The Mega Drive port of Taito's cute arcade platformer New Zealand Story. Charming, demanding, truly pleasant for Taito gem lovers.
Your verdict
Category
Platformer1 player3+
Description
Duck Tiki battles enemies in colourful New Zealand levels in this Taito Mega Drive port. Published by Taito, released in Japan in August 1990. Arcade platformer with duck Tiki collecting keys to free friends, varied enemies and labyrinthine levels.
NewZealand Story, The review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
3/5
Music
★★★★★
"Memorable"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Taito builds a toy world in primary colours, where a small kiwi faces walruses and fish in labyrinthine side-view levels. The captured vehicles, balloon, saucer, inflatable duck, visibly change the hero's silhouette, and every zone adopts a bold, unified chromatic range.
Gameplay
"Solid"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
A tiny kiwi sets off to rescue his friends through a maze of traps, and the charm kicks in instantly. Hopping into a balloon or plane to soar over the stages brings a rare sense of freedom, dotted with secret passages to uncover. The humour and rounded scenery disarm you, the pace stays brisk. A mischievous platformer that keeps all its charm today.
Addictiveness
"Engaging"
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Average"
Technical info
💾0,21 MB📅31/08/1990
Published by Tengen
NewZealand Story, The (Mega Drive) 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 the Taito arcade game, The NewZealand Story follows the little duck Tiki across colourful, maze like levels to free his kidnapped friends. The platformer blends vertical platforming, exploration and light action, in a cute art direction and good natured humour typical of Taito. The clever level design and the visual charm have aged well, even if the difficulty can be steep. For a fan of retro platforming or someone curious about Taito's arcade catalogue, the title keeps a tangy charm and a sincere play pleasure.
