Wonder Boy Series - Part 3

Wonder Boy (1987)
By: Westone / Sega Genre: Platform / Action Players: 1 Difficulty: Medium
Featured Version: Sega Master System First Day Score: ??,???
Also Available For: Arcade, SG-1000, Game Gear, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum
Download For: Wii Virtual Console, Sony PSN

Yes I know, I've already reviewed the original Wonder Boy game, but though it may have originated in the arcades, to me, my good friend Luke, and probably many others, it has always been a Master System game first and foremost. This may be because it featured prominently in the MS's somewhat limited early selection of games, but it may also be because it's a rather stonking conversion! Well, I always used to think so anyway, but to my sorrow I haven't played it for many moons now. I didn't play it all that much even then if I'm honest. The reasons for this are also the reasons the original game won't quite receive a top score here at Red Parsley; namely, that I became distracted by the sequels Monster Land and Dragon's Trap - which were even better! I still had a lot of fun with this game though - let's see if it's still as good...

The MS conversion was the second released after a gallant (though not very accurate) attempt for the SG-1000 which appeared the same year as the arcade original. The MS version appeared a year later along with ports for several home micros and was, as already implied, a straight conversion, with tinkering restricted to understandable audio and visual compromises. For the most part, these changes are ultra-fine too. The music is more or less the same but slightly higher-pitched while the graphics are a bit squashed vertically but are also brighter and, in my opinion, have a bit more character as well. Who remembers the iconic green opening stage adorning pretty much all Master System promotional materials? I certainly do!

That wouldn't be a lot of good if it played like a bowl of camel puke though. Happily, it doesn't! In fact, some might say it's even more fun than the arcade version owing to tweaked controls and two brand new areas. This brings the total to nine and adds a decent amount to the game's overall length as well. Does that count as tinkering? If so, please amend/delete the previous paragraph accordingly! However you look at it though, Sega gave owners of their splendid console a great game to get stuck into. Wonder Boy's fast-paced, fruit-collecting platform action might not be as wonderful as later, more adventurey entries in the series in most people's eyes, but it's a nice-looking, fun, addictive game, and suits the Master System well. It's still one of its most recognised games too, and is well worth playing on it.

RKS Score: 8/10

Gameplay Video: here's a video of the whole game being played by one of the talented fellows at World of Longplays (check out their great channel here). Oh, and don't watch if you want to avoid spoilers!