The New Zealand Story Overview
Kiwi Kraze is a side scrolling action game where the player controls Tiki, a kiwi bird on a rescue mission across New Zealand. Her tribe has been captured by the Leopard Seal to be sold, and she must free them from cages located in specific areas including Auckland, Rotorua, and Mt. Cook.
Progression involves navigating levels that extend horizontally and sometimes vertically or underwater. Movement in upward directions is sometimes only possible by obtaining a flight ability from defeated foes. Underwater sections introduce an oxygen management system, requiring Tiki to return to the surface periodically, though she can also attack enemies from the water's surface.
The primary tool for combat is a crossbow, used against various enemies that attack with projectiles like bombs and arrows. Defeating these foes often yields fruit for points or power ups. These include enhanced weapons like laser shots, bombs, and fireballs. Collecting the letters that spell EXTEND grants an extra life.
The game presents a challenging pace through time limits for each rescue. Failing to free a captured kiwi quickly summons a devil that pursues Tiki. Furthermore, reaching the end of most areas triggers a boss encounter that must be defeated to advance.