Kid Chameleon

"It's the boring level design that makes Kid Chameleon an average title at best."

I didn't get the chance to play Kid Chameleon when it first came out because I'd never heard of it until Sega Mega Drive collection arrived. I got that game for the PSP and played it. After hearing that it boasted over 100 levels, I sought to challenge myself and see how many I could complete before dying- no me, the character. Now that may sound like a ton of gameplay and yes, I suppose it is, but the frustrating difficulty and poor level design inevitably bring down Kid to a middle range type of game.

When a new virtual reality video game arcade machine comes out, it's all the rave with every kid around; the thing is, nobody could beat this new title. Soon the main enemy manages to suck every kid who can't beat the game into it. Enter Casey another Kid (who they try to make look cool, but he isn't) who enters the game in order to defeat Heady Metal and save the day.

Kid allows the gamer to don numerous masks- a thing Majoras Mask eventually used- which gave kid special powers. One of the masks allowed him to become Jason from Friday 13th. He dons a hockey mask and a bloody axe. These powers hep you traverse the different levels on offer. Whether it's an ability that can break blocks, run faster of climb up walls, Kid manages to use them all decently.

Now the level design isn't brilliant. Some levels are stupidly short while others are too long and to make things worse the levels look hideous. Many levels have multiple portals which can warp you to secret levels or even brand new pathways in the game, this was cool, but getting to such portals are purely accidental because the level design is severely clumsy. As for visuals, they could have been a helluva lot better. Water looks like the loading screen of a commodore 64 title and enemy design is lame and uninspired. Some levels are frustrating where controls are concerned, especially since Casey seems to jump much farther that he should and therefore you end up missing platforms and landing in ditches or lava. Collision detection with enemies is also a bit hit miss, sometimes you can get a perfect strike and the enemy will damage you instead of you damaging it. At least the masks brighten up the game a little. As for the music, well I'll not even go in that direction because it's a one way street of unluckiness.

Overall Kid offers a load of boring gameplay. I'd prefer 100 levels of Sonic than 100 levels of pointless platforming levels, at least with Sonic you know the point- get to the end of the level in the quickest way possible. Length does not equal greatness and that is certainly the case here. Yet, I suppose this sought of adventure appeals too many people as I've been reading that this game is quite popular.

Pros and Cons

+ Cool mask gimmick
+ Over 100 levels
+ Tons of secret passages. You'll need to play through the game numerous time to play every hidden level.

- Poor collision detection
- Weak backdrops
- Boring and clumsy level design
- Hit n Miss difficulty
- Overly sensitive control scheme

Reviewer's Score: 5/10, Originally Posted: 07/31/09

Game Release: Kid Chameleon (EU, 1992)