Alex Kidd

[NeoZeedeater]

Prior to Sonic The Hedgehog, Sega never really had an official mascot. They did however have a few characters strongly identified with the company like Opa Opa of the Fantasy Zone games, Wonder Boy and Alex Kidd. Frogacuda already made excellent threads on Fantasy Zone and Wonder Boy/Monster World a long time ago. I figured Alex could use a thread too since it's an important series in Sega history although less consistent than the aforementioned ones.

The series began in 1986 with Alex Kidd in Miracle World for the Sega Master System. This was one of the most varied platformers out at the time as it had vertical and horizontal scrolling and various vehicles(motorbike, pedicopter, speedboat). Oddly some enemies were fought with paper, rock, scissors matches.


When Sega released the first Sega Master System II model in 1990, Miracle World was built into the machine.

Next came Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars which was released in the arcades in 1986 and then on SMS in 1988. The versions are similar but the home one isn't an exact port. I'm not a fan of The Lost Stars games at all. I don't like the look and I think the gameplay is purely mediocre.

Arcade


SMS


BMX Trial Alex Kidd(Mark III, 1987) was the only AK game to be left in Japan. It was a racing game done in the same art style as Miracle World and it was packaged with a paddle controller for more accurate steering. I have only played this one through emulation and I can't control it properly with a mouse but the game seems really cool. I imagine with the correct control it would be addictive.




In 1989 SMS releases were getting slim with Sega's development shift to the new Genesis machine. This is probably why at this time they chose to take a previously import-only SMS game, Anmitsu Hime, and convert it into an Alex Kidd game for the Western market. Anmitsu Hime was an adventure game based on an anime. Sega replaced the princess with Alex and her quest(which was to go to some cake shop it looks like from pics I have seen) with a quest to go to an arcade. The result was a game called Alex Kidd in High Tech World.

Before


After


Opinions seem pretty mixed on High Tech World but I enjoyed it back then. There wasn't really anything else on the market that felt like it. The first part of the game was puzzle based adventuring and later on there were platform/action parts.


Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle was released for the Genesis shortly after its launch in 1989. Unlike the past few games Enchanted Castle was a direct sequel to Miracle World. The graphics were amazing at the time but I felt it wasn't quite as good a game as Miracle World. I could never pinpoint why though.


1990 saw the last game in the series, Alex Kidd in Shinobi World for the SMS. The more I play this game, the more I realize it's my favorite game in the series. Miracle World was the most groundbreaking and had the biggest impact on me but Shinobi World is the one I enjoy replaying. Shinobi World is loosely based on the first Shinobi game and shares some of the same bosses and music although in very remixed form. I would say this game would appeal more to Shinobi fans than Alex Kidd fans as it hardly resembles past Alex Kidd games. The game's way too short and easy though.


Alex Kidd has had cameo appearances in other Sega games:

-He's in a hidden screen in Double Target(Mark III version of Quartet)
-His head appears in the background of the SMS game Kenseiden
-He's a capsule toy in Shenmue

Alex Kidd also had a board game and a pencil case in Japan.


Why did Sega abandon one of their biggest series while continuing most of their others? Who knows but maybe they felt it was necessary to completely phase out Alex with Sonic's arrival. Alex Kidd is supposed to get a budget Sega Ages remake but there still haven't been any pics shown.

Your thoughts on the series?

[Timber]

Nice read.

Miracle World is the only game in the series I've ever played (since it was built into my SMSII). I really dug that (other than the RPS boss fights) but never got around to trying out the rest of the series.

[Jeremy]

Shinobi World is the only one I've ever played, and it was rather enjoyable. I've been meaning to get a Master System so I could play the others, along with some other games, but haven't had any luck.

[AstroBlue]

Excellent write-up

Have there been any plans for a sequel, even planning stages?

[sleeve]

Shinobi World is the only one I've ever played, and it was rather enjoyable. I've been meaning to get a Master System so I could play the others, along with some other games, but haven't had any luck.

Just get a Power Base Converter.

[Sqoon]

Your thoughts on the series?

I really like the character and the universe, but the games are shit. Even Miracle World, the best in the series, is ruined by those RPS battles, which are frustrating, lazy, and not in the least interesting. That board game looks really cool, though.

[Jeremy]

I totally forgot about that, thanks. How's the compatiblity? Any problems using it?

[Clash!]

