My Played Video Games Review: Adventure Island for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)

in Hive Gaming4 years ago

Image source

Adventure Island is a fun and colorful, side-scrolling, adventure action platformer video game made by Hudson Soft that was released in Japan during 1986 for the Famicom. It was released in North America for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1988.

Many liked this game in the Philippines at the time for being almost identical to Super Mario Bros. in fast-paced gameplay.

The Story

An Evil Witch Doctor has kidnapped Princess Leilani and hid her in Adventure Island in the South Pacific. You, as the chubby Master Higgins, must save Princess Leilani. On the island, many obstacles, creatures and traps are waiting for you.

Can you save Princess Leilani from the Evil Witch Doctor?

NES cartridge of the game (Image source)

The Graphics and Sound

This game was a show-off title for the NES during the late 1980s. Big, colorful graphics that really beat the sorry-ass competition at the time. Even by todays standards, the game's look is a charmer. The big graphics can occasionally make it difficult to time a jump in certain stages.

The music is kind of catchy but it does become repetitive quickly. The sound effects are nicely done too. Quite unique and somehow pleasant to hear.

Gameplay sample of Adventure Island on the NES

The Gameplay

Adventure Island is pretty much the basic side-scrolling fun game it was made to be. Higgins loves to eat some fruit, and going forward builds up his appetite. There is a bar over his head which is kind of a life meter. It goes down as time goes on, but by getting fruit that appears as the level goes on, it goes back up. This is mainly used so you won't waste time too much. However, touching an enemy kills you, as Higgins can't take any enemy contact or hits.

The controls could use some little tweaking. Some of the attacks and jumps take precision timing in order to accomplish without mistakes.

By jumping in some places, sometimes an egg will appear. These eggs contain cool stuff like bonus level keys, or maybe a skateboard. By getting the skateboard, Higgins can speed through a level at faster speed, and take a hit.

My Verdict

While some have considered it as just another Super Mario Bros. wanna-be clone, Adventure Island has enough challenge, originality, and fun to set it apart from the others that plague the NES.

IMHO, any game that lets you play as a chubby man in a diaper and throw hammers at some creatures deserves a good try. Play it on the NES or your chosen emulators, buddy!

Let's keep on gaming in the free world!

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I think the way the game forces you to keep going when you have the skate is really cool. It reminds me of Alex Kidd in the Miracle World's bike, but better since you can take it to other levels.

 4 years ago  

Yes, it made the game more exciting and fast-paced. 😀

very good