If you've played the original Alex Kidd in Miracle World then you'll know exactly what this game has to offer, albeit with a new coat of paint. That coat of pain is incredibly impressive, however, as the DX versions features some of the best pixel art I've ever seen. The new music too is worth noting, although the extent of it is somewhat limited as Alex never had that much of a soundtrack anyway. Still, it's very nice on the ears and I found myself humming it when I wasn't playing.
Unfortunately the new graphics and music is pretty much all the DX version brings to the table. Alex and the vehicles he acquires control exactly as they did on the Master System and the gameplay is the same as well. I am in two minds about this as I think that the original gameplay should be retained, but I also feel that there should also be an option for an improved control method that allows for Alex to be a bit easier to handle. Maybe the original controls should have been kept for the included Classic Mode which allows you to play the original game, and the improved ones in the DX version. There is the inclusion of unlimited lives, but it doesn't really do enough to solve the issue.
There are new levels added which are nice, but they are all very short. The boss fights have been altered slightly to make them a bit more interesting, but again it's nothing ground breaking.
There are new collectables added to the game, but they don't really add anything unless you're an achievement hunter. You can't even open a larger view of them to inspect in the inventory screen.
Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX is a pretty bare bones remake. Obviously a lot of love has gone into the graphics and music, but I think that £16 is a bit too much for what is essentially a reskin. While I do love the original game and did enjoy playing through this, there isn't really enough here to justify the asking price unless you are an absolute diehard Alex fan. If you've never played Alex before or have been put off by the difficulty or controls this remake isn't going to change your mind.
This is really a shame as with some gameplay tweaks and some more interesting new levels this could have been something truly special.
Note: If you can get the game for under £5 add an extra star to this review score.
