Wonder Boy full playthrough - Sega Master System

A full playthrough (or longplay if you will) of Wonder Boy for the Sega Master System. This video features the locations of all of the dolls, all of the warp points (although I don't use any of the warps themselves) and a few of the bonus letters.
Wonder Boy was an arcade game developed by Escape and published by Sega in 1986. Several ports to home computers and consoles followed with the Master System version easily being the best. Interestingly for a Sega game, it was released on the competing Nintendo Entertainment System, although with a different main character, music and name - Adventure Island was the name of the game on the NES. Something to do with Sega holding the rights to the characters and game's name, but not the game itself. Bizarre.
The idea of the game is to save Wonder Boy's girlfriend by making your way through various platforming landscapes, defeating end-of-level bosses, collecting fruit to maintain vitality and avoiding coming into contact with a wide variety of enemies, random fires, boulders, rocks and bees. Wonder Boy is able to defeat enemies using his axe. It's fun and playable, if a little repetitive, but a good game to fulfil your platforming needs.
It was one of the first games I owned for my Master System back in the 1980s and remains one of my favourites today. As with several of my videos, this is a playthrough of the game from start to finish. I do make use of save states, but play the game in full speed without any other tool assist methods.
The arcade game features 36 levels with a doll on each one, sometimes hidden. In this version, if each doll is collected on the first 36 levels, an extra four levels are made available.
Finally, plugging this game into a Japanese Master System turns it into Super Wonder Boy, a harder version of the same game. This is not to be confused with some computer conversions of Wonder Boy's sequel, Wonder Boy In Monster Land, which was sometimes known as Super Wonder Boy. I'm sure there's a way of unlocking the Super Wonder Boy version if played on PAL/US Master Systems.

[@metalphobos3632]

I could cry. This game was my childhood. This music is forever burnt into my brain.

[@carlwoolley2867]

it still gets stuck in my head every now and then, i haven't played the game in over 20 years haha

[@ph-vf5hx]

Same here. Funny how engaging such simple things were. Endless crap just washes over us now.

[@BitcoinBitz]

me to man me too

[@jamesharris5868]

Drummers Eve and mine was soundtrack to my childhood all I played was this and hang on

[@ifi808]

So intense rush of memories. This alex the kid, moonwalker and shinobi!!!

[@SuperDurv]

i still remember this song...i can't believe that 33 years ago i used to come home from school-my mom in the house, cooking, and I would sit down, and play this for a bit. I would kill to go back in time and have those moments again...

[@bifftannen2062]

always a good cartoon on in those days too after school

[@planetX15]

@@bifftannen2062 Yes there were!

[@longdong3972]

Don’t we all brother.

[@Rolypolysheepheads]

I'm nearly 43. I remember completing this. Literally my favourite thing ever. Takes me back 😍😍😍

[@Rolypolysheepheads]

@@wailer27 um, no?

[@Rolypolysheepheads]

I have no idea what you're on about. Are you drunk?

[@Rolypolysheepheads]

You must really be bored

[@america5283]

Strummer....no no no. You weren't Mummy's favourite,was you? Arsehole. Bet you get your head kicked in quite a bit

[@wailer27]

@@america5283 oh hi, how's it going, did you play this game as a child too in the arcades? What's your earliest memories of playing it?

[@LeShark75]

30 years ago this was sat under the Christmas tree waiting for Christmas day along with the Master System, Out Run & Afterburner. 1988 was an awesome Christmas.

[@classicgaminguk]

That sounds like the best Christmas ever! 1988 was also the Christmas that I got my Master System. I found out from a leaflet with it that Wonder Boy and Out Run were also available. Got Wonder Boy a few months later, and Out Run for my birthday in 1989.

[@LeShark75]

@@classicgaminguk I was a huge Sega fan in the 1980's and knew exactly what I wanted on the Master System Lol. I managed to pick up both Thunder Blade and Space Harrier for £40 between Christmas and New year with some savings + Christmas money. Then its my Birthday early in the year so my Mother and Father bought me Wonder Boy In Monsterland.. I was stocked up quite quickly, great times.

