Diving into all the lore and background of this title to do a proper review doesn’t fit the format of “mini review,” so we’re gonna skip most of that.
Basically, what you need to know is that the Wonder Boy/Monster World/Adventure Island series of games is pretty dang influential within the industry, and this particular entry in the series is so well revered that it inspired a remake a few years back.
The remake makes a few quality of life changes and pretties up the graphics quite a bit, making an influential, important title from the early days of the Metroidvania genre more approachable for modern audiences.
It’s a great time. Yeah, it’s pretty short, and the controls could be tighter, but the game rarely feels unfair. Even when you’re getting juggled like a ragdoll, you’re typically not taking absurd amounts of damage in the process. I also like the design of the maps, the variety imbued through the different forms your character takes, and the pace at which it unlocks new areas.
I saw someone describe it as “What if Zelda II, only good?” And, yeah, I agree with that.
I really like it.
