Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars delivers a familiar platforming experience that veterans of the series will immediately recognize. You guide Alex through five distinct worlds—Toy World, Machine World, World of Make Believe, Water World, and Monster World—each brimming with colorful hazards and whimsical enemies. As you progress, your main objectives are to knock down adversaries, collect hidden miracle balls, and beat the clock before time runs out. The game trades the sometimes punishing difficulty of earlier Alex Kidd titles for a more accessible challenge, making it an ideal entry point for younger players or those new to the franchise.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

Collecting the six miracle balls forms the core of the gameplay loop. These orbs are cleverly concealed inside everything from Christmas presents and pumpkins to golden eggs and even a derelict Fantasy Zone ship. You’ll need keen observation and quick reflexes to uncover each ball. Once all six orbs are in your possession, the journey isn’t over—you’ll have to revisit every world for a second lap, this time facing new enemy patterns and layouts that keep the action fresh without overwhelming casual players.

Power-ups play a crucial role in Alex Kidd’s adventure. At the start, Alex is unarmed, relying solely on his trademark punches and kicks. Along the way, you can discover items that grant the ability to shoot projectiles or perform higher jumps, greatly expanding your tactical options. Time-boosting power-ups are equally important, as they can mean the difference between victory and an untimely “Game Over.” The balance between exploration, combat, and time management ensures each level feels brisk but never unfair.

Graphics

Graphically, Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars embraces a bright and playful aesthetic that holds up surprisingly well. The sprite work on Alex is crisp and full of personality, conveying his trademark enthusiasm with every leap and punch. Each world is richly detailed—the pastel hues of Toy World, the mechanical intricacies of Machine World, and the watery blues of Water World all showcase the developers’ knack for crafting charming, varied environments within hardware limitations.

Enemy designs lean into cartoonish exaggeration, ranging from mischievous clamshell critters to quirky, animated pumpkins. Boss encounters and special areas, such as the tour through the giant’s body, add surprising creativity to the visual palette. Background layers use parallax scrolling sparingly but effectively, providing a sense of depth without cluttering the screen. For a title designed with younger audiences in mind, the overall presentation manages to be both inviting and detailed.

Special effects, while simple, are used judiciously. Explosions of confetti when a miracle ball is revealed or subtle sparkles on power-ups provide just enough flair to keep each discovery satisfying. Even the outer-space locales have a playful shine, reinforcing the game’s fantastical tone rather than striving for realism. Ultimately, Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars stands as a testament to how vibrant art direction can elevate straightforward mechanics into a memorable visual journey.

Story

The narrative of Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars is modest but effective: Ziggurat, the evil space tyrant, has scattered six miracle balls across bizarre landscapes, and it’s up to Alex to recover them and save the universe. There’s minimal dialogue or cutscenes—story beats are conveyed through brief text screens and imaginative level design. While this approach is simple, it aligns perfectly with the game’s child-friendly sensibilities.

Each world feels like a chapter in a fantastical children’s book, stitched together by Alex’s cheerful determination. Children will delight in the idea of exploring a whimsical Monster World or unlocking secrets inside a giant’s body, and the loose framing of the plot allows players to focus on trial-and-error exploration rather than intricate narrative twists. For older fans, the nostalgia of revisiting Alex Kidd’s heroic antics is more than enough motivation to push through the time limits and enemy gauntlets.

Completing each world and re-running stages with tougher enemy placements adds a sense of progression without complicating the story. The simplicity of the plot—collect, conquer, repeat—means there’s never a confusing turn or jarring shift in tone. Instead, Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars remains consistently upbeat, rewarding players with continuous action and visual surprises rather than lengthy exposition.

Overall Experience

Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars strikes a delightful balance between accessibility and challenge. Designed with younger gamers in mind, the title introduces newcomers to platforming fundamentals—jumping, punching, time management—without sacrificing the replay value that seasoned players crave. The requirement to revisit each world after collecting all six miracle balls keeps the pacing dynamic, ensuring you never settle into repetitive patterns.

The combination of whimsical level themes, straightforward story, and broad age appeal makes this game a solid pick for family gaming sessions or quick solo adventures. Even if the time limits can occasionally feel tight, the generous distribution of time-boosting power-ups and extra lives helps mitigate frustration, particularly for novice players. Meanwhile, speedrunners and series die-hards will appreciate the subtle reconfiguration of enemy placements on second runs.

In the pantheon of Alex Kidd titles, The Lost Stars stands out as one of the most inviting and visually charming entries. Its straightforward objectives and playful world designs may not suit gamers seeking deep narratives or cutting-edge mechanics, but for those in search of lighthearted platforming fun, this retro gem continues to shine. Whether you’re introducing a young player to classic Sega adventures or rekindling your own childhood memories, Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars offers a rewarding journey through some of the most imaginative locales the series has to offer.

Retro Replay Score

6/10