This was one of my favourite Master System games back in the days. What a great game, yes it wasn't as slick as Wonderboy III but it was so much fun to play.

Ahahaha, that cover art is so bad xD

But yeah, now I'll finally be able to see the end of this game properly, since it links into the beginning of the third

Speaking of which, I would totally buy the SMS Wonder Boy 3, even though Dragon's Curse is basically better in most ways. Nostalgia and all that

I played this in the HEY arcade in Tokyo and I thought it was pretty neat. How close is this port to the original?

Its amazing how much people make fun of the SMS's box are with the white grids and the bad pictures, but people love the Sega Genesis box art with the black grids and the edgy game covers.

Anyway somone at Nintendo loves Wonderboy games, thats for sure.

Well, to be fair, some of the really early SMS cover art was shockingly awful. This game is in the middle period, where it's not quite as awful as stuff like Choplifter, but the style hasn't grown up quite yet. Once we get to 1991 or so, the cover art has really improved.

Wow, this actually looks like it is a good game. I wish I waited for this to be my first SMS game instead of Alex Kidd...

Yeah, the cover art progressivly got a lot better. I owned most of the better games from around the Sonic 2 SMS period, and all of them had good cover art

But oh man, the early ones would make you laugh at them over and over

That box art is hilariously atrocius. I'm sure that kid's face gave a few young children nightmares back in the day. And he's a bit big for a boy isn't he?

Yeah the old SMS box arts are pretty abysmal. I heard Wonderboy III Monster Lair was one of the worst WB games, but thats the only one Ive played and I really enjoyed it as a kid. This one doesnt look too different though. Im not sure whether to get it.

Cant wait for this game to come out as this is the only game in the wonder boy series that I have never played hopefully it will come out sometime this month although its very rare master system games are released on the virtual console I think where due one dont you.

Epic fail on the box art. But this game is awesome!

A very challenging game that introduced some of the series staples like shopping for equipment and treasure hunting. It's a shame it didn't get rid of some older mechanics in the process though, because searching for secrets and doing shopping is pretty hard to do when your life keeps draining away and there are NO continues to fall back on. And you still get point giving loot from enemies when all you really want is gold because it's so damn rare and everything is so damn expensive! The game ends up being as much about resource management as it is about platforming and fighting monsters.
Get the sequel, Wonder Boy III /Dragons Curse first. This isn't even the best version, as it plays extremely slow.
Btw, I wonder if the arcade game inspired Nintendo to make Zelda 2 the way it was or if it was the other way around?

Bad box art. I will probably get this, though.

worst ever game for the master system? i doubt that very much, dfalco.

Dfalco, It is not the worst game on the Sms.

There are far worse Sega Master games out there including the "great sports" series for the the Sms. I own and played over 70 sms games.

I think this is the Wonder Boy I played on the Amiga back in the early 90s. Is it possible? From what I've seen in the video it does seem to be it but my memory is a bit fuzzy...

Will probably get it anyway as I've enjoyed the other Wonder Boy games on VC

Come on, let's be fair to dfalco. He didn't say it's the worst game on the SMS... he said it's the "wrost"...

The C64 version of this thing kicked my arse. Time to pay back.

SEGNESHGEGNESGNSUDBGYSDBYUVBCXBVXZ GIVE ME THIS GAME NOW!!!!!

I had the C64 version of this too quakster, I could only finish the game as long as I got Sphinx's question right because he kicked my arse otherwise. And that level with a lot of yellow in the background HATED my TV (played really loud fuzz through the speaker). I'm getting this as soon as it comes to the US.

The worst cover art I ever saw. I don't think i will get this though since the Wounder boy games don't interest me much at all.

ive played it for a few consoles quiet good too a classic

slangman...
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/bigboxshots/6/588176_85860_front.jpg

No no no, this is clearly the worst boxart ever

i agree with Drake WTF is up with that box art!!

I'm curious about this game but can't decide whether to get this or the mega-drive version...

The first level looks the same but there seems to be more things going on in the megadrive version. mmmmm?

Now i can't decide which is the worst box art. Although Zllion looks far too basic to capture my eye.

Which Wonder boy game was on C64?

The original Wonder Boy and Wonder Boy in Monster Land were both on C64.

slangman, the Master System was a haven of horrendous box art. This game is above par as far as the system is considered.

Does anyone know if the Master System version had the nurse say a naughty word when you told her three times you didn't need medical attention? I remember her saying that in the C64 version I had when I was a young'n.

@Drake: The game was so bad it put itself in a headlock?

And as for box-art, at least the guy looks happy to be killing that red knight that's not even in the game

I suppose the dodgy box art is fairly normal for the SMS. Even so i still think WBIML has the cheesiest box art ever created for a Master System game.

Meh, another SMS title. I can't think of a single game on that console that I would pay money for. When is the SNES going to have a decent release?!

The Red Knight is in the game. You find him in the hidden mansion on the island, and probably some later places as well.

@Adamant, it must've been too long since I've played it. Unless it's just in the SMS version as I completed the C64 version time and time again way back in primary school. Then again, it's hard to tell what colour half of the things are in the C64 version

Keith Courage in Alpha Zones + Adventure Island = Wonder Boy!

(actually, that wasn't even right - the Red Knight is the boss on level 3. Forgot what he looked like when I mademy previous post)

@niner

You mean all the other Super NES games released aren't good enough for you?

Well, if Fantasy Zone and Space Harrier weren't included in the Ultimate Genesis Collection, I could've had an SMS day today. Now I gotta wait for Fantasy Zone II and Sonic Chaos.

viva sms

just got this game today and its not bad but when u die it sucks you have to start all over

Well, the game is designed around using your money intelligently and playing good through the entire game. Not starting over upon death would kind of kill the entire concept.

Plus the revival potion kind of acts as an extra life.

Plus, once you've learned how the game works, it's not particularly hard. I beat it fairly quickly.

Ok, did anyone else notice that they changed the Hospital Cross to an H?

Oh, but what about THIS box art?

Anyway, I loved the game when my uncle showed me, I think I'll get this game. Though there was a part in the last level with platforms where you could get permanently stuck so that was really annoying.

Yeah, all master system games had horrible box art.

I think an 8 is too high for this game. I would give it a 5. It will entertain mildly for a week than you will forget you own the game. The game hasn't aged that well and plenty of the gameplay is very flawed and rough.

This game isn't bad. It's just very challenging.

One life, no continues, no save points, no passwords.
Only one resurrection potion you can have at a time.

After beating Wonder Boy (great classic) and Wonder Boy in Monster World (the best game in the series) this one seems to be the worst one.
I will download Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair soon and Wonder Boy III: Dragon's Trap when it's available.

But for now my score is:

Wonder Boy in Monster World ( 9/10 )
Wonder Boy ( 8/10 )
Wonder Boy in Monster Land ( 7/10 )

The review mentions a save state, but I can't figure out how to to that. I know about how you can push the HOME button and when you return your at the same place, but that doesn't really help. is that the save or is there a real on built in?