History VideoGame / KidChameleon

* AnAxeToGrind: The "Maniaxe" form uses these as a weapon.

[[SimilarlyNamedWorks Not to be confused with]] the '''other''' ''Kid Chameleon'', which is a British comic strip about a [[WildChild semi-feral boy]] with chameleonic camouflage, or alternatively ''VideoGame/ChameleonTwist'', a 1997[[PlatformGame platformer]] released for the UsefulNotes/Nintendo64 and featuring chameleons.

* CheckPointStarvation: While its massive world is certainly impressive for a relatively early Genesis title, the fact that you're expected to play through this labyrinthine game in one sitting made it one of the most frustrating games on the system in the days before save states.

* CheckPointStarvation: While its massive world is certainly impressive for a Genesis launch title, the fact that you're expected to play through this labyrinthine game in one sitting made it one of the most frustrating games on the system in the days before save states.

* AdvancingWallOfDoom: 3 stages feature the aptly named 'Murder Wall'. The last 2 can be avoided by taking alternate routes. The first one can be avoided by finding a hidden bridge.

* ContinuingIsPainful: Comes in 2 different obstacles:

** Some levels will not give power-ups until later on in the level, so dying in that specific level leaves you with 2 hits and start over. Ice God's Vengeace is a perfect example of this, especially with small gaps to land, slippery obstacles and vertical projectiles. Forced Entry will either have you go through as the kid on the bottom path or Juggernaut for the upper path, both paths requiring major dexterity.

** Using cheats or glitches, the Juggernaut helmet can destroy the first 3 boss levels effortlessly due to the having less projectile limits and recovery time as Maniaxem, as well as the projectile bug with Juggernaut. When you shoot the launched skulls within the boss (yes you take a hit), it counts as 11 hits due to the frame animations, thus a boss dies in 3-4 shots. However, it is normally impossible to reach the bosses with Juggernaut because the level(s) before that require specific helmets to complete or requires passing through a 2-tile-horizontal path, which is impossible for Juggernaut's 3-tile-horizontal pass. To add salt to the wound, 3 of the 4 Stages have this helmet 2 levels away from the boss.
* DifficultButAwesome
** The Skycutter effect is the most difficult powerup to control, as it is always moving, but is also the fastest. It can also [[GravityMaster reverse gravity]] on a whim, which can be abused to simulate the effects of [[{{Flight}} Cyclone]], only much faster. It can even bash blocks upside down, allowing it to uncover a slew of extra lives and continues, and cut through blocks from above like Red Stealth or Iron Knight. Naturally, it's a favorite amongst [[SpeedRun speed runners]].

* GameBreakingBug:
** The Final Marathon. There are reports that state [[GameBreakingBug the level will randomly freeze or glitch]] for unknown reasons on some older versions of the game. What makes this even worse is that The Final Marathon is the second-to-last level in the game, so combined with NintendoHard levels, this happening is bound to give a player a reason to throw their controllers or consoles.

* HighlyVisibleNinja[=/=]Samurai: "Red Stealth" form.

* ShoutOut: Micromax = [[Film/TheFly1958 The Fly]] (the fifties version).

* UnintentionallyUnwinnable:
** Backtracking on levels and losing your helmet required to pass that level. This is quite common for those who have enough time to collect any missing items, but can cost you a helmet.

** Hills of the Warrior 1. This [[AdvancingWallOfDoom Murder Wall]] level could count as FakeDifficulty as well. If you chose the bottom path below, you instantly lose due to steel blocks. The level hints it, but not explicitly.
** Forced Entry, which contains the infamous [[AdvancingWallOfDoom Murder Wall]]. If you managed to still have the Berserker helmet from the previous level and ram the metal blocks in hopes of another warp teleporter, you'll reach a dead end with a sign that says "TOO BAD."
** The Final Marathon. There are reports that state [[GameBreakingBug the level will randomly freeze or glitch]]. It can be presumed either defective cartridge or that this level contains too many items and enemies more than how much RAM the system can handle. No reports of this happens on the re-releases, thankfully. What makes this even worse is that The Final Marathon is the second-to-last level in the game, so combined with NintendoHard levels, this happening is bound to give a player a reason to throw their controllers or consoles.

