Announced at the first installment in IGN's ongoing Summer of Gaming event, Sega is teaming up with publisher Merge Games and developer Jankenteam to bring back its classic Sega Master System mascot Alex Kidd in the form of a remake of his first outing with Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX.
The remake of the 1986 Master System title, which is slated to launch in "Q1 2021," is the newest in the range of intellectual properties Sega has licensed to other developers following the success of 2017's Sonic Mania, the Kickstarter hits Shenmue 3 and Toejam and Earl: Back in the Groove, along with more recent hits such as Streets of Rage 4. Licensing its properties has lead to the return of many iconic Sega franchises that likely would not have seen new entries if not for the passion of the teams behind them.
Alex Kidd is a lesser-known property from Sega's back-catalog, however the franchise pre-dates Sonic the Hedgehog as Sega's first-ever mascot, with the character being advertised alongside the Master System in the late 1980s, with Alex Kidd in Miracle World being built in to many Sega Master System consoles. The remake marks the first new entry in the series in over 30 years, as the last title, Alex Kidd in Shinobi World, launched in 1990 for Sega Master System.
The remake features fully remade visuals with art based on the original game's promotional material, including the option to switch between modern and retro visual styles. Both visual styles feature distinct animation styles and graphical details. The game also features brand new levels and boss encounters not featured in the original title.
Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX will launch on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One in "Q1 2021."
