Wonder Boy in Monster World (1991)

Preliminary: Hmmm I definitely see what others have mentioned about the sluggish movement (and very sad to read it can't be upgraded smh), but I really like this main tune so far, and the colors, and I like that I went into the first house and the character gave me items and I felt a Tomba vibe. Hm. We shall see. Seems like this'll be another long game >.< I'm never going to finish 1991 haha. I need to remind myself though, that Link to the Past is in November and this is in October, so I should have high standards.

Day 1

Omg the music and Look just keep giving Tomba vibes! I can definitely see why others bemoaned the slow movement, like the Gold sure bounces quickly why can't I walk faster? Heh.

The platforming aspects are quite underwhelming so far, but the Look and Sound continue to be great so I ain't complaining.

Gosh yea these platforms and enemies sure move fast, why don't we? This game is just so beautiful, I love its colors and settings, I just wish the gameplay were holding up better.

As always I like the adventure and Metroidvania elements, like this Spear attacks much faster, nice. And at least the hints and villagepeople conversations make sense and are useful. Hmmm an Ocarina. Fancy that :-p Uff the timing for when to start playing the Ocarina is really annoying though. That could've been designed much better

Welp beat my first boss. The boss was fun, tho I still wish I could move faster/look forward to an upgrade for that. I'm not seeing this go above a 3 star so I will give it one more boss but if it doesn't get more spectacular, or the upgrades don't help enoguh (the Spear is great I must admit), I will just give a 3 and move on. Some annoying quirks to it, like the Ocarina playing's set up and where you need to stand for Up to work for doors etc, but also some amazing things about it namely the Look and Sound. That's really what might get me to push through it all and any potential score higher than 3. It probly doesn't help that I noticed (and hadn't known) that my next game is an SNES remake with QoL features (like improved stairs!!!) of the original Castlevania which is one of my all-time favorite games! Ah!

Yeahhh it was during the second monster cave that I decided to call it quits. A lot of potential here, but doesn't hold up to 1991 expectations. And some annoying controls and level designs.

Look: 9/10

Sound: 8.5/10

Play: 7/10

Feel: 7.5/10

Attachment: 7/10

Overall: 7.8/10

I love the idea of Wonder Boy in Monster World. An action-adventure platformer with RPG elements and colorful, cartoony sprites on the Genesis? Heck yes!

But good grief is the execution rough.

My biggest issue is how Shion (the titular Wonder Boy) controls. At first, I assumed his slow shuffle, meager jump and modest reach were simply a starting point: Surely after a game's worth of upgrades, he'd feel less like a sack of potatoes. But even with Monster World's very best gear, he is a chore to move on screen. His jump can never clear an enemy, his weapons will never reach as far as you want them to, and whatever speed he gains will be offset by his slippery, ice-like momentum.

Speaking of ice: Most of Monster World's environments are a "greatest hits" of irritating video game tropes. Ice world with slippery platforms? Check! Lengthy, underwater segments with sluggish movement? Check! Jungle area with racist caricatures? Check! Mazes, both underwater and the kind that reset when you make a wrong turn? Check and check! And can every square inch of the map be crawling with enemies that take many hits to kill and constantly re-spawn? Sure thing! I'm honestly surprised there's no escort mission somewhere in here.

I can appreciate the game's overall concept, I do like its art style, and its soundtrack is minimal but not unpleasant. But I'd have never finished this without eventually resorting to cheats and save states. Even after seeing credits, its enduring appeal still baffles me.

Wonder Boy in Monster World (aka Wonder Boy V) plays a similar game to Dragon's Trap, ditching the transformations for a more straightforward adventure. Looking better and still fairly difficult, this one slightly edges over Dragon's Trap.

Monster World is again under attack from an invading army of monsters! A young man named Shion vows to defeat them and bring peace again. The player may equip swords, spears, shields, suits of armor, and boots. They can turn small, walk through water or in deserts, and find magic to cast such as power boosts or lightning bolts.

The region is pretty connected and much easier to maneuver than previous games. Focusing less on obtuse secrets, the game is fairly straightforward about its heart upgrades and goodies and has an inn for saving the game, making it a little more playable. The player can run, crouch, jump, and other simple movements and talk to townsfolk to get hints on moving forward.

The game starts relatively easy but can get very fiendish at the end, especially the last couple of boss fights. Most enemies are cute and animated very amusingly but some enemy designs (jungle natives) age poorly over time.

Music is a little more subtle than Dragon's Trap - perhaps a little less catchy but still very high quality nonetheless. Graphics are also gorgeous in some areas (the background in places like the fairy kingdom are quite painterly) and Shion pops out on the screen.

Wonder Boy in Monster World continues to sharpen and improve quality of life on the Wonder Boy formula while still providing a tough challenge. Fans might be more into Dragon Trap's transformations but Monster World is the more solid game overall.