A charming arcade platformer starring a kiwi bird rescuing its friends. Well-designed levels, snappy gameplay and progressive difficulty. A classic of the era that still holds up decently.
Your verdict
Category
Platformer1 player3+
Description
Platformer featuring Tiki the small bird flying through underground caverns. Published by Sega, released in Europe in 1992. Tiki in side-scrolling view flying through colorful caverns. Master System port of Taito's New Zealand Story.
NewZealand Story, The review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
3/5
Music
★★★★★
"Memorable"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Guiding a fearless kiwi through levels packed with traps and secret passages, grabbing wacky contraptions to take flight: this platformer brims with ideas and tenderness. Hunting for hidden paths and the lively pace keep a joyful curiosity alive. Cute, clever and colourful, it gives off a retro charm hard to resist.
Addictiveness
"Engaging"
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Average"
Technical info
💾0,14 MB📅01/01/1992
Published by Tengen
NewZealand Story, The (Master System) price, value & rarity
Complete: box, manual and disc/cart very clean. Lightly handled.
Q1 damagedQ6 completeQ10 new
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Is NewZealand Story, The still worth playing in 2026?
A port of Taito's arcade platformer, The NewZealand Story flies Tiki, a little kiwi, through maze like levels to free his kidnapped friends, using arrows, bubbles and vehicles found along the way. The vertical, detailed level design, the cute humour and the variety of situations give a particular charm, demanding but rewarding. The 8 bit conversion restores the spirit well despite some compromises. For a retro arcade platforming fan, someone curious about a Taito classic or a collector, the title keeps an endearing inventiveness and character.
