Developer: Hudson Soft Publisher: Hudson Soft Release: 09/92 Genre: Platformer
Adventure Island II and especially Super Adventure Island went a long way toward making me a fan of the series. Both games were not big revelations for the series but what they did bring to the table made them solid titles worth pursuing. Adventure Island III plays it safe and is basically a direct continuation of its predecessor’s structure and mechanics. This means it feels like an expansion rather than a full blown sequel at times. But with that being said it is still a solid if familiar game.
The story sees Jeannie Jungle kidnapped by aliens and left stranded on one of eight islands. It is an almost identical premise to AI II but the similarities go even further. Level themes, enemies, and the item set are near identical as well. Hudson Soft were milking the NES audience with this one and while blatant still makes for a good time if you can get past the feeling of déjà vu.
Like its predecessor Adventure Island III is very similar to Super Mario Bros. 3 in its structure. Adventure Island III brings a few new features to the table. The inventory system of the second game returns and expanded, allowing you to stockpile eight different items rather than five. New to the series is a fifth animal helper, a triceratops that attacks by rolling into enemies. The boomerang is an alternative to the throwing axe that flies in an arc before returning. The rare crystal essentially grants you an extra hit point at the start of a level. But when I say rare I mean it; I found one in my play through. Lastly Master Higgins can now crouch and attack which sounds minimal but is a huge boon.
Structurally this is nearly identical to Adventure Island II. But there are small changes that make this a more tolerable experience. There are fewer levels per island; around five or six usually which sounds bad initially. However one of my problems with the second game was that each themed island grew tiresome as they sometimes had twelve or thirteen repetitive stages. With fewer levels they are more focused in their design. They are short but are packed with secrets if you look for them. It also makes quick play sessions favorable. The bosses do not move to a new location which means you will not have to replay old stages if you die chasing them. So while it may look the same Adventure Island III is a smoother experience until its end. I had to force myself to complete the second game. Here the end crept up on me.
Just as in the second game the difficulty curve is steep. Adventure Island III assumes you are familiar with its predecessor and is not afraid to throw you in to the shit right away. By the second island you will notice fruit become scarce. Prepare to sweat bullets frequently as you pray for a hidden piece of meat to move the last few feet to the exit. You will need to build up that stockpile of items for the later islands which is easier said than done. Despite the challenge being high it never feels cheap. The level design is deliberate with thought put in to every enemy placement. There are few gotcha moments and when you die it is your fault. The game would benefit if it were more gradual.
Although it looks similar I will say that the artists at Hudson Soft were able to pack in more detail in the game overall. I will admit at first I let my distant memories of the second game color my perception of this game. But taking another look at it I noticed the differences right away. The art style is more angular and distinct and you will rarely come across a flat shaded backdrop. There is also more background animation, be it flowing lava or waterfalls. The bosses being aliens look more sinister and a bit out of place but I guess that is the point. Adventure Island III is the natural evolution of what they were building toward and looks every bit a late generation title.
In Closing
There you have it. Adventure Island III is another solid entry in the series but also uncomfortably similar to its predecessor. If that does not bother you than you could do far worse than Adventure Island III.
