Stanley Ipkiss / The Mask
The protagonist. Stanley becomes the powerful, cartoon-like Mask when he wears the magical mask.
How it plays
The game uses a two-dimensional side view. The main objective is to move through hazardous stages, defeat enemies, collect useful items, and reach the end of each area. Levels are structured as linear platforming courses with pits, obstacles, enemy groups, and occasional boss battles.
The Mask can run, jump, attack, and use his exaggerated abilities to survive encounters. Progression comes from completing stages rather than from a branching map or character-development system. The challenge is based on learning enemy patterns, judging jumps, and conserving opportunities to recover from mistakes.
Plan your run
Treat each stage as a pattern-learning exercise rather than rushing forward. Watch enemy movement before committing to a jump, and keep a safe distance from hazards whenever the level allows it.
Use attacks to clear threats that block narrow platforms, but prioritize positioning over damage. Boss encounters are easier when you identify their repeating attack cycles and strike only during safe openings.
Meet the cast
The protagonist. Stanley becomes the powerful, cartoon-like Mask when he wears the magical mask.
Stanley’s love interest from the film and part of the story’s supporting cast.
A criminal antagonist associated with the film’s central conflict.
Stanley’s loyal dog and a recognizable character from the film.
Before you begin
Learn the timing of difficult jumps before trying to move quickly.
Clear enemies near ledges so they cannot interrupt a landing.
Look through side areas for useful collectibles and recovery items.
Editorial context
A colorful licensed platformer with a strong connection to the film, but its uneven difficulty and repetitive action limit its appeal.
The Mask is a side-scrolling action platformer developed by Black Pearl Software and published by THQ for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1995. It is based on the film The Mask and follows Stanley Ipkiss after he uses the magical mask to become the cartoon-like Mask. The game combines conventional platforming with exaggerated attacks, hazards, enemies, and boss encounters drawn from the movie’s comic-book tone. Players guide the Mask through linear stages filled with jumps, traps, collectibles, and combat. Its presentation reflects the source material’s energetic humor, but contemporary reception was generally mixed, with criticism directed at uneven controls, repetitive action, and difficulty. It remains chiefly of interest to fans of licensed 16-bit games and The Mask.
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