is a 1989 platform game developed and published by Sega for the Genesis. It is the only 16-bit platform game starring Alex Kidd, and the fifth game in the Alex Kidd series.
Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle follows Alex as he fights his way through the fictional planet Paperock in search of his long-lost father, King Thor. Alex has access to several items and vehicles that help him complete his quest, including a motorbike, a pedicopter and a pogo stick, which each give him unique abilities. While traveling through eleven worlds, Alex must defeat several opponents in rock paper scissors matches before finally finding King Thor.
Gameplay
thumb|left|Alex Kidd in a [[rock paper scissors match against a gorilla to win a powerbracelet]]
The player guides Alex through eleven stages by fighting and avoiding enemies and obstacles. Alex can jump, kick, crawl or punch enemies, causing them to explode into gold coins, called Baums. New items and vehicles are gained by playing Janken (rock paper scissors) in gambling houses, including the Sukopako Motorcycle, the pedicopter (a small pedal-powered helicopter), a pogo stick and wizard cane which allows Alex to float in the air for a few seconds. One hit from any enemy causes Alex to die instantly.
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In the original Japanese version of the game, when Alex or his opponent lose a Rock Paper Scissors match, the loser's clothes disappear, leaving them naked with a fig leaf covering their genitalia. In the Western versions, the loser is flattened by a heavy weight. Several levels were also renamed for the Western release.
Plot
The plot continues that of Alex Kidd in Miracle World (1986). Alex lives on Planet Aries which is ruled by his brother, King Igul. After hearing a rumor that his long-lost father, King Thor, is still alive on Planet Paperock, Alex travels to the planet to search for him.
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Development
thumb|right|Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle was the only game in the Alex Kidd series to be developed for Sega's [[Sega Genesis.|alt=Model 2 Sega Genesis w/ controller.]]
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Reception and legacy
The game received mixed reviews upon release. Later retrospective sources have given it mixed to negative reviews, with a rating of 47.5% from GameRankings. Lucas M. Thomas, reviewing the game for IGN, gave the game a 4.5/10, criticising the game's "floaty play control" and the Rock, Paper, Scissors boss battles, lamenting: "It's all very random, and it's not fun at all". Thomas also commented that "You'll understand why SEGA dropped [Alex Kidd]". Eurogamers Dan Whitehead gave the game a 4/10, disliking the game's "abominable collision detection" and "infantile effort". Like Thomas, he was dissatisfied with the game's Rock, Paper, Scissors sections, observing that "victory comes from blind luck, you'll sit there ... hoping the law of averages means you'll eventually choose the right option and escape from this Groundhog Day gaming hell". It is also one of the 42 games pre-installed in the Sega Genesis Mini console.