View Full Version : Whatever happened to Alex Kidd?
cessnaace
03-08-2007, 01:08 AM
I have four Alex Kidd games for my SMS, and a fifth for my Genesis. He then seems to have gone underground. Or did I miss something? He was Sega's main character prior to Sonic. Should Sega bring him back? I say yes.
Mark
udisi
03-08-2007, 02:04 AM
you know...that's a pretty good question. He would be a good franchise to revisit, though I shudder to think that sega would probably just tarnish the name by trying to make some crappy 3d-type collector type platformer like they've done with sonic.
MarioMania
03-08-2007, 03:20 AM
Make new 2D game on the GBA or DS
thetoxicone
03-08-2007, 03:43 AM
I just think after all this time they would need to find a whole new crowd since there aren't many people like us who still know anything about Alex Kidd. Especially since the master system didn't fare too well in america
Ed Oscuro
03-08-2007, 05:11 AM
He died the death that uninteresting video game heroes die.
He was cool in Shinobi World...maybe only because a Ninja possessed him.
Push Upstairs
03-08-2007, 05:20 AM
He OD'd snorting coke off a hookers thigh.
True story.
This is also how Bubsy died.
Sotenga
03-08-2007, 07:11 AM
Courtesy of Hardcore Gaming 101, I've got the real scoop... and it's a real heartbreaker.
http://hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/segagaga/segagaga.htm
Scroll down near the end of the article... dammit, I knew that spiky rodent was responsible for his disappearance! :bad-words:
Blitzwing256
03-08-2007, 07:55 AM
He OD'd snorting coke off a hookers thigh.
True story.
This is also how Bubsy died.
not true!, your'e thinking of Earthworm jim, Bubsy actually died by being run over by a street sweeper while taking a dump in the middle of main street.
silly kitty
PSXferrari
03-08-2007, 08:35 AM
Sega has a tendency to let great franchises die and churn out endless sequels to terrible games. Personally, I'm still waiting for the NiGHTS and Panzer Dragoon Saga. As for Alex Kidd, he was great in his time but I don't think he would transition well to modern audiences-- it also doesn't help that most people have never heard of him due to the lack of popularity of the Master System. As someone else pointed out, his only hope would be on the DS, but I still don't think Sega would take the risk. And they shouldn't, the game probably wouldn't sell to today's market no matter how hard they tried to modernize it.
Push Upstairs
03-08-2007, 02:41 PM
not true!, your'e thinking of Earthworm jim, Bubsy actually died by being run over by a street sweeper while taking a dump in the middle of main street.
silly kitty
You have Bubsy confused with Awesome Possum. Awesome Possum was found dead in the street when a street sweeper ran over his corpse.
Earthworm Jim hit hard times and ran to the bottle for help, he never snorted coke. He sobered up a few years ago and now sells insurance.
Too bad we never got that "Segagaga" game, it looks like a blast.
Sweater Fish Deluxe
03-08-2007, 03:10 PM
Yeah, I'm afraid that a game with a toddler as the main character wouldn't fly in the modern video games market.
Now, what I've wanted to see for the longest time is the resurrection of Opa Opa. A free roaming 3D shooter with cel-shaded graphics and authentic Fantasy Zone art style would be totally cool.
Too bad Sega sucks. I wouldn't trust them to do that concept or a NiGHTS sequel justice anymore.
...word is bondage...
Nebagram
03-08-2007, 03:47 PM
Well, let's be fair here, the game Sega really should revive is Wonderboy- particular the spectacular 3rd Master System installment- as their latest blockbuster. They've effectively neutered the hell out of Sonic with his latest outings, NiGHTS is considered holy, almost like everyone except George Lucas seems to see the Star Wars trilogy, Daytona and Sega Rally (criminally) seem to be overlooked, only Virtua Fighter is left flying the Sega flag.
