Like many titles of the early 1990s, StarTropics was inspired by the success of The Legend of Zelda. While the results of such ventures are often mixed, the title has the merit of delivering an adventure of rare quality. Mixing the gameplay of a Zelda - albeit with a grid - and a Dragon Quest for the movement on the world map, StarTropics achieves an elegant result that stands out from the productions of the time. Apart from the difficulty, which skyrockets in the last world, the title's dungeons are generally well balanced, even if a few particularly devious traps still litter the route. The chaptering with automatic saves makes the adventure more enjoyable and allows for the development of a small story, at the crossroads between heroic-fantasy, an almost ecological nature tale and absurd humour - in the manner of Mother. Ultimately, StarTropics is an original attempt and specifically designed for American audiences. It brilliantly meets the challenge it has set itself, standing at the crossroads of genres, which gives it a little avant-garde edge. It is a pity that it is so little known to the public!

The gameplay can be a bit of an acquired taste for some, but once you get used to its almost rhythmic platforming, and how to deal with nasty creatures in its unique yo-yo based combat, it's a really great game. I was lucky enough to get this game from a Wolworth's "going out of business" sale, and loved it. Some time later, the local K-Mart also went out of business, sadly, and I was ironically able to get Startropics 2 from THAT sale, the year the game came out, actually. It's probably the only reason I would've wound up being able to get either, so for me those sales were a godsend.

Startropics is a very unique game, and was made by Nintendo, specifically for the NA market. And I'm glad it was. You play young Mike Jones, who comes to visit his kooky archaeologist uncle, who has gone missing, and so you the player set out on a quest to find him.

At first glance, I've noticed people have a tendency to assume this is just some kind of weird Zelda clone. But it couldn't be further from, except for having a top-down view. There really isn't any other game QUITE like ST, except ST2 of course. It's one part precision/timing based platforming, one part "figure out which angle to tackle the enemy from" combat, and one part puzzle solving.

It's a very weird game, but it really is wonderful, once you get the gameplay down. If you've never tried it, I'd say it's absolutely worth a go, if nothing else to play something not quite like anything else you've ever played.

My favorite nes game of all time. It’s a linear zelda type dungeon crawler focusing on combat and a strong sense of adventure.

I love this games tropical setting and it’s sense of humor reminds me a lot of earthbound. It’s cool hidden gem in nintendo’s library and I’d love a modern take on this series.

The Yo-yo is kick ass. I know this won’t happen but I would love to see Mike Jones in smash.
Strong 4/5

This game posits that when Mike Jones dies he becomes a ghost and gets a halo harp and wings and floats straight to heaven. I feel like it’s extra cruel because even after failing to solve the mystery of the alien presence on the islands and rescuing his scientist uncle, the game denies him even the small consolation that all the philosophers of old agreed that every man gets in death, the immediate cessation of one’s worldly cares. A life eternal in empyrean bliss for you? No! Get your ass back down to the profane earth and kill some more rats with your yo-yo.

Anyway pgood but the dungeon design could have done with a little more variety I think and also maybe it could take a little less time for mike to turn around on a dime

Solid, original story. Youre a regular modern day kid running through dungeons, killing monsters with a yoyo? Before earthbound?

I remember getting stuck a lot in various dungeons between challenging rooms/bosses and even just navigating. I feel like the navigational challenges were due to intentionally low conveyance. Games back then were designed to be challenging and confusing, and when you beat them it fealt rewarding. It was a different age.

I feel like Startropics was well thought out and presented a solid challenge for an aspiring your gamer.

+ Game teaches you to be better by design
+ Feels like it's own game / style
~One of the best endings for it's time
~ Outside task needed to complete game
- Chapters are not paced well
- Chapter 3
- Not difficult by design
- Trial and error