Madoc: The Mad Doctor is an action-platformer arcade game published by Newsoft for Windows in 1998. It combines labyrinthine environments, enemies, mechanical obstacles, and a dark sci-fi atmosphere that echoes classic tropes of the obsessed scientist tampering with forces beyond his control.
The protagonist is Dr. Madoc, a researcher who, after years of experimentation, created Frankie—his greatest achievement and his best friend. However, something changed in the reconstructed creature's mind, turning him into the scientist's most dangerous enemy. To save Frankie and avert a tragic outcome, Madoc must venture into gloomy facilities and gather the scientific components needed to reclaim his creation.
The adventure is structured around the vertical exploration of the game's environments. The main objective is to collect all the chemical formulas scattered throughout each zone to advance to higher floors and unlock the next level. Navigating the game req...
Madoc: The Mad Doctor is an action-platformer arcade game published by Newsoft for Windows in 1998. It combines labyrinthine environments, enemies, mechanical obstacles, and a dark sci-fi atmosphere that echoes classic tropes of the obsessed scientist tampering with forces beyond his control.
The protagonist is Dr. Madoc, a researcher who, after years of experimentation, created Frankie—his greatest achievement and his best friend. However, something changed in the reconstructed creature's mind, turning him into the scientist's most dangerous enemy. To save Frankie and avert a tragic outcome, Madoc must venture into gloomy facilities and gather the scientific components needed to reclaim his creation.
The adventure is structured around the vertical exploration of the game's environments. The main objective is to collect all the chemical formulas scattered throughout each zone to advance to higher floors and unlock the next level. Navigating the game requires careful movement, precise jumps, and quick reactions to various threats—including massive metal spheres capable of crushing the character and other enemies patrolling the facility.
Madoc is equipped with a weapon to combat hostile creatures, though the game offers more than just shooting. Much of the challenge stems from a mix of platforming, item hunting, and trap avoidance. The level design encourages players to scour every corner of the environment, as missing a single formula can halt progress. Direct action thus blends with simple route management—a hallmark of late-90s PC arcade games.
The Windows version runs at a resolution of 640 × 480 and features colorful graphics, despite the story's sinister tone. While the interface and menus are in Spanish, the gameplay relies primarily on action and the player's ability to read and navigate the environments. The game features several worlds divided into sub-levels, a high-score table, and a structure designed around clearing stages while accumulating lives and improving performance with each playthrough.
Developed and published by Newsoft, *Madoc: The Mad Doctor* is an intriguing example of the Spanish PC arcade game catalog from that era. Its blend of macabre humor, platforming, shooting, and item collection creates a simple yet distinctive adventure—one that holds particular appeal for fans of retro games featuring laboratory aesthetics, rampaging monsters, and precision-based challenges.
