#0149 Rainbow Islands

So today I played Rainbow Islands, a 1987 Platformer by Taito.

So, before I get into this game, I realized while playing it, that this game was a HUGE source of inspiration for one of my favorite horror games of all time. Eversion. I mean look at the similarities:

Eversion

Rainbow Islands

Both have adorable character and enemies, both have bright overly happy aesthetics, both have alarmingly similar soundtracks. The difference is Eversion is a horror game and isn't for children and can be downloaded and played for free http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://zarat.us/tra/eversion/ here. (There's also a steam version with updated graphics and I highly recommend it)

Anywho, on to the game itself. You play as this little fat kid who shoots rainbows out of his hands. these rainbows can be used to kill enemies and if you climb on them the'll let you climb to higher places. Your goal is to reach the top of every level.

As a game, It's fine. It's an early platformer, they're all just a little off. This one has some particularly sluggish controls, that don't allow you to maneuver like you would. And the rainbows don't do much in the way of weaponry when most of your enemies are coming from directly above or below you. And the rainbows dissolve a second after you touch them so after you climb one you gotta quickly jump to the next ledge before you fall.

I love the style, it's sickeningly sweet, the music is fun and the whole game feels so happy and creative, it's hard not to feel the same while playing it. If you're in the mood for an early platformer that's not Mario, you could do a whole lot worse than this.

Next up: Shinobi