[@notevencalm]

@@classicgaminguk h i i

[@ricardopurnell3923]

@@LeShark75 hi

[@mtgmtg3090]

It's crazy how a game so simple can be so much fun.

[@TeslasTeaParty]

Nearly 35 years since I played this game and the music has been etched into my brain for all that time!

[@fibabo]

It's ridiculous that 20+ years later I still remember that those little flowers are place markers for when the crocodile thing will run out behind you

[@classicgaminguk]

I still find it amazing how decades after playing games, it's still possible to remember where to jump to get the random bonuses and secrets that were hidden in games. Not just in this one, but in lots of old games. We really did need to make sure we got our money's worth (or our parents' money's worth) out of games back then! In a way it proves how great the human memory is.

[@wailer27]

@@classicgaminguk also proves how pathetic some humans are that they are willing to remember useless information like this and waste their lives on computer games with the illusion that it's an important thing to do... don't even think about biting back at me, i'm just trying to help you see sense and improve things for all of us

[@classicgaminguk]

Strummer1980 I’m not saying that people willingly remember this kind of useless information, my point was more about how the brain seems to store it anyway and is able to recall it decades later when something happens that triggers that memory. It’s a bit like when you hear a song you haven’t heard for years but still remember its lyrics when you hear it again. And what does it really matter to you how other people choose to enjoy their lives? I don’t particularly like wrestling, but I don’t begrudge anybody who does. Each to their own and all that. There are probably lots of things that you do that other people would find pathetic and a waste of your life, but you’re perfectly entitled to do whatever you like with your life. As am I. As is everybody else.

[@wailer27]

@@classicgaminguk stop trying to be nice about it when i'm dishing out abuse, and if you don't like wrestling then we are really going to fall out... have you tried some sort of therapy like forcing yourself to watch wrestling for hours until you get over your hatred or fear or whatever the problem is? I really think you should look at finding a solution to that

[@classicgaminguk]

@@wailer27 Yes, that's exactly what I've tried. Only it had the opposite effect and meant that I went from a slight disliking of wrestling to an irrational and inexplicable phobia of wrestlers. Any other suggestions of what I can do as I clearly have issues?

[@vforvillain77]

Some of the best video game music ever on this underappreciated classic. Old sega was the first system I ever had. These games have my heart and these songs get me teary eyed for a past that's long gone :(

[@markchadwick6221]

I’ve had this occasionally pop back in my head over the years and had to check it out. This game was a huge part of my life on summer holidays. This brought back some good memories!

[@robhutchinson3094]

The first game I ever completed. I played this sooooo much in the 80s and 90s. Great play through.

[@classicgaminguk]

This was probably my favourite Master System game. I played the arcade game on holidays when I was young, so had to have a Master System when I discovered that it was available for it. I still return to it regularly.

[@daveruda]

@@classicgaminguk how do the master system and arcade compare? Any favourite? I kinda like the beat added to the Master system music. It looks quite similar otherwise

[@classicgaminguk]

@@daveruda I prefer the master system version but I think that’s mostly because it’s the version I played the most. I was introduced to the game through the arcade version and it was the reason I wanted a master system rather than the other choices - nes or Atari 7800. As it cost 10p to play it ( big money in those days!) I never got the chance to get a good go of it. Interestingly about ten years ago, I went on holiday to Spain and the hotel had a wonderboy arcade game in it; and I managed to keep playing for ages on it, up to the point I had an audience of kids watching me in awe. Either that or they were wondering when I’d get off the thing! Playing either version today, i think the master system version feels a bit more fluid than the arcade version.

[@atrain818]

@@classicgaminguk arcade version is waayy harder tho. Sms is longer, but easier. The bosses are a piece of cake

[@tonyp9313]

@@daveruda I played & beat both versions. I like the Sega Master system version a whole lot better. It's easier & they have more levels in it.

