Alex Kidd returns in Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX (Updated)
The Jankenpon champion gets the Wonder Boy treatment.
Many of us never thought we would see the day. Sure, Alex Kidd has clearly not been forgotten by SEGA, appearing in the various All-Stars games, numerous compilations, and SEGA AGES: Alex Kidd in Miracle World for the Nintendo Switch, and we thought that’s as good as it was going to get. But IGN’s Summer of Gaming 2020 has just proven us wrong.
During the livestreamed event, the following trailer was debuted:
Coming from Merge Games, a UK-based publisher of various indie titles (including the recent Streets of Rage 4) and Jankenteam, Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX appears to be taking a page straight out of Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap‘s playbook, allowing players to play either the original 1986 SEGA Master System game, or a newly remastered version with modern-day 2D pixel graphics, though it seems unlikely at this point in time that you can switch on the fly.
That’s because, in addition to the new graphic style, IGN notes that the game also “adds new levels and story elements, alters boss fight systems, and adds brand new modes (including a boss rush mode),” adding that “combat, movement mechanics and menu systems have also been tweaked.” So unless they add the new stuff to the original graphics style (entirely possible), then we’re likely looking at two different versions of the game.
No release date has been announced, but the game is poised for a release on the Nintendo Switch and Steam for the PC, where it’s listed as releasing in the first quarter of 2021. “Xbox and PlayStation” are listed vaguely as such, too, but compatibility with Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 seems likely at this point.
Viewed by many as the mascot for SEGA before Sonic the Hedgehog took the spotlight, Alex Kidd has been long overdue for a comeback, with six games culminating in 1990’s excellent Alex Kidd in Shinobi World for the SEGA Master System before he went away. With any luck, maybe this will lead to more remakes (Enchanted Castle could probably do with some extra polish added), and perhaps even an all-new game? Ah, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves — we’ll be keeping a close eye on this one as it heads towards its eventual release.
Here are some screens to give a better idea of how the two main game modes compare.
Update: Added release date info and screenshots.
