Keith Courage in Alpha Zones

Keith Courage in Alpha Zones is a side-scrolling action game that launched as the pack-in title for the NEC TurboGrafx-16 in North America around 1989. Developed by Hudson, it was originally released in Japan as Majin Eiyuuden Wataru, which was based on an anime series of the same name. For American audiences, the game was rebranded with new sprite designs and a fresh storyline, serving as a flagship introduction to the TurboGrafx-16's capabilities. The player controls Keith, a young hero who must defeat the evil Lord Babe and his minions to save the Alpha Zones. Gameplay is straightforward: move left to right across scrolling stages, jump over gaps, and slash enemies with a sword. Defeated enemies release orbs that fill a meter; once full, Keith transforms into a powered-up armor form with a longer reach and a projectile attack. The game also includes simple platforming sections and occasional boss fights at the end of each zone. For its time, Keith Courage in Alpha Zones served as a decent showcase of the TurboGrafx-16's graphical and sound capabilities, with colorful backgrounds and a catchy soundtrack. It is a fairly linear and simple action game compared to later platformers on the system, but it holds historical value as the system's pack-in title. If you are curious about the early days of the TurboGrafx-16 or enjoy basic action-platformers from the late 80s, this game is worth a few playthroughs.