#28: Rainbow Islands (Taito/Ocean, Amiga, 1987/1989)

Of course, no man is a (rainbow) island. There comes a point where it is impossible to ignore those that seek to commit violence against you, simply for who you are. At the end of each world, there is a boss fight against a larger, more belligerent version of one of the enemies that has plagued you throughout, a fight in which you must become a rainbow warrior, must fight to protect your sexual identity. These fights are tough, but they are winnable. Well, to begin with at least. The giant Dracula at the end of World 3 (Monster Island) is a sudden difficulty spike that hit like a brick wall, and one that I was not able to overcome. But with four levels to a world, that represents a whopping twelve levels before the game becomes outright sadistic towards the player. Standing beside the likes of Ghosts ‘n Goblins and New Zealand Story, as it surely did in many arcades around the world, that’s positively magnanimous!