Super Adventure Island (1992)

by Nish
6 minutes read

Summary

Super Adventure Island: A Retro Platforming Gem

Released in 1992 for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Super Adventure Island is a side-scrolling platformer that follows the adventures of Master Higgins, a young explorer who must rescue his girlfriend, Jeannie Jungle, from the evil sorcerer Dark Cloak.

Gameplay

Super Adventure Island is a classic platformer in the vein of Super Mario Bros. and Mega Man. Players control Master Higgins as he runs, jumps, and shoots his way through a variety of levels, defeating enemies and collecting power-ups.

One of the unique features of Super Adventure Island is Master Higgins’ skateboard. Higgins can ride his skateboard to move faster and jump higher, and he can even use it to attack enemies. The skateboard also allows Higgins to perform a variety of special moves, such as the “Rocket Skate” and the “Somersault Skate.”

In addition to his skateboard, Higgins can also use a variety of weapons and power-ups to defeat his enemies. These include the “Fireball,” the “Boomerang,” and the “Super Star.”

Levels

Super Adventure Island features a total of eight levels, each with its own unique theme and enemies. The levels range from tropical shores to underground caves to the belly of a whale.

Each level is filled with a variety of enemies, including bats, spiders, snakes, and even dinosaurs. Higgins must defeat all of the enemies in a level in order to progress to the next one.

Bosses

At the end of each level, Higgins must face a boss battle. The bosses are all large and powerful, and they require Higgins to use all of his skills and abilities to defeat them.

The final boss of the game is Dark Cloak himself. Dark Cloak is a powerful sorcerer who has turned Jeannie Jungle to stone. Higgins must defeat Dark Cloak in order to rescue Jeannie and save the day.

Graphics and Sound

Super Adventure Island features colorful and detailed graphics for its time. The levels are all visually distinct, and the enemies are all well-animated.

The game’s soundtrack is also very good. The music is catchy and upbeat, and it helps to create a sense of adventure and excitement.

Legacy

Super Adventure Island was a critical and commercial success upon its release. The game was praised for its fun and challenging gameplay, its colorful graphics, and its catchy soundtrack.

Super Adventure Island has been ported to a variety of platforms over the years, including the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), the Game Boy, and the Virtual Console. The game remains popular with retro gamers today.

Conclusion

Super Adventure Island is a classic platformer that is still fun to play today. The game’s challenging gameplay, colorful graphics, and catchy soundtrack make it a must-play for fans of the genre. If you’re looking for a great retro platformer to play, be sure to check out Super Adventure Island.

Additional Information

  • Super Adventure Island was developed by Hudson Soft and published by Nintendo.
  • The game was released in Japan in 1991 and in North America and Europe in 1992.
  • Super Adventure Island was followed by two sequels, Super Adventure Island II and Super Adventure Island III.
  • Master Higgins also appears in the Hudson Soft game series Adventure Island.

Review Score

8/10

Art

Cover Art

Screenshots