Play New Zealand Story, The (europe) Online

The New Zealand Story came out for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1989, a conversion of Taito's arcade game. It was a time when side scrolling platformers were everywhere, and this one stood out with its bright, cartoonish look and a hero that was not your typical character.

You control Tiki, a small kiwi bird, on a mission to rescue his kidnapped kiwi friends. You move screen by screen through levels that scroll in different directions, not just left to right. You start with a simple bow and arrow, but you can find power ups like a laser or a bubble gun; you can also hop into different vehicles, including a submarine and a hot air balloon, to navigate tricky sections. The game is fast and often quite difficult, with enemies swarming and precise jumps required. Playing it feels like a cheerful, frantic scramble from one close call to the next.