Overview and Gameplay
Master Higgins travels across Adventure Island to rescue Princess Leilani from the Evil Witch Doctor. The campaign contains eight areas divided into four rounds each, with a boss battle at the end of every area.
Each side-scrolling round requires Higgins to cross platforms, avoid enemies and hazards, collect food, and reach the goal before his vitality runs out. Hidden eggs and concealed bonuses reward players who test suspicious parts of the scenery.
Controls And Mechanics
The directional pad moves Higgins, A jumps, and B throws the equipped stone axe. Holding B while moving makes him run and allows longer jumps. Start pauses the action.
Vitality decreases continuously and also falls when Higgins touches certain hazards. Fruit restores small amounts, while milk refills the meter. Eggs may contain an axe, a skateboard, temporary invincibility, a score-doubling flower, or an eggplant that rapidly drains vitality.
The skateboard increases speed and moves Higgins forward automatically. Contact with an enemy destroys the board and returns him to normal movement. Falling into a pit, touching a lethal obstacle, or losing all vitality costs a life. Points come from food, defeated enemies, hidden items, and remaining vitality at the end of a round.
Version Notes
The North American release uses the title Hudson’s Adventure Island and names its hero Master Higgins. The Japanese Famicom version was released as Takahashi Meijin no Bōken Jima.
Release And Credits
- Release year: 1988
- Developer: Hudson Soft
- Publisher: Hudson Soft USA
