For a lot of retro gamers, I would imagine that for most gamers introduction into console gaming might have been with the likes of Super Mario or Sonic the Hedgehog. Mine, however, was with Alex Kidd in Miracle World for the SEGA Master System in the late 80s. Though I am quite sure I played it quite sometime after it was released in the UK in 1987. I’d say it was probably 89 for me.

To this very day, the main theme music forever plays in my mind, and honestly, it’s as memorable to me as any other iconic video game music. To be honest, I was a kid when Alex Kidd in Miracle was released, and I never really progressed far into the game. That said, I still loved playing the first few levels over and over.

So here we are, well over 30 years later and Alex Kidd in Miracle World has been remade from the ground up with Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX. The remake was developed by Merge Games and Jankenteam.

However, this may be a remake, but this game still plays pretty much identically to the original. It’s a side-scrolling platformer and you’ll be punching enemies and rocks to your heart’s content. You’ll probably also waste your in-game currency on a motorbike to speed through a level, only to crash it almost instantly. Well, that is the case for me at least anyway.

The story has the same premise too. Alex Kidd is a martial artist, though he pretty much seems to be restricted to punching enemies in the face, but whatever. King Thunder of the City of Radaxian has been defeated by the villainous Janken.

To add insult to injury, Janken has also kidnapped King Thunder’s son, as well as his son’s fiancé. Talk about being evil! So, Alex Kidd sets out to save the day. Which is pretty much the basis of every 80s and 90s video game plot.

Some might be put off by the fact that not a lot has changed in terms of gameplay, but don’t let that put you off. Though the 2D visuals are a sight for sore eyes. Each level is full of vibrant colours and charm, which will make you fall for the game as I did when I was a child. Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX is not only a love letter to fans of the original, and a wonderful homage, but it’s also a fantastic retro-inspired platformer for those that may have not even heard of the Alex Kidd series.

As we have established, in terms of story and gameplay, so what is new in this DX remake? Well, the remake includes new levels and characters that were never featured in the original. There are even some new boss fights too. However, from what I can tell, you cannot exploit the epic Rock, Paper and Scissor boss fights like you could in the OG game.

Back in the day, you could change your choice of rock, paper, or scissors at the very last split second, making for an easy victory. So, correct me if I am wrong, but that gameplay exploit is no longer possible in this remake. Damn you! Another nice touch for retro fans is that by pressing the right trigger button, you can switch between the new visuals and the original visuals. And in all honesty, considering the original game is over 30 years old, it still doesn’t look or play too shabby considering its age. Especially now that we can experience the game in its original form in glorious HD.

In the 80s and 90s, whether it was on a home console or in the arcade, video game difficulty was certainly very gruelling. This is probably why I never finished most games, which includes Alex Kidd in Miracle World. In the OG Alex Kidd in Miracle World, once you lost your lives it would be game over, man! However, in this remake, you can choose to play with infinite lives via the main menu from the get-go. Sure, you’ll still be thrown back to the start of a level when you die, but the option of having infinite lives is a nice touch, nonetheless.

Upon completing Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX, you will also unlock two additional modes. Classic mode, which is the full original game from the SEGA Master System in glorious upscaled HD, and the other mode is Boss Rush. In Boss Rush, you get to run a gauntlet of all the Rock, Paper and Scissor boss fights from the campaign. But remember, you cannot exploit the boss fight like you could back in the day. Again, damn you!

All in all, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time playing Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX, and it’s a game that I’ve often returned to. This is not only a remake of a 2D platforming classic with fancy new visuals but also a fun game that’s aged like a fine wine. Even at release, Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX was a reasonably cheap game, and weeks later, you could probably find it for even less. Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX is not just a love letter to yesteryear, it’s also a friendly reminder that the retro 2D platform still has its place in our gaming world.

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