Wonder Boy III The Dragon's Trap for Sega Master System - A Review | hungrygoriya

[@infinitecanadian]

It is rare for a game to keep the sword and shield in the same hands when the character changes direction; this sprite flipping can be found even today, and even in Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom, recently released.

[@MrSeanface]

Hey! I was waiting for your next upload! Haha. Addicted to your reviews recently : )

[@hungrygoriya]

Awww that's very nice to hear! Well there you go :) I hope you enjoyed the video!

[@ZEKESPILLEDINKMUSIC]

My childhood! 😊 Also, you should really check out the 2017 remake of this game. It uses hand-drawn animation and orchestral versions of the music. That version also allows players to switch back and forth between the new and original version.

[@hungrygoriya]

I bought it right after I finished my Master System playthrough but I haven't gotten to try it out yet. It does look gorgeous though!

[@ZEKESPILLEDINKMUSIC]

@@hungrygoriya It would be cool if, with permission from Lizardcube, you could do a review of the remake. I know that some, like IGN, gave it a 7/10 because it's kind of short (when compared to other games). Of course, it's IGN, so... 😑 There is also a re-skinned version of The Dragon's Trap for the Turbografx-16/PC Engine called Dragon's Curse. I'm still curious how NEC was able to get away with that.

[@hungrygoriya]

@@ZEKESPILLEDINKMUSIC I don't know that I'd have much new to stay since it's the same game with graphical differences, right? I have a lot of other things on my list to play at the moment and I've been holding off to play the remake once I've forgotten enough about this playthrough. Maybe down the line!

[@Demonskunk]

I finished that version, and it’s great. IIRC you can change the music and graphics independently, which is nice.

[@Naedlus]

@@ZEKESPILLEDINKMUSIC Re: TG-16 version: Because Westone owns the code and concept, they were able to license out multiple games to Hudson, as well as others, with the only catch for the license being they have to provide their own audio and graphics. It's how Adventure Island is just a reskinned Wonder Boy, and how Brazil got Wonder Boy in Monster World as Turma da Mônica na Terra Dos Monstros (Monica's Gang in the Monsters' Land) when they couldn't get the Sega release

[@infinitecanadian]

1:14 That song was in Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom and this reminded me of it. Thanks!

[@altalksgaminglive6870]

Great review, this is a game I tell people they have to play all the time for the Sega Master System. I was probably 5 or 6 when I played it, it was a game I asked my cousin and kids on the school yard for help (same with Beavis and Butt-head) and it definitely shaped my love for Metroidvania games today. Shout-out to (and really glad you mentioned how) the music for being fantastic, Sega overall doesn't get enough love for music and the perception is that no games sound good - even soundtracks that are phenomenal like the Dragon's Trap. Final thoughts - clouds are the worst enemies.

[@hungrygoriya]

I wish I would've had the chance to play this as a kid... I think I would've really loved this! I don't have many memories of bending the ears of my classmates for tips or help with games either... I was a total lone ranger growing up. There are some truly fantastic soundtracks on the Master System, you're right. Some of them are horrible, but that can be said for any console library. I do appreciate hearing what really talented programmers could get out of the Master System since so much of the output sounds so same-y. Zillion's music is a great example of that.

[@Lorfarius]

I remember buying this when I was 10 years old. Spent months round a friends house playing Zelda 2 and wanted something similar. Then spotted the screenshots for this in Toys R Us and was sold straight away. Turned into one of the best game decisions I ever made for the MS as I spent months working through it over and over again. Had a lot of fun with the remake recently and well recommend that as a worthy follow up.

[@hungrygoriya]

Sidescrolling action adventure games like this (especially ones with RPG elements!) are my favourites. I'm so glad you found this game and have wonderful memories with it from childhood! I can't wait to try the remake someday. I'm hanging in until I've forgotten a bit more of the game so it'll feel fresh again, but it looks absolutely beautiful. I can't wait for the music too!

[@Lorfarius]

@@hungrygoriya They've done a fantastic job at updating a classic and if you do like it I'd give the newer attempt a go on Steam (Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom ) as DT's creator was behind it.

[@knifeteeth]

This game is in my heart.

[@rvfiasco]

Same

[@Njuregen]

I played on a rented sega master system back 1989 or 1990, and it is my favorite sms game ever.

[@perfectblue8443]

Well said

[@HybridAngelZero]

This is the game that got me into the Wonder Boy series; fun story, I was trying out a Game Gear emulator on an old Android tablet, I just happened to choose this game as one of the handful I downloaded, and was pretty much instantly enraptured, so of course I went straight to my Wii and bought the Master System version on Virtual Console! I'm so glad you finally covered this one, also, I'm sure you're aware, it got an absolutely stellar remake on pretty much every modern platform, and it even has a toggle to switch between modern and Master System style graphics!

[@hungrygoriya]

What a game to sing its siren's call to you! I can understand why you got hooked on it because it was something I didn't want to put down while I was playing. I would've absolutely loved this if I'd gotten to play it when I was younger too. I wish I liked Wonder Boy in Monster Land a little more than I do. I think I need to replay that one again, but it seems so much meaner with the hidden money... I just want to be able to find the cash I need without having to swing at the air! And I did pick up the remake as well! I didn't play it yet but I'm curious to see what it's like. It looks so beautiful!

[@HybridAngelZero]

@@hungrygoriya I highly recommend spending some time with the remake; it has some good quality of life features (like being able to see what armors and such do at shops before you buy them) and a really cool, unexpected feature: if you have Master System version passwords, you can actually continue the playthough in the remake!

[@hungrygoriya]

@@HybridAngelZero Ohhhhh! I didn't realize the bit about the passwords! That's so cool! I love it! I appreciate that they thought to add a bit more description to the remake as well. Nothing worse than scratching your head trying to put two and two together for far too long!

[@expsharevideogames]

My gosh that stun locking really does look intense

[@hungrygoriya]

It was pretty much the worst. There are long areas before the bosses that get progressively more difficult as the game goes on, and it was so hard to get through those stretches without getting totally destroyed!

[@jwrush]

Ah, of course, the most famed ability of the lion: digging.

[@hungrygoriya]

Digging with a sword of all things!!

[@gameboydadtm37]

It never fails these reviews are relaxing as heck

[@hungrygoriya]

Thanks very much for watching!

