People don't realize...Kid Chameleon ain't no joke!!!

[Anthony1]

If you have never played Kid Chameleon for the Sega Genesis, or if you've just played it briefly, or way back in 1991 or whatever....

Then you need to get this game and play it all over again. The brilliance of this game is something to see. It really was a very well crafted and designed Mario Clone.

Sure, it was nothing more than another countless Mario Clone, but I must say that they cloned the hell out of Mario on this one. Yes, they did copy Mario with this game, but they may have made the game even better than freaking Mario!

And this is coming from somebody that considers Super Mario World to be the No. 1 (non sports game) of all freaking time!

I recently got my hands on Kid Chameleon again, and I'm just blown away and amazed at how much playability and fun is oozing out of this title.

It really got very little play back in the day, but don't be fooled at all. Kid Chameleon is easily one of the 25 best Genesis games. And considering how many good games the Genesis has, being in the top 25 is something to brag about it.

If you disagree with me, and you think that Kid Chameleon sucks, and that no way it belongs in the top 25, or even top 50, or even to 100. Fine. But just do me one favor.

Try playing this game for 30 minutes.

Just give it 30 minutes.

I guarantee that you will be enjoying those 30 minutes, and you will be saying to yourself, "Damn, maybe this game is pretty good after all."

[GrandAmChandler]

I agree. This game is great. It actually is one of the reasons why I purchased a sega genesis in the first place, along with MERCS, Gain Ground, Crack Down, and Beyond Oasis. All in my top 10 of Sega Genny Titles.

[Jive3D]

I seem to recall that you couldnt beat the game if you played through it. You could only get to the final boss by using some kinda of warp that was in the first level.

I rememebr that pissed me off quite a bit.

But yeah, fun game!

[rbudrick]

Hmmm, yeah, I heard that game had no ending, so I said, "the hell with it."

So does it end? Isn't that the game with the randomly generated levels? Or is that something else....?

I remember this game being very difficult for a lack of continues or something....am I just brain farting?

-Rob

[NoahsMyBro]

I remember getting a Genesis while there was a free Sega 2 by mail promo happening, just after playing Sonic at a friend's apartment and being blown away.

Shortly afterward my brother got Kid Chameleon. I looked at it briefly, was thoroughly uninterested, and never gave it another thought.

I'm still skeptical (I never really cared much for SMB tbh), but I'll give it 30 minutes, to give it the benefit of a doubt.

[Balloon Fight]

I tried to beat that final boss countless times, but have no idea how. It does get a little repetitive with all of the block smashing to get the green things, but overall it is a fun game. Definitely on my top 25.

[ManekiNeko]

Kid Chameleon desperately wanted to be Sega's answer to Super Mario Bros. 3, but it felt somewhat cheap and contrived. The light-hearted atmosphere of the Super Mario Bros. series was replaced with an American look and feel that desperately pandered to the "extreme" teen demographic. Even the storyline (the raddest kid in the arcade gets trapped in a virtual reality nightmare!!!) seemed like it was trying to cash in on the hot trends of the moment.

The gameplay isn't too shabby, but it doesn't feel quite as solid as Super Mario Bros. 3, and the character is never as versatile as Mario, even when he picks up helmets that enhance his abilities. The lack of a save feature doesn't help Kid Chameleon's appeal... in fact, it's unforgivable when you consider the vast number of levels in the game.

Overall, I'd give it somewhere between a six and a seven. It's an acceptable alternative to Super Mario Bros., but if you ask me, I'd much rather have the real thing.

JR

[Ed Oscuro]

I haven't played a Mario game in *years* (that includes Super Mario 64; and it's probably been a decade since I played any classic NES Mario), but I was immediately struck by how you bump into blocks with your head. It might seem logical, but that's not as basic a game mechanic as one might think. Personally, I like the game a whole lot; the crazy character designs are much of the fun of the game (the tank being my favorite so far...very silly). Kid Chameleon seems *less* useful at times after picking up a helmet -- without one, he can swing on top of blocks; with one he's restricted to jumping or other character - specific forms of attack.

