Sega's Wonder Boy series has enjoyed a welcome resurgence of late thanks to titles like Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap and the more loosely-linked Monster Boy, and it has now been announced that we'll be getting another entry in the franchise early next year.
Wonder Boy – Asha in Monster World will be a remake (and not a sequel, as was originally reported) of Monster World IV, which was released exclusively on the Japanese Sega Mega Drive and was later localised on Wii and other systems.
Development duties are being handled by Studio Artdink, but several members of the original Wonder Boy team are also involved, including series creator Ryuichi Nishizawa, original composer Shinichi Sakamoto, character designer Maki Ōzora and creative manager Takanori Kurihara.
Here's some PR:
Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World is a platform action game and full remake of the Genesis version of Monster World IV, which was developed by Westone Bit Entertainment and released by Sega as the final entry in the Wonder Boy series in 1994.
Story
This is Monster World. The protagonist Asha, who just became a warrior, gets wrapped up in a major event involving the survival of her kingdom. The invaders trying to take possession of this world have captured the four Spirits. Asha, under Queen Purapril’s decree to save the spirits, sets off on an adventure with the mysterious creature Pepelogoo she met in the capital capital Rapadanga. With Pepelogoo’s help, Asha overcomes difficulties time and time again. Will these two two really be able to save the world?
Pepelogoo Actions
Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World features various actions that utilize the mysterious creature Pepelogoo. Players can enjoy unique actions prepared for each environment, including gliding or double-jumping by holding onto Pepelogoo, or pressing faraway switches.
RPG Elements
By defeating the enemies you encounter during your adventure, you can receive GOLD. By going to the shop in Rapadanga City, you can spend GOLD to purchase equipment items such as swords, shields, and bangles. Strengthen Asha’s equipment to be prepared for the gradually more difficult enemies Asha will face.
About the Wonder Boy Series
In recent years, the Wonder Boy series has seen various remakes and been a global smash hit, and Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World is a response to the rising expectations from fans for a Monster Hunter World IV remake.
A Full Remake of Monster World IV for the Modern Day
Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World is a full remake of the 2D side-scrolling action game Monster World IV with full 3D graphics, significantly enhanced visuals, and further refined gameplay. It is not just visual change, as new game modes and other additional elements are planned. It is also the first entry in the series to feature voice-overs. Look forward to hearing what Asha’s voice!
The game has been confirmed for Switch and PS4 release in early 2021, and we'll be getting more details at this year's Gamescom, during the Awesome Indies Showcase which is due to take place at 10AM PT on Saturday, August 29th.
Editor's note: This post has been updated to reflect the confirmation that this isn't an all-new game, but a remake.
[source uk.ign.com, via gematsu.com]
Comments 67
Great news!
I played a lot of the original one on the Master System and on the Wii Virtual Console.
I’ve loved the recent Wonder Boy remake and Monster Boy, so I’ll be keeping an eye on this. Does Monster World IV play similar to Wonder Boy III, or is it a different style of game?
More Wonder Boy ain't bad. With Wonder Boy and Shantae getting this many games this gen I wonder why both aren't represented in playable or cameo form for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate yet.
@GravyThief It's a great game, but a lot more linear than III.
Love Monster World IV to bits so this better be good. Was not a fan of the visuals of that Monster Boy game either so hopefully they have some top notch art akin to Lizard Cube’s Dragon’s Trap
Monster World IV is one of my favorite Genesis games. I’m not even a huge Wonder Boy fan but Monster World IV is just amazing. Currently playing a run of that game on the Sega Genesis Mini.
I hope it's more Monster Boy than Wonder Boy. I loved it!
Also it’s good to see it’s being made in Japan, presumably.
i forget between Monster Boy and Wonder Boy on Switch, which one was the good one?
Two IP's revived. 25 more to go
@retro_player_77 Shantae does show up as a spirit in Smash, but it would be cool if she was playable.
@mr_eman They were both good but Monster Boy in particular stood out for me. If I remember correctly, NL gave MB 9/10 & Wonder Boy 8/10.
Wonder Boy has got to be one of the most confusing series in the world to try and understand which games belong where and who even owns them.
Is Monster Boy a Wonder Boy game? It has some Wonder Boy cameos in it, so maybe? How about Adventure Island? And what about The Dynastic Hero?
What is the secret of your powers?
@EarthboundBenjy It's more of a spiritual successor
I loved the first three Wonder Boy as a youngster in the arcades in the 80s. The first one was for me at the time the best looking and most advanced side scrolling action platform game at the time alongside Ghosts n' Goblins. You fought a boss at the end of every fourth level. I never completed this game. At best I could make it past the fifth boss on one credit.
The second one was Monster Land, a totally different game. One of the deepest most engrossing experiences I'd had with videogames up till then. In hindsight it was like a side scrolling RPG lite with emphasis on platforming which one could finish in half an hour or so. It was great.
