Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars
Alex and Stella search for the twelve Zodiac signs.
Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars is a platform game released by Sega for arcades in 1986, initially only in Japan. A worldwide release followed when it was ported to the Master System in 1988. Players control either Alex Kidd or Stella, moving through side-scrolling stages under a time limit.
The story follows Alex and Stella as they search for the twelve Zodiac signs. To succeed, Alex must clear each level by knocking down enemies and collecting six miracle balls. These balls are hidden in places like a Christmas present, the Fantasy Zone ship, a pumpkin, a clamshell, a golden egg, and a desk bell. Levels include Toy World, Machine World, World of Make Believe, Water World, Monster World, and Giant's Body. After collecting all six balls, Alex travels to outer space to deliver them to the holy land of Ziggurat. Completing the final level, the Shrine of Jiggarat, forces the player to replay all stages with new enemies. A time limit applies throughout; running out costs a life. The game is notable for Alex’s scream when hit, falling, or losing all time.
The arcade and Master System versions are similar aside from graphics and sound. The arcade version gives three lives by default, while the Master System version offers a limited number of lives (typically three)—being hit or falling subtracts time and sends the player back to the last checkpoint. The arcade version includes a cooperative two-player mode, with the second player controlling Stella.
*Computer and Video Games* reviewed the Master System version in 1990, giving it an 80% score and praising its "jolly and colourful" graphics and addictive gameplay. Retrospectively, Lucas Thomas of IGN rated the Virtual Console release 5 out of 10, arguing it lost the momentum of *Alex Kidd in Miracle World* and removed many memorable mechanics, such as rideable vehicles and the ability to punch.
The Master System port was released digitally for the Wii Virtual Console in North America on March 9, 2009, and in Europe on April 17, 2009.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars
- Developer
- Sega
- Composer
- Hiroshi Kawaguchi
- Released
- Arcade / December 1986 / Master System JP · March 10, 1988NA · July 1988EU · 1988
- Genre
- Platform
- Series
- Alex Kidd
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Platforms
- Arcade, Master System
- Arcade System
- Sega System 16A
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
In Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars, players control either Alex Kidd or Stella as they search for the twelve Zodiac signs. The mission requires running through each level, knocking down enemies, and obtaining six miracle balls hidden in unusual places such as a Christmas present, the Fantasy Zone ship, a pumpkin, a clamshell, a golden egg, and a desk bell. Levels include Toy World, Machine World, World of Make Believe, Water World, Monster World, and Giant's Body. Once the six miracle balls are obtained, Alex must venture into outer space to carry them to the holy land of Ziggurat. After completing the last level, the Shrine of Jiggarat, the player must run through all levels again with new enemies. The game is noteworthy for the scream Alex lets out whenever he gets hit, falls, or loses all his time.
Reader's Guide
The arcade and Master System versions are similar aside from graphics and sound. The arcade version has a limited number of lives (three by default), while the Master System version has infinite lives, though being hit or falling into a pit subtracts seconds from the timer and backtracks the player to the last checkpoint. The arcade version features a cooperative two-player mode, with the second player controlling Stella. In Japan, Game Machine listed the game as the thirteenth most-successful table arcade unit in their February 1, 1988 issue. Computer and Video Games reviewed the Master System version in 1990, giving it an 80% score and praising its graphics and addictive gameplay. Retrospectively, Lucas Thomas of IGN rated the Virtual Console release 5 out of 10, stating it lost momentum from Alex Kidd in Miracle World and did away with many mechanics like rideable vehicles and the ability to punch. The Master System port received a digital release for the Wii Virtual Console in North America on March 9, 2009 and in Europe on April 17, 2009.
Did You Know?
- The arcade version was exclusively released in Japan.
- The game features a cooperative two-player mode in the arcade version, with the second player controlling Stella.
- The Master System version gives a limited number of lives (typically three), and being hit subtracts time from the timer.
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