Everytime I play or even look at screens of Alex Kidd I just can't helo but imagine how awesome that character and universe would be in a 3D platformer, if made by the right hands of course.

They would have to trash the RPS battles though, lame stuff right there.

[marwan]

great post, Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle is the first game i ever played on the Sega Genesis, to me it was the begining of a new addiction since i was not into console gaming till i played Alex Kid(and Shinobi which i think was packaged with the genny). Ofcourse now that i look back at it, Alex wasnt really the best i have played, but then again it brought back alot of good memories.



EDIT: Neozeed, the music from the scissors/paper/rock part in enchanted castel is ringing in my head!

Why did Sega abandon one of their biggest series while continuing most of their others? Who knows but maybe they felt it was necessary to completely phase out Alex with Sonic's arrival. Alex Kidd is supposed to get a budget Sega Ages remake but there still haven't been any pics shown.

maybe cuz the series looks too kiddy by todays standards? i mean heck it looks much kiddier than a Mario game. Also the game didnt have much depth interms of platforming, it was more on the linear side. Also i find the design and art of the series to be a little uninspiring.


oh well, it was good while it lasted.

[Clash!]

maybe cuz the series looks too kiddy by todays standards? i mean heck it looks much kiddier than a Mario game.

I think he meant why did they end it when they did, while it still had a fan base. I don't think he meant today.

[Frogacuda]

Why did Sega abandon one of their biggest series while continuing most of their others?

I think Alex was never that popular in Japan, so he was phased out when Sega came up with a mascot with more international appeal.

Oh, and I really liked Lost Stars on SMS (which was very different from the arcade game). I didn't find anything to be mediocre about it.

[Melf]

Oh, and I really liked Lost Stars on SMS (which was very different from the arcade game). I didn't find anything to be mediocre about it.

How about that annoying "AHHHHHHHHHH!!!" every time you got hit?

[Some Stupid Japanese Name]

I was/am a huge Alex Kidd fan.
Miracle World was the shit. Many levels, hidden warps, vaired vehicles, and the end castle was a bitch. I'm sure I'm in the vast minority, but I rank this far above Super Mario Bros. With all the vehicles and items, there is just so much more to do.
Enough with the PRS hate. I thought it was a fun alternative to the usual bop the boss three times platform convention. I would always tap up or down twice on the pad right before the music ended. Nine times out of time I would win.

Never really got into Lost Stars. Probably because it was the last Kidd game for me to get, and it didn't have the same magic for me that Miracle World had.

I spent many a day on High Tech World. The quiz was awesome. Hated the action segments. The control was very, very loose. This game also marked the first and only time I ever called a hint line. Pray a hundred times...those bastards. This game also ranks very high in the "Worst Ending Ever" catagory for me.

Alex Kidd in Shiniobi World was cool. Though I admit to never beating it.

Tried to play enchanted castle many times, but just can't get into it. Ifind the floaty jumping very obnoxious.

[NeoZeedeater]

Have there been any plans for a sequel, even planning stages?

Not that I know of. There was never any mention in any mags back then.

I didn't find anything to be mediocre about it.

I really want to like The Lost Stars but I can never enjoy it when I play it. The SMS version anyway. I only tried the arcade one a few times.

This game also marked the first and only time I ever called a hint line.

Gamepro's hint section got me through the game. It's like the one time that magazine did me any good.

[raystorm]

How about that annoying "AHHHHHHHHHH!!!" every time you got hit?

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! That was so annoying. The game was awful and IIRC you have no method of attack except for that occasional thing you shot that looked like waves or clouds..whatever it was.

"I'm the miracle ball!!" ...hey.. at least the game had an Opa-Opa cameo!

[Son of Bryce]

Alex Kidd in Miracle World is the only SMS game I've ever played. I stumbled upon a SMSII for $20 at a Kaybee in '95 and that was built in. I never managed to find any actual games.

I played the hell out of that game. I found it incredibly hard, but I kept coming back for more. I don't think I ever managed to beat it though. I remember the stupid paper-rock-scissors bosses. Their moves were always the same so I had them written down in the instruction book. I was pissed whenever I messed up because it instantly costs you a life and I felt like I needed every life I could get in that game.

I think Alex Kidd in a Miracle World was a fresh change compared to what NES had to offer. I just think it's a shame that I never discovered it till the dawn of the 32-bit era.

[1CCOSA]

These threads are great reads, NeoZeedeater! Thanks.