The game suffers much from being overly restrictive (in character design; the designers obviously wanted the player to be forced to figure out certain abilities from the different characters, but their powers are not too remarkable) and having mostly uninspired level design (quite linear, too, compared to Sonic games). However, this is still a must-have for the Genesis.

[GamecubeFreek]

I recently bought this game, and I agree that it is a very good game. I do not, however, think that it is comparable to the Mario games in terms of quality. It gets a little stale after playing for a while, and it is necessary to play for a long time to get to the end. But really, overall, it is a great game and probably IS in the top 25 Genesis exclusives.

[Jorpho]

I believe this was another game in Sega's Smash Pack 2 for the PC (which is still sitting on my shelf in its plastic wrap from when I purchased the Sonic Action Pack).

[Jasoco]

I bought the Mega Drive version a while ago just because I liked the colors of the end label title better than the Genesis version.

It's an okay game. But really hard.

[Ed Oscuro]

But really, overall, it is a great game and probably IS in the top 25 Genesis exclusives.

Yes, and no. It's a good thing that Sega didn't have to rely on this game to carry the platform :) I'm sure we could come up with 25 better games, even if you're only counting early releases in America...nevermind the later Disney games (most actually not half bad -- Aladdin, The Lion King, and the amazing Mickey Mania: Timeless Adventures of Mickey Mouse) and the considerable number of good titles in the Japanese Mega Drive library.

It's not a terrible game, but I really meant to say "you must play this game sometime," not "this is a must-own title." I'd say it beats El Viento pretty soundly, though.

Was this game released in Japan, and what was it named? O_o

[CRV]

Was this game released in Japan, and what was it named?

It was released as Chameleon Kid over there, I believe.

[Cmosfm]

Didn't I trade this to you Anthony? I know I traded my copy to someone here on the DP boards, pretty sure it was you! :D

Glad to see you're loving it, cause its a beyond excellent game! OVER 12,500 SCREENS! OMG!

[Packerfan66]

I played the first 2 levels last night. Not bad but its kinda got boring. I really wish they would have given more control when the character does a jump. They could have used more power ups and a lot different enemmies. Breaking blocks wasn't the only thing that made mario great.

[Anthony1]

Didn't I trade this to you Anthony? I know I traded my copy to someone here on the DP boards, pretty sure it was you! :D

Glad to see you're loving it, cause its a beyond excellent game! OVER 12,500 SCREENS! OMG!


Yeah, you were the one that traded it to me. Thanks again! I actually did have this game way back in the day, when it first came out, but thanks for helping me get it back.

By the way, just as a curiosity to other people with this game. Mine says Mega Drive on the label, but it plays just fine in my Genny.

Do all of the U.S. versions of this cart say "Mega Drive" on them?

[GameGuru]

On your advice I downloaded the ROM and played through the first two levels and why not horrible I don't think it even comes close to a Mario game.

[Jasoco]

Do all of the U.S. versions of this cart say "Mega Drive" on them?No.

The Genesis labelled one has all blue letters in the end title. The Mega Drive labelled one has a blue and greenish colored text label. This is the one I got over the Genny one because I liked the title better.

It is the only "Mega Drive" game in my collection.

[Anthony1]

On your advice I downloaded the ROM and played through the first two levels and why not horrible I don't think it even comes close to a Mario game.


Actually, you really need to play more than just the first two levels. You need to get to like level 5 or 6 or so, before you start seeing the true genius of this game.

[hu6800]

HAHAHAH

I rented that game when it first came out...
i never remembered returning it .... then just a year ago
i found it undernieth the front seat of my buick hahah.

Yeah that kid running around with the big head and the shades on
is really cool.

[hu6800]

I played the first 2 levels last night. Not bad but its kinda got boring. I really wish they would have given more control when the character does a jump. They could have used more power ups and a lot different enemmies. Breaking blocks wasn't the only thing that made mario great.

a "Gamer" woulda started playing this game, then made it a mission
to beat it.. boring or not.

Ive beaten the game.. even though it wasnt the best game in the world
it did have some challenge to it.