Wonder Boy is one of those old series that nostalgically draws me in. The first game in the series, as you should all know, features an islander on a skateboard throwing hammers at snails. It was awesome. Then something happened. The whole series fractured and splintered. The main series continued as Wonderboy but became an action RPG, while the platforming elemenst served as the basis for Adventure Island. It fractured even more, with the Wonderboy getting a Monster World sub-series. We’re getting a new one of those.
Indie developer Game Atelier was working on what was a spiritual successor to the SEGA-bound RPG series. It had a silly name, which is possibly why it failed at its kickstarter bid. For some reason, nobody really wanted to play something called Flying Hamster II.
That game is now being retooled as an actual Wonderboy game; Monster Boy and the Wizard of Booze. It’s being developed with the help of the original Montser Land creator Ryuichi Nishizawa – so it’s an official game in everything but name, as SEGA still owns the trademark. It’s been changed a little, so there are “no more hamsters but a new hero with a story matching with the Monster World universe”.
As it’s now got a publisher, the kickstarter funding has been axed. It’ll be out on PC and PlayStation 4 later this year. It looks fun and whimsical, and just the sort of thing I feel like playing right now.
Here’s the banjo-filled announcement. As SEGA had a much larger presence here than Nintendo did in the 16 bit era – did you play any of the Wonder Boy/Monster World games – or were you more of an Adventure Island sort?
Last Updated: February 2, 2015
Admiral Chief
February 2, 2015 at 08:35
Tosh MA
February 2, 2015 at 08:49
He sucks live. Just saying.
Admiral Chief
February 2, 2015 at 08:36
I should get a banjo
Jaded_Reprobate
February 2, 2015 at 08:45
i sucked so bad at this game…
it was like my love life…. over in 30 seconds… yet i kept going back for more
Hammersteyn
February 2, 2015 at 08:59
The ice levels were the worst, you had a time limit so you cant take too long but then you slide all over the place and there’s icicles just waiting to drop on you.
Jaded_Reprobate
February 2, 2015 at 09:05
i never got that far… i only think i made it past the cobra pictured a handful of times…. i really was shit at this game
Hammersteyn
February 2, 2015 at 09:13
I think it was the third level. Either way. I could play this or go play outside. Choice was obvious
Andrew vd Walt
February 2, 2015 at 15:21
Geez that game… I remember playing it till I actually got good at it and could get past a few bosses. They always had the same body and a different head each time. Eventually the game would start recycling levels, but with different colour grass, etc.
Also played quite a bit of Wonder Boy 3 on the Mega Drive and managed to finish it once.
Raptor Rants A Lot:Original #7
February 2, 2015 at 08:52
Nostalgia!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hammersteyn
February 2, 2015 at 08:53
Monster Boy and the Wizard of Booze. Best wizard ever!
1230e
February 2, 2015 at 09:36
They’re gonna need another , white, power ranger boy because the Ricardo Medina one just stabbed his roommate to death with a SWORD !!!!!
Blood Emperor Trevor
February 2, 2015 at 09:15
So sexist, it’s Wonder WOMAN FFS!