The New Zealand Story: Untold Adventure Reviews
The New Zealand Story: Untold Adventure does a decent job of scratching the itch even if it doesn't quite hit the same spot… it does do a decent job of reminding fans of the original what they loved about the game. It's not a terrible price, but if you are after a true one‑to‑one port to modern gaming, you might want to at least wait for a sale.
On reflection, New Zealand Story: Untold Adventure feels like a remake without a clear audience. New players are likely to find the whole thing rather thrown together - the story is wafer thin, the physics are something of a mess and the gameplay lacks depth. Returning players won’t worry about any of those things, as they’re more likely to understand “that’s just how arcade games were back then” - but since this new iteration does next to nothing better than the original, why remake it at all? A rather messy jumble of old gameplay in new clothes, this version of The NewZealand Story is less ‘proud kiwi’ and more ‘ugly duckling’.
So who is The NewZealand Story: Untold Adventure for? The 1980s original wasn’t that impressive to begin with, and considering the fact this remake retains every single element featured in its predecessor, just updating it with improved visuals, my guess is that you’ll enjoy it if you were an Amiga owner who grew up with the famed 1989 port back in the day. There is very little in terms of gameplay that makes this game stand out.
It feels a bit harsh to critique the developer for staying true to the source material, keeping the gameplay intact while adding modern graphics. However, this approach magnified some holes in the 1988 original: the lack of animation, the mundane backgrounds and the not-so-great controls. The execution of the remastering lacks as well. Some bugs are introduced along with some inconsistenties that feels like the final blow for this remake. In the end the result is.that the game is more accessible for casual gamers, but also takes you along a series of problems that, especially with the nostalgia stripped a way, makes this feel like an untested beta-product.
The New Zealand Story: Untold Adventure is an interesting attempt to bring a retro platformer back to modern audiences. It retains the core idea of rescuing kiwis across challenging stages, complete with quirky weapons, flying vehicles and unusual boss fights. For players unfamiliar with the original, this remake may simply feel like a tricky but colourful platformer with an unusual premise. Longtime fans, however, may find themselves feeling a bit nostalgic for the original arcade version. While the remake captures the basic structure, it doesn’t always recreate the same spark that made the classic so memorable. That said, it’s clear the developers approached the project with genuine appreciation for the source material. With some additional polish, it could become a more enjoyable way to revisit Tiki’s adventure. For now, it’s a remake that may appeal to curious newcomers or dedicated retro fans, though the original game still remains a very special experience in its own right