Kid Chameleon: why the hate?

Is it just because it's not a Japanese game and in the 90s it was cool to disdain US & European productions? (Well as for Europe we mostly deserved it anyway).

bland graphics: not that much for its time, lots of different sprites & scenarios (100 stages game, remember?). Animation is quite good for some main characters (take into acount they are intentionally small).

no save/password feature: biggest flaw, apparently intentional. Just play it with savestates. Try to judge it without this flaw for a moment.

Gameplay: it's not Sonic! It is to Super Mario 3 what Streets of Rage 2 is to Final Fight: it trounces it on every level, except the coolness and catchiness.

Seriously, I think most of the hate comes from people who don't master the game, its specials (the diamonds actually do a lot of things).

The sound is correct, quite unique and bizarre but not bad at all. The music is kinda meh though, but as you have to play it for hours (100 stages, remember?), you'll remember it for days after beating it.

I don't know, it's not in the top 25 tier (or is it?), but I'd be comfortable to see it in any top 50 of the system.

Oh, and the Death Tank!!!

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Originally Posted by chilled

no save/password feature: biggest flaw, apparently intentional. Just play it with savestates. Try to judge it without this flaw for a moment.

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"Just play it with savestates" is fine for people that don't use real hardware, people with real hardware obviously haven't got such choice, and honestly this is a huge omission.

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Originally Posted by chilled

Gameplay: it's not Sonic! It is to Super Mario 3 what Streets of Rage 2 is to Final Fight: it trounces it on every level, except the coolness and catchiness.

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No... it's no Super Mario 3 i'm afraid.

And SOR2 does not trounce Final Fight.

I find SOR2 a bit more fun due to it not being a quarter-muncher like Final Fight, but Final Fight is awesome.

I reckon the speed of game play was too slow for some people but it did not bother me personally,I think it is massively underrated.

Level design is mediocre, levels are repetitive as hell, color use is not good (even for the time), backgrounds have some awful graphics, generic drawn tiles all over the place, music sucks big time, the lack of passwords/save is retard, etc.

Considering the sheer number of much better platformer games on the MD, and the lack of a save/password function like Gogogadget said, Kid Chameleon just ends up being mediocre IMO. Personally, i could care less whether it's a western or eastern game.

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Originally Posted by OverDrone

And SOR2 does not trounce Final Fight.

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I respectfully disagree, but i think it does. Final Fight is great, but SOR2 is just a natural evolution of it. I don't think i need to mention the music, but SOR2 boasts more moves and more variety in the stages, along with a fantastic atmosphere; it's tough to explain, but everything "feels" right in that game.

Also, Blaze > All.

Repetition, recycling scenarios and etc... come from training school of Mario Bross.

And do not think the mediocre game, he has a lot of cool ideas and secrets that are best explored as you progress in the game.
The biggest problem is it does not have savegame which ends up breaking the fun at one time or another.

Kid Chameleon FTW!

Badass game which ranks among the best platformers on the system & therefore, of its era.

The lack of a save feature is its only flaw, same problem with Super Mario Bros. 3.

Other than that it has everything incl. some awesome tunes :
http://youtu.be/BPNXcysScUQ
http://youtu.be/QYvuYL5zuao
http://youtu.be/Y42pTIF9f50

Also, it reminds me one of the best period i had with my Mega Drive back then when, in fact, while i had just bought some Neo Geo games it was a friend who just bought some MD games which ended up being part of my favorites EVER : Kid Chameleon & also Thunder Force IV & Alisia Dragoon... Damn i wanted them so badly! :x But fortunately he lent me them quickly & i had fucking good times 8)

I disagree.
First off: SoR 2 blows every single Final Fight out of the water.

Second: I never knew there was hate for Kid Chameleon. It's a Sega classic imo. We LOVED the game, it got great reviews here, and was so big and playable... just wonderful. Controls are good, the levels are really challenging, and the entire concept with the costumes works great. Kid Chameleon's flaws lie only on the technical side. Visually and in the sound department, there were just better looking alternatives in 1991. Sega only giving it 4 Mbit didn't help.

It's really one of those games that just went under the radar between the hyped Sonic games imo. I'd be hard pressed to name a better jump'n run for Genesis when it was released. It's probably a draw for the top spot between it and Castle of Illusion.

Well, actually its level design and most of its flaws remind me some mediocre Amiga platformers.

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Originally Posted by Bottino

Considering the sheer number of much better platformer games on the MD, and the lack of a save/password function like Gogogadget said, Kid Chameleon just ends up being mediocre IMO. Personally, i could care less whether it's a western or eastern game.

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Kid Chameleon just feels so uninspired. The "cool kid" character rubs me the wrong way, the "smash blocks for power-ups" riffs too much from Mario for my tastes, and the environments look so dull. The game is completely devoid of personality, and the gameplay isn't anything special. That's not to say it's bad by any stretch... just easily forgettable.