[@gameboydadtm37]

@@hungrygoriya you’re welcome 😁

[@MarcosCodas]

Another fantastic video! Well done! The music in this is amazing.

[@hungrygoriya]

Thanks so much! And I agree about the music. It's so great!

[@HansAlRachid]

Recently stumbled across this channel when I was trying to get info on Final Fantasy Legends and after clicking my way through a couple of your other videos, I just wanted to say that I'm really enjoying your content and presentation style. Thanks for highlighting so many interesting, obscure games - I had never even heard of quite a few of these.

[@hungrygoriya]

It's my pleasure! I appreciate you taking the time to look through the back library here. I hope to keep doing this for a long time yet, and it's good to know that people are enjoying what I'm doing. Thank you :)

[@StephenWilds]

"I'll take my tainted victory," beautiful.

[@hungrygoriya]

I have no shame in making it through by "cheating" if the game lets me!

[@StephenWilds]

@@hungrygoriya As it should be.

[@ArkThePieKing]

Aww I loved this game as a kid! I remember going through it a couple of times, but its been a long time since I played it.

[@hungrygoriya]

Do you think you might revisit it again sometime? I'm pumped to try out the Switch remake some day as well just because of how beautiful everything looks.

[@ArkThePieKing]

@@hungrygoriya Its so pretty right!? I think if I ever do revisit the game again it'll be through that, it's really stunning.

[@FuegoJaguar]

Your videos are amazing and I love how you just cold destroy this who’s who’s of difficult retro games while showing no frustration hahaha

[@hungrygoriya]

I have the most even temper around! Thanks so much :)

[@TheGameGrinder]

Great review! As is, this is my favorite game on the SMS. That being said, I don't think I'll ever play it again because the remake is so gorgeous and the remade music is beautiful.

[@hungrygoriya]

Hopefully there are some other titles to keep coming you back to the original console! I can't wait to try out the remake some day. I haven't heard a single bad thing about it.

[@TheGameGrinder]

@@hungrygoriya There's definitely more games I have yet to play on SMS I really would like to - next ones being Golden Axe Warrior and Phantasy Star.

[@hungrygoriya]

@@TheGameGrinder Both are excellent in my opinion. I hope you enjoy them! Have you played Psychic World yet? That's another easy favourite of mine.

[@TheGameGrinder]

@@hungrygoriya I have not and will have to add it to the list, thanks!

[@mandlecreed02]

12 year old me back in 1991 playing the SMS version : LOVE IT TO BITS 44 year old me in 2024 playing both the SMS (still) and Dragon's Trap version by Lizardcube : STILL LOVE IT TO BITS

[@hungrygoriya]

Yay! I'm glad you're still in love with the system!

[@kidkytes6233]

The stun lock is so frustrating. But otherwise this is such a fun and charming game. It just oozes personality and it's just a joy to look at and listen to. It's one of the first games that I can vividly remember playing. The remake is also a fantastic game. You can tell it's done by people who have nothing but love for the original, also it's fun being able to swap between the original graphics/music to the modern hand drawn art and remixes with just the press of a button.

[@hungrygoriya]

I really loved it too! I'm waiting until enough time passes that I've forgotten more about what to do in the game before I pick up the remake and replay it. That'll hopefully make it feel fresh again for me, but I'm really happy long-time fans of the game appreciate the remake and that it was done right.

[@sarysa]

The town theme is one of the few town themes that have ever gotten stuck in my head, and I'd swear I've heard it before. Like it's based on a public domain song.

[@remka2000]

I played this one a TON as a kid (well, Pc Engine's Adventure Island - I had no idea it was a port/adaptation at the time). Awesome game. The modern remake was a nice trip to memory lane.

[@hungrygoriya]

I really want to try the remake sometime, but I'm waiting for the memories of the original game to fade first. Glad you got to play it back in the day!

[@Yuuretsu]

The PC Engine version of this game got me into the franchise and it's still one of my favorite games on the systems and in the franchise. So happy the series made an unexpected comeback in recent years.

[@hungrygoriya]

Yeah! I was surprised to see the new game for Switch, and even though I haven't played it yet, it's great to have it to look forward to!

[@Njuregen]

This game is awesome the best of the SMS in my view, though I also like Miracle Warriors and Golvellius. The password system was a nice touch for the time. I needed a second playthrough to find all the legendary items, but it my favorite game still, times I played it with my little brother watching us kids, when we rented a Master system and games from the video store back in 1990. Music is great and thanks for reviewing it and the short front stab is a bother, especially on mouseman! ^^

[@hungrygoriya]

I would agree with you. It's definitely close to the top of my favourites that I've played so far as well. Miracle Warriors I have a huge soft spot for since it was my first game. The music in that one and Golvellius is so memorable. I hope more people will give the Master System a chance. There are some great games here most people haven't even heard of!

[@c2ironfist]

Subbed because this is one of my most beloved games of all time and your reviews are great!! ❤

[@hungrygoriya]

Thanks so much for your kindness! Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@dieinfire920]

Ohh that stun lock!!! Cute sprites and a very colourful game makes it a total pleasure to enjoy it!! Also enjoyed the review a lot with your relaxing voice.

[@hungrygoriya]

Yep, getting stun-locked all day long doesn't matter when the game's so cute and great to listen to! And thanks very much by the way! Happy to oblige :)

[@NESADDICT]

Wonder boy, what is the secret of your power?

[@FabianoCruzAnimations]

Thank you for stopping by at the livestream Hungry! ♥

[@hungrygoriya]

My pleasure :) It was so nice to see you live and get a glimpse into what animating is like! I had no idea. Thank you for sharing your process!

[@FabianoCruzAnimations]

@@hungrygoriya You really seem to be a very good person, and people like you always makes this world a better place, thank you!

[@Larry]

Excellent review!!! One of my all-time fave games, still remember buying it as a kid after a trip to the dentist :D But it's kind of like a proto-MetroidVania in it's style, shame the two sequels decided to be far more linear as they really had something with this. Will you be covering the Master System sequel to this sometime G?

[@hungrygoriya]

You know, after I posted my video yesterday I was searching KZbin to see who else had covered this and I found your video from about 10 years ago and watched... your excitement definitely emanated through there as much as it does here! And I'd love to have a look at the sequel on the Master System. I might end up having to play it on the Genesis though, only because I think the Master System version is pretty rare and I don't currently own it. I can't wait for more Wonder Boy!

