Editing Plok! (section)

{{Short description|1993 video game}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox video game
| title       = Plok!
| image       = SNES Plok cover art.png
| caption     = North American cover art
| developer   = [[Software Creations]]
| publisher   = {{vgrelease|JP|[[Activision]]|NA|[[Tradewest]]{{Sfn|''Edge''|1994|p=44}}|EU|[[Nintendo]]{{Sfn|''Edge''|1994|p=44}}}}
| designer    = [[Ste and John Pickford]]
| programmer  = John Buckley
| artist      = Lyndon Brooke
| composer    = [[Tim Follin]]<br>Geoff Follin
| engine      = 
| released    = {{Vgrelease|NA|September 1993<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/snes_games.pdf |title=Super NES Games |publisher=[[Nintendo of America]] |access-date=October 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030929033324/http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/snes_games.pdf |archive-date=September 29, 2003 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref>|EU|1 December 1993{{Sfn|''Edge''|1994|p=44}}|JP|10 December 1993<ref name="NlIferelease">{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/games/snes/plok|title=Plok (SNES / Super Nintendo) Game Profile|work=Nintendo Life|date=19 September 2010|accessdate=16 February 2021}}</ref>}}
| genre       = [[Platform game|Platform]]
| modes       = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]
| platforms   = [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]
}}

'''''Plok!''''' is a [[platform game]] developed by the British studio [[Software Creations]] for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] (SNES). It was released in late 1993 by [[Tradewest]] in North America, [[Nintendo]] in Europe, and [[Activision]] in Japan. Players control the hood-headed titular protagonist, the king of the island Akrillic, who is defending it from fleas spawned by the Flea Queen, hidden beneath the island's surface, as well as other bosses attempting to usurp Plok's power. His versatility lies in his four detachable limbs, which can be used to attack targets and enemies, along with various power-ups scattered throughout the game's colorful stages, referred to as "[[presents]]."

The history of ''Plok!'' began in the late 1980s as a self-funded [[Arcade video game|coin-op]] project by [[Ste and John Pickford]] called ''Fleapit''. They developed it while working at Zippo Games and programmed it for [[Rare (company)|Rare]]'s 'Razz Board' hardware. The project was canceled in 1990 following the closure of Zippo Games but was later revived as an SNES game developed at Software Creations after the Pickfords were promoted to higher positions, with Ste becoming an art director and John a producer. Software Creations self-funded the game, with the Pickfords retaining ownership of its [[intellectual property]] rights. A port for the [[Sega Genesis]] was planned but was canceled for unknown reasons.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Yarwood |first1=Jack |title=The SNES Exclusive 'Plok' Almost Got A Sega Mega Drive/Genesis Port |url=https://www.timeextension.com/news/2023/05/the-snes-exclusive-plok-almost-got-a-sega-mega-drivegenesis-port |website=Time Extension |access-date=February 6, 2024 |date=May 12, 2023}}</ref>

''Plok!'' received positive reviews from critics, who praised its innovative ideas, variety, music, presentation, versatile protagonist, and level design. However, some critics noted skepticism about its similarity to other colorful platform games of the era. The Pickfords attributed its underwhelming sales to the market saturation of mascot-driven platformers.