Kid Kool

Introduction

Have you ever played a game that was neither good nor bad, but it left you thinking “What the heck?” If you like these games, then Kid Kool is for you.

Story

The king is ill, so you, Kid Kool (or Kool as you are mentioned) are sent to the castle, and then told by the king who looks like a queen to find these magical herbs in a few days. So, since this is an adventure game, you have no choice but to accept it.

Gameplay (9/10)

The gameplay could be described as a combination of Super Mario Bros., Super Mario World II: Yoshi’s Island, and Sonic the Hedgehog. You run and jump similar to the classic Super Mario Bros. game, and you jump onto these blobs as enemies. As in Sonic the Hedgehog, you run really fast if you run long enough, but this is the point where you can barely control yourself. You end up running into water, though. By running fast you can pick up these fluff balls and throw them at enemies, similar to Yoshi’s eggs in Yoshi’s Island. However, this combination is so confusing that it will take you a while to perfect it.

Also, when you lose a life, you jump to the top of the screen and die. When you lose all of your lives, you appear to the King and his assistant as an angel version of yourself, with wings and a halo:

Assistant: It seems Kool has died.
King: Oh no! I’m so heartbroken!

How can he be heartbroken? Eew. Then they give Kool something, he says thanks and comes back to life, and you restart. Nope, no more of those “Game Over” screens.

Graphics (8/10)

The graphics are more colorful, about the same level as Super Mario Bros. 3. The looks of the characters are a bit weird, however. Kid Kool has Luigi’s clothes without the hat. The king looks like a woman in bed with her wedding gown on, with lumpy cheeks. The assistant looks like the leader of the Chess club: buck teeth, braces, glasses, that nerdy bowl cut, and even a sweater vest. These features help the WTF? factor.

Sound (7/10)

Not much. Mostly music, although there are few sound effects. The sound isn’t terrible, but it is weird.

Replay Value (7/10)

It’s the same as the others. You can redo it over, like Sonic or whatever. I don’t know really.

Challenge (10/10)

The controls make up a lot of the challenge, and also the fact that you die incredibly quickly. There are long jumps and many enemies. This is pretty tough.

Frustration (2/10)

None really, except for the challenge.

Value (6/10)

I doubt these are sold, because this was never a well-known game. I’d say it seels for about $6.00.

WTF? Factor (10/10)

Here are the crazy things about the game:

• The characters’ looks. It seems the creators of the game did not intend on making good-looking pixelized people. Look at Graphics for more info.
• The mixture of controls.
• The random storyline. It shows no connection with Kool and the King, doesn’t say what herbs you need, doesn’t say the sickness, it starts out a little too late.
• Kid Kool. What’s with the name?

Overall (7/10)

This game is okay. You should try it at least once.

Conclusion

This game is really weird, but bear with it.

Screenshots