
	Platform Sega Genesis Genre Platformer Developer / Publisher Sega Released 1992
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Kid Chameleon

kid kameleon,sega genesis

The premise is that a new videogame has started to imprison kids that play the game. Enter the player character, Kid Chameleon, to save the day. "Chameleon" refers to the power-ups that can be collected throughout the game. The power-ups are varied and come in the forms of different "suits." These suits range from a rhino that allows players to bash through walls, a samurai that equips players with a sword, an anti-gravity skateboard that allows players to travel on ceilings, and a tank which can shoot skulls at enemies, to name but four. Finding the right power-up at the right time is essential. If you miss the power-up or get hit too many times (which reverts you back to a regular kid), some levels can be impossible to finish.

Levels are long. Some of the levels border on insanely difficult. A few of the levels that travel right to left have an insidious wall of spikes that continually advances. On these levels, if you make one mistake and get hung up for a split second you’re as good as dead. Timing is everything! Especially when it comes to those irritating disappearing-reappearing platforms. There are also a few levels that are so big and spread out that it’s hard to figure out where you should be going. Levels end when you reach an exit platform. A few levels have two or more exit points and are sometimes very well hidden behind a false wall. Take a different exit than the last time through and you’ll find yourself on a different level. The shear number of levels

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is incredible! Every time you think there can’t possibly be another level you have to keep playing. What really stings though, is that there’s no way to save your progress. Every time you play you start on level one. There are continue coins scattered about but these are not enough.

Graphics and sound are average for the Genesis. Backgrounds are pretty good but they rely too heavily on dark colours. The enemies usually only vary in their colour. The

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end bosses consist of giant floating heads that glide around the screen at varying speeds spewing fireballs until you defeat them by popping their eyes out. The music is forgettable. I can’t even recall the theme song, and I played it this morning.

Once each character suit is mastered, control becomes second nature. But learning the nuances of each can be frustrating. The way each character jumps is the most annoying thing!

If you haven’t played this one, don’t bother. If you’re a masochist, play your thumbs raw. This is an unremarkable platform game and only distinguishes itself by its interesting power-ups and incredible difficulty.

- Omni