Adventure Island 4

Game Overview
Adventure Island 4 came out for the NES in 1994, developed by Hudson Soft. It was a late release for the system, arriving when many players had already moved on to the 16-bit consoles, but it offered a surprisingly polished and complex take on the familiar platforming series.You control Master Higgins, who explores a large, interconnected island full of caves, forests, and waterfalls. The main goal is to rescue your kidnapped companion, Tina, by navigating through numerous side-scrolling areas and defeating bosses. The game's signature mechanics involve taming and riding different dinosaurs, each with unique abilities like breaking blocks or flying short distances, and using a variety of weapons such as boomerangs and fireballs found in treasure chests. The pacing is deliberate, with methodical exploration and some challenging enemy patterns, but switching between dinosaurs to solve environmental puzzles keeps the journey engaging. It feels like a thoughtful and expansive adventure that rewards careful play.