Back in the distant 1980s - when pixels were chunky and not only rock bands but video games were truly hardcore - "Adventure Island" hit the scene. This platformer could both delight with its vibrant visuals and drive you absolutely mad with its difficulty.
Following a time-honored story setup, the hero - a chubby guy in a cap named Master Higgins - sets off to rescue his girlfriend Tina. Naturally, his path lies across an island packed with deadly challenges: jungles, caves, forests, and even icy underground zones.
For a game released in 1986, "Adventure Island" looked really colorful to me. Bright colors, detailed backgrounds, cute animations of the main character and enemies - all of it made the island journey feel pretty enjoyable.
But I'd definitely call this game a hardcore platformer. The hero runs nonstop, dodging enemies, leaping over pits, and collecting fruit for points. And with each new level, the difficulty spikes: more enemies, faster movement, and very little room for error.
The coolest parts? The weapons and the skateboard. Master Higgins could throw axes, instantly turning into the king of the jungle. And riding the skateboard? That was just awesome. It looked stylish and helped you blaze through levels at breakneck speed (though usually straight into a pit).
The game was tough for me. Sometimes repetitive, but always insanely difficult. The jumps demanded nearly pixel-perfect precision, and the enemies were relentless.
Despite the challenge and some repetition, "Adventure Island" is a true old-school platformer that left a mark in its time - especially those rare moments when you sped through an entire level on a skateboard without crashing into the first enemy. A decent game that made you sweat but gave back some cool memories in return.
6 out of 10.
