News Article

USA VC Update: Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars

Posted Mon, 09 Mar 2009 by Marcel Van Duyn

The beginning of the end for Alex Kidd!

The beginning of the end for Alex Kidd!

It's back to Sega games this week, it seems. Today's new game is the second game in the Alex Kidd series.

Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars was the beginning of a steep slope downhill for Sega's original mascot. The first Alex Kidd game was fairly good (We gave it a 7/10), but for the second game Sega made a massive mistake - They basically completely changed the gameplay! Instead of featuring special gameplay elements like vehicles and breaking blocks, the game is basically just a really straight-forward platformer. It's still somewhat decent, but it's also the last "good" Alex Kidd game.

Watch out for our Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars review which should be up soon.

On the WiiWare side of things you can finally grab a Konami game they actually made themselves - Yes, it's the long-awaited Gradius ReBirth!

Tags: Virtual Console, US releases, Master System.

Game Screenshots

User Comments

Digiki

1. Digiki Canada 09 Mar 2009, 13:08 GMT

Meh, update, that's all right though.

And firstzies :p

slangman

2. slangman United Kingdom 09 Mar 2009, 13:10 GMT

I second that comment. I don't think I will get this when it comes out to Europe. Sounds a bit average

7th lutz

3. 7th lutz United States 09 Mar 2009, 13:13 GMT

I figured Alex Kidd: The lost Stars would be released today.

I wonder if Fantasy Zone 2 will be the next Sms vc game release next month.

KnucklesSonic8

4. KnucklesSonic8 Canada 09 Mar 2009, 13:15 GMT

I predicted this would come out today. I'm definitely getting this. It'll be my first Alex Kidd game. :)

Nintendork

5. Nintendork United States 09 Mar 2009, 13:22 GMT

Well......... at least Wiiware got a gem. :( Also, WHERE'S SSB!?!?!?!?!

Tony

6. Tony United States 09 Mar 2009, 13:22 GMT

I was hoping for some more C64 games. I don't like Nintendo's release schedule, but there is nothing I can do :(

I would like to see Nintendo/Sega put out Shinobi, Afterburner, or Outrun as the next SMS game.

Pj

7. Pj United Kingdom 09 Mar 2009, 13:28 GMT

Nintendo and Sega really are good buddies these days!! Mega drive titles are proving ever more popular with VC releases. When will Nintendo publish a release schedule for Europe? This game will probably appear for Europe next week.....

Roo

8. Roo United Kingdom 09 Mar 2009, 13:44 GMT

A 2D platformer I've not played! I'll be downloading this when it's out over here.

Bass X0

9. Bass X0 United Kingdom 09 Mar 2009, 13:50 GMT

This game will probably appear for Europe next week.....

If we don't get Hanabi, then its certainly possible.

touffeboy

10. touffeboy Canada 09 Mar 2009, 13:52 GMT

No surprise, an Other Sega game!

I never like Alex kidd Series, but if i'm remember, Nintendo would release Mortal Kombat series with no blood?

Mike

11. Mike United States 09 Mar 2009, 14:15 GMT

"Remember when Grandma used to mark your height on the wall every so often, just to see how fast you were growing? Well, if the Wii™ Shop Channel had its own growth chart, she'd be impressed at how the selection of great games keeps getting bigger and bigger each week. "

The person who writes these stupid press releases every week, is the biggest waste of money of Nintendo's payroll. Gradius seems to be a pretty decent WiiWare game, but Alex Kidd seems like a pile of garbage.

pikmin95

12. pikmin95 United States 09 Mar 2009, 14:19 GMT

Another crap week.

Bass X0

13. Bass X0 United Kingdom 09 Mar 2009, 14:29 GMT

Mike, I don't think they hired the guy based on his writing skills.

The Fox

14. The Fox United States 09 Mar 2009, 14:30 GMT

Ehh, Alex Kid always sucked. Nothing good this week on the VC or WiiWare.

seanehawk

15. seanehawk United States 09 Mar 2009, 14:36 GMT

:( our steak of good VC games has ended. NOOO! Well on the bright side there's gradius rebirth and there's 1 less game getting in the way of SSB :)

Rapadash6

16. Rapadash6 United States 09 Mar 2009, 15:04 GMT

Well, there goes my theory about Smash Bros. being the 300th VC release. I still have no doubt that it'll come out on April 27th anyway, though. Not terribly excited with this release but Gradius Rebirth picks up the slack, so no complaints from me.

sponge

17. sponge United States 09 Mar 2009, 15:10 GMT

really rapadash? was this the 300th release? pretty lame. but its cool, cuz im broke anyway haha. im glad its not something i want. master system needs quartet like a mofo!

