The Mask hits different when it boots instantly in your browser. Released in 1995 on the Super Nintendo, this retro classic from Black Pearl Software is ready the second you press start — no downloads, no setup.
The Mask is a 1995 side-scrolling action video game developed and published by THQ subsidiary Black Pearl Software for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System which is based on the film of the same name. The film, in turn, was loosely based on the Dark Horse comic book series of the same name.
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| Action | Keyboard | Controller |
|---|---|---|
| D-Pad Up | ↑ | D-Pad up |
| D-Pad Down | ↓ | D-Pad down |
| D-Pad Left | ← | D-Pad left |
| D-Pad Right | → | D-Pad right |
| B (bottom) | X | Bottom face |
| A (right) | Z | Right face |
| Y (left) | S | Left face |
| X (top) | A | Top face |
| L | Q | Left shoulder |
| R | E | Right shoulder |
| Start | Enter | Start |
| Select | V | Select |
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The Story Behind The Mask
The game took longer to develop than anticipated, not being released until over a year after the movie's theatrical release. Different backgrounds were placed in the incomplete version that were scrapped in the retail version. The Mask is a 1995 side-scrolling action video game developed and published by THQ subsidiary Black Pearl Software for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System which is based on the film of the same name.
Though the game is ostensibly based on the movie, the graphics were based on the cartoony style of the comic book rather than the movie. Violent-looking attacks like a projectile-firing gun and a karate-style low kick were deleted from the final version. A version of the game was also in development for the Sega Genesis but was canceled.
How The Mask Plays
If the player runs out of health, then he returns to being Ipkiss, wearing his pajamas. If his morph meter runs out it slowly replenishes to a smaller amount than that he started out with, much like the ammo replenishes for the main gun in Earthworm Jim. Many of those special moves (the mallet, guns, horn, etc.) use The Mask's "Morph" power, which are replenished by power-ups.
The film, in turn, was loosely based on the Dark Horse comic book series of the same name. Mob boss Dorian Tyrell and his gang of rogues are secretly planning to take over Edge City, a small and prosperous city where the nightlife revolves around the wealthy patrons who attend the nightclub that Dorian owns and operates for the benefit of himself and his henchmen. The Mask is a 1995 side-scrolling action video game developed and published by THQ subsidiary Black Pearl Software for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System which is based on the film of the same name.
Why Players Still Load It Up
Mob boss Dorian Tyrell and his gang of rogues are secretly planning to take over Edge City, a small and prosperous city where the nightlife revolves around the wealthy patrons who attend the nightclub that Dorian owns and operates for the benefit of himself and his henchmen. Next Generation expressed enthusiasm for the game's cartoony animations and secret ways to use backgrounds to move around the level, noting that "while the level mazes are, at times, too convoluted for their own good, they're certainly inventive". The Mask and Stanley must stop Dorian and his plan, and save Tina Carlyle the woman that they both love.
Stanley Ipkiss, a mild mannered bank clerk who is unlucky and bullied transforms into the namesake character after discovering a green Loki mask. GamePros Captain Squideo applauded the game for its heavy use of characters and visual gags from the film, as well as the Mask's many abilities, but said the enemy graphics and backgrounds were "closer to '93 standards than '95 potential". The Mask received generally favorable reviews from critics.
The Mask — Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play The Mask online for free?
Absolutely. The full game loads in the player at the top of this page and runs right in your browser — no installs, no plugins, no waiting.
Do I need a controller to play The Mask?
No. Keyboard controls work out of the box (see the controls panel), and any USB or Bluetooth gamepad is detected automatically.
Who developed The Mask?
Development was handled by Black Pearl Software, with Black Pearl Software publishing the release.
Where can I buy the original The Mask?
See the "Other Places You Can Get This Game" section below the article for legitimate places to buy real-world versions.