Chameleon

Getting Started

When you start Chameleon, you take control of the Kid, who must navigate through a series of colorful levels to rescue his friends from a rogue artificial intelligence inside a virtual reality game. Each level ends when you reach a flag, but the real twist is the masks scattered around the stages. Grabbing a mask transforms you into a different form with unique abilities, like the Diamondhead that can smash blocks or the Manic that throws projectiles.

The core loop is simple: run right, jump over pits, defeat enemies, and collect masks to access new areas or defeat tougher foes. You have limited lives and no continues in the arcade version, so you need to memorize enemy patterns and mask locations. Keep an eye out for warp zones and secret rooms that can skip you ahead or give you extra lives. The game is tough but fair, and learning which mask to use when is the key to surviving.