Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The opening has the blunt momentum you want from Adventure Island: Higgins loses his girlfriend to a purple cloud, King Quiller is responsible, and the chase begins. There is no long wind-up before the platforming takes over. That directness remains one of the remake’s strongest qualities. You are here to move through side-scrolling stages, deal with enemies and hazards, and push toward the rescue rather than linger in setup.

As a remake, this is a more inviting proposition for someone who wants the old Adventure Island framework with a few meaningful refreshes. The boss fights receive the clearest upgrade. Instead of merely throwing weapons at Higgins, bosses do more, giving these encounters a better chance to break up the regular stage-to-stage rhythm. That change matters because bosses should feel like punctuation, not just another obstacle with a larger sprite.

Still, this is a budget remake built around a classic 2D scrolling platform game, not a reinvention of the series. If you already enjoy Adventure Island’s straightforward run-and-jump pressure, the format clicks quickly. If you need a platformer to constantly introduce new systems, you may find its old-school focus limiting. The bonus materials add a little extra value, but the main reason to play is the chance to revisit Higgins’s rescue mission in a revised form.

Graphics

The original game’s look has been rendered in 3D, while the action remains side-on. That gives Higgins, the enemies, and the stages a newer coat of paint without changing the fundamental side-scrolling viewpoint. It is a conspicuous update for anyone familiar with the earlier Adventure Island.

The music has also been completely overhauled, helping the remake feel more distinct from a simple visual conversion.

Story

This is unapologetically a rescue story. Master Higgins and his girlfriend begin in a quiet moment together, then a purple cloud carries her away to King Quiller. Higgins goes after her. You understand the objective immediately, and the game does not need more complication to get its platforming journey moving.

That simplicity fits the material. The story is a clean excuse to send Higgins from one dangerous stretch to the next, with King Quiller as the clear destination. Do not come in expecting a character-driven adventure; this is a classic arcade-style premise delivered with the same lack of fuss as the gameplay.

The remake’s stronger bosses give the pursuit a little more weight, since the major confrontations are no longer restricted to the original’s weapon-throwing behavior. It is not a deeper narrative, but it makes the road to the rescue feel less mechanically flat.

Overall Experience

Hudson Selection Vol. 4: Takahashi Meijin no Bōken Jima succeeds when you want a compact, updated take on Adventure Island rather than a dramatic overhaul. The first pull is immediate: familiar platform action, a crystal-clear goal, and no wasted time before Higgins is on the move. Once the rhythm settles in, the revised bosses and rebuilt audiovisual layer give this version its own reason to exist.

Frustration can set in if you expect the remake label to mean a radically modernized platformer. The game remains rooted in classic side-scrolling design, and its appeal rests on whether that direct, concentrated style still works for you. Hudson’s budget framing is important here: this is a polished revisit, not a ground-up replacement for the original.

For Adventure Island fans, the payoff is easy to see. You get the familiar rescue run with 3D-rendered visuals, overhauled music, more involved bosses, and bonus material. If Hudson’s other collection-style revivals interest you, Hudson Selection Vol. 2: Star Soldier makes a natural companion. Everyone else should give this one a chance only if a stripped-down, old-school platform chase sounds more comforting than restrictive.

Retro Replay Score

7.2/10