Adventures Of Rad Gravity, The

Adventures Of Rad Gravity, The is a side-scrolling action platformer for the NES, released in 1990 by Interplay and published by Activision. It follows Rad Gravity, a spacefaring hero exploring a strange collection of planets in search of his missing creator. Each world has its own visual identity, from mechanical environments to more organic and alien-looking landscapes, giving the journey a colorful science-fiction flavor.

Rad’s main tool is a sword, which he uses to deal with roaming enemies and clear a path through hazardous terrain. Exploration is just as important as combat: stages contain platforms, ladders, traps, hidden routes, and useful upgrades that expand what Rad can do. The game’s progression has a light adventure element, with players moving between planets and relying on newly discovered abilities to reach areas that were previously out of reach. It is still firmly rooted in classic platforming, however, so timing jumps and learning enemy patterns remain central to making progress.

The game has an unusual personality for an NES release. Its bright art, eccentric settings, and imaginative premise give it more character than a straightforward run-and-jump adventure, while the level layouts offer plenty of room for curious players to search beyond the obvious path. The controls and hazards can be demanding, especially when unfamiliar enemies or awkward platforming combinations catch you off guard, but that challenge is part of the period’s appeal.

Whether you remember Rad Gravity from its original Activision release or are discovering it for the first time, this offbeat 1990 NES platformer is worth a look. You can play online on your browser through RetroCloud and revisit its colorful worlds at your own pace.