[@yoyoicecube1144]

i come here because i never see the ending. thanks for uploading this

[@nizloc4118]

Came here just for the song. It hadnt changed since i last heard it in 1987

[@benjackson7872]

I like it better than the arcade version. The pitch sounds better.

[@danielamariafazio1091]

Two brothers together can be invincible in this game

[@GyariSan1]

Lmao I (30+) was suddenly humming this song while I was in the shower this morning and took a while to remind myself where this music was from. Glad I still remember because I was only 4 when I watched my brothers play this classic before having to migrate to a different country.

[@melodygrant]

I didn't spend much time on this version but I have a lot of fun memories of the this game, adventure Island version, great game. The music and this game will forever be burned into my brain. Makes me think of my mom , when i was 7 she would take me to the bar/eatry, and they had adventure island table top. Never forget those days.

[@classicgaminguk]

They sound like happy times. That's one of the good things about being able to rewatch these old games - people have so many memories associated with them

[@JenXBeauty]

Fabulous memories! Thank you for sharing this! I played over 8 hours once with the famous pause button and beat it finally before my dad cut me off from playing too long lol. I only recently said goodbye to my original Master system from 86. They don't make games like this anymore. 🥳

[@karlaaus4842]

Omg what an absolute amazing flashback 😂thank you so very much for this 🙏🙏❤️❤️ Just showed my teenager what I used to play and love a long long time ago hahaha

[@misst693]

Ahh memories, used to play this 25+ years ago and still remember the music, the stages, the snakes/monsters.. I remember the ice stage was the hardest for me. So slippery with those killer bees!!!

[@michaelmcdermott5123]

This game like most comments I've seen was my childhood absolutely loved this! Just randomly come across but I remember it all! Thank you to whoever put this up!

[@dumbidiotonpurpose]

Man, back in the day i remember school tales of this game being impossible to finish. Kids would say that it never ended and just went on forever.

[@chaeferl]

I used to play this all the time back in the day. To this day I still play it all the way through 😍

[@joanneahern7422]

If you asked me to play the wonderboy music i thought i would have forgotten, as soon as it started I felt like i was 10 again! i used to love this game!

[@ZombieRodeo]

This was my favourite game as a kid... I remember getting it on my Game Gear and playing it for 10 minutes non-stop until the batteries died! :) (Thank god for the rechargeable battery pack!)

[@tomtomthgamer]

I'm watching this, doing the jump up movement with my head and stepping on my invisible brake 😂😂 my favourite childhood game, I'm going to search online and buy one.

[@AnaJae]

Thanks so much! this was so cool to see my childhood in an hour and a bit. You played so much better than I ever did. Now my kids are playing wonder boy asking how do you save the game? Do I have to start all over again? 😂🤣

[@jameswarner8038]

2:29 best break beat in history

[@bihan7967]

This was the shit in my time. I miss the 80’s

[@Wflash00]

Everything about this game runs laps around Adventure Island on the NES. It just goes to show how much better the Master System was than the NES

[@eightbit1975]

Absolutely excellent game. The Sega Master System and its games really put you in a zone like no other 8-bit console. I love this game, and love the machine!

[@kyawmintun7500]

No games could compare with this wonder boy still current time including all of mobile games. I am 36. I am lucky that I could play that wonderful game. Hoping, new wonder boy show up on any screen.

[@siegejay495]

This was my first Sega game and loved it.

[@lesant7659]

Me too . Brings good memories 😌

[@fabiofranca5610]

Esse foi o jogo que mais joguei no Master System !! Muito viciante!! Tudo perfeito para época...trilha sonora e gráficos !! Congratulations from Brasil !!!

