Alex Kidd in Miracle World

From Free net encyclopedia

Alex Kidd in Miracle World is a platform game for the 8-bit Sega Master System video game console. It was first released in Japan on November 1, 1986. Due to the mass distribution of the version bundled with the Sega Master System II, it became the most recognised of the Alex Kidd series.

Image:SMS Alex Kidd in Miracle World.png

Like Super Mario Bros., it is mostly one-directional scrolling, which means the player cannot revisit areas in its levels that he or she has already visited. Some levels of the game allow the player to move freely.

Alex Kidd in Miracle World was initially available as a cartridge. From 1990 onwards, the game was built into certain revisions of the Sega Master System hardware, including some US and European versions of the Master System 2, and some European versions of the Master System 1. The later "built-in" version differs slightly from the cartridge edition - this can be identified by Alex's meal between levels. In the original cartridge version, Alex is consuming a rice ball; in the built-in version, Alex is eating a hamburger.

There are false rumors of a version in which Alex is drinking root beer. It is possible that this myth stems from westerners that are unfamiliar with the rice ball and thus see the rice ball as root beer.

A distinctive aspect of this game was the playing of "Rock, Paper, Scissors" to defeat certain enemies instead of a more traditional physical boss fight in which winning depended on the players skill. This meant that upon meeting such a boss, Alex had a one-in-three chance of dying. Towards the end of the game as bosses become more difficult to defeat, some resorted to a more conventional battle in addition to having a "Rock, Paper, Scissors" battle. With the Master System console, saving game progress was impossible and when all of Alex's lives ran out the game was over so naturally having their fate decided by pure chance caused many players a lot of irritation. However, early bosses used a preset sequence, meaning that it was easy to remember the sequence from a previous play and act accordingly. Later bosses use more unpredictable sequences, and some even use telepathy, rendering the use of similar telepathy powerups necessary, and adding a strategic element to the games. However, there is a preset sequence that applies to the entire game, should the player never lose. If and when the player loses one round at any time, the rest of the game sequence will change.

[edit]