Tragickingdom

18. Tragickingdom United States 09 Mar 2009, 15:13 GMT

I love platformers. but this is bad.

Ricardo91

19. Ricardo91 United States 09 Mar 2009, 15:13 GMT

"Our steak of good VC games has ended."

Well, it was good while it lasted. It was so tender too...

Well, it looks like another lame week for us. I wasn't that fond of the first Alex Kidd, so I'm surely not gonna like this. AK in Shinobi World looks pretty cool though. At least we FINALLY got Gradius Rebirth on WW.

A shame too, I was expecting another bunch of C64 games or Smash Bros. :(

Rapadash6

20. Rapadash6 United States 09 Mar 2009, 15:38 GMT

@ sponge

In the Ogre Battle update I speculated and posted that Nintendo would alternate weeks between 3 C64 and single releases, which would make 300 games come April 27th (which is also the 10 year anniversary of the original Smash Bros.). Today only saw a single non C64 release, so that pretty much debunks my theory. This release brings the VC release total only to 285, so at the rate we're going it'll be a few months yet till the big 300.

Mike

21. Mike United States 09 Mar 2009, 16:37 GMT

Unless we get back to back 3 game C64 weeks.

Link79

22. Link79 United States 09 Mar 2009, 17:12 GMT

meh indeed. I don't see why anyone even likes the first Alex kid. I downloaded it after all the praise it was getting and thought it sucked. To each his own I guess but these games just don't excite me.

Bass X0

23. Bass X0 United Kingdom 09 Mar 2009, 17:24 GMT

is that a naked red haired guy shaking his ass at Alex in the pic above?

Tony

24. Tony United States 09 Mar 2009, 17:46 GMT

Um....I just checked and the North America has 285 games not 300. We will be there soon

Sharecrow

25. Sharecrow United States 09 Mar 2009, 17:59 GMT

Looks like it to me, Bass....hmmm...

KingMike

26. KingMike United States 09 Mar 2009, 18:08 GMT

Well, it's SMS game #10. Keeping the 1 game per week trend, we won't see VC game #300 until June 22.

RadioShadow

27. RadioShadow United Kingdom 09 Mar 2009, 18:18 GMT

GRADIUS REBIRTH! :D

Nin1Od0

28. Nin1Od0 United States 09 Mar 2009, 18:32 GMT

i know most of you are getting tired if the single game releases, i just got tired of it, starting today.

pick up the pace....i miss the good ol 3 vc 1 ww. : ( ***

Shinnok

29. Shinnok United States 09 Mar 2009, 18:41 GMT

The streak of good games has ended? Now that's news to me. I was expecting Super Smash Bros. or Bomberman '94, to be honest. But, Nintendo never misses a chance to disappoint!

Jogurt the Yogurt

30. Jogurt the Yogurt Canada 09 Mar 2009, 18:44 GMT

It's worth noting that this was released in Canada today as well... unfortunately.

punchout87

31. punchout87 United States 09 Mar 2009, 18:57 GMT

Alex Kidd blows! I was hoping for Revenge of Shinobi or Super Punchout. I've been holding on to the same 900 points for months now, lol. I've already bought everything that's even remotely enjoyable. Damn you Nintendo!

Bendover83

32. Bendover83 United States 09 Mar 2009, 19:46 GMT

I haven't bought anything since December and that was Phantasy Star IV. I played the original Alex Kidd on the Ultimate Genesis Collection and its mediocre, so I will not get this.

I'm still predicting that C64 games come at the last Monday of the month since it did for February. If that were the case then 300 would come during the third of fourth week of May.

capcom83

33. capcom83 Netherlands 09 Mar 2009, 20:35 GMT

THis game is already on the xbox360 and PS3 with the 60hz option! For europe it's the best to get it (sega ultimate mega collection) for only 35 euro over 40 games! Glad I haven't bought all on the WII. And with achievements I've got at least a goal.

Ricardo91

34. Ricardo91 United States 09 Mar 2009, 20:36 GMT

"Pick up the pace....i miss the good ol 3 vc 1 ww."

I hate to break it to ya, but we never had weeks like that...

