Island Hopping and Exploring
This is the fourth final volume in the NES run for the "Adventure Island" series. And not a moment too soon as this game came out during the twilight years of the NES. This was an interesting entry as it's one of those volumes that decided to take the franchise in a different direction where they turned this game into an action RPG. And believe it or not this is actually my favorite in the franchise. This could be because of my love for the action RPG subgenre, and don't get me wrong I do like the previous games but they kind of blended together, this game I felt had a little more going on and really showed how the franchise can and could've been even more.
It's a risk having to take a well-known franchise in a different direction, but it worked and I'm glad they took the risk as most video game franchises just take the same path over and over until the games almost blend together. Also, this came out at a time when sequels and video game franchises in general never had any set rules. This entry is another one of the examples showing you can still do more with a franchise. Sidenote they also went the action RPG route again with "Super Adventure Island 2" which will be a story another time. It's a shame that the franchise didn't think of continuing and elaborating more on this route, we could have had more action RPG adventures for the franchise.
As usual you're the island adventurer Higgins has to save his island from an evil force from domination. That's pritty much it, the franchise was never known to have deep story anyway, we're all here for the action and adventure in the "Adventure Island" series and that's what we get but in a whole different fashion.
I like that you don't have to worry about fueling up on fruit's and vegetables to keep the timer up. It makes sense as in the previous entries they were just straight forward point A to B platform action games. This game still has that linear platform action but it's a matter of getting from getting from point A to D but going though B and C if you catch my drift. You do go straight forward but it's not without some or plenty of exploration as each of the section of the island there are different pathway and passaged visible or even hidden.
The parts of the island explored are well and clearly detailed, really like how most of them reflect an element of nature or their them but also like the depth to them as they hold their secrets and have their share of enemies and bosses. Even the boss battles I think are more interesting as their different from the usual one which were always simply one and done affairs. In these boss battles their made up of rounds, as a boss executes one pattern of attack it switches to another once you've delivered enough blows. It's sort of true to the battles in RPG as most enemies you fight change their attack to raise the stakes. Also like the look of each of the bosses which are all color and daft which fit the nature of the franchise, I won't give away who and what they are you just have to see them for yourself, in fact that's part of the beauty of RPG's discovering things for yourself.
Gameplay is solid as it's the usual fare you would expect from the franchise, but in this game it's different because in RPG fashion you start small but then the further you go the more you acquire and stronger you become. From certain tools to help you traverse more of the levels like a hammer to break rocks. Right down to weapons each with their strengths and weaknesses, or even a stronger version of the one you've acquired.
Overall, if you're an fan of the "Adventure Island" franchise or just the action RPG subgenre and are looking for something different, then this fourth entry is an island worth sailing to.
Rating: 3 and a half stars.
It's a risk having to take a well-known franchise in a different direction, but it worked and I'm glad they took the risk as most video game franchises just take the same path over and over until the games almost blend together. Also, this came out at a time when sequels and video game franchises in general never had any set rules. This entry is another one of the examples showing you can still do more with a franchise. Sidenote they also went the action RPG route again with "Super Adventure Island 2" which will be a story another time. It's a shame that the franchise didn't think of continuing and elaborating more on this route, we could have had more action RPG adventures for the franchise.
As usual you're the island adventurer Higgins has to save his island from an evil force from domination. That's pritty much it, the franchise was never known to have deep story anyway, we're all here for the action and adventure in the "Adventure Island" series and that's what we get but in a whole different fashion.
I like that you don't have to worry about fueling up on fruit's and vegetables to keep the timer up. It makes sense as in the previous entries they were just straight forward point A to B platform action games. This game still has that linear platform action but it's a matter of getting from getting from point A to D but going though B and C if you catch my drift. You do go straight forward but it's not without some or plenty of exploration as each of the section of the island there are different pathway and passaged visible or even hidden.
The parts of the island explored are well and clearly detailed, really like how most of them reflect an element of nature or their them but also like the depth to them as they hold their secrets and have their share of enemies and bosses. Even the boss battles I think are more interesting as their different from the usual one which were always simply one and done affairs. In these boss battles their made up of rounds, as a boss executes one pattern of attack it switches to another once you've delivered enough blows. It's sort of true to the battles in RPG as most enemies you fight change their attack to raise the stakes. Also like the look of each of the bosses which are all color and daft which fit the nature of the franchise, I won't give away who and what they are you just have to see them for yourself, in fact that's part of the beauty of RPG's discovering things for yourself.
Gameplay is solid as it's the usual fare you would expect from the franchise, but in this game it's different because in RPG fashion you start small but then the further you go the more you acquire and stronger you become. From certain tools to help you traverse more of the levels like a hammer to break rocks. Right down to weapons each with their strengths and weaknesses, or even a stronger version of the one you've acquired.
Overall, if you're an fan of the "Adventure Island" franchise or just the action RPG subgenre and are looking for something different, then this fourth entry is an island worth sailing to.
Rating: 3 and a half stars.
