You know, Alex Kidd may tell us he was trained in the art of Shellcore, allowing him the ability to punch through rocks like it was nothing, but I refuse to believe that. No amount of training in the world can make him have a fist that's about the size of his head, no way. There's only one possible explanation: steroids. I guess this big-eared prince needed the extra help in his quest to save the kingdom of Radaxian from the evil Janken. It may have been in vain, though, because the first few areas he goes through aren't that hard at all. He ventures down a mountain, pointlessly abusing animals along the way, and then jumps into a lake to attack sea creatures as well. Even though he can die in just one hit, making it through these areas will be a breeze.
There is some variety, however, like when he purchases a motorcycle to plow through a bunch of frogs and scorpions who happened to be minding their own business. Obviously, after he's done with his murder spree, he then destroys the bike to cover his tracks. He could have chosen to walk, but his killings would have just dragged on, taking out these poor inhabitants at a slower, more repetitive pace. On this journey, he does eventually run into an actual enemy, the dreaded S... Stone Head. And what does this villain with the face of a hand do with Alex? He challenges him to a Rock, Paper, Scissors fight, of course. He barely defeats Stone Head, and after he transforms into a rice ball, Alex does something dastardly, something wickedly bastardly... He eats the rice ball. Damn that cannibal!
Not content to barely getting by each of these Rock, Paper, Scissors matches, he snatches himself a Telepathy Ball so he can read the minds of his victims. Yes, that's right, he's a cannibal, a cheater, abuses animals, and pumped on steroids. That Kidd... that horrible, horrible Kidd. Sadly, it's what's necessary to get by on his tougher adventures later on. Yes, things eventually get difficult halfway through, when he stops by the castle of Radaxian. Fireballs, bats, and frogs are placed in the darnedest of places, spikes are laid about every where, and nerve-wracking platforms test Alex's steroid-filled body. It's really the first tense moment in his tainted journey, and it only gets more tense from there.
Like when previously defeated Rock, Paper, Scissors opponents come back from the dead to challenge the crazy Kidd again, only to be eaten up once more. Though, this time around, they put up a harder fight. Even with the might of the Telepathy Ball, Alex won't be able to predict what move they'll use until the very last second. And even when he cheats them at their own game, they try one last time to defeat the prince... by detaching their heads and throwing them in his direction! Yes, it's truly a messed up world. But, I guess it takes a truly messed up hero to save it from Janken, who awaits in his castle.
Overall Rating: 7/10
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