Whirlo (1992). Play online

Summary

Whirlo (known as Krino Xandra in Japan) is a side‑scrolling action‑platform game that arrived on the Super Famicom in 1992 before making its way to Europe and Australia later that year. Though the art direction, courtesy of Hiroshi Fuji, feels like a vibrant picture book, the challenge level is surprisingly stiff, with numerous hidden bad‑ending routes that keep even experienced platformers on their toes. Players control Xandra, a lizard‑like character equipped with a trusty pitchfork that doubles as a weapon and a surface‑clinging tool, while traditional jump mechanics let you weave through the forest‑filled stages. Coins scattered throughout act as currency for extra lives, but unlike its Valkyrie cousins the title offers no magical spells or additional weapon upgrades. The game resurfaced on a Nintendo Power flash‑RAM cartridge in 1998, giving a new generation a chance to tackle its charming yet demanding world.

Storyline

Whirlo takes place during an era when the deeds of the Valkyrie have become legend. The narrative follows the events that lead up to the first encounter between the Valkyrie and a man named Krino Xandra. At the start, Xandra enjoys a quiet life in the countryside of the Land of Marvel, sharing a home with his wife and young son.

Suddenly, a massive explosion reverberates across the land, and a lethal dust settles from the sky, spreading a withering disease that claims countless lives. Xandra’s son falls victim to the illness, leaving the family desperate for a cure. After overhearing rumors of a miraculous medicine, Xandra resolves to embark on a perilous journey to find it and save his child.