Alex Kidd in Miracle World
From Sega Retro
Alex Kidd in Miracle World | ||||||||||||||||||||
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System(s): Sega Master System, Virtual Console | ||||||||||||||||||||
Publisher: Sega | ||||||||||||||||||||
Developer: Sega | ||||||||||||||||||||
Genre: Action | ||||||||||||||||||||
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CERO
Missing Parameter! |
Alex Kidd in Miracle World (アレックスキッドのミラクルワールド) is a video game released in 1986 by Sega for the Sega Master System console. It is the first of several games in the Alex Kidd series, starring a character which would serve as the company's mascot for half a decade before being replaced by Sonic the Hedgehog.
Alex Kidd in Miracle World stands as one of the more popular Master System releases, having been built into many Master System consoles during the late 1980s and early 1990s. It is also one of the few Master System games to have an official Korean translation. Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle may be considered a direct sequel to this game, as it continues the story of Alex's search for his father, King Sander (a.k.a. King Thunder).
The game has since been re-released for the Wii's Virtual Console service.
Contents
Gameplay
Alex Kidd is a platform game which bears a superficial resemblance to Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. You play as Alex, the eponymous character who lives on the planet Aries, who is an expert in the martial art of Shellcore, which enables him to break certain blocks and enemies by punching them. These blocks typically contain money, which can be spent on power-ups and extra lives in shops, however some blocks also contain power-ups, or ghosts which follow Alex until he puts enough distance between them.
In some levels, you will be able to use vehicles to assist your progress - the Sukopako Motorcycle, the Peticopter (a pedal-powered helicopter equipped with missiles) and the Suisui Boat. Throughout the game you learn that Alex is a prince of the royal family, who has been usurped by a tyrant named Janken. Your goal is to free the captured royals, and defeat Janken and his henchmen in games of rock-paper-scissors followed by traditional boss fights. In addition, you must collect a series of treasures which will help you bring peace to the kingdom of Radaxian and restore the citizens who were turned into stone.
Enemies
Bosses
Levels
Version Differences
- The first release of this game had the actions of buttons
and
swapped around. It was later changed with its Master System II inclusion to better correlate with other games out at the time.
- In the Japanese release, Alex collects a rice ball to complete a level and is seen eating it on the following map screen. This was changed to a hamburger in western releases, since rice balls are a food particular to Japan only.
Reception
- See Physical Scans section for review scores
Critical Reception
The game has been critically acclaimed since its release. In 1987, the French magazine Génération 4 gave the game ratings of 96% for graphics and 85% for sound, with an overall score of 99%.[1] In 1989, British magazine Computer and Video Games gave it a score of 87%.[2] Later, in 1991, they gave it ratings of 84% for graphics, 78% for sound, 86% for playability, and 85% for lastability, with an overall score of 86%. They described the game as "Sega's answer to Mario" and a "madcap platform romp through a multitude" of side-scrolling levels "with hidden bonuses and screens," a "wacky" minigame based on rock-paper-scissors, and "absolutely hilarous gags," concluding that the "absorbing gameplay will have you glued to your screen for hours on end."[3]
The November 1991 issue of Sega Pro magazine gave the game a 95% score, stating that it is the "first" and "ultimately the best" of "the Alex Kidd adventures." They concluded that, with "so much to do and so many different ways of doing it, this is one of those games you will keep coming back to even when you have finished it completely." [4] The October 1992 issue of Mean Machines Sega gave it an 86% score, stating that it is "the first" in the Alex Kidd series "and it's still one of the best." They criticized the graphics for being not "so hot" but praised the "blend of platforming and puzzles" which "work well" and concluded that it is an "entertaining platform romp." [5]
Retrospective Reception
The game has an average press score of 9 out of 10 on GameStats, based on 6 professional reviews, making it the highest-scoring game for the Master System.[6]
In a 2008 retro review, IGN gave Alex Kidd a score of 9 out of 10 and an "Editor's Choice" award, calling it "an exceptional platformer with loads of action and some great puzzle-solving challenges" that "still holds up remarkably well."[7] IGN also gave the Wii Virtual Console release a score of 9 out of 10.[8]
The review website Honest Gamers awarded the title a 9 out of 10, complimenting its "inimitable" music, "innovative" use of different items, and balanced level of difficulty.[9]
Legacy
The French pop punk band Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! have a song named after the game on the initial release of their album Something for Nothing.
Production Credits
By: Kotaro, Yoko Matilda, Rie Wakashimazu, Papa Kouichi, Toku, Bully Kaori, Bullied Toshi
Based on other known roles, a more detailed credit list would be as follows:
Planner: Kotaro
Art Designer: Yoko Matilda, Rie Wakashimazu
Programmer: Papa Kouichi
Sound: Toku
Special Thanks: Bully Kaori, Bullied Toshi
Artwork
Hints
Physical Scans
Master System Version
Sega Retro Average | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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79 | |
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Based on 17 reviews |
Master System, BR Master System Super Compact Built-In |
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Master System, SE |
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Virtual Console Version
Sega Retro Average | ||||
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N/A | |
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Based on 0 reviews |
External Links
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Alex Kidd in Miracle World (1986) | Alex Kidd BMX Trial (1987) | Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars (1988) | Alex Kidd: High-Tech World (1989) | Alex Kidd in Shinobi World (1990) | |
Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars (1986) | |
Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle (1989) | |
Sega Ages Alex Kidd in Miracle World (2019) | Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX (2021) | |
Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX (2021) | |
Alex Kidd related media | |
Alex Kidd Complete Album (2009) | |
Other | List of Alex Kidd merchandise |
- ↑ [ ]
- ↑ [Computer and Video Games, Complete Guide to Consoles, issue 1, Winter 1989, p. 47 Computer and Video Games, Complete Guide to Consoles, issue 1, Winter 1989, p. 47]
- ↑ http://www.smspower.org/Reviews/AlexKiddInMiracleWorld-SMS-CVGCompleteGuideToSega
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 File:Segapro UK 01.pdf, page 19
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf, page 132 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>
tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf_p132" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ http://www.gamestats.com/objects/006/006046/
- ↑ http://retro.ign.com/articles/845/845102p1.html
- ↑ http://wii.ign.com/articles/883/883403p1.html
- ↑ http://www.honestgamers.com/reviews/1755.html
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 File:ConsoleMania IT 013.pdf, page 90 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>
tag; name ":File:ConsoleMania IT 013.pdf_p90" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "August/September 1987" (DE; 1987-07-27), page 12
- ↑ Complete Guide to Consoles, "" (UK; 1989-10-16), page 47
- ↑ Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 90
- ↑ The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 52
- ↑ Computer Action, "Juli/August 89" (DK; 1989-0x-xx), page 35
- ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 137
- ↑ Excalibur, "" (CZ; 1993-04-10), page 31
- ↑ Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 81
- ↑ Happy Computer, "Sonderheft #21: (4. Spiele-Sonderheft)" (DE; 1987-1x-xx), page 107
- ↑ S: The Sega Magazine, "September 1990" (UK; 1990-08-02), page 24
- ↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 55
- ↑ Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 19
- ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 70
- ↑ Software Gids, "Mei/Juni 1990" (NL; 1990-05-xx), page 38
- ↑ Tilt, "Janvier 1988" (FR; 198x-xx-xx), page 64
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