Information

Alex Kidd: in Miracle World (AK:IMW):
This game was the first game starring Alex Kidd. It was produced by SEGA Enterprises Ltd. for the Sega Master System console and released November 1. 1986. It is an action-platform game, specifically made to compete with Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. Many people think that the game was superior to Super Mario Bros, but due to the lack of popularity of the Sega Master System, it did never really get the same amount of popularity as Super Mario Bros. - even though it probably is the most well-known game for Sega Master System.

Alex Kidd, who is the main character in the game, is a young lad living on the planet Aries. Alex have been studying the ancient art Shellcore. Shellcore gives Alex the great ability to break rocks into pieces. During the game Alex will utilize the "Sukopako motorcycle" and the "Peticopter"  (in Alex Kidd: In The Enchanted Castle it is called "Pedicopter") which is a motorcycle and a helicopter respectively.

There are two known versions of
AK:IMW. In one version Alex Kidd eats a rice-ball, when a level is completed, and in the other version he eats a hamburger. This difference is clearly reflecting the parts of the world the respective game has been sold in.

There are four other Alex Kidd games for the Sega Master System, but none of them are sequels to Alex Kidd: in Miracle world. There is one Alex Kidd game for the Sega Mega Drive (Sega Genesis in the USA), which is called Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle.

Ossale Kohta(1) is the name of the designer of AK:IMW. He joined the research and development part of Sega in 1983. He has been working on numerous titles for the Sega Master System, including Alex Kidd: BMX Trial. You can click here to see a very early stage sketch of the map of Aries.

(1) This information is based on (loose) translations of this site, and should not be regarded as accurate in any way. I'd like to thanks Maph from IRC, EFnet to help out a lot with rough translations. I would like if someone could translate the whole page, as accurate as possible. Please mail me to contribute.

alex.jpg (28796 bytes)

Release Years:
Alex Kidd: in Miracle World, SMS,1986
Alex Kidd: BMX Trial, SMS, 1987*
Alex Kidd: the Lost Stars, SMS, 1988
Alex Kidd: in High Tech World, SMS, 1989
Alex Kidd: in The Enchanted Castle, SMD, 1989
Alex Kidd: in Shinobi World, SMS, 1990

*
Is only released in Japan, and is the only game which requires the Paddle Controller.

The Game:
As the intructions informs you:

"Many centuries ago, on the planet Aries, there lived a boy name ALEX KIDD. For seven years he lived on Mt. Eternal studying Shellcore, an ancient art that makes one strong enough to break rocks into pieces. One day, as he was leaving the mountain for his spiritual homeland, he encountered a dying man who told him that the peaceful city of Radactian was in grave danger. Before taking his last breath, the man gave ALEX a piece of a map and a medallion made of Sun Stone. What does it all mean? The only way to find out is to journey through the Miracle World looking for the answers."

c_alex.gif (2697 bytes)You have to guide the rice-ball-loving Alex through all the dangers on his way to free the Radactian people. Along the way Alex will be travelling by foot, by swimming, by Sukopako motorcycle, Peticopter and Sui Sui speedboat.

Unlike most other platform games, Alex Kidd can only be hit once per life, making the game much harder than the average platformer. However that is handled with a bit of cautioness and practice.

The map is presented each time you start on a new level, while Alex eats a refreshing rice-ball (or a hamburger depending on version).  A white blinking cursor, points at the new location. Below is a screenshot:

Map.png (4997 bytes)

A central part of the game, is the Janken matches. Whenever Alex meets a boss, you will play a game of Janken against him. If you win, the boss' head might pop off, and start attacking Alex. When the boss is beaten, he turns into a rice-ball, and the level is completed.

(Much) more info will (hopefully) be added (soon)


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