Kid Chameleon

Overview

Kid Chameleon, released in 1992, was a platformer for the Genesis which is well-known for its difficulty and length. The game contains 103 levels, varying wildly in difficulty and size, although the player is free to choose his own path through the game. The game was re-released as a part of Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection (360/PS3).

Story

The story is a throwaway plot, like most platformers at the time. A new game at the arcade can simulate reality; everything is all fine and dandy until one of the bosses, Heady Metal, begins somehow imprisoning those who lose within the game. You, a sunglasses-wearing kid, have been called upon to venture into the game and defeat him.

Gameplay

The base gameplay in Kid Chameleon is somewhat generic for a platformer, with an emphasis on jumping and all sorts of blocks for you to break, but soon introduces the concept of masks, powerups which enable all sorts of odd powers. One of these forms is a knight who can climb and break blocks beneath him by jumping, another is a hoverboarder who can change the direction of gravity. The levels are organized in such a way that these are required to pass through the game, often incorporating two seperate paths based on your mask. Every so often, you'll get to one of the game's four bosses, manifestations of Heady Metal. These fights are about survival: even the very first boss takes several hits to destroy.