Wonder Boy III was a totally different game once again. An auto-scrolling game with levels alternating between a platforming section followed a shmup style section at the end of which you fought a boss. I did not take to this game at first (after the brilliance of Monster Land) but warmed up to it (a little bit) eventually. Still think it was a poor sequel.
I didn't even know there was a WBIV. Haven't had a chance to play any of the WB games on switch. The remake of the first game is supposed to be very poor but the two "metroidvania" style are supposedly better. Should maybe try those.
That game was actually teased at the end of Monster Boy - as far as I am concerned Monster Boy is part of the Wonder Boy adventure games. It not only has cameos of some characters of the WB franchise - you can actually see all the heroes of the prior games in the chapel's windows. Thus said, can't wait for the WB / MB sequel
Oh boy, they better get it right!
@EarthboundBenjy Monster Boy is basically another Wonder Boy - it goes beyond cameos as many songs are remixes from other games in the series. I can't remember why they changed the name but it's in the same vein as Streets of Rage 4 - a modern take on an old Sega IP.
Looks like this time the Wonder "Boy" is a Shantae-esque desert heroine. Not that I'm complaining, but it's an odd choice for a game which has "boy" in title.
Now we'll be taking wonderboy far away from the mucky-muck man.
Cautiously optimistic.
Monster Boy I thought was very uneven. Extreme difficulty spikes made me finally give up on it near the end.
Wonder Boy: Dragon's Trap, is worth getting, though notably it feels old. If you didn't play it back in the day you'll find lots of the game design to be obtuse.
And here, we get the reveal we was expectaing, but not the trailer yet.
But is good news, for sure. I hope the game be more like monster world than wonder boy too.
I bought all the 7 (or maybe 8?) Wii Wonder Boy games. I really need to pick up the 5 Switch Wonder Boy games soon. Topnotch gameplay and music, and back then (and still today) some of the very best Metroidvanias.
So this will be a full fledged sequel and not a remake? Part of me is hoping that it will be a hand-drawn 2D side-scroller, but I also think it could be a good game in a 3D plain.
Brilliant news. Another wonderboy is always welcome and il be buying it for sure. Lets hope we get physical version as well. I still hope one day for a monster world remake.
Great memories of wonder boy 1 arcade. Wish I could download that somewhere. Will get that remake one day x
I didn't care much for Monster Boy but the Dragon's Trap remake was great.
Studio Artdink says nothing to me, I don't think those are the guys rensponsible for either of those more modern entries. I suppose I'm cautiously optimistic.
No Xbox One Version? Why are they skipping that system?
Great news. This is officially a new entry in the Monster World / Wonder Boy saga then, and with a returning protagonist, which is rare in the series. With key members of the original team involved, this is going to be great.
Now fingers crossed for a proper physical release.
I'm all over this. I have wonderboy the dragons trap on the master system and the switch remake, Monster boy on physical import from the US, which is a great love letter to the franchise, and the wonderboy collection on the xbox 360 which includes WB IV. I'm hyped!
@Expa0 Monster Boy is a blast. You should give it a chance, it's better than Wonder Boy, imo. More like an adventure/metroidvania game.
Can’t wait! Both Dragons Trap and Monster Boy are perfect 10 games to me. I also loved Monster World 4. Hope that comes to Switch alongside this release.
I thoroughly enjoyed & 100%ed Monster Boy, but I got stuck in Wonder Boy on Switch, & haven't ever gone back to it.
These characters are pretty pale given their presumably desert/middle east fantasy inspiration.
Thoroughly enjoyed Wonderboy and monster boy so looking forward to this!
Monster World IV is the best game in the series and one of the best games on the Megadrive. Definitely getting this sequel day 1!
So...when can I pre-order this game?
When i heard this announcement, it made me realize how much i love the WonderBoy series. Ive been playing it since Master System, and have loved practically all of the games (...well Dragon's Lair i can live without). So, I was super excited hearing that theres a new game with Asha. I really hope it delivers, but considering the passion the original team has for this series, I feel like it'll deliver.
Wonderboy and Monster boy are wonderful games. More is always welcome!
More green-haired downward stabs in HD?!? YES. At the end of Monster World 4 the game slightly teases that Asha will have another adventure. *sniff I can't believe it's actually coming true. Looking forward to seeing more on Saturday!
By the way, if anyone knows of any other good 2D games with a downward stab; aside from Zelda 2, Monster World IV, Shovel Knight, Shantae & the Pirate's Curse, Panzer Paladin; could you let me know?
That is cool! And Artdink has give me some good memories so far.
Master Higgins looks so different. What a redesign!
Awesome! Wonder Boy IV was a great game, definitely well deserving of a sequel.
@SmaggTheSmug
Shantae more or less is a knockoff of the protagonist from Monster World IV.
