Super Adventure Island II

"Has RPG elements, but mostly a side scroller"

Master Higgins is back in his second SNES adventure. This one is a side scroller like his previous one and like his NES adventures, but this time with a twist; there are some RPG-like elements thrown in here. For instance, your life meter increases as you move on, you have to buy weapons and armor, you learn magic spells (very basic ones), and can travel to any area of the game at any time. But at heart, it is a side scroller. The game contains six main islands. Each island has a different theme (ice, fire, etc.) Each island is much easier with the use of the appropriately titled sword or shield, usually available for purchase nearby.

Graphics: 7/10

They're bright, certainly. Some nice facial expresions pop up, and the bosses aren't bad.

Sound: 8/10

Upbeat, and in tune with the game. Only problem is some tracks get used way more often than they should be, which gets annoying.

Gameplay: 8/10

The game stays pretty fresh, due to the fact that all the islands are so different from each other. One nice touch in the game is a casino on one of the islands. You can spend quite a bit of time here playing the games, all based on casino games, such as a slot machine or a game in which you bet on enemies who are racing each other, complete with odds of each one winning. Not only do you have to chance to pick up cash this way, you can also use it to buy the best sword and shield in the game here. The control could be better, as long jumps onto narrow platforms are not always easy. Sometimes Higgins appears to float in the air longer than you'd like, which can cause problems against bosses where jumping and then ducking quick is essential. The magic spells are a nice addition, simple as they are. The swords and shields you buy are not required, but the game is too hard without them, so you will need to buy them. Higgins also will need to learn several techniques concerning smashing blocks, which he accomplishes by finding old men who teach him.

Replay: 7/10

The casino is a reason to come back, as is the desire to find all the unneccessary items, as is always the case in an RPG. You may not want to play through all the action again; a second time around it gets pretty repetitve. There is no two player option.

Overall: 7/10

Nothing special, but a solid game. Certainly not a true RPG, but not just your average side scroller either. A successful combination of both. Give it a try. The game is not especially long, so a few rental and you should complete it.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 11/01/99, Updated 11/01/99