Before you get excited, this isn’t your traditional Wonderboy adventure. Although we’ve already been blessed with Virtual Console versions of the quite frankly sublime Wonderboy in Monsterworld (Genesis/Megadrive) and the exceptional Dragon’s Curse (which is essentially Wonderboy III: The Dragon’s Trap), Monster Lair is an entirely different proposition; it’s more akin to the first Wonderboy game with some side-scrolling shooter sections thrown in for good measure.
To begin with, Monster Lair is a lot of fun. You run and jump along in a rather jolly fantasy landscape, taking out some cuddly-looking enemies and picking up various items of fruit. Every now and then you take to the skies in shoot ‘em up levels – these also end with a boss encounter. Then it’s on to the next level…and the next…and the next.
Monster Lair’s biggest fault is that it’s painfully repetitive. Aside from a smattering of power ups there’s little variety of depth on display here; the lack of any discernable challenge doesn’t help either. You will breeze through the levels without any trouble, but it’s doubtful you will ever complete this game as it becomes too monotonous towards the end, with each level playing almost identically to the next.
While it's always nice to see some crossover when it comes to game genres, the combination of shooter and platformer is pretty unsuccessful as neither aspect is anything more than average. Ccompared to the likes of Sonic or Mario, the plaforming sections of Monster Lair are pretty insipid. The same goes for the shooter component -- put this next to Axelay, Soldier Blade or Blazing Lazers and it all looks very poor to say the least.
Needless to say this is million miles away from the platform RPG excellence of the previously mentioned Virtual Console stablemates and lacks the knockabout charm of the original Wonderboy (Monster Lair’s closest relation in terms of concept).
This game was also released on the Megadrive and is equally uninspiring. The TG-16 has a slight edge over the Sega version thanks to the lovely CD soundtrack: it's not the best music you will ever hear in a videogame but it's nice all the same - very jolly and uplifting!
If you’re a complete Wonderboy fanatic then you may extract some enjoyment from this rather limp piece of software; anyone else should ignore it and pick one of the other games in the series.
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1. Kevin
16 Nov 2007, 12:02 GMT
How is this one compared to Dragon's Curse and Monster World?
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2. Dazza
16 Nov 2007, 14:20 GMT
It's not really in the same league Kevin
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3. Kevin
16 Nov 2007, 19:33 GMT
Well, Now I know not to get it, thanks.
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4. Jazzem
16 Nov 2007, 21:33 GMT
Shame really, I loved both Dragon's Curse and Monster Land on the Virtual Console, I'd like to have another game in a similar vein to those two.
Let's all collectively wish for a translated Monster World IV!
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5. Pocketim
17 Nov 2007, 06:08 GMT
Is this just me or is this game really similar to Adventure Island?
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6. Ben
17 Nov 2007, 09:10 GMT
This is the turbo version i think. The genesis version didn't get a us release I think.
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7. Drake
17 Nov 2007, 15:14 GMT
Pocketim: You don't know how right you are. Adventure Island was in fact based on Wonder Boy. It's quite confusing, there's a few pages on the whole matter here though: http://hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/wonderboy/wonderboy.htm
Ben: We are assuming it's the Mega Drive version due to the publisher being listed as WestOne (Who handled the originals) instead of Hudson Soft (Who handled the TG ports). Presumably the OFLC people just quickly glanced at the title screen and saw the large "MONSTER LAIR" and overlooked the smaller "Wonder Boy III". Also, the MD version was released in Europe.
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8. Ben
18 Nov 2007, 00:36 GMT
Ok I get it. Are there any difference between the two well besides the soundtrack. Is the soundtrack any good? Monster lair was a pack-in game for the turbo cd when it first came out wasn't it.
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9. Ben
27 Nov 2007, 01:50 GMT
Drake: I think you completely missed my point. The turbo version got a US release. It was along with fighting street as one of the two launch games. The genesis didn't get a US release. So my point if the turbo version is released on the US VC it will be 800 points while the genesis would be 900 because it's never been released here. Now who would pay the extra points for an inferior version? The turbo soundtrack is rearrangement of the original so turbo version is better.
