A snappy Konami platformer in the Rocket Knight Adventures lineage, demanding and stylish. An unjustly obscure gem.
Your verdict
Category
Platformer1 player7+
Description
Action platformer featuring Sparkster the rocket opossum battling enemies in dynamic levels. Published by Konami, released in Japan in 1994. Sparkster with his jetpack for fast dashes, sword attacks, creative bosses and lively soundtrack. Sequel to Rocket Knight Adventures on Super Nintendo.
Sparkster review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
An expressive mascot, vivid colours and settings brimming with detail: Konami unfurls a platformer of delightful liveliness and inventiveness. The fluidity of the animation and the energy of the sprites overflow with charm. This visual direction, polished and dynamic, illustrates the golden age of the 16-bit platformer.
Signed by Konami, the music of Sparkster deploys a nervy, melodic electronic rock of galvanising energy, perfectly in tune with the leaps of the likeable rocket opossum. Each level pulses with an infectious verve that charges the action. This sonic vitality, faithful to the studio's craft, remains a treat for fans.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Playing an opossum samurai propelled by a jetpack, slashing through the air with a spinning sword strike and bouncing off walls: this snappy platformer bets on speed and flair. The spectacular flight phases and oversized bosses keep renewing the action. Colourful, demanding and stylish, a Rocket Knight heir bursting with energy, ideal for fans of a fast challenge.
The original Japanese Super Famicom release of Sparkster, Konami's 1994 sequel to Rocket Knight Adventures (the Mega Drive entry being a separate title). A source pressing from the Japanese market, in its SFC cardboard box, this is the import-sought edition for Rocket Knight fans who want the original cover art. Beyond the physical object, the appeal lies in Sparkster's cult aura as a marginal yet enduringly loved Konami mascot, and in completing the diptych in its first form.
Is Sparkster still worth playing in 2026?
Sparkster is a Rocket Knight Adventures follow up by Konami on the Super Famicom, namely a brisk 2D platformer with controllable boost where the opossum squirrel hero crosses stages with varied staging. The handling stays precise, the difficulty climbs with exemplary pacing and the aesthetic has aged very well. A touch less wild than the Mega Drive version but more rigorous. Recommended to fans of brisk Konami platforming and to those curious about an SFC version long compared with the Sega counterpart.
