Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World Reviews
The Wonder Boy renaissance continues with Asha in Monster World, a full remake of Monster World IV that brings our heroine and her platforming abilities to a new audience. This time around, it seems as though even copious amounts of style and charm can't make up for long hallways and minimal direction.
The least accomplished of the recent spate of Wonder Boy games but it still retains a certain charm and offers plenty of reasons for the franchise to continue.
WORTH CONSIDERING - Fans of the original game on the Mega Drive/Genesis will no doubt appreciate all of the hard work that went into updating Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World for the modern era. Despite its wonderful animations and enchanting soundtrack, the gameplay and level design leave a bit to be desired. The game isn’t overly long and for $34.99 it’s hard to recommend this one to anyone that doesn’t already know what they’re getting into.
Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World is fine. The core game mechanics may feel outdated for new players, but those who have played the original entry on the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive will appreciate how the game hasn't deviated from that blueprint. The presentation is fine in parts, but the game offers no incentives to keep playing once you finish it. Those with a fondness for the original will love this, but those with no memories of the game will find this to be lacking compared to the remake of Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap and the last sequel, Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom.
Not the best possible remake for a Mega Drive classic largely unknown to Western players. After the good rehearsals seen during the technical remake of The Dragon's Trap, Wonder Boy Asha in Monster World struggles to impress in the same way. A gameplay that does not have the courage to dare, a difficulty too calibrated downwards and an unpired 2.5D graphic look leave a certain bitter taste in the mouth once you reach the credits.
Review in Italian | Read full review
I honestly don't know if Wonder Boy IV was a real blast in 1994 since I could not play it then. What I know is that Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World is not a blast today. It's kinda average in everything it does, but what I really can't bear is how the new art style feels like a significant downgrade over the magical 16-bit pixel art.
Review in Italian | Read full review
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 fun action-platforming adventure, but very much feels like a game of the 90s with a splash of paint.
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.
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.
Wonder Boy : Asha in the Monster World was an excellent game back in 1994. Unfortunately, today's remake isn't spicy enough. The game is a classic, but it fails to stand out in today's world especially considering the heavy competition on the market. It's mainly good for the nostalgia if your heart really wants to give it a go.
Review in French | Read full review
Wonder Boy Asha in Monster World is a remastered version of Wonder Boy IV released in 1994. It is an action-platformer, meaning the player needs to navigate side-scrolling gauntlets of platforming. There are specific levels for the player to traverse, and enemies to battle along the way. Along with a blue Pepelogoo, become the hero the town needs in Wonder Boy Asha in Monster World.
Fans of platformers will have a good time with Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World. While not revolutionary in any way, it’s a good, old fashion platforming action. Are there better platformers on the market? Sure, but not everything has to be Super Mario Bros. 3. The game’s simple gameplay and relatively short playtime make it perfect for beginners and are sure to bring a smile to veterans. Framerate issues and tedious levels keep it from being a must-play, but if you’ve got a few hours to spare, playing Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World is a good way to spend them.
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
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.
Asha in Monster Land revamps a Sega classic with gorgeous new graphics and plenty of old-school design, for better or worse.
Not as good as The Dragon's Trap or Shantae series but still a pretty solid retro platformer.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Though some mechanics haven't aged gracefully, Wonder Boy is still a lively and charming remake.
Wonder Boy Asha in Monster World is almost a 1:1 modern version of classic title from 1994, and this works in its favor and against it. It's short, with a simple level design and maybe a little too linear, but also funny, fast paced and with a great soundtrack.
Review in Italian | Read full review
At the end of the day Wonder Boy Asha in Monster World is a no-frills remake that at times feels a little rough around the edges but ultimately does a well enough job in modernizing the 1994 classic.