Play Mask, The (Japan) Online

I picked up Mask, The for the Super Nintendo back in 1995, a game developed and published by Atlus. It was a time when the SNES library was full of inventive platformers and action titles, and this one fit right in with its offbeat style. The game is based on the Jim Carrey movie, but it takes its own direction, focusing more on straightforward action and exploration than direct adaptation.

You control the Mask, a character who can stretch his face and body in wild ways to attack enemies and break through obstacles. Your main goal is to fight through various stages, defeating bosses and rescuing your girlfriend. Signature mechanics include using stretchy punches and giant hammers to clear screens of enemies, as well as transforming into different forms that grant temporary powers. The pacing is fast, and the difficulty can be unforgiving, with some tricky platforming and enemy patterns. Playing it feels like controlling a cartoon character set loose in a video game world.