Adventure Island, also known as Takahashi Meijin no Bōken Jima in Japan, is a classic side-scrolling platformer developed by Hudson Soft. The game was initially released to gamers in 1986 on the Famicom and MSX in Japan, but it made it to the Western variant Nintendo Entertainment System, a few years later in both Europe and the United States. The game is an adaptation of the arcade game Wonder Boy, developed by Escape for Sega. While it is a spin-off of the arcade counterpart, Adventure Island later developed its own lore that was adapted to its successors. Here we’ll take a look at the initial Adventure Island and the cheats available for the game.
Adventure Island Premise
In Adventure Island, players take on the role of Master Higgins, which depending on the version might also be called Master Wigins or Takahashi Meijin. This young adventurer sets out to rescue Princess Leilani (originally Princess Tina) from the clutches of the Evil Witch Doctor. The game spans eight worlds, each divided into four stages filled with hazards, enemies, and obstacles. As Master Higgins, players must navigate through these stages, overcoming faced challenges and defeating bosses at the end of each world. The game requires an immense amount of skill and timing to progress. With a total of 32 stages, the game often requires pixel-perfect movement and combat across different environments.
©Screenshot for Adventure Island – Original
The game’s mechanics center around survival, as Master Higgins loses a life each time he touches enemies or hazards. A health gauge depletes over time, making the collection of fruits and milk bottles crucial to advance. The game introduces a variety of items and power-ups, including the stone axe and magical fireballs, which give Higgins additional survivability. There are also hidden eggs and bonus stages that provide additional content and rewards. While the ultimate goal is to defeat the Evil Witch Doctor, the antagonist appears throughout the game’s levels. However, after the final battle with the Evil Witch Doctor, Master Higgins can finally free Princess Leilani.
Adventure Island Characters
In Adventure Island, players embark on a journey across magical lands as Master Higgins. The protagonist courageously takes on the mission to rescue Princess Tina. Master Higgins is an adventurer with many skills and capabilities that improve on his journey. However, many dangers await in the vibrant world, most heinous of them all, the Evil Witch Doctor. The grass skirt-wearing hero needs to jump, fight, and even skateboard his way across various worlds to finally get to his favorite Princess. However, beware, the Evil Witch Doctor isn’t a one-off fight. Instead, he has the capability to transform into different beings. Kill one of it heads and next time another one with a different face pops up.
- Master Higgins: The game’s protagonist, a determined young man on a quest to save Princess Tina. Known for his iconic grass skirt and white cap. He can wield different abilities from Super Mario-like fireballs to stone axes.
- Princess Leilani: The classic damsel in distress, originally known as Princess Tina, who is kidnapped by the Evil Witch Doctor. Her rescue is the game’s primary objective.
- Evil Witch Doctor: The main antagonist of the game, capable of transforming his appearance and using powerful attacks. Master Higgins must defeat him to rescue Princess Tina. This boss appears at the end of each stage.
©Screenshot for Adventure Island – Original
Games in the Series
The Adventure Island series was initiated with its first release in 1986 in Japan as Takahashi Meijin no Bōken Jima. It chronicles the adventures of Master Higgins as he strives to rescue Princess Tina or Leilani, depending on the version, from various perils across games. The series evolved from its simple side-scrolling platform origins to include better graphics, more complex gameplay mechanics, and diverse worlds in its sequels. In each game, Master Higgins is wearing his iconic cap and grass skirt. However, new abilities, weapons, and power-ups are introduced in each installment. The game series started on arcade cabinets and NES but later featured games on SNES, PlayStation 2, mobile, and Wii.