That said though, Alex Kidd on the VC would be a hoot. :)
InsaneDavid
03-08-2007, 04:34 PM
Daytona and Sega Rally (criminally) seem to be overlooked
Not true, we did get Daytona USA 2001 on the Dreamcast which wasn't bad at all. Was the whole reason I bought that console.
rcgamer
03-08-2007, 04:57 PM
Well, let's be fair here, the game Sega really should revive is Wonderboy- particular the spectacular 3rd Master System installment- as their latest blockbuster. They've effectively neutered the hell out of Sonic with his latest outings, NiGHTS is considered holy, almost like everyone except George Lucas seems to see the Star Wars trilogy, Daytona and Sega Rally (criminally) seem to be overlooked, only Virtua Fighter is left flying the Sega flag.
That said though, Alex Kidd on the VC would be a hoot. :)
Most of the people on sega board seems to love the new Sonic and the secret rings game. I am hearing great things about it. And in their poll on sega.com they have nights as one of the choices that you would like to bring back. Agreed on wonderboy. I think Kidd should get more games as well.
jajaja
03-08-2007, 05:08 PM
He died in a horrible planecrash back in 97 :(
Hehe, seriously tho, good question :)
chrisbid
03-08-2007, 05:36 PM
when sega 'fixed' alex kidd in miracle world for the master system 2, they not only switched the buttons to play like super mario bros, but they also had him eat hamburgers between stages. he probably simply died of heart failure.
PSXferrari
03-08-2007, 10:58 PM
Well, let's be fair here, the game Sega really should revive is Wonderboy- particular the spectacular 3rd Master System installment- as their latest blockbuster.
As good as the series was (especially the 3rd) I don't think you can sell a game titled "Wonderboy" to gamers these days. Sega sure had some weird people naming their characters back in the Master System days.
Famidrive-16
03-08-2007, 11:04 PM
Wonderboy kicked his ass.
TurboGenesis
03-08-2007, 11:29 PM
Earthworm Jim hit hard times and ran to the bottle for help, he never snorted coke. He sobered up a few years ago and now sells insurance.
I swear it was Gex (of 3DO fame) that was a recovering alcoholic and is now dealing in insurance.
Well, let's be fair here, the game Sega really should revive is Wonderboy
Wasn't the Wonder Boy games from Westone?
And for forgotten Sega representatives - Flicky
How bout a new Flicky game!
PSXferrari
03-08-2007, 11:44 PM
And for forgotten Sega representatives - Flicky
How bout a new Flicky game!
Nice. Flicky is easily in my top 5 or 10 favorite Genesis games. Why doesn't this game get the credit it deserves? It's a blast to play, with pure arcade action. But critics of the time (i.e. EGM- 5, 6, 5, 5) and critics today just seem to credit this game as mediocre to above-average at best. Are we missing something or are they??
As for a new Flicky game, I can't imagine it selling well-- it's not like the game was a huge hit for the Genesis. But more importantly, how could you make Flicky any better? It's formula was perfected in 2D on the Genesis and the gameplay isn't deep enough to make it any better than the original. So any sequel would just inevitably hurt the integrity of the first game.
Push Upstairs
03-09-2007, 03:05 AM
I swear it was Gex (of 3DO fame) that was a recovering alcoholic and is now dealing in insurance.
No, thats his cousin from the UK.
About Flicky.
Doesn't Sega put this game on any compilation it can? It seems like its always a hidden unlockable game or something. They will neglect tons of old franchises and arcade games but will never miss giving us yet another chance to play Flicky.
Jorpho
03-09-2007, 08:36 AM
Actually, Wonder Boy 2 was released on cellphones recently. Sorta.
http://wireless.gamespy.com/wireless/super-adventure-island/601789p1.html
DarthKur
03-09-2007, 09:12 AM
.....how could you make Flicky any better? It's formula was perfected in 2D on the Genesis and the gameplay isn't deep enough to make it any better than the original. So any sequel would just inevitably hurt the integrity of the first game.
Actually, the Genesis version is an re-worked version of the actual original for the Sega SG-1000. In fact that's the only version I own at present. I still need to get the Genesis one.
