The original Wonder Boy, which was introduced in 1986, is still going strong after all these years. It’s probably the arcade platformer I’ve spent the most money on, next to. Going into replaying any of the games again for Wonder Boy Collection is fast moving, smooth scrolling, and needing both reflexes and memory strength to beat.
The Switch perfectly emulates it, and it works great on the portable. It nonetheless looks extremely delightful despite its massive, bright, basic cartoon stylings. You take control of incredibly gorgeous blonde mop-topped cave-boy Tom Tom, who can leap, throw axes provided you have gathered the necessary power up, and ride a skateboard, which activates continuous scrolling, allowing you to slow down but not stop.
When Escape created the original Wonder Boy, we had no idea that the franchise would go on to become one of the most mind-bogglingly complex in gaming history. There’s a lot to say about the many iterations of Wonder Boy/Adventure Island, but I’m here to look at the four titles that comprise the nice little package known as Wonder Boy Collection.
As startling as Tom Tom/Master Higgins’ tortuous future path is the fact that the first sequel, also featured here, introduced a sophisticated-for-the-time action RPG hybrid — to the coin op arena. Another wonderful title that still holds up today is Wonder Boy in Monster Land. You play an adolescent Tom Tom who has abandoned caveman aesthetics in favor of a medieval swords and armour flex as he strives to bring down a terrible dragon that has harmed his people.
This time around, the platforming is still essentially linear, but more methodical and slower paced.
Killing foes creates money, which may be spent to improve weapons and armour, as well as a variety of magical things, in the stores sprinkled about the terrain and managed by a rogue’s gallery of anthropomorphic animals. There are several secret rooms and prizes to discover, as well as some startling booby traps.
This time, the platforming is essentially linear, but more measured and slower paced. Killing foes creates money, which may be spent to improve weapons and armour, as well as a variety of magical things, in the stores scattered around the terrain and managed by a rogue’s gallery of anthropomorphic animals.
There are several hidden rooms and prizes to discover, as well as some unexpected booby traps.
It has the same big, strong appeal of Tom Tom’s first release. However, it is an entirely different experience from the game that came before it, and would have been an odd moneymaking pitch for arcade owners at the time given that even a newbie would receive significantly more bang for their buck in terms of time than most other arcade cabs. It’s easy to understand why the fantastic Sega Master System port was a good fit for it, and having it here on the Switch is just as good. It’s more than 30 years old and it is amazing!
The following two games in the collection expand on the RPG platforming theme.
Wonder Boy in Monster World is a lovely-looking 1991 Mega Drive/Genesis sequel that plays like a somewhat more sophisticated, impressive Monster Land. This, along with the fantastic Wonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap, is one of the greatest Metroidvanias of its day and still stands up well.
Last but not least is Monster World IV, which was previously exclusively available in Japan until a 2012 Virtual Console release. With its obviously sardonic dialogue, breathtaking visuals that would have pushed the Sega 16-bit technology to its limits, and appealing female hero (thus the Wonder Boy tag being dropped this time around), this is another masterpiece, although it doesn’t quite beat out Monster World as the finest of the quartet. It is still pretty charming none-the-less!
In closing the set is a fantastic means to own what many today consider amazing gems within the retro library. All featuring fun and clever exploration, platforming, and charming appeal for all ages!
You can grab the game physically or digitally At these fine distributors!
Limited Run Games
Nintendo Store
PSN