- Adventure Island (Takahashi Meijin no Bōken Jima) (1986)
- Adventure Island II (Takahashi Meijin no Bōken Jima II) (1991)
- Super Adventure Island (Takahashi Meijin no Daibōken Jima) (1992)
- New Adventure Island (Takahashi Meijin no Shin Bōken Jima) (1992)
- Adventure Island III (Takahashi Meijin no Bōken Jima III) (1992)
- Takahashi Meijin no Bōken Jima IV (1994)
- Super Adventure Island II (Takahashi Meijin no Daibōken Jima II) (1994)
- Hudson Selection Vol. 4: Takahashi Meijin no Bōkenjima (2003)
- Super Adventure Island (2004)
- Hudson Best Collection Vol 6: Bōken Jima Collection (2006)
- Gacha Washi Meijin no Bouken Jima (2007)
- Pachinko Takahashi Meijin no Bouken Jima (2008)
- Adventure Island: The Beginning (Takahashi Meijin no Bōken Jima Wii) (2009)
- Adventure Island Quest by Takahashi Meijin (2010)
©Screenshot for Adventure Island – Original
Adventure Island Cheats
Adventure Island is a classic platformer in the same vein as the legendary Super Mario series and many others. Thankfully for gamers looking to experience this retro gameplay, which comes with very challenging movement, often requiring great timing and pin-point accuracy, there are cheats to help. Adventure Island has various cheats, which can provide aid in terms of unlimited lives, choosing preferred levels, adding items, and more.
Level Select
To activate the level select feature, reset the console while on the title screen. Once the title screen reappears, press Right, Left, Right, Left, A, B, A, B. This cheat allows you to select your starting level.
Boss Preview
To preview the next world’s boss, press Start as the current world boss retreats. This sneak peek can give you a strategic advantage for what’s coming next.
Infinite Lives
At the first level’s end, before the “G” sign, jump at the cliff’s edge to find an egg with a bee. For infinite lives, at any Game Over screen, hold Up, A, and Select, then press Start. You’ll restart at the level’s beginning with extra lives.
99 of Everything
Access 99 of every item by entering the password 0894. As one can imagine, this simple cheat boosts your chances of finishing the game tremendously.
Keep Weapons When the Game Ends
In the first island’s third area (Level 3-1), after the frog encounter, climb up the ledge, drop down, and then jump to reveal an egg. Smash the egg to find a key that leads to a secret room with a dragon. Here, you’ll receive the Hudson Bee, allowing you to keep your hammers and dinosaurs after dying.
1000 Points
In Level 1-4, find the red flower and prepare for a coyote attack from behind. To reveal a Nintendo controller power-up, jump and shoot the coyote twice before leaping over him. Successfully grabbing this controller awards you 1000 points. Remember, the key is to shoot once also as jumping over the coyote.
Game Genie Cheats
| Cheat | Code |
| Start With 1 Life | PEEEPALA |
| Start With 6 Lives | TEEEPALA |
| Start With 9 Lives | PEEEPALE |
| Start With Infinite Lives | SZOEGPVG |
| Stop Energy Bar Counting Down | SXKKIAVG |
| Become Immune To Rocks | GXNGLAKA |
| Keep Weapons | GZXEAPSA |
| Can Mega Jump While At Rest | SPEEIIEG |
| Can Mega Jump While Running | SPEETSOZ |
| Multi Moon Jumps | AAEAYIPA, AEVEZGPZ |
| Hudson Can Moonwalk | AEKAPIPA, PEEEZIAA |
| Invisible Higgins But You Can’t Beat The Level | AAEPPZ |
| Sometimes You Can Walk In The Air! | GAESSZ |
| Listen To Music While Staring At Trees | AAEEPO |
| You Can Megakick Eggs And Hatchets, And Boulders Float | AAPPZZ |
| Black And White Game! | EEGGPO |
| You Can’t Use Weapons! | EAAEEE |
| Walk Underground Or In The Air | OSTEGK |
| When You Die With A Weapon You Keep Your Weapon And Get A Free Skateboard | NZXEAPSA |
| Items And Enemies Float When Hit | PIPOZZ |
| Music Turns Off When Certain Enemies Are Hit | PIKOZZ |
| Moonwalking | SXAEPI |
| Makes All Eggs That Are Hidden Or Invisible Visible | GAPZVK |
| Keep Weapons After Losing a Life Including Skateboards & Fire | GZPETO |
FAQ
How many levels are in Adventure Island.
The game features a total of 32 levels, which are split into four level stages. Each stage includes a different version of the final boss, the Evil Witch Doctor.
When was Adventure Island released?
The original game in Japan was released in 1986. However, it took a few years to arrive in the United States and Europe.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Screenshot for Adventure Island.