Adventure Island is a side-scrolling platform game, in the same vein as Super Mario Bros.. Power-ups are found inside eggs, and include, but are not limited to, shooting power, skateboard, superior shooting power, and fairies. Running into an enemy, a rolling boulder, or a fire results in death, as does falling into water in the clouds level or into a pit. Stumbling over a small rock results in a partial loss of vitality. It is necessary to collect inexplicably floating food items by jumping in the air, or else Master Higgins will die. A fairy provides protection against enemies, boulders, and fire for a set while, but Higgins is always vulnerable to falling into pits and water.
