I finally got around to finishing this game after a few months away.

There were moments when I was frustrated with a puzzle or unsure of what to do next. I needed to check a guide a half a dozen times or so, but there is so little time for gaming these days that I would rather not waste it banging my head against the wall. Luckily, those occasions were few and far between. Timed segments could also get annoying.

I almost gave this game 4 stars due to these issues, but it was just too much of a beautiful game. I had such a big smile on my face throughout. The graphics were bright and colorful, the animations reminded me of late 80s anime (in a good way), and the soundtrack was AMAZING.

The gameplay was tight and scratched my Metroidvania itch. There are a lot of extras to collect for the completionists out there. You can really tell the developers love the Wonder Boy series. I hope they create a follow up to this fantastic game.

Superb, challenging & charming 2D platformer with Metroidvania elements

Kudos to the art & the music directors Game Atelier

Curses at the level designer - especially the haunted manor (kidding - but damn it was hard to figure it out)

Completed (not 100%) in aprox 19h

8.5/10

This is my first entry into the wonder boy / monster boy universe, and I was pleasantly surprised. I really didn’t love the art style, music, and the first couple levels/areas. I had to push through, and it rewarded me with some really great exploration, level design, and environmental puzzles that made the experience worth it.

It is definitely a B-tier Metroidvania for me, but it has a lot of fun gameplay to offer if you can overlook the music, art style, and totally boring story.