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10. Drake
01 Dec 2007, 20:13 GMT
Ok, ok, I admit defeat, it's the Turbo version since it's on the Hudson site now.
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11. ICEknight
02 Dec 2007, 20:23 GMT
This looks nothing like the MegaDrive version. In fact, it's a better port of the arcade, at least graphic-wise.
Also, I think it also has more levels than the MegaDrive version (which is missing some from the arcade), somebody correct me if I'm wrong.
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12. michinmuri
06 Dec 2007, 17:05 GMT
I personally don't care a whole lot that this game isn't in the same vein as the others in the series, I'm just concerned personally that this was one of the games I never got to play back in the days when I had my Duo. It still looks to be a 3-4 star game so I will definitely cough up the points to get it. Also, the rockin' CD music was one of the things that made the CD games stand above and beyond many of the games that were out during this time period. I love the Turbo CD music.
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13. jackaroo
15 Dec 2007, 15:49 GMT
Oh damn! I thought this would be one of the Sega games. And i thought it would be in the same style as the other wonderboy games. Now im sad
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14. ICEknight
17 Dec 2007, 12:33 GMT
I can't believe the review gave this game just 2 stars... It's not like it gets more repetitive than, say, classics such as Bubble Bobble. This game is a re-invention of the Adventure Island concept, which adds more variety in weapons, 2 player support, shoot 'em up levels and some great boss fights.
The graphics are quite nice (despites the lack of parallax in this version), and it features some quite funny enemies, some of which you might recognize from previous and later Wonder Boy games if you've played them through. Also, from what I've been able to listen to, the remixed CD music it includes is quite similar to the excellent soundtrack from the arcade version, but with some arrangements (which you might like or not, depending on your tastes)... I just wish you could choose between remixed and original, because I just loved the arcade's music. Oh well.
I seriously recommend this game to any fan of classic arcade games, as well as Wonder Boy and Adventure Island fans. I know I'm gonna download it as soon as it hits the European Virtual Console.
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15. That Guy from Faxanadu
18 Dec 2007, 19:57 GMT
The Mega Drive version is one of my favourite games for that system! The ordinary Wonderboy games are great 1 player games, this one´s a great 2 player game. I´ve had lots of fun blasting away at mushroms & monkeys, jumping platforms and defeating bosses with my brothers. The time limited power-ups are very nice, I get a burst of joy everytime I can fire enormous explosions with my sword!
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16. cr00mz
21 Dec 2007, 09:57 GMT
wow cool music! never played this game dont think i will download it but the music was awesome (assuming its from the game)
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17. michinmuri
29 Dec 2007, 20:08 GMT
After all my own jhype of never owningthis and now getting it, I feel ripped off. Yeah, it was nostalgic to me due to never have owned this during my Turbo years, but after playing it, it's a headache. The game play IS repetitive; it's the same this everystage. The first is forced platforming, then a shooter stage where you fight a boss. The graphics are decent, but nothing great. The music is nice sounding due to the CD quality, but doesn't amuse me at all. The power-up weapons are plentiful on each stage, but run out too soon. This game must have been in development for a very short time because it just feels like it could have been so much better, but was rushed. Damo said it right in his review, limp. Actually I prefer flacid.
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18. Mixer152
27 Jan 2008, 13:10 GMT
Due to nostalgia of owning the Megadrive version (and Ive never played any other Wonder Boy's) I downloaded this once it became available.
First ive heard of the music and some of it is better than the megadrive one but not all suprisingly.
I gave this 4 stars based on nostalgia alone, its not the greatest game by all means but I had fun with it playing with a friend.
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19. sammy
28 Mar 2008, 13:11 GMT
Damo your review sucks.
This is a classic game worthy of at least 4 stars. Its more or less arcade perfect bar the paralax scrolling and the soundtrack is outstanding. I dont see what else westone could have done to make it more perfect.
Very fun game to play and the balance is just right. It takes me back to the pc engine days.
This was a very popular game in japan and I dont think that you appreciated this one properly. I still respect your other reviews but its a shame to see this game bashed on the website and other people being put off it.
Still it is a hardcore gamers game so maybe it should be left for them to enjoy.
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