[@ArkThePieKing]

Hold up, there was a Master System sequel to this? I only knew of the Genesis sequel and I'm having trouble finding it via google. What's it called?

[@hungrygoriya]

@@ArkThePieKing I'm pretty sure the Genesis sequel was the same game as what was on the Master System, but it wasn't released in all regions. I think it was PAL only? I might be mistaken though!

[@Larry]

@@hungrygoriya Wonder Boy in Monster World, It's the same game as the Master System version, but the SMS port has a lot of the game chopped out, missing the trident weapons and an incredibly short attack range. in fact you can finish it in less than an hour if you know what you're doing. I just found it amazing Sega went to the legenth to port it. I only discovered it walking past a store one say and seeing it on a rack. But yeah, had to talk about it as one of my first videos, loved the game, big part of my childhood. Psycho Fox on the SMS was also a big game for me.

[@hungrygoriya]

@@Larry That's so interesting... if I ever run into that version I might try to pick it up. I think it never got released in North America though, so I don't know if that'll ever happen! I'm surprised by a lot of the games that got ported to the Master System... some of them are decent but some of them are also strange... sad to hear that Monster World lost so much of itself going to the SMS. I haven't played Psycho Fox yet! I'm a little worried at the controls but I haven't spent too much time with it yet. It'll be great once I get the swing of it (I hope!)

[@jamesc8259]

Yay! I love your reviews! Feels like forever since a new one. So rare to find master system fans :D

[@hungrygoriya]

It's been a few weeks, yeah! Sorry for the delay :)

[@jamesc8259]

@@hungrygoriya No worries! Just happy to see your vids on my dash. Stay safe and well. 👾

[@KairuHakubi]

I actually got (the graphical update of) this game by accident, thinking I was getting the newest in the series. But I'm glad, because it was based the most heavily on this one, and this way I was able to get to know that old stuff.. the old music tracks, the mechanics, all of that.

[@hungrygoriya]

I've heard great things about the remake and I own a copy as well, though I bought it after playing this version. I'm still waiting for the game to fade a little more in my mind before I play it so I can experience it "fresh" again at some point.

[@KairuHakubi]

@@hungrygoriya Yeah that's smart. Because it is the exact same game, even the oldstyle physics preserved. There are only small QoL things (like being able to save properly instead of using passwords) In fact I didn't always like the redone music, as creative as it was, so I was using the original music half the time. (Now, the redone versions of the tracks from this game done by Banjo Guy Ollie, featured in the new game, those are incredible)

[@mikethered123]

Wow, okay, so when I was a little kid in 1989, I had a Game Player's magazine (Issue 2 I think...) that featured an article on this. I remember the distinct sprite artwork from that article, but I could never find the name of the game. Finally, in 2021, I've found it. Oh, and the review is great as usual... lol Thanks :)

[@hungrygoriya]

Right on! I'm glad you could finally put that question mark in your mind to bed!

[@ineptsparrow]

Great write up! I love the aesthetic of these old adventure games. Even with the limited graphical capabilities of the time they still look gorgeous.

[@hungrygoriya]

Thanks very much! The Master System's games are especially beautiful. So much colour! There were a couple of screens that hurt my eyes from the colour combinations/brightness here and there, but I think this game is very pretty!

[@aceasunder]

Aw! This is such an adorable game by the looks and sounds of it. Awesome review!! Thanks for creating this 😁

[@hungrygoriya]

My goodness, thank YOU for watching! This was a fun one and I can't wait to play the beautiful remake down the line. I'm curious to see what an orchestral take on some of these tunes would come out like.

[@Juice2Fifty]

Great review! This music is so nostalgic to me. I can still hum every song in the game 😁

[@hungrygoriya]

I love love love the music in this soundtrack. Have you played the remake? I haven't yet since I'm still waiting for this game to fade from my memory a bit first, but I can't wait to hear it redone.

[@Juice2Fifty]

@@hungrygoriya You’re in for such a treat!!! I loved the remake and it was such a joy recalling all the secrets in the game. Do you remember the example password in the manual? It even works in the new game! As for the soundtrack, they have SOOO many extra arrangements for many of the songs. It’s worth just finding the OST on KZbin and giving a quick listen to see what’s to come 😁

[@hungrygoriya]

@@Juice2Fifty That's awesome! I'm happy to hear it's as great as I've been hoping it might be. I might just cave in and listen to the music ahead of time like you suggest here. Though experiencing it as part of the whole package does sound lovely too...

[@shinypb]

Excellent review! Thanks for reminding me how stellar this soundtrack was. ✨

[@hungrygoriya]

Thank you! I've had this music in my head for weeks while I've been working on this :)

[@redsyn]

I first played & beat this on the Genesis years ago. I really enjoy the modern reskin of it on the Switch as well. Can change between old & new visuals & music on the fly as well in the updated version. I was so close to beating it again before getting distracted by other games in my backlog. 😅

[@redsyn]

Can't remember if the Genesis version had the end boss infinite revival bug or not.

[@hungrygoriya]

I made a point to buy the Switch remake as soon as I was done playing through the Master System version but I haven't tried it out yet. I've seen some of the game and it looks absolutely gorgeous though! I can't wait to hear what they did with the music too.

[@Aranesque]

I had the same confusion with Lion man when playing the remake. I feel the game could benefited having a small room or zone with a challenge involving the new skill obtained. Like Adventure Island IV does! So far I'm loving your channel and reviews. You got a new subscriber! :)

[@hungrygoriya]

That is awfully nice to hear! Thanks for subbing! And a little tutorial room just to give you a chance to mess around with would've been perfect for Lion Man. I don't know why I didn't see it right away but glad to know I wasn't the only one!

[@christopherhayes1369]

Another great review! I like how you give these games a straight up review with no discounts for the games being 30+ years old! Glad you called out the awesome music of WB3, it really is a classic master system track. Have you listened to the soundtrack for the remastered version of WB3? It's orchestral and very interesting

[@hungrygoriya]

Hey thanks! They can be as old as they are, but it's still my first time through many of them so they're new to me! I more or less play exclusively retro so I have nothing new to compare most of these games to anyway... I haven't listened to or played through the remaster yet. I'm trying to wait for my memory of the original to fade enough to take in the whole package at once, but I'm really looking forward to hearing the tunes in the new game. The music's SO catchy!

