Sega Master System #4: Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars

Developer: Sega

Publisher: Sega

Release Date: July 1988

By 1988 the covers were at least getting better. This really does happen in the game

 At first glance it looks like Sega played it safer in the second Alex Kidd game. The puzzles and randomness are gone replaced with more traditional levels. There are no items or horizontal sections either. It’s pure side-scrolling. However, it’s still a delightfully strange game. The simpler setup allows for the strangeness to shine without getting in the way of the gameplay itself. For once it’s a sequel where the developers learned from the mistakes of the previous game and actually improved on the formula.

Just like on the cover!

 One thing that makes this game different than most SMS games is that there are actually continues. There is an unlimited amount of them as far as I can tell. Yes it’s a Master System than anyone can beat. You don’t have to become a super player through hours of memorization to become a Lost Stars master. All you need are a couple hours on a leisurely weekend. That is almost enough to put it ahead of Miracle World already. In another interesting twist the game uses a timer instead of typical hit points. Deaths don’t end the game just lose time. There are typically powerups along the way which add time so I never felt like I was going to lose. That kind of positivity is rare in retro gaming. Everything was always stacked against the player. It’s nice playing a game that is challenging but very winable.

For once it's a game where vine swinging isn't that intimidating. If you fail you can just try again with slightly less time.

 Of course the games best part is its weird and wonderful levels. I”m not sure that there was ever a console as bright and colorful as Sega Master System, and they almost went overboard with the Alex Kidd games. The screenshots can’t capture how vibrant it is. It almost hurts my eyes. Within all this color is clever levels filled with strange enemies. The same game has cute dogs shooting the word “bow” at you and naked punks who fart out skulls. The game has you go through all the levels twice, but the levels are fun enough that it isn’t a bad thing. I wanted to experience all the levels more than once. They were that fun.

Just in case you didn't believe me

 So with Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars we have another low-key winner on Master System. It’s definitely the best of the four I have played so far. Of course I know I have some better games to come, but it’s exciting knowing that there can be mostly forgotten 35 year old games out there that are still fun. I am ranking this one a respectable #22 right ahead of the classic Metro Cross. If you have a Master System you should give this one a try. It’s a classic 8-bit side scroller.

 

SMS quality percentage: 3/4 or 75%