Nebagram
03-09-2007, 09:27 AM
Not true, we did get Daytona USA 2001 on the Dreamcast which wasn't bad at all. Was the whole reason I bought that console.
Indeed, and Sega Rally 2 on DC was also awesome- it's still been 6 years since the last installment, though...
GarrettCRW
03-09-2007, 09:31 AM
It's true that Alex Kidd is demoralized because he got his butt kicked by Wonderboy.
Of course, this would in part be because Wonderboy is now Wondergirl, a top shemale porn star, but that's neither here nor there (nor is the fact that the former Wonderboy's girlfriend from the first game is still with him/her).
Graham Mitchell
03-09-2007, 09:33 AM
Yeah, I'm afraid that a game with a toddler as the main character wouldn't fly in the modern video games market.
Now, what I've wanted to see for the longest time is the resurrection of Opa Opa. A free roaming 3D shooter with cel-shaded graphics and authentic Fantasy Zone art style would be totally cool.
Too bad Sega sucks. I wouldn't trust them to do that concept or a NiGHTS sequel justice anymore.
...word is bondage...
A slight glimpse of what you're hoping for actually does exist. Fantasy Zone was remade as part of the Sega Ages line on PS2, and was released in the US on the Sega Classics comp. It plays in 2-D, but the playfield exists in three-dimensional space. All objects are cell-shaded, and when you kill a boss and coins fly out, the camera suddenly rotates behind Opa Opa and you collect the coins in 3-D. If you haven't played this, you really shoud. I about pooped my pants when I first saw that. That comp disc bombed, so I'm sure you can find it for 7 bucks now.
rbudrick
03-09-2007, 10:47 AM
when sega 'fixed' alex kidd in miracle world for the master system 2, they not only switched the buttons to play like super mario bros, but they also had him eat hamburgers between stages. he probably simply died of heart failure.
They fixed the buttons?! I had no idea...surprised I never heard this. :-) The original config was so annoying.
Alex Kidd (Miracle World, I think) was supposed to be remade for the Sega Ages series, but it appears to have been cancelled.
-Rob
bangtango
03-09-2007, 08:14 PM
Alex Kidd failed to sell systems in mass numbers, thus he was put on the scrap heap and replaced by Sonic. Asking what happened to him is like asking why Sega stopped using Altered Beast as the pack in for the Genesis.
If Sega intended on bringing back Alex Kidd, they should have done it on the Game Gear seeing that the market for that handheld included hardcore Sega fans and some younger gamers. It'd have fit in with the watered down 16-bit ports and all of the Mickey Mouse type of games that appeared.
I'm not saying a new Alex Kidd game would be bad, though. It couldn't be any worse than the kids stuff Nintendo tends to churn out. Sega could have had an opportunity to make Alex Kidd "cool" if they used HIM as the main character in Jet Grind Radio for Dreamcast and write him into the game. If Alex Kidd can appear in a Shinobi game, then he certainly could have been used to cruise the town spray painting stuff. "Alex Kidd in Jet Grind" or something. It'd have been either incredibly clever or incredibly laughable.
Sega seems to avoid producing sequels (or remakes) to games that did sell and would probably continue to sell, so why would they stand behind a character who was never a major household name?
Alex Kidd sold his soul in High Tech World. Seriously, anyone ever bothered to beat the game? I spent years trying find out how and when I did, I was presented with an advertisement for sega games. For those who don't know, the game ends with Alex saying how much Sega games rock.
Seriously, what the fuck.
As for dead franchises, what about a new Zillion game?
alexkidd2000
03-09-2007, 09:50 PM
I would love to see a Zelda style 3D Wonder Boy in Monster World sequel. 2D Alex Kidd would also be nice.
scooterb23
03-09-2007, 11:33 PM
He briefly tried to come back in the late 90's with "Alex Mann in Former Child Star World", but it failed miserably, so now he lives a peaceful life in central Florida.