First off, I will never forget whem me and my little brother borrowed Miracle World from his friend way back when I was in the 5th grade. Such an amazing platformer with just the right touch of little RPG'ish elements. Throw in the motorcycle, the levels and characters which make you feel like you are progressively exploring a living breathing little world and the combination of Russian/asian art style...man, I could go on. The rock/paper/scissors matches which made you sweat a few beads before the next level. So awesome. I need to play the Genny sequel.

Never played High Tech World.

And I am the proud owner of a crisp, still new smelling Alex Kidd in Shinobi World I somehow snagged brand new and sealed off ebay 5 years ago for $60. A very good hack and slash Shinobi platformer with the Alex Kidd feel and blows away the following crappy sequel....

The Lost Stars (shudders)

Didn't know The Lost Stars had an arcade release first. The SMS cart is an alright if cheap platformer. Three things kill it: it's sheer crappiness when compared to Miracle World of course, awful pre-school'esque art style that makes it look like a KMart brand coloring book, bland level design and cheap hits and first and formost:

You think Mario's voice samples in all his games are annoying? Well here's why Mario's voice has never annoyed me: EVERY single time Alex gets hit in the Lost Stars he literally screams like a homesexual baby. There is no other way to describe this bizarre sound sample.

Anyways, a shame we never got a next gen update. But like all games that leap into 3D it probably could never have captured the charm of the original.

[Frogacuda]

Didn't know The Lost Stars had an arcade release first. The SMS cart is an alright if cheap platformer. Three things kill it: it's sheer crappiness when compared to Miracle World of course, awful pre-school'esque art style that makes it look like a KMart brand coloring book, bland level design and cheap hits and first and formost:

Really, The Lost Stars was an amazing looking game at the time. Apart from the fact that the first level was toy-themed, I don't see how the art style was any more childish than any other game in the series. In fact, I really liked the trippy and creative locales in the game... one of the things it definately has on the first game. And the enemies were great too. Penguins hurling breifcases at you, Iguana that attacked you withe sound-effect letters, and naked punk rockers that shot skulls out of their asses. How could you not love it?

I don't think it took cheap hits, either. In fact, the game was very, very easy, at least in the context of other games at the time. That's probably my biggest complaint with it. Oddly enough the arcade version is nigh-imposible. The Lost Stars is a very different beast from Miracle World, but it is unduly bashed. It is, in fact, a damned good game in its own right. I don't think it was ever really intended to be a sequel to the first, anyway, at least not in the same way Enchanted Castle was. Apart from the genre, they have nothing in common.

[1CCOSA]

Really, The Lost Stars was an amazing looking game at the time. Apart from the fact that the first level was toy-themed, I don't see how the art style was any more childish than any other game in the series. In fact, I really liked the trippy and creative locales in the game... one of the things it definately has on the first game. And the enemies were great too. Penguins hurling breifcases at you, Iguana that attacked you withe sound-effect letters, and naked punk rockers that shot skulls out of their asses. How could you not love it?

lol Believe me, I do enjoy it. It's just such a waste compared to the first though. Maybe cheap hits isn't quite the right language, but some hits you take from enemies and the shot system just disn't feel polished. Anyways, I played this again just last month on my Master Gear Coverter so I'm sticking to my guns.

[Frogacuda]

How about that annoying "AHHHHHHHHHH!!!" every time you got hit?

Didn't bother me one bit. Look at it as an homage to Space Harrier, if you must.

[1CCOSA]

Forgot to add, in some parts of Lost Stars you literally have to run past stuff while getting creamed all the while hoping your energy bar doesn't get totally drained.

EDIT: Also, I have been playing Shenmue for DC (loooong overdue, loving it so far!) and haven't found an Alex Kidd figure yet.

[raystorm]

I remember a LONG time ago before Alex Kidd in Shinobi World came out I saw a pic of the first boss in that game and it looked a bit familiar. Of course its based on the first boss in Shinobi, Ken-Oh, except the face looked like Mario and his name was Mari-Oh. I know I wasn't seeing things and always wondered if it was a fake pic (I think it was an EGM or Sega Visions but its been so long) or it was planned and then changed cause i know it wasn't like that in the real thing.

Anyone else remember that "Mari-Oh" pic?

[NeoZeedeater]

I never read about that until recently. I couldn't find any pics or prototype roms or anything with it though.