[@retroactivekev]

This is easily my favorite of the entire Wonder Boy series. I'm doing a series retrospective of sorts and I can't wait to get to it. Great video!

[@hungrygoriya]

Enjoy playing through the series again if you're revisiting it for your retrospective!

[@st1ka]

This game is so amazing, definitely one of the best the master system has to offer

[@hungrygoriya]

Oh yes, definitely a Top 5 for me! So good!

[@thoja]

I spent countless hours back in the day playing this game, I remember buying it when it came out. Never finished it though, and I eventually gave up. I came back to it several years ago, when I found out about some powerful passwords that would let you start the game as any character or with vast amounts of money and weapons, just to see what I had missed back then... too lazy to play it again properly from the beginning without cheating! :D Even though I prefer its prequel, "WB in Monster Land", everything about WBIII is stunning. Graphics, music, attention to detail... it's up there with the very best of the Master System's catalog. I loved the fact that the game starts with the previous game's last dungeon (although much much easier and not that maze-like!), I was a kid but found it so clever back then. And yeah, after playing this game, everytime I play an 8/16 bit game I have a tendency to check if the designers created different sprites for when the character is facing left or right. If they don't, which is more than often, I think "ah, too lazy. Wonder Boy III was better!".

[@hungrygoriya]

I don't blame you for coming back to this one armed with awesome passwords to make your experience a little friendlier! It's a tough one! I hope I can get through Wonder Boy in Monster Land one of these days. I find the need to search for money in thin air so off-putting, and I always get destroyed at the Sphinx fight. I just need more time with it I think, but Wonder Boy 3 was a lot more approachable for me! I haven't come anywhere near the final dungeon in Wonder Boy in Monster Land, but I knew that WB3 picked up at the end of that one... talk about a spoiler :D

[@EdmondDantes224]

I have this on Turbografx, where its called Dragon's Curse. There's also a remake on modern platforms now which I think changes a lot of the areas and reworks some of the mechanics. It has problems, but I love it. The sort-of sequel Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom is also really good.

[@hungrygoriya]

There was another Brazil release of the game based on a show and beloved characters there, but I've forgotten the name at this point. Monica maybe?

[@EdmondDantes224]

@@hungrygoriya Yeah, Monica's Gang. Which I actually tried to watch episodes of (some of them got English dubs). I saw enough to get the picture... I had just watched Toonrific Tariq's video about Little Lulu and Monica was reminding me of that, except if Lulu had a quick temper and would sometimes attack people with a plush bunny. (and yes, the Monica edits of the Wonder Boy games do indeed replace the sword with the plush rabbit). But its also one of those slice of life cartoons where occasionally they have adventures fighting an evil pirate or something, which is how an action game makes sense.

[@EdmondDantes224]

@@hungrygoriya Also in the TG16 release, the human form's name is rendered as "Hu-Man." That just makes me think he needs to hold up his sword and call for the Power of Grayskull.

[@jymfiskburk2256]

Great video, love the pixel art and the sense of discovering.

[@hungrygoriya]

Thank you kindly! This is definitely a fun game to play for the first time, and I imagine over and over again too. There are so many iterations of it out there that you can experience it brand new a few times before you run out of options!

[@PragmatikReviews]

Hey you leave the sketchy monster drugging from little Nemo out of this haha! This game looks adorable, and I love how the sprites look just like their art designs. But that stun locking looks like a trip for instant frustration! Still looks like a great game though!

[@hungrygoriya]

Hahaha I always thought Little Nemo was a little bit dark... I love it. But yeah, this one's definitely mostly a good game despite a few control issues. I think you'd really like it!

[@zerogold8717]

I love this game so much. Played it after Phantasy Star. The music that plays in the ocean area east of the main town is my favorite. There's a remake on Steam that lets you play with the original graphics and OST.

[@hungrygoriya]

The music's definitely fantastic! Have you played the remake for yourself yet? I'm still waiting for the game to fade so I can enjoy the remake without remembering every detail.

[@zerogold8717]

@@hungrygoriya Yeah I have. The remake is the same game with a new coat of paint. Play it with the new graphics but keep the original soundtrack.

[@teacherhorrorstories]

Glad you are back, friend. Keep up the good work, please

[@hungrygoriya]

Thank you for the warm welcome :)

[@DeadlyGamingLV]

Excellent review! The thing i find interesting in your Master System reviews is hearing the PSG versions of the music. I have a FM chip in my Master System so when I play this game the music is FM driven which sounds closer to the Genesis. A good majority of Master System games have FM support so you have two ways to hear your Master System games. Thanks for the review! :)

[@hungrygoriya]

Aww right on! I'm in Canada and don't have the FM mod in my system, but I'm pretty partial to the PSG sound. I have heard a few soundtracks in FM and it's always a mixed bag... I like some tunes better in both sounds than the others! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@DeadlyGamingLV]

@@hungrygoriya yeah I'm in the US so we didn't get that luxury either. I never knew the Master System had FM until around the early 2010s. I imported a Master System from Japan to have that feature and later got a Power Base Mini FM. Now I have the Mega SD so it renders my other two options as redundant but I guess it's good to have backup solutions. :)

[@TheReNesance]

Ending it on MouseMan's wall-clinging failure haha.. Thank you for featuring him, the greatest of all rodent heroes. I'm so glad you mentioned the insane stun-locking too.. that drove me so nuts, but I'm with you that overall this game is full of charm, (literally), and I really enjoyed it. Thanks for putting this together.. it allowed me to relive my time with this adorable game..

[@hungrygoriya]

Did you know that that was one of many attempts I made to get around that corner with him? I blame the controller! I know I told you already, but your recent playthrough was the push I needed to finally write all my thoughts about this game down. Thanks for allowing me to experience this game again through you!

[@TheReNesance]

@@hungrygoriya I couldn't figure that out for a bit too.. think you had to jump and hold down to "grab" the floor and then you could cling around the edge maybe.. I'm thrilled to be the vessel through which you felt that inspiration to get back to it.. though seeing that blasted sunken ship again gave me pangs of rage.

[@hungrygoriya]

@@TheReNesance You're probably right... I don't think I ever quite got the controls down. That sunken ship still gives me nightmares >:(

[@foshizzzle0o]

Enjoyed you feed back and comments about Wonder Boy 3 😁.

