Sega recently released a new trailer to reveal the release date for its upcoming remake, Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX.
Back in the mid-1980s, Sega had a problem. It had just entered the console market, and needed a way to compete with the almost complete dominance of Nintendo and its flagship Super Mario Bros. series. To do that, Sega had to come with a mascot of its own. This wasn't Sonic though, as its first crack at a mascot was Alex Kidd in his 1986 debut platformer Alex Kidd in Miracle World. Alex didn't take off as well as Sega had hoped though, and would soon be replaced by the far more successful Sonic the Hedgehog.
A few months ago though, Sega announced that it was giving the retired platforming hero a second chance with Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX, a remake of the first game in the Alex Kidd series. The most recent trailer revealed that the remake would be coming to modern systems on June 24th.
Aside from just announcing the release date, the trailer also shows off some of the gameplay and story. Like the original, the game will involve guiding Alex through sidescrolling platforming levels before taking on the game's bosses in rock, paper, scissors matches.
Fans of classic platformers and Sega history will no doubt be glad to see Alex Kidd make a comeback. Fans of the company have been clamoring for new Alex Kidd games for years now. With retro-styled games making a comeback, maybe this is the chance Kidd needs to revive his series for a new audience.
On the other hand, the Alex Kidd series failed for a reason: it couldn't compete with platformers like Super Mario Bros. back then, and fans' expectations have changed a lot since 1986. Platformers like New Super Mario World and Shovel Knight have revolutionized the genre, and 35 year old games don't hold up as well as they used to. Alex Kidd will need to do a lot to stand out in 2021.
Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX is coming out for Nintendo Switch, Steam, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on June 24th.