Party On Dude

35. Party On Dude United States 09 Mar 2009, 21:07 GMT

I was hoping to see a ton of complaining at this comment section to flood with 80-90 so comments already... why is that?
COME ON YOU GUYS?!

Let's just revolt against NOA and send them tons of hate mail about the VC until they do something about these stupid 1 VC game days!!!!
>:(

At this rate the VC library will never fill up with the classic SNES & N64 games they've been holding out on all of this time!
:(

Once again NOA screws its perfect chances of giving us a perfect day for SSB64... we'll surely have to wait for another month on April 27th now... so until then?!!!!
:(

Also why not now clean out your ears you freaking NOA, you're ruining your fans dreams for VC games!!!!! STOP WITH THE 1 VC GAME A WEEK FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!!
:(

Shinnok

36. Shinnok United States 09 Mar 2009, 21:19 GMT

Hey, I complained! And I am not making excuses for Nintendo either, this was a terrible release!

Ragnor

37. Ragnor New Zealand 09 Mar 2009, 21:27 GMT

Alex Kidd in Enchanted Castle is the one on the Megadrive Ultimate Collection, not Lost Stars or Miracle World :p

And no its not the game fore this, Miracle World is, and its the best in the series.

NintendoBrad

38. NintendoBrad United States 09 Mar 2009, 21:52 GMT

I still have to get Sonic Chaos, so I'm good. Maybe Smash Bros. will be the 300th VC game.

KnucklesSonic8

39. KnucklesSonic8 Canada 09 Mar 2009, 22:02 GMT

That's not worth noting Jogurt.... It's OBVIOUS that this was released in Canada and I think we've well established that for a long time...

@NintendoBrad: 300th Game? That's what someone else told me.

Nin1Od0

40. Nin1Od0 United States 09 Mar 2009, 22:07 GMT

i don't think complaining works. it's pretty obvious if we are still getting paltry releases.

i think maybe some sort of mass internet sign ups, not pleaing, but like representing the voice of the wii gamer saying, or stating not just appreciation thus far, but let them know of our disappointment because we only expect the best from them.

lol like some reverse phsycology thing. and if we are to be given a bad release game, make it up with 2 ok titles, or 1 great title.

(IMO - i think they should at least release 3 vc and 1 ww title a week, how else will we fill up the other consoles....on top of that, game releases should be dependant via the vote channel!!!)

Objection_Blaster

41. Objection_Blaster United States 09 Mar 2009, 22:37 GMT

Another update I'll just choose to ignore. Well, maybe I'll get Rebirth.

HVGN Nerd

42. HVGN Nerd Canada 10 Mar 2009, 00:23 GMT

t's back to Sega games this week, it seems. Today's new game is the second game in the Alex Kidd series.

Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars was the beginning of a steep slope downhill for Sega's original mascot so they decided to dump this !@#$ on us.

KnucklesSonic8

43. KnucklesSonic8 Canada 10 Mar 2009, 00:40 GMT

Dunno why we're still getting one per week especially now that Commodore 64 is out...

Metroid133

44. Metroid133 United States 10 Mar 2009, 01:58 GMT

Downloaded the game today...also I beat the game today. :) It was fun and easy. I'll probably go back and play it again when I'm bored sometime. :P

WolfLink22

45. WolfLink22 United States 10 Mar 2009, 05:00 GMT

Super Mario RPG was VC Game 250 so we will either get SSB or some other Big Nintendo or Sega Game as VC Game 300.

Shoot i'd settle for ClayFighter or something over some of the games that have been offered as of late.

Mario maniac

46. Mario maniac Australia 10 Mar 2009, 05:32 GMT

Oh. Em. Gee.

I've been waiting for this game for quite a while, it's one of the few Master System games I remember playing. Though, this frustrated the hell out of me. Was still fun, though. :P

Mike

47. Mike United States 10 Mar 2009, 05:46 GMT

@45. Metroid133
You would rather have Clayfighter over Ogre Battle? Are you nuts?

TwistedVivid

48. TwistedVivid United States 10 Mar 2009, 06:08 GMT

Super Mario RPG was VC Game 250 so we will either get SSB or some other Big Nintendo or Sega Game as VC Game 300.

I Think for are 300th game we might get Sonic CD Mega man 4 or Smash Bros

BTW THIS IS SPATA!!!!!

TwistedVivid

49. TwistedVivid United States 10 Mar 2009, 06:16 GMT

I also noticed that less and less people are interested in VC & wiiware game's because of this 1 game per week.