[@snoopyrogain541]

Every time I watch your Sega Master System reviews. I wish I never passed up to buy one about a year ago. Now I have to find one. It will be harder to find one this year I bet.

[@hungrygoriya]

I don't doubt they'll be harder to find this year, I'm hopeful for you. Worst case scenario, you could always look into a power base converter for a Genesis/Mega Drive if you have one hanging around so you can play Master System games.

[@hezekiahramirez6965]

I absolutely adore this game. The only platform I owned as a boy that had a WB3 release was Game Gear but I wasn't even aware of it at the time. I'd heard about the TG16 version but I didn't have a TG16, to my chagrin. I eventually played that one on my old laptop from 2002 with my lil controller and I fell in love with it. I played this version a couple years later and it convinced me to explore the Master System, which I now love. I didn't even know it existed until I was an adult Wonder Boy III is a full-on action adventure RPG with just about everything I love about the genre but in a side-scrolling action game. It was everything I wished Zelda 2 was and more. It was fun, charming, fun, beautiful, fun, quirky, and oh yeah, fun. Did I mention the pure unadulterated fun? It's difficult to express just how delightful I found this game to be and how much joy it brings me to revisit it I'm so glad you love this game too. I love how people have discovered this amazing game just like I did all those years ago. I love that there's a dedicated fan community. It's honestly one of the games I cite along with things like Ocarina, Vice City, Doom, and Tetris that really define what I love about this medium and the potential of it Thanks for indulging me with my long and gushing comment. I can't help but gush about this game from time to time. It might legit be in my top ten. It's great to see that others love it too and that it's still being talked about a lot to this day

[@hungrygoriya]

This is a really heartwarming comment to read. The only bad thing about this game is that there wasn't more in this exact style. Wonder Boy on the Genesis didn't quite give me the same feeling as this game did, and while it was fun, it wasn't Wonder Boy III! I'm trying to wait until I forget a lot of the adventure to go back and play the remake sometime. I'm curious to see how they changed it up, but I imagine they've kept it true to the spirit of the original. And don't feel bad. I didn't discover the Master System until I was in my 30s so you're not alone in that! Better late than never!

[@Gnathorn]

Ooooooh! I played this as a kid and I've had the remaster for PS4 for nostalgia :) I finished it back then, but now I haven't.

[@hungrygoriya]

Maybe it's time to play through the remake, hmmm?

[@Gnathorn]

@@hungrygoriya I'd need to fix my PS4 for that. Few other games which's soundtrack I have really liked are new, but other is "Kidd Trip" and the second one is "I want to be human"

[@the1ucidone]

I have not played this game though I do know of it's existence. After seeing this review I'm gonna use my Everdrive and jump right in. Thank you as always for a wonderful video Hungry Goriya.

[@hungrygoriya]

All the best on your playthrough! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

[@gregnavarro2892]

This May be in my top 20 games of all time. It's just a brilliant game aka MASTERPIECE. Love your channel and what you represent💯👍👏☺

[@hungrygoriya]

It's definitely a good one. Have you played the games that followed like Monster World and Monster World IV (I think? I always get the naming conventions in this series wrong)

[@gregnavarro2892]

@@hungrygoriya unfortunately I haven't. But also loved Mosterland on master system. I sure that's part 2. First played it in the arcades as a kid. It was a dream once on master system😇. I'm truly old school so I check out videos as I don't play anymore unfortunately. But I do remember those titles on megadrive. They looked Hella cool to play✌

[@longtoe]

I kept looking the Lion and was confused. In the TurboGrafx version, known as Dragon's Curse, that form is a Tiger. The music is amazing as you stated. I always thought the smoking pig storeowner was hilarious as well.

[@hungrygoriya]

A tiger, you say? I had no idea! That's so funny! And the smoking pig also made me chuckle... it reminded me of something out of Popful Mail, because I swear the smoking pig shopkeeper is there as well!

[@MattiasKesti]

@@hungrygoriya Porkrind, the store owner in Cuphead, is also an eyepatch-wearing pig. Seems to have given up smoking though.

[@hungrygoriya]

@@MattiasKesti I wonder what the appeal of pigs with eye patches is...haha

[@RetroGG-74]

Thanks , your reviews are thoroughly entertaining.

[@hungrygoriya]

Thanks very much :) I appreciate that!

[@TheMultiGunMan]

I have this game. Thanks for the review!

[@SparkyMK3]

I have the remake of this game! Im stuck at the part where you go underground and then have to go thru that Pagoda. Its a great game, but that section is brutal! I love that you can switch between the old and new graphics and music too!

[@hungrygoriya]

I've been waiting for my memories of the original to fade before I play the remake. I loved the original so much that I bought it in a heartbeat.

[@barryschalkwijk9388]

The GOAT on the SMS. The best music, sound effects and graphics. Almost no flicker, insane bosses and a very deep Metroidvania game with lots of secrets at it's core.

[@hungrygoriya]

It's definitely a favourite on the Master System for me!

[@MotherKojiro]

This one took me a few tries to get into, mostly because of the grinding; it wasn't until I'd discovered how integral the treasure caches were that it finally started to click with me. I wound up really enjoying it in the end, and would've loved to see another game like this; it's top-down, but the closest I've discovered is Sylvan Tale for the Game Gear. Also, I think "SHOPPING PLEASE" is my absolute favorite translation flub, made just that much better by the fact that it's spoken by a one-eyed, chain-smoking pig.

[@hungrygoriya]

Sylvan Tale looks so good! I've seen a few videos about it in the past and I'd like to try it for sure. Have you tried any of the other Wonder/Monster Boy games on later consoles? The naming conventions get a bit strange but Wonder Boy in Monster World and the one with Asha (green-haired girl) are supposedly very similar.

[@MotherKojiro]

@@hungrygoriya The series is super confusing to keep track of, especially because Wonder Boy 3: Dragon's Trap is actually Wonder Boy 4; the real Wonder Boy 3 is Wonder Boy 3: Monster Lair, which is kind of a Horizontally-Scrolling Shooter? I've played all of the SMS versions of the game all the way through, as well as the 5 (Wonder Boy in Monster World, which is also on the SMS) and 6 (Monster World 4, which is the one with Asha) on Genesis, but I would love to play the Arcade/Turbo versions of the others! I do also have Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom, which is what you get when you make a Wonder Boy game, but don't work for the company that has the rights anymore. Monster World is indeed similar, but without the transformations, but Monster World 4 is almost more like a straight Platformer; there is exploration, and there are health upgrades, but each of the areas is sectioned off, and you can't return to them once they're completed. I think it's a lovely experience with a soundtrack spun from the yearnings of a young woman in search of love and adventure, but it is also a different experience from the other Wonder Boy titles.