[@RoastMasterUK]

35 years ago, 15 years old when this game came out i still recall that crappy synth music. good old days

[@zkingzkhan7105]

This music make me cry .such a nice childhood memories

[@Caroline-js6gb]

My boyfriend would come over & we would take turns playing this with my sisters & friends. My mum would bring us snacks in the room. Aaah the good old days🥲

[@ilyasisonepunchman6212]

we used to que up to have a go on this, back in da days, in our local youth club, memories 😀

[@ervicito77]

Omg, I remember how the game lagged at 11:40, lol. I remember finishing this game at 10 years old and feeling good about myself. Good times!

[@neilhiggins3167]

Used to absolutely love Wonderboy on my Sega Master System, brings back great childhood memories

[@classicgaminguk]

Me too. I'd played the game in the arcades but when I received a Master System for Christmas sometimes in the late eighties, the leaflet it came with listed Wonder Boy as one of the games available for it. I remember working extra hard at school so my parents would treat me to it. My sister and I must have put months of gameplay into that one game!

[@cesarsoto4551]

Area 4 Round 1!!!!!!!! I've been looking for KZbin footage of this level for years!!! I thought I had imagined it.

[@Wunderkind82]

19:50

[@mets23q]

Now that I've seen the ending i can die in peace

[@nicolecarriere9402]

Is nobody gonna talk about this flawless run, some bump and bruises but sick run man

[@goldbigfoot9611]

This game NEVER DIE

[@pauldaniels2179]

I use to have a shop right next to my house when I was about 6. I use to have to steal money out of my Dads money tin to go play this game at the shop, and then sneak back home around the back of the shop, through some broken fences to get back home out the back of my house. My Dad always screamed his head off, because he knew, I was taking money out of his tin.

[@videogamesai]

This is the first cartridge on the first console I owned, forever in my memory!

[@TheTerminator1919]

Wow I finally saw the ending! Never could beat this game but wow I love the music.

[@thehumbleone1983]

One of my favourite Sega master system game 👍🕹👍

[@tonyp9313]

You got almost every Sega letter in this game. You missed a couple but the ones you did get helped me out a lot.

[@lnox9706]

Loved this game. Played it as a kid in the arcades on holiday. Takes me back to my childhood

[@videosnax552]

OMG!!! someone who actually plays the same was as I did when this first came to master system. Proper way to play

[@iciouailleurs1977]

I love this game which reminds me of my youth, I played it a lot on arcade machines at the time

[@TheSSGDTheory]

26:42 When did Mike wazowski get put into this game?

[@johnnielsen2626]

How Can you g’et it.....?....

[@theflexistentialist]

This and Alex Kidd in Miracle World - such great games. My sister bought me my first ever console in 1991 and it was a Sega Master System II. Alex Kidd was built in and was all I played for the first couple of months! Then it was on to Wonder Boy. Would also rent games from my local Video Ezy 🎉😂

[@richymick937]

Well that saved me from another nostalgic purchase!

[@TheTerminator1919]

Wow I spent hours on this game and could never get past the first pass boss. Thanks for sharing the this!

[@carriethomas3774]

😭😭😭😭😭 This game was my childhood I am 41 now and so remember playing this game

[@johnmuschaweck9395]

I had this. There was a couple of them. Great childhood!!!

[@lnox9706]

Played this, Ghosts n Goblins, Double Dragon 2, ah the good old days

[@eruzai]

It's exactly how I play when I was a child

[@n2alps]

Thanks for sharing, great memories.

[@mr.mikelewis1030]

The child hood memories...game was so fun !!!

[@wakkawagga443]

I played this for month and after around 5 minutes he reached a point were i never had been and this playthrough went on for more than an hour after that. Damn, i sucked..

[@HerbieTheVolkswagen]

This is the best of Tom Tom. The other games were dull

[@bastardtubeuser]

Monsterland was fun at the time but it would have been nice to see more of this game, Adventure island struggled to better this because of the nes's shit stained colour pallet.

