OC HIGH / Student News and Views : Video Game Review : Aero the Acro-Bat, For Genesis by Sunsoft; $49.99.

First there was a hedgehog. Then came a bobcat. And a fox. And some dinosaurs.

But a bat?

Stick with me here, or you just might miss one of the best creature carts of all.

Aero has been asked to save the World of Amusement Circus and Funpark from the machinations of the evil Edgar Ektor, a former circus clown with a bad attitude.

Ol’ Ed isn’t in it alone, of course. He has henchmen available to do his bidding--which happens to be trying to stomp our leathery hero back to the Batcave.

You’ll travel through four stages--Circus World, Funpark, The Woods and Museum of Horrors--each with several acts in which you have to accomplish certain tasks.

In Circus World, for instance, you have to stomp on seven platforms with stars, find a key and rescue the kidnaped Aerial, stomp 15 starred platforms, jump through 25 magic hoops and turn on the circus lights so the audience can see. You also battle the Stilt Brothers in a boss act and, if you can find a Bonus icon, you visit a bonus stage.

Of course, Aero doesn’t go on his way unchallenged. There’s a delightfully dastardly group of bad guys--and Bertha the Ballerina--to keep you busy. Such evil entertainers as Franco the Firebreather, Colin the Crazed Clown, Ferris Freddy and Mr. Bubbles will do everything they can to ring up the “Game Over” screen before you reach the end.

Aero has a lot of moves to help him in his one-bat battle for truth, justice, etc. His main weapon is a spin move; it’s not the easiest to accomplish, but it works to knock out most minor foes with one blow. Aero also collects magical stars along his route, and can throw them at enemies with the same effect. He hangs from wires and can hover briefly in midair.

There also are gadgets along the way to help Aero, including balloons, unicycles, bubble machines, a cannon or two, trampolines, trapezes and seesaws. Aero even bungee jumps and parachutes to escape danger.

To keep Aero’s strength up, scarf down food icons. Watch for winged As; they boost Aero’s health bar and you can store a maximum of five. Another valuable item is a clock, which adds a minute to your timer.

And believe me, you will need all the time you can get. Despite Aero’s cute mug and endearing attitude, this game is no pushover. There are only three continues, which deposit you at the start of the world you currently are in. If you can finish this game, you deserve a national ranking.

The graphics aren’t in Sonic’s class, but they are varied and colorful. Tunes are spritely circus fare and control, with the exception of that tricky spin move, is excellent.

Aero isn’t No. 1 on the critter cart list--Sega’s happy hedgehog has a lock on that slot. But his three-ring circus of tricks puts him solidly in the running for No. 2--and the game is a blast.