[@RockRedGenesis]

This is by far one of my favorite SMS games. Love the DotEmu remake as well, they did a very good update to the game, lots of quality of life improvements.

[@hungrygoriya]

I am planning to play the remake down the line once I've forgotten exactly what to do in this game. I'm looking forward to seeing all the beautiful updates, especially to the soundtrack!

[@RockRedGenesis]

@@hungrygoriya The remake soundtrack is an awesome listen to. When you get to playing the remake, it's 60 fps and buttery smooth, any slowdown you experienced on the original is completely eliminated, you are in for a treat, and you can switch between the classic graphics and the remake on the fly. Hope you consider doing a review of it as well, would love to hear what you think. Also, I subbed, gonna enjoy watching your content in the future.

[@hungrygoriya]

@@RockRedGenesis This just gives me even more to look forward to! And thanks for subscribing! I try to get a new video out every couple of weeks here, and hopefully you'll like what I've been working on. Have a lovely weekend!

[@RockRedGenesis]

@@hungrygoriya to you as well

[@genuz]

My second favorite game on the Master System after Golden Axe Warrior. The stunlocking may seem a bit harsh at first but it really isn't. It is there so you have to think about not getting stuck inside of a boss or being able to push through a lot of mobs. The only place I find the game extremely unfair is some of your playthroughs it will just say "no, you cannot have the Dragon Mail!" by not dropping charms or the mail itself.

[@hungrygoriya]

The final boss' moves were way too fast to react to, so the stun-locking there was absolutely horrible. Other places it wasn't bad if you had good armour on at least, but against the wrong enemies I got smoked a lot. I'm glad you had an easier time with it. I was wondering if charm stone drops were random or always found in the same places. It would be pretty mean if they were totally random.

[@genuz]

@@hungrygoriya They are random drops but not from all enemies. Most runs you will be fine. You should only ever need to jump to hit the final boss, if you start flying around he will punish you. Oh and if you let him come to you and do a standing jump it is much easier.

[@culchulach586]

Nice! I loved this game and all the Wonderboys… especially 1

[@hungrygoriya]

I wish I could get into the first game! I can never find enough money and the Sphinx always kicks my butt!

[@danielespeziari5545]

I played this game a lot in the past few months and eventually beat it, but I admit I needed, at least twice, some external help (walkthroughs) to figure out what to do and the function of some weapons. As you said, it's not always clear. Anyway, it's a brilliant game (the music is the best you hear on the Master System), but overall I think I enjoyed Wonderboy in Monster Land more

[@hungrygoriya]

Nothing wrong with consulting other sources... I had to ask about the lava area when I was livestreaming because I was getting wrecked there before someone let me know that I had an item to help. I'm happy you enjoyed it too. I really want to love Wonder Boy in Monster Land. I never seem to have enough money and I can't reliably get past the Sphinx fight... I know you can buy his answer somewhere, but I'm always broke and can't afford it. Some day I'll spend a bit more time on it.

[@danielespeziari5545]

@@hungrygoriya yes, in Monster Land you need to learn where to find money, when to spend it and when to save it. To do that you must necessarily play the game multiple times. To save money you can eventually avoid to pay for tips before the fight with the Sphinx, since the questions are more or less always the same

[@hungrygoriya]

@@danielespeziari5545 I don't think I ever got a single answer right in that battle... I've gotta get more practice in! I'm sure I'll come around to it eventually again!

[@Demonskunk]

I loved the remaster/remake of this game. The new art style really compliments the classic gameplay IMO.

[@hungrygoriya]

I've been waiting to forget where to go in this game so I can enjoy the remake fresh. I'm glad it's so well-loved. That means I have more to look forward to!

[@totemlordreviews7242]

When you retro game, a tainted victory is a victory 😉😉😉 I enjoyed your review!

[@hungrygoriya]

I will take it! And thanks so much!

[@Neozgred]

Lion-Man was second strongest character with proper sword, Hu-Man character had 255 (Legendary Sword), Lion-Man had 250 (With some other easy to get sword, don't remember the name).

[@hungrygoriya]

It's awesome that there's so many weapons/armour pieces to find here to outfit all the characters with. I loved playing as Lion-Man!

[@guysafari]

Game is a banger! I played the remake/remaster released for ps4 and switch

[@hungrygoriya]

I did hear the remake is great. I'm just waiting for a while before another playthrough so I'll hopefully forget exactly what to do for this game!

[@hypersonic8917]

If you like this game, I am pretty sure you will enjoy Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom. It has a lot of the same music (but updated to be modern) and the gameplay is a blast with a lot of similarities to this one. It’s not retro but I definitely encourage a play through. It’s one of my favorite games of all time.

[@hungrygoriya]

I've got it in my collection already but haven't played it yet. I should probably bump it up the list. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@fernfernacelli]

Ah - another Masterful review from the best reviewer in ALL of the Internets. :D WB3 looks cool - need to give it a go. My favorite was Wonder Boy in Monster World. Also, hoping you get to review Zillion II: The Tri-Formation... cheers! :D

[@hungrygoriya]

Too kind! Thank you so much! I still need to play the games that come after this one. And I'm sure I'll get around to Zillion II eventually... when I muster up enough courage... :D

[@chadgreenaway8289]

Glad to see you back, sooo my favorite genre too, got in a bit of a debate the other day wether or not the og legacy of kain soul reaver counts as a metroidvania or not, if you've played it your thoughts? And great vid, keep em comin

[@hungrygoriya]

Unfortunately I can't weigh in since I haven't played it :( I'd say if you're dealing with new skills/abilities to open up the game world, it'd fall into that category. Thanks so much! I'll do my best to keep things moving over here :)

[@chadgreenaway8289]

@@hungrygoriya 😃 thanks for taking the time to reply, and yea that was my rebuttal as far as soul reaver goes, playing through chasm right now, not to bad so far :)

[@Protoman00]

“This goes well beyond drugging creatures and climbing inside their skin...” EXCUSE ME!?!!!?!?! Nice video, the stun lock would have killed the experience for me.

