Alex Kidd in Miracle World - Sega 1986 ( Sega Master System )
2Alex Kidd in Miracle World is a platform game for the Master System. It was released in Japan on November 1, 1986, and internationally in 1987. It was later built into many Master System and Master System II consoles. A remake by Merge Games and Jankenteam is currently being developed.
Gameplay
A screenshot from the video game Alex Kidd in Miracle World.
Alex Kidd shatters a block with a fist punch, revealing a bag of money.
Alex Kidd in Miracle World is a 2D platform game. The player must finish levels and overcome obstacles and puzzles in both scrolling and single-screen environments. Throughout the 17 stages, Alex faces many monsters and the three henchmen of Janken the Great, before facing Janken himself.
Alex's punching ability is used to destroy enemies and to break rocks in order to access new paths and to collect items such as money which can then be used to purchase other items including vehicles such as motorbikes and helicopters. At the end of many stages, Alex plays jan-ken-pon (rock-paper-scissors) with one of Janken's henchmen. Alex dies with one hit, or by losing a game of rock, paper, scissors.
Plot
A young martial artist named Alex Kidd learns of a villain named Janken the Great who has defeated King Thunder of the city of Radaxian and who has kidnapped his son, Prince Egle (or 'Igul'), and Egle's fiancée Princess Lora. Discovering that he is the lost son of King Thunder, Alex sets out to rescue the kingdom. On his quest, he defeats Janken's henchmen and retrieves various items which lead him toward Janken whom he defeats and sees turned to stone. Alex retrieves the crown, and the people of Radaxian are restored under the newly crowned King Egle.
Reception
The game has been critically acclaimed since its release. In 1987, the French magazine Génération 4 gave the game a 99% score. In 1991, Sega Pro magazine gave the game a 95% score, stating 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."Computer and Video Games magazine in 1991 gave it an 86% score, describing the game as "Sega's answer to Mario" and concluding that the "absorbing gameplay will have you glued to your screen for hours on end."
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." IGN also gave the Wii Virtual Console release a score of 9 out of 10.
Remake
A remake of the game, titled Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX, was announced on June 10, 2020. The game is being developed by Merge Games and Jankenteam for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC and is scheduled for release in 2021. The remake will feature new levels, alternate boss fights, and options for modern or retro style graphics.
Developer(s) Sega
Publisher(s) Sega
Series Alex Kidd
Platform(s) Master System
Release JP: November 1, 1986, NA: 1987, EU: 1987
Genre(s) Platform
Mode(s) Single-player