@mr_eman
Monster Boy is the newest Wonderboy/Monsterworld game and is definitely the best (and half off right now). Wonderboy III: The Dragons Trap was the fan favourite before Monster Boy took it’s crown.
@EarthboundBenjy
Escape/Westone owned the game and Sega owned/owns the title. Consequently, the base games were released on various platforms with new titles and character sprites. The original games themselves have a confusing title order. All games are considered part of the Wonderboy franchise. Meanwhile, the first (Wonderboy) and third (Wonder Boy III Monster Lair) arcade titles are not considered part of the Monster World series. The Monster World series consists of the Wonderboy games that feature action-rpg/metroidvania/platformer gameplay.
Wonderboy
Wonderboy in Monsterland (first Monster World game)
Wonderboy III: Monster Lair (third arcade game)
Wonderboy III: Dragon’s Trap (third master system console game) (second Monster World game)
Wonderboy V: Monster World III (fifth Wonderboy title, third Monster World game)
Monster World IV
(Wonderboy - Asha in Monster World should be a direct sequel to this. )
Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom
Spiritual gameplay successor to Wonderboy III: Dragons Trap and can be considered part of the series (specifically Monster World). Simply lacking the name (owned by Sega).
Wonderboy - Asha in Monster World
Presumably a direct sequel to Monster World IV, featuring the same protagonist.
@Caryslan
Because 90% of sales will be on Switch, 10% on Playstation and 0% on Xbox. Surely they asked for the Dragons Trap and Cursed Kingdom numbers.
@dharmajones93
What is "proto metroidvania"?
@GravyThief
Puzzle platformer and no backtracking, if I recall. But that has no say on what this new one will have in store.
@robr Oh, Asha was featured there too. I had no idea, I only learned about this series with the remakes (I'm more familiar with the Adventure Island spin-off). Still, because it was Monster World IV and not Wonder Boy: Monster World IV it made a little more sense.
@SmaggTheSmug
Yeah, they’re taking advantage of the newfound Wonderboy name recognition while delivering a direct sequel to a game that had dropped the Wonderboy name because...well..the obvious. 😂
Monster World IV was never exported and fell between the cracks as a Sega Saturn era Mega Drive game. It wasn’t until the 360/Wii era that anyone outside of Japan had access to a legal english version of the game.
I may have had a turbografx and was familiar with the series, but I too literally never played a Wonderboy game (outside of Hudson’s Adventure Island) until the Dragon’s Trap remake, myself. I literally only knew Monster World IV existed because someone at Gamefan wrote an article about it.
@TrevorMcD
Aggelos has the downward stabs you seek. It also happens to be a shameless WB/MW clone. It’s quite good.
@TrevorMcD ducktales has a downward stab attack
Yo I'm hyped! I played Monster World IV and loved it, it is such good game and is so much fun! I am so happy they are giving that specific entry some love!
@robr Thanks for this information, I'm a fan of figuring these kinds of things out.
For some reason I knew Whomp 'Em was somehow tangentially related to Wonder Boy too. It's quite a bit complicated.
So basically, only Sega was allowed to use the Wonder Boy name, so any ports to non-Sega systems had to change the name and the graphics. And then these altered versions got sequels of their own. It's confusing but it makes sense.
@EarthboundBenjy
I totally had to Google half of those. I only really knew the Turbo ports and Hudson’s Adventure Island from memory. This is the first time I’ve heard of Whomp ‘Em.
Edit:
Holy moly: Whomp ‘Em is a re-skin of Saiyuki World 2 which is a sequel to a re-skin of Wonderboy in Monsterland. My mind is blown.
@Wargoose More of a pogostick but thank you. I love and have beaten both the NES and the Remastered version which was fantastic. Perhaps I'll try DuckTales 2 one day.
@robr Whoa thank you! Aggelos looks great! Four more days until Monster World VI (Monster Boy should be V right?)
@dharmajones93
So the genre "metroidvania" basically never existed in the first place? It's just a dumb, nonsensical made up term for game nerds.
I actually would have preferred a sequel and not a remake because I played Monster World IV one the Genesis mini recently. But let's see what changes they implemented
Oh, a remake...Well, slightly less nervous about overall quality. We’ll see how the polygons look because such transitions have been known to rob the life from a fair few pixel games. Hopefully more of a cell shaded approach than a textured one...we’ll see I guess
...
I was excited, but then I was not.
This isn't being made by the Monster boy and the cursed kingdom team right? I hope they are making a totally new Monster boy, but I am also interested in this remake.
A remake? With 3-D graphics? Pfffft
@robr If it is Zelda BotW 3D ill be happy, unless it is just a 1-1 remake then that is super lame.
@Jokerwolf
Actually that would great. Cross our fingers.
Remake eh? Man, I was too excited about this, I completely missed that.
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