[@hungrygoriya]

You're excused. It wasn't toooooo bad. It was an inconvenience for sure, but nothing that totally ruined the game. There's still lots of adventuring to be had!

[@BeyondTheScanlines]

I've really wanted to give it some proper play time - I spent a bunch of time with its predecessor (well, it's C64 version) as a kid, and it wasn't quite as rough on being hit - you usually got flung back with a spot of invulnerability. Bit of a shame about the stun-lock, which sounds a real pain to work through. Wonder if they tweaked that on the remake, or if it's intact. I keep holding off giving this a real run, at least until I go tackle Monster Land again (and again). Another great one!

[@hungrygoriya]

Thank you so much! If you have the right armour on the stun-lock's not super horrendous, but if you get caught in a new area without it, you're toast! I haven't played the remake yet so I'm curious to know if it's still there, but if it is, I hope it's not as bad as it is here. It's so time consuming and unpredictable to battle sometimes when it really could've been a lot more straightforward.

[@MrEvilbyte]

Lion Man's "superpower" is simply kicking ass. He doesn't need to be "cool" xD It's possible to even bring him to the final boss room (actually 2 ways to do so). And he makes a joke out of the final boss (who is otherwise very challenging).

[@hungrygoriya]

Oh really? I don't think I knew about sneaking him into the final boss encounter. That's neat!

[@bradleyadams4496]

Wonder Boy... just as the first from start to finish. When you're in Venice, you play as a Lion with wings, when you're in a Minoan city, you play as a Minotaur! Have to beat the boss in the center of the Wonder's ruin and then you change form and get warped to a new location.

[@friedrice7]

Your writing is top notch 👌

[@hungrygoriya]

Big praise! Thank you!

[@markasscop]

I just played the remake of this earlier this month, it was a great time, frustrations aside

[@hungrygoriya]

Right on! I bought the remake when I was finished with this version but am waiting until I've forgotten more about the game before I tackle it. Great to hear that you enjoyed the game!

[@snookers5123]

Somehow in every version of this game, they managed to make every enemy incredibly cute.

[@hungrygoriya]

I've heard that other versions are "graphically superior" but I personally find these sprites super, super charming! I haven't seen much of the other versions, but good to know they're equally cute!

[@demonsty]

my first game i bought for my sega master system as a kid. such a great game!

[@hungrygoriya]

It's so much fun! I can't wait to play other games in this series as well!

[@demonsty]

@@hungrygoriya i dont think the other wonder boy games are anywhere near as good as dragons trap. why do i think that? i dunno i just feel it so i never tried 1 & 2. plus they ported wonder boy 3 to the tg16 and not 1 & 2. i prefer the sega master system version anyways.

[@michaelpetrus8103]

It was favourite game as a child

[@hungrygoriya]

I can understand why! It's awesome!

[@paulmilazzo4422]

Lion man's powers might be underwhelming but he is still the king!

[@hungrygoriya]

He's pretty cool all said and done!

[@azb0111]

Another great video. I swear we have the exact same taste in games.

[@hungrygoriya]

Thank you!

[@azb0111]

You’re welcome. Have you played Monster Boy?

[@hungrygoriya]

@@azb0111 Not yet!

[@japanimationman4442]

I only dabbled in this one, but it seemed really good from what I played. I liked the 4th game as well (Wonder Boy in Monster World), but the platforming was horrendous in the final dungeon. Had to get through it with save states or my patience would have given out. There's also a modern... spiritual successor, I guess? It's called Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom. It was on sale a couple weeks back and I picked it up. Has a very similar theme of changing into animal forms. It looks the same as the remake of Dragon's Trap, so I think it's by the same people. It's pretty fun, but I wanted to tackle Dragon's Trap before really getting into it.

[@hungrygoriya]

I'm excited to see what Monster World brings too. I think I have two games on the Genesis to look forward to that take a bit of this formula forward into new adventures. I did buy Cursed Kingdom as well and haven't played it yet for the same reasons you haven't! I also want to enjoy the Wonder Boy 3 remake first too, but I'm waiting a while before picking that one up.

[@japanimationman4442]

I'll bet that second game on the Genesis is Monster World 4, which sadly never left Japan until fairly recently. I grabbed it as soon as the Monster World collection came out and was was baffled that we never got an English release. It's probably one of the best Genesis games I've ever played. Super sad that we didn't get it back in the day. I guess they couldn't call that one Wonder Boy 5, because the main character is a GIRL! GASP!!!!! Are they even allowed to do that!? (Dunno why they didn't just call it Wonder Girl. Maybe DC Comics would have sued or something.)

[@hungrygoriya]

@@japanimationman4442 ... I could've sworn I had a cartridge for Monster World 4 on Genesis that was an English release, but I'm clearly out to lunch! I'll have to track down that remake. I thought it looked like a lot of fun when I saw a friend play through it a few months ago. Now I'm sad, haha

[@japanimationman4442]

I know there are repro carts around for Monster World 4, and it apparently has had a fan translation for quite a while. So maybe you wound up with one of those.

[@Shiunbird]

Wonderful review!

[@hungrygoriya]

Thank you very much!

[@53prime]

I hated how fast the ninjas were and how slow Lion-Man's sword swing was.

[@hungrygoriya]

He was pretty slow! It's nice that he had the range, but his speed definitely made fighting with him harder than it should've been!

[@chaospoet]

I played the Turbografx version. I wish it had that bug in it. That underwater pirate ship is pure torture. It's the one part of the game I dread.

[@hungrygoriya]

Based on how much trouble I had with the final boss, I'm convinced no human can beat the game without the bug for help, haha

[@SaadAzim]

Great video HG. Have you played the remake, by any chance? Also .. er ... is it me or does "Mouse-Man" have two sets of ears? :D

[@hungrygoriya]

... how disturbing!

[@Shamazya]

It'd be cool if there were a code that lets you play the game as the human form and design the levels to play slightly differently if you do. It's a bit of a big ask but having the sprites for it already is part of what makes me think of it.

[@hungrygoriya]

Yeah! I think it'd be cool too! Anything to make the world more explorable, you know?

[@rahvyn669]

By far my favorite Sega master system game. I still find myself humming the music from time to time. Have you played the remastered version?

