Basil the Great Mouse Detective
A 1987 platformer based on the Disney film.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Basil, the Great Mouse Detective is a platform action-adventure game from 1987. Bob Armour designed it, and Gremlin Graphics published it for the Amstrad CPC, Atari 8-bit computers, and Commodore 64. The game takes its story from the 1986 Disney animated film *The Great Mouse Detective*.
The player controls Basil, a mouse living in the basement of Sherlock Holmes’s famous 221b Baker Street address. The villain Professor Ratigan has kidnapped Basil’s friend Dr. Dawson, so Basil must search London for clues to find Ratigan’s lair.
Gameplay involves moving Basil from one room to another by crossing screen edges or squeezing through letter slots and holes in walls. Each location has enemies and objects. Most objects are just decoration, but each level contains at least two types of containers—bins, jars, or similar items—that Basil can search for useful items. After collecting all the evidence in a level, the player must find a previously hidden passage to the next stage. This process repeats across three levels: London’s shops and docks, the sewers, and finally Ratigan’s hideout.
Reviews were mixed but generally positive. John S. Davison in *Page 6* praised its look, sound, gameplay, and intellectual challenge for all ages. *What?* called it a lovely game with atmosphere and excitement. Adam Rigby in *The Australian Commodore and Amiga Review* said it was a good game with a refreshing plot. *Crash* noted the characters were very Walt Disneyesque but found the wiry graphics less attractive than they could have been. *Zzap!* recommended it for arcade adventure fans but said it wasn’t especially innovative. *Sinclair User* found the gameplay strong and the graphics rather smart.
- Publisher
- Gremlin Graphics
- Designer
- Bob Armour
- Platforms
- Amstrad CPC, Atari 8-bit computers, Commodore 64
- Release Year
- 1987
- Genre
- Platform, action-adventure
- Based On
- 1986 Disney animated film The Great Mouse Detective
Lore & Background
The game follows the mouse detective Basil, who lives in the basement of 221b Baker Street, home of Sherlock Holmes. The evil Professor Ratigan has kidnapped Basil's friend Dr. Dawson, and Basil must search London for clues to find Ratigan's hideout. The player controls Basil by walking through chambers, moving via screen edges or squeezing through letter slots and holes. In each location, enemies appear, and containers such as bins and jars can be searched for items. Once all evidence in a level is collected, a previously masked passage to the next stage is revealed. The game has three levels: London's shops and docks, the sewers, and Ratigan's hideout.
Reader's Guide
Basil the Great Mouse Detective is a notable example of a licensed video game adaptation from the late 1980s, tying into Disney's animated film. Its reception was mixed but generally positive: John S. Davison for Page 6 praised its balance of intellectual challenge, while What? called it 'a lovely game with lots of atmosphere and excitement.' Adam Rigby for The Australian Commodore and Amiga Review noted its 'refreshing plot.' However, Crash criticized the graphics as 'wiry' and not as attractive as they could have been, and Zzap! wrote that it was not 'especially innovative.' Sinclair User found the gameplay strong and graphics smart. The game was reviewed in several international magazines, including French, Finnish, Spanish, and German publications, indicating a broad reach. Its significance lies in its attempt to translate a film's narrative into an interactive adventure with puzzle-like evidence collection, though it did not break new ground in the genre.
Did You Know?
- The game was designed by Bob Armour and published by Gremlin Graphics in 1987.
- It was released for the Amstrad CPC, Atari 8-bit computers, and Commodore 64.
- The game has three levels: London's shops and docks, the sewers, and Ratigan's hideout.
- Zzap! wrote that the game was not 'especially innovative.'
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Basil the Great Mouse Detective?
It is a 1987 platform action-adventure title developed by Bob Armour and published by Gremlin Graphics. The game adapts the plot of Disney's 1986 animated feature into a side-scrolling, room-by-room puzzle format for home computers.
Which systems can you play Basil the Great Mouse Detective on?
The game was released in 1987 for the Amstrad CPC, Atari 8-bit family, and Commodore 64. No other platforms received an official version from Gremlin Graphics.
What is the story you're following in the game?
You guide Basil, a mouse who lives in the basement of 221b Baker Street, on a London-wide search to rescue his friend Dr. Dawson from the villain Professor Ratigan. The objective is to collect clues room by room until you uncover Ratigan's hidden lair.
How does the gameplay actually feel?
The core loop is a room-to-room platformer: you steer Basil across each London location, solve small puzzles, and piece together clues that point you toward the next area. It plays less like a traditional action game and more like a guided detective trail with platforming obstacles in between.
Who made the game and where did the idea come from?
Bob Armour handled the design work while Gremlin Graphics took care of publishing. The narrative and characters are lifted directly from the 1986 Disney animated film The Great Mouse Detective, with the game serving as a playable companion to that story.
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