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Originally Posted by 108 Stars

First off: SoR 2 blows every single Final Fight out of the water.

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While i like a LOT the 1st Final Fight which i kinda camped @the Arcades back then, i find the 2nd installment okay & the 3rd bland to the bones SNES cheesyness / lacks of style powa & so absolutely don't care about it.

BK2 > FF (& even if i find this obvious i still precise that i talk about the Arcade original or the Mega-CD port (or the X68K one of course), not the 2 lame SNES ports) >>> FF2 >>>>> Fcrap3.

BK3 > SOR2.

Fight me.

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Originally Posted by 108 Stars

I never knew there was hate for Kid Chameleon.

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Me neither. I don't think it's a fantastic must-have title, but it's definitely a solid one with some cool ideas. I thought this game was thought of pretty highly around here, to be honest.

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Originally Posted by Gogogadget

BK3 > SOR2.

Fight me.

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Oh it's on. It's fucking ON MOTHERFUCKER! I will FUCK YOUR MOTHER WHILE I MAKE YOU FUCK YOUR MOTHER'S MOTHER MOTHERFUCKER! I will-- oh wait, I agree. Nevermind.

What is SoR? :p

I only play BK & love them equally so, enjoy.


(But i have a very soft spot for the 1st opus's soundtrack)

Kid Chameleon from same creators of Comix Zone and Sonic 2...
One of my favorite games ever! :rock:
took a long time to finally notice how good this game is!
I think the lack of password or save system isn't a bad choice from the programmers, because this game is easily beatable in less than 3 hours or 1 hour per other more easy way.
Long ago, i finished this game 2 or 3 times without losing a life, on the console without any save state

Kid Chameleon>>>>>>>>>>>Super Mario World
sorry but... "the cry is free" :lol:

Wasn't it done by Mark Cerny, designer of the PS4?

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Originally Posted by 108 Stars

Wasn't it done by Mark Cerny, designer of the PS4?

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I think he did. I don't know who had this information, but Cerny wanted battery backup, but couldn't get it.
It's definitely some of the levels, but also the lack of battery backup or passwords that ruin it.

I've never liked it. I rented it when it came out and gave it an honest try, but it just isn't enjoyable.

I don't know where "the hate" is supposed to be coming from though.

I didn't think this game got any hate, people say it's mediocre. Which isn't hating because honestly it is a very average game.

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Originally Posted by SpaceHarrier

Kid Chameleon FTW!

Badass game which ranks among the best platformers on the system & therefore, of its era.

The lack of a save feature is its only flaw, same problem with Super Mario Bros. 3.

Other than that it has everything incl. some awesome tunes :
http://youtu.be/BPNXcysScUQ
http://youtu.be/QYvuYL5zuao
http://youtu.be/Y42pTIF9f50

Also, it reminds me one of the best period i had with my Mega Drive back then when, in fact, while i had just bought some Neo Geo games it was a friend who just bought some MD games which ended up being part of my favorites EVER : Kid Chameleon & also Thunder Force IV & Alisia Dragoon... Damn i wanted them so badly! :x But fortunately he lent me them quickly & i had fucking good times 8)

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in supermario 3 you could get the warp whistles which meant it was quite easy to get to the last world, where as I don't think kid chameleon has that and 100 levels is too much

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Originally Posted by Gogogadget

because honestly it is a very average game.

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This is just your opinion too, not a fact. There's plenty of people who find KC great, and did so back in the day.

Sega Retro lists it with a metascore of 84 based on 19 reviews from print mags back in the day. I also remember it being praised as one of the best Genesis games before Sonic 2.

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Originally Posted by Modelboard4

in supermario 3 you could get the warp whistles which meant it was quite easy to get to the last world, where as I don't think kid chameleon has that and 100 levels is too much

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You got it wrong, Kid Chameleon does not require you to play all levels. The levels are actually connected like a labyrinth, and depending on which paths you choose (which teleporters you find ) your route becomes longer or shorter.

Underrated game and easily better then average.

Oh yeah Streets of Rage 2 is better then Final Fight doesn't trounce it though.

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Originally Posted by LinkueiBR

Kid Chameleon from same creators of Comix Zone and Sonic 2...
One of my favorite games ever! :rock:
took a long time to finally notice how good this game is!

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I'm still waiting...

i'm still waiting for the remake fan made....
http://www.gameblox.com.br/wp-conten...jpg&w=550&q=90

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Originally Posted by Benjamin

Kid Chameleon just feels so uninspired. The "cool kid" character rubs me the wrong way, the "smash blocks for power-ups" riffs too much from Mario for my tastes, and the environments look so dull. The game is completely devoid of personality, and the gameplay isn't anything special. That's not to say it's bad by any stretch... just easily forgettable.

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Yeah, this also sums up my feeling of the game.

In any event, it's nice to see that there are people who likes the game and had a good experience with it.
As the poet once said, "every unanimity is stupid ".