[@bluecoolboy4755]

The adventure island character is actually is master Higgins

[@planetX15]

@@bluecoolboy4755 Master Higgins doesn't have the same "ring" to it as Tom-Tom, I prefer Tom-Tom

[@mr.mikelewis1030]

Played this when i was 12 im 41 now my goodness time flies

[@andreinoooo]

I remember finishing it on my Master System. It was 30 yes ago, and it took more than 4 hours 🤪

[@weverthon2023]

My first VideoGame play. Such good memories of my childhood

[@Squab1972]

Teenage memories, on my brothers megadrive, I had many a happy time playing this game.

[@pcorf]

Oh the music on 1-1 = Dah da dah d da da daaaah dah dah ... this game had amazing graphics for the master system but was a nightmare to play when I was like 9 years old.

[@nikos8247]

If I ever had the chance to play this game again I would feel at least 25 years younger! 😓

[@classicgaminguk]

If you've got a PlayStation 4 or 5, or a Nintendo Switch, it's available on those as part of the Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection. It's often discounted too.

[@planetx1595]

FreezeSMS is an emulator that you could use

[@damienocallaghan2648]

I Remember playing this in The Leisure Centre when it was an ARCADE Game before it went to SEGA This Game is BETTER than Sonic or Super Mario on Nintendo In My Opinion😀

[@classicgaminguk]

I agree with your opinion :) I've never really been able to get into Super Mario

[@niotamatoamarsters6222]

I played this when I was 6 I'm 34 now how time flys 😭😭

[@home1261]

Me too same age 👍

[@jarlairess]

After all these years, I have finally seen the boss defeated. I don't even care about the anticlimactic end.

[@steve36207]

Awesome play through there buddy :) ive never unlocked level 10. this was one of the first games I owned on the sms and still one of my favs

[@classicgaminguk]

+steve36207 Thanks Steve. This has always been one of my favourite games. First one I play whenever I plug my Master System in!

[@faizet2]

+classicgaminguk You should try to collect everything in the bonus cloud sky rounds 😀.

[@faizet2]

+classicgaminguk I presume the draggons w/the letters r 2 inform the boss you're coming & making the battle harder?!

[@faizet2]

+classicgaminguk You've had some close shaves in this!!

[@faizet2]

Well played!!

[@daveruda]

This was probably one of the first games we got for the system. Very nice looking game even today. The music beat is a nice touch on this version. It seems like thats how the music should have been from the start!?

[@iciouailleurs1977]

The first video game I finished in my life. At the time it was on an arcade machine

[@home1261]

My childhood.

[@classicgaminguk]

And mine!

[@paulrowland4371]

This and Alex Kidd in miracle world were my games as a kid.

[@flickboogers9325]

Wow the full game? I bow down. Could never beat it as a kid or adult.

[@jennymcmillen5626]

The gameplay frankly reminds me of the Adventure Island Series. It’s almost identical!

[@classicgaminguk]

Jenny McMillen Yep, it is almost the same game. I understand that the developers of Adventure Island acquired the rights to port Wonder Boy, but not the rights to the game’s name or characters. So they retitled it and made some mostly cosmetic changes. Adventure Island and Wonder Boy then continued on as two separate franchises.

[@philipmcritchie7309]

The greatest game of all time..

[@DantePlaysOldGames]

Nice work! I recently played through this myself but didn't get all of the dolls. I was a little surprised to see the end game screen is, as far as I can tell, identical to what I got when I finished 9-4. You'd think they'd have a little extra message or graphic or something.

[@Christizm]

Omg this game I loved it so much and also Alex Kidd In miracle world and enduro racer Sega was so awesome back in the day I wish they made games like this now lol

[@classicgaminguk]

I agree, the Master System had loads of great games. Nice to see it still getting some love in 2021

[@Christizm]

Couldn’t agree more I bought one but it’s built in one not an original not as great as the originals that’s for sure lol

[@planetX15]

@@Christizm Wasn't the built-in Alex Kidd in Miracle World still the original?

