Name: Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle Mega Drive - Escapist Gamer
Brand: simple
SKU: ZggLqDYwJbqVdPV0
Price: 15.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle Mega Drive

£15.00

Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle Mega Drive

This is a used Mega Drive game.
Not tested yet.
Box, inlay or manual included.

Thanks for looking.

1 in stock

Description

Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle Mega Drive

Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle is a 1989 platform game by Sega for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, and the fifth entry in the Alex Kidd series. The game’s frustrating difficulty, including a heavy reliance on random Rock, Paper, Scissors matches, made it poorly received and contributed to Sonic the Hedgehog replacing Alex Kidd as Sega’s mascot.

Plot

Following the events of Alex Kidd in Miracle World, Alex is living on Planet Aries when he learns that his long-lost father, King Thor, is still alive and on the planet Paperock. Alex travels to Paperock to find and rescue him from Ashra, the planet’s cruel ruler. Along his journey through 11 different stages, Alex is forced to play the planet’s primary game of chance, Janken (Rock, Paper, Scissors), against various enemies.

Gameplay

As in previous games, Alex can punch, kick, and jump through platforming stages filled with enemies and obstacles. Notable gameplay elements include:

Combat: Alex can defeat enemies by punching them, which turns them into collectible coins called “Baums”. He also has a mid-air flying kick.
Vehicles: Certain levels or Janken prizes will give Alex access to vehicles, such as a motorbike, a pedicopter, and a pogo stick, to help him navigate.
One-hit deaths: Taking damage from any enemy results in an instant death for Alex.
Rock, Paper, Scissors (Janken): The most infamous gameplay mechanic requires Alex to play Janken against mid-level bosses and to acquire items. Losing a round costs Alex a life.
Items: Alex can win various items, including a magic wand for projectiles and a cape for temporary invincibility, from Janken matches. In the original Japanese release, losing a match would cause the loser to be stripped to their underwear, while the Western release featured the loser being flattened by a heavy weight.

Reception and legacy

Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle is generally remembered as a subpar title for the Sega Mega Drive and for Sega’s former mascot. Critiques focus on the game’s:

Poor controls: Many reviewers noted that Alex’s movements are floaty and imprecise.
Unfair difficulty: Combined with one-hit deaths, the random, chance-based boss encounters make for a frustrating and unpredictable experience.
Lack of longevity: The game is relatively short and simplistic, lacking the depth of its contemporaries.