Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World Reviews
Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World is an entertaining game that plays faithfully to the 1994 Sega Genesis original. It has some mishaps with its new 3D look, but it’s still worth exploring once more.
An old game relying on old conventions is easily forgiven and forgotten. Asha in Monster World has no such excuse.
Paying homage in a way that detracts from the experience, Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World is an unfortunate missed opportunity to introduce a classic to modern gamers.
Asha in Monster World wears its retro heart on its sleeve, with the modern graphical overhaul only helping to increase its charm. For fans of classic games and platformers, it is definitely worth a shot, though you will need to be ready to overlook a few quirks.
Much as I wish I could rave about how amazing the game is, it’s unable to reach the heights I thought it capable of. But since the ending hints there’s gonna be a remake of the next game in the Wonder Boy series, I hope that can fully realize its vision while still being a balanced experience. A fun trip down memory lane, but hard to recommend for anyone other than expert platformers, especially for $34.99.
Overall, while Wonder Boy Asha in Monster World modernizes the original, it could have done so with some much-needed updates. An auto-save function would have been fantastic, as the thought or manual saving sometimes just passes you by as you play, resulting in lost progress if you’re not mindful enough. Some of the levels, particularly the Ice Pyramid and the Sky Castle are very tedious, with some very precision-based platforming that can sometimes be very unforgiving especially for players just looking for a fun time. If you’re a gamer that grew up with the likes of The Lion King, then you would know what to expect here.
Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World is a colorful action-adventure platformer. While it sticks closely to Monster World IV's established designs, its quality of life improvements and vibrant new visual are worthwhile.
Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World does exactly what it sets out to do. It recreates the original game in high definition, 3D style. But if you stack it up next to the other contemporary Wonder Boy titles, the inadequacies stack up quickly.
Wonder Boy - Asha in Monster World is a charming remake with a lot of heart, bring an old adventure to a new generation.
For series fans, as well as newcomers, Wonder Boy Asha In Monster World is a charming adventure worth taking.
Reskins of classic titles are both often very cool but a risky proposition in many regards when the original gameplay is left completely intact...
Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World is a lovely game through-and-through so if you like the idea of getting lost in a lighthearted old-school adventure that's full of fun surprises then you'll enjoy every second of this adventure.
Not as good as The Dragon's Trap or Shantae series but still a pretty solid retro platformer.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Asha in Monster Land revamps a Sega classic with gorgeous new graphics and plenty of old-school design, for better or worse.
It's debatable as to whether or not playing this remake would trump playing the original, which makes the remake feel a little less special. Luckily, if you go physical, you can make that decision for yourself. Either way, this remake is good, even if it's overall lower in the rankings of Wonder Boy revivals.
Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World seemed to me to be a pretty solid game, and a pretty faithful remake. The fact that he's so conservative with the source work is something I quite appreciate, mainly because playing Monster World IV officially on this side of the pond hadn't been easy, though perhaps some additional content would have been good for him. With moderate difficulty, which varies depending on how much you prepare, a striking appearance, and a design that reflects the heart artdink put into the work, it's a pretty unique experience and I hope it finds its place among new and old. If you're a fan of Wonder Boy/Monster World,or if you're a fan of action-adventure games in general, this is a game you shouldn't miss.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Whether or not you’ve played the original, Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World is an adventure worth going on. Its gameplay might be old-fashioned, but it’s just as engaging as ever, offering a nice little distraction from the latest AAA blockbuster. Are better side-scrolling adventure games out there? Absolutely. But that doesn’t make this any less worth your time.
Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World is a rather short, at times archaic, but incredibly enjoyable adventure, which for many may turn out to be a nostalgic return to the past. If you're no stranger to games like Klonoa, Tombi and Brave Fencer Musashi, you can try it.
Review in Polish | Read full review
The remake could've done much more to the original experience, the faithfulness to the original formula makes it hard to enjoy the game with its limited and very simple combat and outdated game design.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World is an odd one. It’s so faithful to the original that those used to newer games will find it too simplistic, but the change in visuals won’t really appeal to fans of the original version either. If you know what you’re getting with Asha in Monster World, then there’s still some fun to be had, though it’s hard to really recommend it over other more interesting platformers.