Adventure Island II NES Dino Guide

Adventure Island II for the NES is a vibrant, fast-paced side-scrolling platformer released in 1991 by Hudson Soft, serving as the original and fully independent sequel to the first Adventure Island game 🌴🔥. Unlike the series’ debut—an adaptation of Sega’s Wonder Boy—Adventure Island II introduces an entirely new adventure crafted by Now Production, featuring fresh mechanics, new worlds, and the iconic addition of dinosaur companions. This game further develops the action-survival formula the series is known for while offering players more strategic depth and replayability 🌟🎮.

The story begins when Princess Leilani’s sister, the lovely Tina, is kidnapped by the Evil Witch Doctor’s loyal servants. Determined to save her, Master Higgins sets off across eight dangerous islands ruled by monstrous enemies. Thankfully, he isn’t alone—four friendly dinosaurs are ready to help players leap, swim, fly, and charge through the island challenges 🦕💪. Each dinosaur has its own specialty, making exploration more dynamic and empowering players to approach each stage in different ways.

Adventure Island II retains the series’ iconic mechanics: health constantly drains over time, fruit replenishes it, enemies must be avoided or defeated, and platforming precision is critical. However, this sequel introduces major improvements, including an inventory system that allows players to store spare hammers and select a dinosaur companion before starting each level. Stages are shorter than in the first game but more varied, with new underwater areas, vertical-scrolling segments, warp shortcuts, and hidden keys found inside secret eggs 🥚🔍.

Hidden eggs now emit a special sound when struck, offering helpful clues for treasure hunters. Inside them may be powerful items, shortcuts, warp keys, or a card suit needed to summon one of Higgins’ dinosaur allies. Meanwhile, the traditional checkpoint system is gone—if Higgins loses a life, the entire stage must be restarted, making careful play more important than ever ⏳🔥. Bosses also move to different areas if the player dies during the encounter, adding an unpredictable twist to progression.

With charming visuals, tight controls, creative level design, and a strong layer of strategy, Adventure Island II stands as one of the best entries in the series and one of the most memorable platformers on the NES. For more retro classics and gaming guides, feel free to explore Apkgosu.fun for additional content and nostalgic gems.

Gameplay Overview

The gameplay of Adventure Island II mixes platforming skill, resource management, and strategic preparation. Each stage challenges players to choose the right tools, react quickly to hazards, and take advantage of Higgins’ dinosaur allies 🌺⚔️.

• Player Abilities: Run, jump, throw hammers (once collected), use stored items, and ride dinosaurs with unique powers.
• Important Mechanics: Hidden eggs, warp keys, inventory management, fruit for health, dinosaur suits, and shifting boss locations.
• Level Variety: Eight islands featuring traditional side-scrolling, vertical climbs, underwater zones, bonus rounds, and dynamic boss encounters.

How to Play

New players will feel right at home if they’ve played the first game, but Adventure Island II adds layers of strategy and planning. Here’s how to get started and succeed 🏝️✨:

• Basic Controls: Move with the D-pad, jump with one button, and attack with hammers (once obtained). Selecting dinosaurs is done before a stage begins.
• Primary Objectives: Complete each stage, maintain health by collecting fruit, defeat the boss of each island, and rescue Tina.
• How to Progress: Use inventory items strategically, find hidden eggs for power-ups, and choose the right dinosaur ally for each environment.

Tips & Strategies

• Use dinosaurs thoughtfully: Each one excels in different areas—don’t waste water-only dinos on land stages or flying dinos where they aren’t needed.
• Strike suspicious terrain: If you hear a different sound, a hidden egg is nearby—jump or strike to reveal it.
• Save hammers: Since fireballs can’t be obtained the old way, reserve extra hammers for difficult stages.
• Memorize stage layouts: Without checkpoints, knowing what comes next drastically reduces deaths.
• Watch boss movements: If you fail a fight, the boss relocates—prepare to clear new areas to reach him again.

FAQ

How many dinosaurs are in Adventure Island II?
There are four dinosaur helpers: the blue camptosaurus (tail attack), red camptosaurus (fire breath), pteranodon (flight and stone drops), and elasmosaurus (underwater support).

Is Adventure Island II harder than the first game?
It’s more balanced: stages are shorter, dinosaurs help with difficulty, but no checkpoints make mistakes more punishing.

How do I find bonus zones?
Pick up keys inside hidden eggs. Some keys take you to bonus fruit rooms, shortcut paths, or special item areas.

Can I keep my skateboard between stages?
No. Unlike the first game, skateboards do not carry over to the next level.

Does the weapon system change?
Yes. Extra hammers now go into your inventory instead of upgrading to fireballs automatically.

How does boss relocation work?
If defeated by a boss, you must clear an additional stage because the boss moves to a different location within the island.