TwistedVivid

50. TwistedVivid United States 10 Mar 2009, 06:18 GMT

and sense they are 285 game's on the VC and 1 game per week that means we will have to wait intel June 29Th intel we get SSB

BTW sorry for the 3 comments

WolfLink22

51. WolfLink22 United States 10 Mar 2009, 06:31 GMT

Comment 49

"I Think for are 300th game we might get Sonic CD Mega man 4 or Smash Bros"

Mega Man 4 would be likely.

SSB is also very likely as well.

But Sonic CD i'd not only be suprised but shocked if USA got it because we all know that Sonic & Knuckles has been re rated by the esrb for as long as we can all remember.

I have the Sonic Mega Collection already so i would not need S&K.

Also the way things have been going Europe and those that get VC Games on Thursdays and or early fridays will be getting this Alex Kidd game the same week as USA if they don't already have it watch and see.

I just hope when USA gets VC Game 300 that it is nothing to do with the Sega Master System.

If you want far feched VC Game ideas for VC Game 300 then NOA could wake up and finally give us Super Mario Kart or Earthbound for those that want such ideas.

Party On Dude

52. Party On Dude United States 10 Mar 2009, 07:23 GMT

Well I'm just throwing this out there... but maybe if some companies got a hold of their game licenses...

Like Konami/Ubisoft & just give us the 2nd NES Ninja Turtles game for CRYING out LOUD!!!

Or if Midway will ever see the light of day, even if they're done with for all we know it... who knows when the MK games will hit the VC?!

If ever one of those titles I mentioned hits the VC within... who knows... 2 more years (for all I know it'll be pretty far in the Wii's lifecycle); maybe it could be like within the 350, 400, 450 range of games on the Wii Shop Channel?!!!!

Just games I've ever so had WISHFUL thinking on ever since the Wii came into our lives!! Sigh!! :(

timp29

53. timp29 Australia 10 Mar 2009, 08:20 GMT

Give us Strider or give us death.

chunky_droid

54. chunky_droid Australia 10 Mar 2009, 10:03 GMT

Midway stated they'd bring MK to the Virtual Console, I'm guessing the fact they now have no money and are trying to sell Mortal Kombat's franchise isn't going to help matters.

I'd also love to see licensed games too, but wouldn't hold my breath.

As for Alex Kidd, he has his league of fans, I'm not a huge one myself so I'll skip it

StarFox

55. StarFox United States 10 Mar 2009, 18:47 GMT

Why do they keep adding games I've never heard of? When are we gonna get StarFox?

marktheshark

56. marktheshark United States 11 Mar 2009, 01:03 GMT

@55, Starfox

Because some people actually want to play them?!

Mickeymac

57. Mickeymac United States 11 Mar 2009, 01:44 GMT

I'm glad they finally got this out of the way, now they can get on to better games, like...something that isn't this.

Metroid133

58. Metroid133 United States 11 Mar 2009, 03:54 GMT

@47. Mike
You must be looking at the comment below mine. :P I have Ogre Battle and love it from what I've played. Clayfighter would be fun to play, but I can't tell how good Clayfighter is until I play it. :P

Mike

59. Mike United States 11 Mar 2009, 04:13 GMT

I was, my mistake.

TwistedVivid

60. TwistedVivid United States 11 Mar 2009, 04:30 GMT

@WolfLink22 you mean comment 48?

chunky_droid

61. chunky_droid Australia 11 Mar 2009, 11:30 GMT

@55: Simply because Nintendo haven't bothered finishing the emulator for FX Chip games, it'll come eventually, probably followed by the rest of the FX Chip games shortly afterwards.

Ricardo91

62. Ricardo91 United States 11 Mar 2009, 15:41 GMT

@Starfox. Starfox 64 isn't good enough for you?

WolfLink22

63. WolfLink22 United States 12 Mar 2009, 02:01 GMT

#60 yeah but i was still replying to you any way.But you triple replied so it confused me.

Party On Dude

64. Party On Dude United States 12 Mar 2009, 06:52 GMT

Check this news out though:

http://gonintendo.com/?p=75345
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/?p=12143

Its about:
Nintendo sends out a mysterious PR email saying something coming which has been a decade?!

I highly think/nah assume this is a prediction that none other than...

Super Smash bros 64 will be announced very shortly; and maybe it'll be for April 27th... who knows?!

But my prediction has been right all along!! Man, I'm smart!! :D

LittleMac85

65. LittleMac85 United States 12 Mar 2009, 14:37 GMT

Garbage!!!......Where is Pro Wrestling????

