In the game, the player takes control of a small black atom called the Chemic. Moving around the screen it must collect small molecules called Moleks until it matches a pattern in the center of the stage in design. If the player catches a Molek in the wrong spot, they can press a button to immediately let it go. The player's only enemy in the game is the Atomic, a malevolent cellular clump that flies around the screen and blows up the Chemic on physical contact. The player is able to defend from the Atomic by collecting Power Moleks, which grant them temporary invincibility.
The game never left Japan, likely because of its theme and subject matter being one that Americans would not have found interesting, but it would finally see a worldwide release in 1996 as part of Namco Collection Volume 3.
Tropes:
- Disc-One Nuke: Power Moleks don't first begin to appear until the game's second world, but when they do the Chemic is temporarily safe from the Atomic and its attacks.
- Gravity Master: The Chemic attracts Moleks and can let them go at any time with just the press of a button.
- Invincibility Power-Up: Power Moleks can grant the Chemic a temporary shield which make it unable to be hurt by the Atomic and its attacks.
- Made of Explodium: The Chemic explodes if it should be touched by the Atomic at any time, unless a Power Molek is attached and in effect.
- Sudden Intelligence: The Atomic spends most of its time simply floating around the screen, but at times it will suddenly commit attacks including splitting into multiple pieces that fly around the screen, or shooting projectiles that destroy Moleks.
- The Worm That Walks: The Atomic is made out of different particles, and they can break up and fly separately around the screen as one of their attacks.
