Balloon Kid
1990
- platform
- arcade
- action
- kids
- single player
- multiplayer
The story
Take to the skies with Balloon Kid. You'll have to think light as you float across the most unfriendly skies around. Nasty flying creatures will test your piloting skills, but don't go too low because even nastier enemies await you on the ground. Get extra bonuses by gathering all the balloons you can for a series of challenging tests of skill. Take a big gulp of courage and give Alice a hand as she searches for her missing brother. Play alone or use your Video Link cable to race against a friend. Either way, Balloon Kid will give you a lift.
What it’s like
Bright, flat sky-blue backdrops and chunky Game Boy sprites drifting over sea and cloud, with a jaunty, chiptune melody that loops cheerfully under the wind and the pop of balloons. Balloon Kid is a light, bouncy vibe: floaty controls that reward a gentle touch, a sense of weightless drifting above a hazardous landscape where the danger is always just below you. It suits a sunny afternoon on the couch, a short commute on a handheld, or a quick run after dinner when you want something upbeat and undemanding. Pacing is brisk and arcade-like, with short stages, a steady stream of enemies to dodge, and bonus challenges that give each session a small, satisfying lift. Tone is playful and unpretentious, with a mild, cartoonish peril and no real gore, cruelty or fear beyond the odd sting of a missed balloon. The emotional register is simple and warm, built around a young heroine's determination to find her brother. It is for people who want a cheerful, low-stress arcade challenge, and for anyone who enjoys a two-player link-cable race with a friend.
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