I think Kid Chameleon would get a better rap if it wasn't sharing space with a raft load of more attractive and capable platformers on the machine. It's not like the Mega Drive is short in that area.

That's what keeps it firmly in the mediocre category, not that it's an intrinsically bad game in itself. It's actually quite original compared to a lot of it's competition, especially post-Sonic, but it's not enough. Even the second tier stuff like Magical Hat roundly whips KC.

I don't think Kid Chameleon is hated. It's a fine game. It just has pretty bland graphics and the lack of a save system is somewhat unforgivable in such a long game. I know I've heard that story about why they didn't use a battery, but come on, passwords would have been just fine! So yeah, the game is okay, but not great.

@Modelboard4 : As 108 Stars explained, Kid Chameleon has its own system to make the game shorter if the player want.

That's why, for both games, the said lack is not even totally a flaw.

I like Kid Chameleon. Sure, it's not technically amazing in any way, but I enjoy the graphics, sound and gameplay anyway. As others have said, the lack of a save feature is its only real flaw.

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Originally Posted by SpaceHarrier

@Modelboard4 : As 108 Stars explained, Kid Chameleon has its own system to make the game shorter if the player want.

That's why, for both games, the said lack is not even totally a flaw.

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thanks for explaining as I only recently played it and haven't got that far into it (level 2), I think its a very clever marketing gamble by sega to attract people with a Mario ish clone, granted it didn't work, and the whole dude attitude isn't too bad, I think the guy reminds me of the driver out of outrun

I would say its a 4/5 or an 80/100 game

Well, what can I say? I love this game and people who hate it should at least give it a few more hours of gameplay. Back when I bought it I didn't find it any good at all. However, after a while a realized how rich this game actually is. Tons of ways to play and paths to finish the game. The idea of the different powers is just superb, much better than Super Mario Bros. 3. As for the sound, it is the weak point to me, some instruments sound like farts, to be honest.

Give it a try guys ;) . If you still don't like, I think it's more a matter of taste, in the end.

Back in the nineties I spent the summer holidays of one year only playing this game. It was so awesome. When I first saw a boss dying I was truly amazed. Everyday I got further in the game and then finally I beat it. It got quite difficult in later levels. I played it many times after beating it to find all the levels I missed the first time but I am not sure if I ever beat it again. I loved this game so much.

I think it's a pretty good game. It's actually one of my favorites on the genesis.

The difficulty feels just right for me, it's challenging but not too hard. The biggest problem for me is the lack of a save system, you can't even use a password.
There isn't a sound test either. Most people wouldn't even care, but this game has some pretty good music and I wish I could listen to it from a sound test.
The graphics aren't great, even for a genesis game. Kid chameleon came out in 1992, but it really has that look of an early genesis game.
Level design is okay at best. I always hated the layout of the ice level, but most of the first levels are fine.


I enjoy this game, but I can understand why others wouldn't like it.

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Originally Posted by ComradeOj

The graphics aren't great, even for a genesis game.

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:ban: I'm joking.
Where's Joe Redifer? He'll love that line.

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Originally Posted by 108 Stars

This is just your opinion too, not a fact. There's plenty of people who find KC great, and did so back in the day.

Sega Retro lists it with a metascore of 84 based on 19 reviews from print mags back in the day. I also remember it being praised as one of the best Genesis games before Sonic 2.

You got it wrong, Kid Chameleon does not require you to play all levels. The levels are actually connected like a labyrinth, and depending on which paths you choose (which teleporters you find ) your route becomes longer or shorter.

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Originally Posted by netpredakonn

Well, what can I say? I love this game and people who hate it should at least give it a few more hours of gameplay. Back when I bought it I didn't find it any good at all. However, after a while a realized how rich this game actually is. Tons of ways to play and paths to finish the game. The idea of the different powers is just superb, much better than Super Mario Bros. 3. As for the sound, it is the weak point to me, some instruments sound like farts, to be honest.

Give it a try guys ;) . If you still don't like, I think it's more a matter of taste, in the end.

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I agree with both of you. When I initially played the game, I didn't enjoy it very much especially after I read that there wasn't a save feature. But after watching a video on Youtube, I learnt that you didn't have to play all the levels to beat the game. This little revelation changed my mindset and compelled me to seek out the teleporters. Half the fun is exploring the levels and finding some of the secret caches. Plus you get to play as Maniaxe, an axe weilding Jason Voorhees! :twisted:

Hate? I didn't know Kid Chameleon was hated. Overlooked, yes, but hated? Nah. I regard it as one of the STI classics. Yeah, it's inspired by Super Mario Bros, so what? Streets of Rage was inspired by Final Fight and the original SOR blows FF right out of the water, let alone SOR2, which is only the best 2D beat'em up on this planet.

it was always pretty meh to me. the different costumes were cool, but i had my fix of changing forms with magician lord in the arcade. i could never get into it.

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Originally Posted by ComradeOj

The graphics aren't great, even for a genesis game.

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You brought this on yourself:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEv4FTArfN4