Superkid Review: YS3 - part of www.sickhappyidle.com

review - ys3, 1999

reviewed by nathan cross.
the following review can be read in full at:
ys3 @ www.ysrnry.co.uk/ys3

superkid... is another marvel-esque superhero. young boy given mysterious superpowers turns his hand to saving the city. yawn. still, despite a plot so stale it almost smells of disney, the shaw brothers have managed to produce what is actually quite an enjoyable little game. originally released on budget, this is an entertaining little arcade romp through a reasonably bright and colourful landscape, dispensing justice in the way that only near-invincible superheroes can.

the city itself isn't exactly a seething metropolis. although reasonably large, the number of people walking the streets is mininal. only two bad guys appear on screen at any one time, so you're never really overwhelmed by the opposition. there are few civilians; they are brought out only as special bonus points opportunities. the elderly must be escorted safely to their retirement homes, while damsels in distress must be carried safely to the ground from dangerously high places (a practice far more rewarding in my opinion). the flip-screen city is brightly coloured, although the population are typical mono sprites, drawn in the squashed, almost super-deformed cutesy style a shaw game is always identifiable by.

there are a couple of problems, unfortunately. movement is a little jerky, and combat consists of flying or running into the bad guys while they shoot at you. and it's all pretty simplistic, too; a requirement of skill only really comes into play when escorting pensioners to their retirement homes. the rest of the time it's just 'fly about and jump on the bad guys,' which is a little disappointing, to be honest.

superkid could have been so much more. if there had been a few more people on screen at once; a few more civilians, a few more bad guys, maybe some vehicles... it shows so much promise from the outset, but it doesn't really go anywhere with it. a fine little idea, a well-executed arcade platformer, but it could have been so much more. tch, eh?

ratings - review

life expectancy: 5o% - you can only save the civilians so many times before you start thinking about playing manic miner again.
graphics: 8o% - bright, colourful, cutesy to the core.
sound: 4o% - the usual beepy nonsense. i'm sorry for being harsh, but have you heard agent-x? well there you go.
gameplay: 7o% - starts out well, but tragically doesn't build on it.

summary: a great concept, excellent as far as it goes - it just doesn't go far enough. st