** Look down at GuideDangIt. Each of the "codes" is very complex (so you can't find them with random button presses), but each one is devastating: one summons a rain of damaging gems upon all enemies, another calls an enemy seeking gem snake that hunts down enemies, etc. etc.
*** NOTE: The "codes" themselves are actually very easy, just press A + START; what is complex is keeping track of which form has which powers, and how much they cost.

** Comes into full effect after you're playing a non-genesis copy: you know those gems you pick up? You can use them to power special attacks. [[GuideDangIt But only if you have the original game manual.]] And the code to activate each power [[http://www.gamefaqs.com/genesis/586273-kid-chameleon/faqs/2789 differs from one form to another]]. Which is a shame, since a lot of those special attacks are very useful.

The plot revolved around a breakthrough Virtual Reality video game system, which [[HolodeckMalfunction goes haywire and starts kidnapping kids who play the game]]. Turns out the [[AIIsACrapshoot Video Game's boss]] has gained sentience and it's up to Casey, the eponymous Kid Chameleon, to defeat the evil computer and save the day, by proceeding from one teleporter in a given play area to another, moving from room to room in a nonlinear progression. His strongest weapon is his Chameleon ability. Scattered throughout the game are blocks containing diamonds, which can be used to purchase powerups, and [[HatOfPower hats/masks]] for several of various powerups, each with a different power theme, attacks, and even max hitpoints.

** If you managed to not lose the Cyclone helmet from Devils' Marsh II, then you can beat the following levels easily: Knight's Isle (fly through ever obstacle in the game), Whale Grotto (fly above for 3 seconds), and Hoverboard Beach (fly above for 2 seconds).

* EasyLevelTrick: The Whispering Woods II separates the starting position and the flag with steel blocks. Getting the Berserker helmet from the last Elsewhere will allow the player to push the blocks aside and reach the flag in less than a second.

** Some levels will not given power-ups until later on in the level, so dying in that specific level leaves you with 2 hits and start over. Ice God's Vengeace is a perfect example of this, especially with small gaps to land, slippery obstacles and vertical projectiles. Forced Entry will either have you go through as the kid on the bottom path or Juggernaut for the upper path, both paths requiring major dexterity.

** Using cheats, the Juggernaut helmet can destroy the first 3 boss levels effortlessly due to the having less projectile limits and recovery time as Maniaxe. However, it is impossible to reach the bosses with Juggernaut because the level(s) before that require specific helmets to complete. To add salt to the wound, almost all of the levels that are 2 levels away from the boss, have the helmet.

* EasyLevelTrick: The Whispering Woods II separates the starting position and the flag with steel blocks. Getting the Berserker helmet from the last Elsewhere will allow the player to push the blocks aside and reach the flag in less than two seconds.

* AdvancingWallOfDoom: 3 stages feature the aptly named 'Murder Wall'. All but one of these stages (the first encounter) can be avoided through teleporters.

** The hockey mask powerup is a reference to [[Franchise/FridayThe13th]].

''Kid Chameleon'' was a product of the UsefulNotes/ConsoleWars, the AdventureGame that the kids who got the Genesis were blessed with. Despite being a Sega game, it was a shining example of NintendoHard.

'''Not to be confused with''' ''Kid Chameleon'', which is a British comic strip about a [[WildChild semi-feral boy]] with chameleonic camouflage, or alternatively ''VideoGame/ChameleonTwist'', a [[PlatformGame platformer]] released for the UsefulNotes/Nintendo64 featuring chameleons.
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%%* NintendoHard

* NeverSayDie: Averted. Every single death nets you with a nice "DIE!" voice clip before (or during, if you don't have a power up) the [[DeathThrows Death Throw]]. All the bosses shout this when they attack.

* ConvectionSchmonvection: A few of the levels take place inside volcanoes, but you don't get hurt unless you touch the lava.
** Justified considering that it's not real lava.

** Some levels will not given power-ups until later on in the level, so dying in that specific level leaves you with 2 hits and start over. Ice God's Vengeace is a perfect example of this, especially with small gaps to land, slippery obstacles and vertical projectiles.

'''Not to be confused with''' ''Kid Chameleon'', a British comic strip about a [[WildChild semi-feral boy]] with chameleonic camouflage.