Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap Reviews

Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is ranked in the 79th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
May 24, 2018

"Surgeon's knife can make the difference."

Review in Finnish | Read full review

6 / 10
Apr 18, 2017

Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is quite the looker, but the gameplay definitely shows its age. Fans of open-world platformers may enjoy scouring its world for secrets, but those weaned on modern-day titles may end up getting frustrated with its controls and design.

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6.5 / 10.0
May 31, 2017

Wonder Boy is a beautiful game built on the foundation of a classic, but that's just it, a foundation. Wonder Boy is almost a glorified painting at its core. It's beautiful and worth looking at, but won't be worth owning for most gamers. The core of the game is ok, but not amazing, and it never was. It could have been so much more with some work, but when they aimed to mirror the original 1 for 1, it limited all possibility for it to be something more.

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65 / 100
Apr 18, 2017

Though the graphics and soundtrack showcase the superb effort to update the original game for hardcore series fans, frustrating gameplay mechanics and archaic design keep Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap from rising above anything but average.

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3.5 / 5.0
Apr 18, 2017

. If you’re a fan of the original or just looking for a charming, retro-inspired adventure, Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap is a game you’ll want to experience at least once.

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7 / 10
Apr 18, 2017
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap Review | Nintendo Switch & PS4 video thumbnail
7 / 10.0
Apr 20, 2017

A remake that certainly deserves to be played by fans of classic titles bearing in mind that it still has its original design difficulties which in turn may be a nuisance to current generation gamers no doubt.

Review in Arabic | Read full review

Cubed3
Top Critic
7 / 10
Apr 18, 2017

Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is a superb remake. It's a flawless port with various minor improvements sprinkled throughout. It's also drop-dead gorgeous. The original game's age is clearly shown when it comes to matters such as equipment and level design. Even with these issues, the quest still hits all of the right notes. It doesn't waste the player's time, nor does it ever get overly frustrating. Each leg of the adventure makes a lot happen with very little, thanks to smart enemy placement and rock solid fundamentals. Altogether, this journey is one that any generation can find joy in.

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7 / 10.0
Apr 18, 2017

Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is a delightful trip down memory lane. The art for the characters and environments are absolutely astounding, but with a dated gameplay style, it's difficult to say this remake is fully realized. Yes, purists will love that The Dragon's Trap is a nearly 100% replica of the original with updated art, but I feel as though the love given to the art of the game should have been given to the gameplay as well.

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GameMAG
ACE
Top Critic
7 / 10
May 7, 2017

Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is a great opportunity to look at one of the early games of the genre with a new hand-drawn graphics and a great soundtrack. If not for the lack of convenient maps and shortcuts next to the bosses and primitive by modern standards combat system, the game could claim the title of best remake of 2017.

Review in Russian | Read full review

7 / 10
Apr 17, 2017

Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is a ruthlessly faithful remake of the Master System classic that boasts a dramatic and beautiful audiovisual makeover. The game itself is still very enjoyable with a world map that's fun to work through and a lean Metroidvania structure that introduces new ideas right to the end. The controls are quite loose, which can lead to some frustration, but by and large this is a wonderful recreation that both fans and newcomers will enjoy.

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Apr 21, 2017
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap - Easy Allies Review video thumbnail
Metro GameCentral
GameCentral
Top Critic
7 / 10
Apr 19, 2017

One of the best retro remakes there's ever been, and although the gameplay sometimes shows its age the graphics are amongst the best of the year.

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IGN
Top Critic
7.1 / 10.0
Apr 18, 2017

From long-time Wonder Boy fans to platformer enthusiasts who've never heard of it until now, you'll likely be able to find whimsical fun and a neat bit of genre history in this charming adventure.

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73 / 100
Apr 18, 2017

I'm normally the type of player who will for sure choose the 8 or 16-bit option, but the modern art and music in Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap were so good, that I played 95% of the game full modern.

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74 / 100
Apr 18, 2017

Technically great remake, that didn't age well in terms of playability. For fans of the genre and historically interested people nevertheless recommendable.

Review in German | Read full review

7.5 / 10.0
Mar 31, 2018

The decision point in this game should heavily factor in how well you believe you can put up with some dated gameplay concepts against your appreciation for a game that is absolutely incredible to look at. A nifty add-on feature allows you to toggle both the graphics and the music to their original versions and play through the game that way. Even though the original look is obviously much simpler I was surprised at the level of care put into its look even way back when. If you get frustrated remember you can always look up old save codes and start out a bit more juiced up, another nice classic touch thrown in for good measure. All said, Wonder Boy is a nostalgic romp accented by a memorable reskinned look worth checking out.

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GearNuke
Top Critic
8 / 10
Apr 21, 2017

Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is a well done remake of a classic action game. It allows the player to experience the game from the perspective of both the new art direction as well as the old one, making for an interesting experience.

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Ken McKown
Top Critic
7.5 / 10.0
Apr 21, 2017

Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is a fun, nostalgic romp that brings some of its legacy issues along for the ride. For those that can adapt to that, it is a great game. I am all for bringing back lesser-known titles, especially from consoles such as the Master System, as long as the same love and care is poured into them.

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7.8 / 10.0
Jun 7, 2017

Wonder Boy is another remake of a game. It has everything 1986 classic had and adds on top of that. The game looks great, the simple gameplay is relaxing and demanding at the same time.

Review in Polish | Read full review