Kiwi Madness – The New Zealand Story

Over the past few months, I’ve been diving deep into retro Amiga content — and that’s largely thanks to the incredible feedback from readers like you. With the Amiga’s 30th Anniversary fast approaching, my focus has naturally become more Amiga-centric than ever.

One game I’ve been meaning to cover for quite some time is The New Zealand Story (TNZS). For one reason or another, it kept getting pushed further down the list — but that changes today!

Taito and Ocean Were Kings Of the ’80s…

For many gamers, Ocean and arcade conversions were a perfect combination. This was especially true during the golden years of the Imagine label, which delivered a string of impressive ports such as Gryzor (C64), Robocop, Combat School (C64), Chase HQ, Cabal, Rainbow Islands, and many more.

Taito was an arcade powerhouse, both in coin-ops and on home systems, so it’s no surprise that Ocean jumped at the opportunity to secure the license and bring The New Zealand Story to the Amiga.

This is one of those unforgettable games that stay with you long after you’ve played it. The bright, cheerful theme tune is instantly recognisable to anyone who spent time with it, and the gameplay still feels solid even today. It’s one of those rare titles where, years later, you still remember exactly where the hidden secrets are — and that says a lot about how well it was made.

Lovely Game with lots of Cool Bosses and Locations…

The New Zealand Story might look a little simple at first glance, but give it a few minutes, and it really begins to shine. The Amiga version boasts charming visuals and a delightfully catchy soundtrack — not exactly revolutionary, but undeniably solid and fun.

What truly makes it stand out, though, is the gameplay. The controls are smooth and responsive, there’s no noticeable slowdown, and the overall experience feels like a faithful and complete port. Everything just works the way it should — something that couldn’t always be said for arcade conversions back in the day.

I’ll admit, I haven’t revisited the other versions since the mid-2000s, when I played it on PSP and PS2 as part of the Taito Legends compilations. It’s possible the Amiga port is missing a few minor bits — perhaps a level or two — but from what I can tell, it still holds up impressively well today.

Ocean Had Some Awesome boxes Back Then…

I recently fired up the WHDLoad version of The New Zealand Story on my SX-1 CD32 setup, and the very first thing I did was head straight for the first shortcut — exactly where I remembered it from decades ago. The last time I played the Amiga version was back in the late ’80s, yet somehow those little details have stayed with me all these years.

Normally, I’m not particularly good at remembering secrets or cheat codes, but this game is a rare exception. I still recall several of the old keyboard cheats, along with many of the warp zones and hidden areas. Even if I’ve forgotten a few along the way, I remember enough that it feels like I played it just yesterday.

Some might debate whether that level of memorability reflects good or bad game design — but for me, if I can still recall a hidden secret more than 20 years later, that’s the mark of brilliant design.

Cheat Codes Hidden Away In The Box…

I recently fired up the WHDLoad version of The New Zealand Story on my SX-1 CD32 setup, and the very first thing I did was head straight for the first shortcut — exactly where I remembered it from decades ago. The last time I played the Amiga version was back in the late ’80s, yet somehow those little details have stayed with me all these years.

Normally, I’m not particularly good at remembering secrets or cheat codes, but this game is a rare exception. I still recall several of the old keyboard cheats, along with many of the warp zones and hidden areas. Even if I’ve forgotten a few along the way, I remember enough that it feels like I played it just yesterday.

Some might debate whether that level of memorability reflects good or bad game design — but for me, if I can still recall a hidden secret more than 20 years later, that’s the mark of brilliant design.

The Jewel Case Edition Looks More Or Less Identical To The Big Box…

It took me about two hours to finish the game this time — surprisingly quick, considering it took me weeks to complete it back in the day. I may be older now (and definitely a bit rustier when it comes to gaming), but somehow I managed to beat it in a single evening. And no, I didn’t use the infinite lives cheat!

One of The NewZealand Story’s biggest strengths lies in its creative design. Take one of the boss battles, for instance — you actually get swallowed by the boss and have to defeat it from the inside. Pure brilliance! While the core gameplay remains consistent throughout, each level introduces new visuals and themes, keeping things fresh and giving you that constant “just one more stage” feeling.

Gotta Love The Floppies…

Yes, I actually own three different versions of The New Zealand Story — two boxed editions and floppy disks from three separate releases. One of them was a gift from a friend who handed me his Hitsquad edition when he left the Amiga scene back in the late ’90s. Funny how little moments like that tend to stick with you.

So, after spending an evening revisiting this quirky platformer about a kiwi (not a chicken!) named after a country on the other side of the world… what did I think?

• That iconic theme song? Still looping in my head the next day. Seriously — close your eyes, and it’s right there.
• The gameplay? Still tight, responsive, and fun.
• The visuals? Surprisingly good, even today.
• Boss fights? Entertaining and genuinely satisfying.
• And the fact that all of this fit onto a single floppy disk? Absolutely incredible.

But really — why don’t we get games like this anymore?
And come on… why is there only one song in the entire game? No wonder it’s burned into my memory from the ’80s all the way to today!

One of the most charming aspects of The New Zealand Story is how full of secrets it is. If you know where to look, you can actually warp straight to the final boss within minutes. It makes me wonder if these shortcuts were originally added for beta testers to quickly navigate through the game during development.

In short, The New Zealand Story remains a genuine classic. If you’re into old-school platformers or love that “cute but challenging” vibe, this one’s an absolute must-play.

Special thanks to Hall of Light for the screenshots!

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