Hen House tips: eggs, grain and the big bird

Eggs are scattered across the platforms of Hen House, and you have to gather every one of them before time runs out, dodging the long-legged birds that wander about. It's an 8-bit farmyard dash in the style of a 48K home computer, on the Retro arcade shelf of Games by Zaweba, with nine levels to clear.

Getting around

Left and Right walk, Up and Down climb, and Space or X jumps. The levels are built from platforms joined by ladders, and there's a lift that carries you upwards. Jump off the lift before it hits the roof, because riding it all the way up ends badly.

The lift deserves a thought of its own. It's a quick way up, but it only helps if you step off at the right height and in good time. Watching it go up and down once before you use it shows you where to get on and where to get off.

Birds and long falls

The birds are the danger. Touching one costs a life, and so does a long fall. That means jumps have to be judged: a hop across a gap is fine, but walking off a high ledge to save a few seconds isn't.

From level 4 the big bird escapes and starts hunting you. That changes the game. On the early levels you can work around the birds as they go about their business. Once the big bird is loose and coming after you, there's less time to stand still and think, and your route matters more.

Grain and the clock

Grain stops the clock for a moment, which is a welcome breather when time is short. But the birds eat it too, so a pile of grain near a bird may not be there by the time you arrive. When grain is close and the way is clear, take it. When a bird is heading for it, it may be better to let it go and concentrate on the eggs.

Planning a level

Every egg has to be collected, so each level is a small route-planning puzzle. Look at where the eggs are and where the birds walk, and pick an order that keeps you out of their way. Going for the awkward eggs while the birds are elsewhere, and leaving the easy ones for later, is often better than grabbing whatever's nearest.

Because the clock and the birds both press on you, a level gets easier once you've seen it. The first attempt at a new level is often about learning the layout, and the next one is about doing it properly. There are nine levels in total, and clearing all nine wins the game.

Practical bits

Esc pauses at any time, and F11 gives you the full screen. The title card has the rules and controls, and F1 explains them again during play. Games by Zaweba keeps your best score, plays and wins on your PC, so clearing all nine levels is something you'll see recorded.

Hen House sits alongside Girder Climb and Mine Mayhem on the shelf, both of them platform games in a similar 8-bit spirit, and the skills carry across: judging a jump, timing a climb, reading where an enemy is going. With nothing to download and no account, it's always ready for another try.

Jump off the lift in time, judge every drop, and keep moving once the big bird is out.