoline Ball:**
			* When standing on the ball, hold A to make Glover use the ball as a trampoline and jump higher and higher.
* **B button: Throw ball:**
	+ Hold B + Control Stick to make Glover throw the ball in the direction that you cold the Control Stick. You will see a dotted line indicating where the ball will land. Let for of B to release the ball. The throw makes the ball go higher than the slap. This works great for ball and target switches.
	+ HINT: When aiming the ball be sure to hold the Control Stick in the direction you wish for the ball to go. You can aim extremely accurately using this method.

## Plot

The story takes place in a magical land known as the Crystal Kingdom. Inside of the center of the kingdom, holds The Castle, where The Wizard makes potions for any type of purpose he needs it. One day, an event known as "The Accident" would appear. The Wizard accidentally mixes the wrong potions into one big potion, causing an explosion. The explosion sent his magic hands off of his arms, those magic hands being Glover, and Glovel. Glover falls out of the windows of the castle, but Glovel wasn't too lucky, and falls into the explosive potion made by The Wizard moments earlier.

Glover lands safely on the ground, and finds that with Glovel's new evil form, Cross-Stitch, he had so much power, that he took away the castle crystals, which were the life force of the kingdom! When Glover finds this, he quickly turns all of the Crystals into Balls so they do not shatter on impact. What happens though comes to Glover's surprise, they all fall into six differently colored shed-like shelters which all lead to different Realms. Glover quickly runs into these sheds so he can save both the Crystals, and The Wizard.

One crystal managed to fall outside of these sheds, though. Glover uses that lucky ball to traverse through the first level, the Atlantis Realm. When entering the first shed, he finds himself in a different part of the kingdom! Though, unfortunately for him, the Atlantis Realm has been infested with evil creatures, and different Garibs that he has to collect. As he goes through the Atlantis Realm, he meets Cross-Stitch, who summons 3 unnamed fish, nicknamed Triple Treat, to stop Glover from recovering the kingdom's life force. When defeated, Glover has recovered the first ball, and travels to the next Realm.

Glover keeps traveling through different realms, such as the Carnival Realm, the Pirates Realm, and more. Collecting Garibs, and defeating enemies, until he collects all of the stolen crystals, and has to stop the evil Cross-Stitch. Glover locates Cross-Stitch's castle, and tries to face him up-front. Cross-Stitch came prepared though, and had machinery to help him defeat his brother. His first machine is a walking mech, which could shoot missiles to Glover, but it failed very fast. After that broke, he did not want to give up though, and went into his second, and last machine, which is airborne. For Glover to reach Cross-Stitch, he must climb up his castle and get an aircraft of his own, and after doing so, he shoots the crystals he has collected to Cross-Stitch, which defeats him in the process.

After collecting the true final Crystal from Cross-Stitch's castle, he returns to The Wizard to save him, and reunite both hand, and human. After this happens, Cross-Stitch falls from no where in font of The Wizard, and starts to run away, but is quickly stopped by Glover's powers, which stunned, and turned Glovel back to normal, ending the game.

## Levels & Environments

* Atlantis Realm (Realm One)
	+ A beach & water like area.
* Carnival Realm (Realm Two)
	+ A stage taking the setting of a carnival.
* Pirates Realm (Realm Three)
	+ A setting that takes place on a pirate ship at sea.
* Prehistoric Realm (Realm Four)
	+ A realm that takes place in prehistoric times.
* Fortress of Fear Realm (Realm Five)
	+ This Realm features Glover inside of the Fortress of Fear.
* Out Of This World Realm (Realm Six; Final Realm)
	+ The Final Realm, which features a Realm that is "out of this world"

## Characters

* Glover (playable)
* Cross-Stitch (main antagonist; Realm 6 boss)
* Triple Treat (Realm 1 boss)
* Big Clown (Realm 2 boss)
* Swinging Monkey (Realm 3 boss)
* Dinosaur (Realm 4 boss)
* Frankenstein (Realm 5 boss)
* Glovel (brief-cameo)
* The Wizard (kidnapped)

## Reception

### Aggregate Score

* **Aggregator:** GameRankings
	+ Score: 70%

### Review scores

* **Publications:**
	+ Edge: 7/10
	+ GameSpot: 5.1/10
	+ IGN: 8.3/10
	+ N64 Magazine: 83%
	+ Next Generation: 3/5
	+ PC Zone: 67%

## Development

Although not much is known about the early stages of development, the earliest known update on Glover was seen as E3 1998, and after, it was reported to be 60% done. It can be assumed that Glover was 50 or 55% done at the time of E3 1998, though. In October, which was 2 months after the game's original reveal, it was then reported to be 70% done.

Currently, the E3 trailer for Glover is not on YouTube, but multiple prototypes of the game around the time it was being presented at E3 have been released online for people to play. Files will not be provided, but the dates for these prototypes include February 5th, 1998, July 16th, 1998, and September 3rd, 1998.

## Trivia!

* Despite getting an average score of 6.9/10 by review publications, the Playstation "reboot" as some could call it got an average score of 5.3/10 after 4 reviews.

## External links

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glover\_(video\_game) - Glover on Wikipedia