Alex Kidd: High-Tech World
System: SMS
Release Date: July 1989
Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
Genre: Adventure
Alex Kidd: High Tech World is the third installment in Alex Kidd’s ever worsening series of games. This is an adventure game that is only slightly more entertaining than Alf. You take the role of Alex Kidd one more time as he wants to go to the new arcade, High-Tech World. The first part of the game takes place in the castle as Alex needs to find eight pieces of a map that his buddy Paul tore up like a jerk.
In order to find the map pieces, you have to walk through the castle, entering rooms and talking to people. There are little puzzles that you have to solve, a test you have to take, and cryptic situations that you need to luck into. I made a little map so I wouldn’t waste time, as the game starts at 9 AM and you have to make it to the arcade by 5 PM. Every time you enter a room, five minutes pass. Sometimes rooms will be empty except after certain events or certain times, so you have to enter them in the correct order.
There are traps that will send you to an instant game over that you’ll learn as you play. In fact, it will probably take several game overs before you find all the pieces of map. Once you get them all, you fly off through the forest and have to collect gold and avoid ninjas and their throwing stars. Touch a ninja or get hit by a star and it’s back to the beginning of the level. It took me a few dozen tries before I finally got the timing for everything down.
The town stands in the way of you and the arcade, but you need to get a hold of a travel pass. Did you not collect much gold? Buy a back scratcher and then pawn it for big bucks. You can get a couple fake travel passes, but those will get you a game over. The legitimate way to get the travel pass is ridiculous and involves praying at the shrine. Once you get that figured out, it’s off to the final forest full of animals and ninjas. At the end is High-Tech World. I really hope Alex enjoys OutRun…
Graphics: 2.0
The graphics haven’t improved much since the Lost Stars.
Sound: 1.0
Absolutely nothing special out of the music and sound effects. Frankly, I expect more.
Gameplay: 1.0
The adventure sections in the castle and village are boring. The action sections in the forest are bland and require precise timing.
Difficulty: 1.5
I figured everything out on my own except how many times to pray to get the travel pass. The ninja forest is infuriating and will take you out dozens of times before you finally make it through.
Fun Factor: 0.5
I did not enjoy playing High-Tech World. It’s a 30 minute game that took me three hours.
Overall Grade: 1.2
Alex Kidd: High-Tech World earns a D+. Once you know what to do, you never have to play this game again, at least you can take solace in that fact.