More and more often we see the return of older, retro games in a more modern guise, and one of them is The NewZealand Story: Untold Adventure. It is a 2D platformer that brings a modern version of the classic arcade game from 1988. The game was developed by BitoBit under license from TAITO. This title is an official remake of the original, with improved graphics and new content, but retains the distinctive style and gameplay that characterized the original. The game is currently only available on PC.
In the game, the player assumes the role of a little kiwi bird named Tiki, who embarks on an adventure to save her friends who have been captured by enemies. The game contains many levels in which the goal is to avoid enemies and navigate increasingly complex situations in order to reach the goal and free your captured friends. During the gameplay, you will encounter different types of enemies and traps that require quick reactions and precise movement. In addition to walking and jumping, the player can also use various vehicles or objects that make it easier to pass the more difficult parts of the level and bring additional dynamics to the gameplay. There are also several types of weapons that you can pick up while playing the level, of which the bombs and the laser gun are certainly the best options.
As you progress through the game, the levels become more challenging, there are more enemies, more complex obstacles, and less room for error. However, this is where some problems come to the fore. Character movement feels too fast, and falls are sudden and hard to control, making precision platforming often feel frustrating instead of fun. An additional problem is the visibility of the danger, the spikes often blend into the background, so the player can lose a life completely by accident. Also, the way enemies drop items is different than in the original. Items now spawn at locations where you kill an enemy instead of dropping to the floor, sometimes making it even more difficult to collect these items in already challenging situations.
[foogallery id="17754"]Boss fights are personally the most fun part of the game for me. They are not too difficult, but still offer enough challenges to keep players interested. However, the problem is the escape sequences that come after fights, they are often unexpected and can result in instant death on the first try, which seems a bit unfair and poorly designed.
Another big drawback is the almost complete absence of checkpoints. In most cases, death means returning to the beginning of the level, which adds to the frustration, especially for players who are not used to this type of game. As someone who doesn't have much experience with platformers, I have to admit that the game was just too hard for me and I couldn't finish it. Players who have experience and have played similar games, might not have any problems with passing the levels. But for people who don't often encounter platformers, it can be too much of a challenge
As for the sound, the soundtrack is taken from the original game, which fans of the classics will love. However, the problem is that the music hardly changes during gameplay, so it can become tiring after a long time, especially if you get stuck on the same level.
All in all, The NewZealand Story: Untold Adventure is an interesting remake that manages to retain the charm of the original game, but at the same time brings some design issues that can detract from the overall experience. The game will appeal mostly to fans of retro platformers and gamers who like challenging titles. However, due to the difficulty of the levels, lack of checkpoints and somewhat frustrating mechanics, it may not be the best choice for beginners or players looking for a more relaxed experience. Despite this, it offers enough fun moments, especially in boss fights. If you're someone who likes retro platformers and has some experience, this game is worth giving it a shot.
A sample of the game for review purposes provided by the development studio bitobit
