Review:
Master Higgins is at it again in this wacky island adventure for the TurboGrafx-16! ...How's that for a clichéd game review opener? :) Anyway, Hudson Soft does an outstanding job with New Adventure Island in terms of graphics, game play and fun. The plot is the same as any Adventure Island for the NES or SNES: his almost-wife is snatched away from him and he must go rescue her. The premise may be the same, but the graphics and game play are superior to the NES versions.

 And even though Super Adventure Island (SNES) may outshine the TG-16 version as far as graphics and sound are concerned, the TG-16 version holds closer to the game play and fun of the originals. Bottom line and most important, this game is FUN. I had so much fun playing this game that I kept forgetting to take screen shots for this review!  I honestly couldn't stop playing it. Like its predecessors, New Adventure Island uses the "vitality" system where you must keep collecting fruits to sustain your life meter. Each world has 4 levels with the boss on the 4th level. The levels have much variety and you never get bored of looking at the colorful, detailed foregrounds and backgrounds. You often find eggs that contain an item to help you (axe, arrow, boomerang, skateboard, etc.). But watch out, sometimes they contain this purple eggplant thing that sucks your life meter down for about 10 seconds.  The play control is very tight; if you fall in a pit or are struck by an enemy it's hard to blame the game. It's very easy to pick up and play. I saved my one complaint about the game for the very end....THE MUSIC.  *sigh* This game was almost a perfect 10. The music is nothing special and more noteworthy will irritate the hell out of you after a while. It's extremely repetitive, below average, and will make you wince in annoyance if your volume is turned up too loud. The music isn't the worst I've ever heard in a video game, but it could have been far better.  Other than that, this game ranks as one of my all-time favorite games.  It is my personal favorite for the TurboGrafx. You can try to find this on eBay, but it's a pretty rare title and will run you over $50.

Graphics - 10/10

Among the best I've seen on the TurboGrafx! Bright, detailed, colorful and a superb use of the 512 color palette!

Music/Sound - 4/10

I'm annoyed just thinking about the music. What a shame. The sound effects are OK; they're not that bad.

Control - 10/10

The play control is very clean! Only you can be blamed for losing a life.

Fun - 10/10

Hours of enjoyment with this title. If you like colorful 2-D platformers then I think you'll agree that New Adventure Island is a lot of fun!


On a side note...

If you are in your 20s or 30s you may remember the ridicule your TG-16
received for not really being 16-bit. I remember my friends telling me the
graphics looked the same as their NES and I was furious. Anyway, here is my
rebuttal to those statements. Take a look at the difference between New
Adventure Island and Adventure Island 3 for the NES. I picked Adventure
Island 3 because it was released in 1992, the same year the TG-16 version
was released. Ya know, just to be fair.

New Adventure Island (TurboGrafx) [1992]

Adventure Island 3 (NES) [1992]

"Oh, yeah? The same as an NES??!! That's what I thought!" OK, I feel better
that I just globally shot down my 10-year-old friends ....17 years later :)

"God dammit, my supid girlfriend keeps getting kidnapped!"

"Wow that's one pissed off snail"

"Tony Hawk can kiss my ass."


Got a funny caption? Email us and let us know!