KnucklesSonic8

66. KnucklesSonic8 Canada 12 Mar 2009, 16:37 GMT

Yep, being Canadian, I got it. SSB64 is HIGHLY probable.

Bass X0

67. Bass X0 United Kingdom 12 Mar 2009, 17:56 GMT

Well at least its garbage we don't have to see again.

KnucklesSonic8

68. KnucklesSonic8 Canada 12 Mar 2009, 19:57 GMT

Heh, yeah. Y'know how I see it, the sooner it comes the better (kinda like shudders Pop-Up Pirate). Because that means better titles are that much more likely.

Bass X0

69. Bass X0 United Kingdom 12 Mar 2009, 20:13 GMT

yeah. its no good for us now but a crappy present means a brighter future.

RadioShadow

70. RadioShadow United Kingdom 12 Mar 2009, 20:42 GMT

"And with achievements I've got at least a goal."

Shame the achievements on the Xbox 360 Mega Collection were lame. "Collect 100 Rings with Tails on Sonic 3" (why Tails?), "Communicate with a Dolphin" (WTF kind of challenge is that), "Unlock Victy on Streets of Rage 3" (great SOR3 achievement...).

Bass X0

71. Bass X0 United Kingdom 12 Mar 2009, 21:35 GMT

Why Tails? Presumably to make you use him instead of Sonic for once? And is getting Victy hard?

StarFox

72. StarFox United States 12 Mar 2009, 21:51 GMT

@62: I've already downloaded Star Fox 64, but I'd like a Star Fox from each generation

@61: When they do get the FX emulators ready, they should do Yoshi's Island as well.

Devastator

73. Devastator United States 12 Mar 2009, 22:26 GMT

Resident Evil 5 is coming out at midnight. Is anyone going to pick it up besides me.

Shinnok

74. Shinnok United States 13 Mar 2009, 01:12 GMT

I'm getting it tomorrow. I hate going to stores late. But I can't wait!

UPDATE: I just got Resident Evil 5, and it's such a disappointment. The controls, sound, storyline, and game play just don't stack up to its predecessor. Too bad, I had such high hopes.

WolfLink22

75. WolfLink22 United States 14 Mar 2009, 00:43 GMT

What happened to Europe's VC last night/today? Did they get any VC games at all?

The Fox

76. The Fox United States 14 Mar 2009, 00:53 GMT

@post 76.
Nope, Europe only gets VC games every other week.

WolfLink22

77. WolfLink22 United States 14 Mar 2009, 01:03 GMT

ok that's all i wanted to know thanks.

Bendover83

78. Bendover83 United States 15 Mar 2009, 18:43 GMT

@RadioShadow: Ya, the PS3 trophies are the same for the collection and were all easy. I got every one actually, the hardest trophy IMO was beating Robotnik on Mean Bean Machine.
Trophies like:
Getting a chaos emerald
Tails gets 100 rings
cast magic 10 times in Golden Axe
Beat level 1 on Comic Zone
Etc. were all too easy.

Clayfrd

79. Clayfrd United States 16 Mar 2009, 00:03 GMT

@bendover83 - I too got all of the achievements, but that's not why I got the game. I got it for the awesome Genesis games.

Off topic, has anyone seen that ridiculous ad for some Hatsworth or Hattington or whatever game? It makes the site look ridiculous...

Bendover83

80. Bendover83 United States 16 Mar 2009, 06:26 GMT

@Clayfrd: It might've been applied that I was playin the game just for the trophies but that's only one out of many reasons. I've been wanting those original arcade games for awhile now and all those rpg's games without paying the VC prices eventhough I did buy PSIV. I never played Beyond Oasis, Shining Force series, all the PS games, and GA games and now I can plus those other classics. The trophies was just to see if I could do it and get it out of the way.
Ya, I'd seen the site and thought something was wrong with it at first but nope just an advertisement taking over.

Bendover83

81. Bendover83 United States 16 Mar 2009, 06:33 GMT

@Bass XO: Depends on how u are in Streets of Rage 3. What u do is get halfway in stage one and a Clown Tamer shows up with Victy who fights you as a Midboss. Then you kill the Clown guy and Victy the kangeroo is yours.

Ricardo91

82. Ricardo91 United States 16 Mar 2009, 19:53 GMT

@Clayfrd. I agree. The Hatsworth ad makes the site look completely ridiculous.

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