Graham Mitchell
03-10-2007, 01:26 AM
As for dead franchises, what about a new Zillion game?
Now you're talking. But none of that tri-formation garbage. I know Zillion is kind of a derivative of impossible mission, but it's done so well...
You know, I had an opportunity recently to go through and try almost the entier SMS/Mark III library, and I tried a bunch of games I never played when I was younger and the system was around. Now, I really liked my SMS, and really loved most of the games I had for it, and still enjoy them today. But for some reason, most of the more obscure titles were just awful. I had no interest in playing them. They're all flawed in some major way. The one that killed me was Cyber Shinobi. I've never played a bad Shinobi game prior to this, and the title screen for it looks incredible. But when you start the game...big let down. It's murdered by the choppy scrolling, and it seems to be more of a beat-em-up than a platformer. Maybe the change in gameplay could have been refreshing, but the execution was just gawdawful. I think this may have been why the SMS wasn't liked by many. Most of the games I tried had an issue like this. Master of Darkness was the only good one I hadn't seen before.
I guess I never realized how much turd they shoveled onto the market for that machine. If I remember correctly, even the port of After Burner was pretty bad, plagued by shitty scrolling--a fatal flaw since Sega was really known for their arcade games.
j_factor
03-10-2007, 06:34 PM
The Genesis Alex Kidd actually came out before Alex Kidd in Shinobi World.
Alex Kidd really isn't that great. He had one terrific game, two games that were pretty good, and two that sucked ass. As a character, he was alright, but nothing special, and they couldn't make up their mind as to exactly how they wanted him to look. It's no wonder he's not around anymore, although really, he's generic enough that a game like Kid Chameleon could've easily starred him instead.
A new Alex Kidd game would only be worth it if it were a giant nostalgia-fest.
Alex Kidd sold his soul in High Tech World. Seriously, anyone ever bothered to beat the game? I spent years trying find out how and when I did, I was presented with an advertisement for sega games. For those who don't know, the game ends with Alex saying how much Sega games rock.
Seriously, what the fuck.
As for dead franchises, what about a new Zillion game?
Like Super Mario 2 is in fact totally another game in Japan (Doki Doki Panic) with Mario sprites, Alex Kidd in High Tech World is COMPLETELY another game in Japan (Anmitsu Hime) and they just replaced sprites by Alex Kidd..That's maybe why the game is so "different" from other Alex Kidd games.
Did you play Alex Kidd arcade version (2 players,with his girl friend as 2nd player)? It's nice,and is the "real" Alex Kidd Lost Stars :)
Corner Shop Puppet
03-11-2007, 07:51 AM
Bring Alex Kidd back, give him the shinobi possession angle again, let him dash and do something groovy with the controls and put in on DS.
Hell I'd buy that. I'm sure if they modernised him in terms of looks or something they could put it through.
Like Super Mario 2 is in fact totally another game in Japan (Doki Doki Panic) with Mario sprites, Alex Kidd in High Tech World is COMPLETELY another game in Japan (Anmitsu Hime) and they just replaced sprites by Alex Kidd..That's maybe why the game is so "different" from other Alex Kidd games.
I realized that and I always enjoyed the hell out of the game, at least until I finally beat it and was grated with an advertisement by Sega. I highly doubt that's how the original game ended, god damn Sega.
Dire 51
03-11-2007, 06:13 PM
Miracle World and Enchanted Castle blow away ANY other AK game, I say.
cessnaace
03-12-2007, 12:04 AM
Bring Alex Kidd back, give him the shinobi possession angle again, let him dash and do something groovy with the controls and put in on DS.
Hell I'd buy that. I'm sure if they modernised him in terms of looks or something they could put it through.
If they released a new Alex Kidd game I'd buy it, even if it's for a platform I don't have. Some day I will own every game system made. Hey, I can dream can't I?
Maybe it could be a launch title for a Game Gear Advance handheld. Wink, wink.
Mark