[@hungrygoriya]

I haven't yet! I've been waiting for the original game to fade from my memory so I wouldn't go through it so quickly. I did pick it up for the Switch though!

[@AussieSingo]

Ahhh fond memories

[@alejandrofrancetich4607]

This game is fantastic, and the remake is wonderful

[@hungrygoriya]

I can't wait to try out the remake. I've been passing time until the Master System version fades from my mind a little bit first.

[@johnpettigrew3056]

Great series and you should try Wataru Gaiden if you haven't already. It's an action RPG, same team and very Wonder Boy 😁

[@hungrygoriya]

I will check it out! Thanks for suggesting it!

[@johnpettigrew3056]

@@hungrygoriya I think Wataru Gaiden and Lady Stalker would be my favorite hidden gems of this year. Lady Stalker is adorable, epic, fun, unique and just full of heart.

[@nickk3077]

I played the remake of this game. It was good and although the new style is great, I prefer the older style because it matches the gameplay better.

[@hungrygoriya]

I'm really partial to 8-bit graphics in general. I'm curious about the remake more for the music than anything else. It's great to see these games getting that new coat of paint!

[@jacobthesnacob4192]

I highly recommend Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap, which is a remake of Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap, but I think they just dropped the "III" to differentiate the titles. I haven't played the original on the SMS, but it is my understanding that it is pretty much the same game, just with a modern audio and visual presentation, which actually turned out to be one of the strongest traits of the remake for me. It was quite apparent to me upon starting it up that a lot of love went into the gorgeous hand drawn art beautifully sophisticated soundtrack. However, as an added bonus, if you ever feel nostalgic for the original graphics and audio, you can just switch to it at any point in the game from the pause menu.

[@hungrygoriya]

Yeah I actually own the remake as well. I bought it after I finished this one, but I'm waiting for my memory to fade a bit before I take it out for a spin. I hope it's as great as everyone says it is!

[@jacobthesnacob4192]

@@hungrygoriya Totally, I'm doing the same thing right now. I played the DS remake of Final Fantasy III and loved it so now I'm waiting to forget it to play the original NES version. I have some other titles on my backlog for that reason as well. I hope you enjoy Dragon's Trap when you get around to it :)

[@hungrygoriya]

@@jacobthesnacob4192 Me too! I can't wait to play FFIII some day. It's one of the few games I have left in that series to experience!

[@jacobthesnacob4192]

@@hungrygoriya Awesome! I've played more or less original versions of Final Fantasy I through IX (some like the GBA versions of I and II and stuff like that) but the version of III that I played was the total graphical overhaul version on the Nintendo DS. Of those nine games, III on the DS is now my favorite. That's a very personal opinion, though, and I don't expect anyone else to feel the same way, but something about III just did everything right for me and I definitely highly recommend it. I'm really looking forward to trying the original NES version too, that is, once my memory fades a bit :)

[@Michirin9801]

This game is lovely, I beat nearly every version of it ^^ (Didn't beat the Game Gear version cuz I got softlocked)

[@hungrygoriya]

Oh no!!! How did you manage that? I have a habit of softlocking myself in games too sometimes.

[@Michirin9801]

@@hungrygoriya I don't remember exactly, it was a long time ago, but I don't think it's possible on the other versions, the GG version has altered level design to fit the smaller screen, and because of it, it was possible for me to get in a situation I couldn't have gotten into in the other versions, which made it impossible for me to progress, at least not without losing some progress...

[@hungrygoriya]

@@Michirin9801 Well, sorry to hear that it happened! I'd be curious to see what the Game Gear game is like sometime as well. Thanks for sharing your story!

[@herobrinesblog]

Love this game, my favorite wonderboy game, and i do like it more than most zeldas tbh

[@hungrygoriya]

There's something about this kind of game that's just so much fun. I appreciate that undirected exploration and just being left to your own devices to pull through.

[@Azizopolis]

I love your narration; soothing voice, varied and concise vocabulary, and, perhaps most importantly, you prove that you don't have to use obscenities or be overly dramatic to provide interesting and enjoyable reviews.

[@hungrygoriya]

Hey thanks! I can't really do much other than be myself in these videos, so I'm glad it's a pleasant presence!

[@L2Nuku]

Great review, loved the game, but yes that knockback was awful, especially at the place you mentioned!

[@hungrygoriya]

I should open up a store that sells scream pillows... that lava part was a nightmare!

[@DaveChurchill]

Very few feelings worse in any video game than not catching the boomerang in WB3

[@hungrygoriya]

So true!

[@DaveChurchill]

@@hungrygoriya One thing that I did want to comment on: Even though the stun locks in the game are super annoying on bosses, you can stun lock the bosses as well. If you go look at speedruns of the game it's insane how easily they are able to defeat the bosses because of this. It's an interesting tradeoff, but definitely annoying for the average first time player. Especially underwater

[@ravinnox2640]

Never liked the first wonder boy but 2 3 and 4 are among my most played sms games, 3 being the best as far as I'm concerned. Wish I'd known you were doing this one, I'd have done the Monica conversion as a sort of companion review to it 😁 no matter, its the exact same game with a few different sprites. Damn these games rule.

[@hungrygoriya]

It's cool that you have the fourth game for the Master System. I only have that one on the Genesis! And I've heard of the Monica conversion before... that's TecToy, right?

[@ravinnox2640]

@@hungrygoriya tec toy yes, and they've gotten rather pricey like most tec toy carts making them not really worth the trouble. Same with the 4th game, it's better on the genesis, even I'll admit that. My introduction to the franchise came in the ps2 monster world collection I picked up while in Japan , shame we never got that over here, it was incredible, had every version if each game you could find, arcade, SMS, gg, genesis, english and Japanese if available, such a great compilation

[@hungrygoriya]

@@ravinnox2640 Huh... I'll have to look into that. I can play games from different regions with my PS2! Thanks for the heads up!

[@ravinnox2640]

@@hungrygoriya well, I have a large box of Japanese ps2 games that I cant play since my ex stole my Japanese ps2...so, you know, let me know if theres anything you're looking for. Would be nice if they had a home to get played in

[@hungrygoriya]

@@ravinnox2640 Thanks for the heads up! To be totally honest, I haven't really looked very far into Japanese games much, but great to know who to ask!