[@Christizm]

Alex Kidd in miracle world was the built in version of the game

[@bfacoc]

best game ever

[@classicgaminguk]

Definitely up there as one of my favourites

[@atrain818]

@@classicgaminguk this, gun.smoke, mat mania, donkey kong and championship sprint. I have all of these arcade cabinets in my basement, except sprint. Too big to fit down there or I would.

[@nikoofficiel3106]

Dès les premières notes j'ai revécu un moment de mon enfance.

[@MrTroop86]

The first game i ever played.

[@extremekurt]

Its graphically much better than Adventure Island for NES

[@jessicamaggie6487]

After 28 years i have finally finished the game at level 9-4. But instead of it being on the SMS i played it on the Nintendo Wii and on the Nindendo 3DS :-) And the whole save thing... still really sucks especially when you accidently click on restart instead of continue.... grrrrr happened to me a couple times.... still took me 3 days to complete but... and now my kids are fighting over who gets to play it next lmao... thank goodness for 2 player.

[@MLFreese]

I had this for my Game Gear. Strangely, it was called "Revenge of Drancon".

[@EnglishBullet]

You had the US version, in Europe the Game Gear version is also called Wonder Boy!

[@jamisdempsey8884]

I just beat this on my for the first time with all dolls on my MiSTer, after owning this game many moons ago on my Master System. I died on the first jump on 10-2 and lost the axe. I was stuck for a long time trying to get through with only jumps, felt like an artist when I finally accomplished it. Breezed through the rest, was disappointed that the ending was basically the same.

[@flightssights953]

This is pretty arcade perfect from recollection. The Master System hardware must be very close to the Sega hardware in the WBoy coin-op.

[@HaeShinDocumentary]

Then envy of your best friend getting NES and Mario, and your slightly poor family getting Sega and this for Christmas that year!

[@classicgaminguk]

Depends on where about in the world you were. Here in the UK, barely anyone had a NES. It was mostly micro computers and later the Sega consoles. I don't think even the SNES did that well against the Mega Drive/Genesis here, although it was quite well regarded.

[@craigix]

Yes you could select super wonder boy on the PAL version, I think hitting reset a few times did it. Or (and I'm serious) hitting the cartridge.

[@THJamie]

Oh shit, I used to play this when I was about 7 with my brother

[@planetX15]

2:33 What were those blue things meant to be?

[@classicgaminguk]

According to the manual, they are “Coal-Kids.”

[@planetX15]

@@classicgaminguk Coal-Kids, interesting, thanks, I know that there might have been no competition, but I just realized just looking at the search results, you completed this game five minutes faster compared to the person who played ths on the World of Longplays channel, Excellent work!

[@maxpower252]

So his name was Tom-Tom...

[@Oysterblade84]

Like the 3 drums in a 5 piece drumkit.

[@lnox9706]

Never knew that!!! 30 years later I find this out

[@bluecoolboy4755]

And the adventure island character is master Higgins

[@planetX15]

Did my replies get deleted?

[@bluecoolboy4755]

@@planetX15 nope

[@champ7912]

This is Legend ♥️ I still remember.. thank you so much 🥹

[@jefking007]

Thanx for reminding me on young life love it

[@fabiofranca5610]

Quem aqui lembra de um segredo do Master System, que tinha que fazer uma sequência no controle logo que ligava o console para aparecer uns jogos secretos na memória kkkkk

[@Bloodreign1]

Bought a complete copy a number of years ago, a pretty damned nice arcade port too.

[@deang5386]

I never knew how long this game was when I was a kid since I couldn't get that far.

[@classicgaminguk]

40 levels I think, and with lots of the repeating it really felt like it went on forever. It's surprising how much could be packed into such a small space back then.

[@deang5386]

@@classicgaminguk well I definitely didn't know there were that many bosses, even if there was alot of repeating stages.

[@Onb3k3nd3]

this, alex kidd, double dragon the all have these nostalgic game beats