Balloon Kid (GB)

In Balloon Kid, players control Alice, a brave young girl who embarks on a journey to rescue her brother, Jim, after he is swept away by a strong gust of wind. The game is a unique side-scrolling platformer where Alice's ability to fly is the central focus of the gameplay.

Alice starts with two balloons attached to her back. Pressing the A button makes her ascend, and holding it allows her to maintain altitude or continue rising. If one balloon bursts due to collision with enemies or obstacles, Alice will fly slower and be harder to control. Losing both balloons will cause her to fall to the ground. However, Alice can re-inflate her balloons by picking up spare balloons or by safely landing on solid ground. This is a crucial mechanic, requiring players to balance aerial navigation with finding safe spots to land.

Beyond flying, Alice can also deliberately release her balloons by pressing the B button. This allows her to walk on the ground, navigate tight spaces, or avoid aerial attacks. This mechanic adds strategic depth, allowing players to choose between agile flight and ground movement to tackle different challenges.

The levels in Balloon Kid are filled with various enemies and obstacles, ranging from flying birds to aquatic creatures and environmental hazards like spikes. Players must skillfully evade them or utilize Alice's abilities to overcome them. At the end of each world, there is typically a boss battle, requiring players to master the flying and balloon-dropping mechanics to defeat them.

The primary objective is to navigate through the stages, collect stars for points, and ultimately find Jim. With its charming yet simple graphics and innovative gameplay, Balloon Kid offers a lighthearted yet challenging entertainment experience on the Game Boy system.