WONDER BOY ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION Reviews
In a vacuum this collection is decent.
Based on these circumstances, our appraisal is a difficult task. If we were tallying solely based on the content of the package, it would do well. If price isn’t an issue and you didn’t purchase the previous release already, you can add three digits to the scoreline, as this is certainly the superior of the two collections. But our primary job as reviewers is to provide information that helps you decide on how to spend your disposable income - income you’ve no doubt worked very hard to accrue. Since the entire release structure and its exploitative nature is so distasteful, however, we feel genuinely loathed to award a lofty score that indicates glowing praise.
The shadow of a prior collection from mere months earlier, plus the fact that this is pricier (while still feeling incomplete), is tough to ignore. Yet there are still plenty of good games here, so Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection is one to grab on sale.
There are a few games that are tough to go back to, but when they're good, they're really good. The worst I can say is that it doesn't reach the heights of fan service some of the aforementioned collections do, but comparing Wonder Boy to those standard bearers might be a bit unfair. If you enjoy 2D platformers, liked a game in the series and want to explore more, or just have a curiosity for lesser known classic games, then The Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection is something worth looking up.
The Anniversary Collection, which includes all the games from the classic period of the series where you can experience different versions, is a package that respects its history. Hands down the best way to experience Wonder Boy.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Still, I’d suggest you check your games shelf and work out which of these titles you really want and need. I can’t quite see the point in buying the regular collection now that this Anniversary Collection is more widely available, but it’s equally not going to thrill you quite as much unless you’ve got a particular passion for games that you already own.
Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection is a superb compilation of one of the best action platformer series from the good old days. It's a bit weird that an inferior version of it released last year but whatevs; this is a great collection regardless.
This is one of the most complete collections of a single game series I have seen, and even with it’s minor flaws, I can highly recommend this for your library!
For fans of Wonder Boy, the ability to experience every step in his lineage is great, but it offers no value add beyond the games
Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection lives up to the legacy of the franchise about children who have to defeat giant monsters and save kingdoms and princesses. The ports and each version's peculiarities are handled well and the gallery is full of content. Now we have a collection worthy of being one of the best for current generations.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
So, was the Anniversary Collection a good celebration of the series in the end? Well, thankfully it still is, so if you didn’t buy that prior set or have no knowledge of the series, even this steep $50 pricetag is worth spending to nab this set and get hooked, as it is indeed definitive and includes pretty much everything you could hope for outside of the Hudson-made ports.
Thanks to the inclusion of six games, 21 total game variants, quality-of-life upgrades, and bonus features, this feels like the definitive compilation of Wonder Boy titles, unlikely to be dethroned anytime soon.
Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection is the best way to experience the retro classics on modern systems. Sure, this is not a totally complete collection. And it would have been nice to see a little more attention given to the galleries. However, one can’t deny these games’ solid emulation and quality that still holds up years later. Yes, it’s a pain; a smaller collection was released last year, and there is no free upgrade to get this collection if you already made the purchase. I’m a huge Wonder Boy fan, so I’m slightly biased on this review. But playing some of these games again, especially Monster Lair III, which holds a very special place in my retro heart, reminded me of better times which I haven’t thought about for some time. The Wonder Boy series is one of my gaming happy places; I can now share it with others for years to come. If you decide to take up the sword, it will hopefully create new gaming memories for you too
Analyzing a compilation is, as always, a combination between the selection of deliveries and the quality of the port as well as its extras. In this case, the selection of the Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection could not be more complete, the extras are required and the ports comply with ease. A compilation that every fan of the franchise should own.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
We take off our hats and bow down to this compilation, which, as Wonder Boy fans, has left a very good impressions, since it is a very complete and highly recommended collection, especially for all those lovers of arcades and adventures, regardless of whether they are veteran players or new generation. Its rewind and save game modes will make the adventure very affordable for any type of player, and completing all the installments can easily take us about 20 hours of play, since this collection includes 21 versions of the 6 most iconic Wonder games Boy.
Review in Spanish | Read full review