Wonder Boy
Encyclopedia
is a series of video games published by SEGA
and developed by Westone Bit Entertainment
(formerly Escape).
The series itself consists of the main Wonder Boy series, and the Monster World sub-series. Games may be part of one, the other, or both. This has resulted in a sometimes confusing naming structure resulting in titles like "Wonder Boy V: Monster World III". In North America and Europe, the whole series is kept under the Wonder Boy brand, but in Japan there is one title that belongs exclusively to Monster World and is not part of the Wonder Boy series.
To further complicate matters, Westone had a unique licensing arrangement with Sega whereby Sega retained the rights to the names and characters of the games in this series, but Westone retained the rights to everything else. Westone, in turn, had a licensing arrangement with Hudson Soft
, who created new characters and titles and ported these games to non-Sega platforms. The most well known of these is Adventure Island
, which was more commercially successful than Wonder Boy was.
simply titled Wonder Boy
developed by Escape (later known as Westone) and published by Sega
. It was a side-scrolling action game where the player controls a young boy seeking to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend, making use of items such as throwing axes and skateboards in order to proceed through eight worlds, each consisting of four stages and a boss. During the same year the arcade version was released, Sega developed a version of Wonder Boy for the SG-1000
, available exclusively in Japan
, that was a great departure from the arcade version due hardware differences. The following year, Sega released a second home version titled Super Wonder Boy, this time for the Sega Mark III. In contrast to the SG-1000 predecessor, the Mark III was a more faithful conversion
of the arcade original, but with added content such as a new set of eight additional stages and all-new bonus stages. Since the SG-1000 was unavailable outside Japan, Super Wonder Boy was the first console game in the series released in North America
, Europe
and Brazil
. The overseas releases for the Master System had the title changed to simply Wonder Boy (omitting the "Super" prefix).
In 1987, Wonder Boy: Monster Land
was released for the arcades exclusively in Japan. The sequel was a complete departure from the original, eschewing the original game's tropical setting with a medieval world and changing the game's format from a traditional platform game
to an action RPG with elements such as a health gauge, collecting currency to purchase new weapons and equipment, magic spells and supporting character who provide the player with information. This sequel was ported to the Sega Mark III the following year under the title of Super Wonder Boy: Monster World, making it the first game in the series to be released under the "Monster World" banner. This home version was released in North America and Europe as Wonder Boy in Monster Land. Home computer versions were also made by Activision which bore the title of Super Wonder Boy in Monster Land on their cover art.
Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair, released in , was the final arcade release in the series. This installment also featured a different format. This time the stages were composed of two segments each, in which the first segments featured auto-scrolling platforming action with rules and mechanics similar to the original Wonder Boy, while the second segments involved the player fighting his way to the boss' lair while riding a dragon. It bears the distinction of being the only Wonder Boy game with a 2-player co-op mode. Home versions were released for the TurboGrafx-16
in 1989 (making it the only Wonder Boy game that was ported unaltered to the platform) and the Mega Drive in 1990.
Around the same time Monster Lair was released, Westone began developing a sequel to Monster World specifically for the Sega Mark III titled Monster World II: Dragon no Wana
("Dragon's Trap"). However, when the game finished development in 1989, Sega already discontinued sales and support for the Mark III in Japan, but still sold the Master System overseas. As a result, an English-language version was still released for the Master System under the name of Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap (titled as such since it was the third Wonder Boy game for the Master System, even though its officially recognized as the fourth Wonder Boy game in Japan). The game eventually saw a Japanese release for the Game Gear in 1992.
Wonder Boy V: Monster World III
was the final game in the Monster World series to be given an international release outside of Japan, and the last game in the Wonder Boy series. Known as Wonder Boy in Monster World in the west, it was made the first game specifically for the Mega Drive and its American counterpart, the Genesis. A version was also released for the Master System exclusively in Europe, making it the only Wonder Boy game to be released on both platforms.
Monster World IV
was the series' last installment, released only on the Mega Drive exclusively in Japan. Exclusive to that title is a main, female character named Arsha. Instead of boasting a medieval look, it features a Middle East
ern style. This is the only game part of the Monster World series while not being part of the Wonder Boy series.
and Jaleco
, to publish ports of the games to non-Sega platforms under license from Westone, provided that they changed the titles and characters to remove all references to "Wonder Boy" or "Monster World".
The first of these modified ports was Adventure Island
(originally released in Japan as Takahashi-Meijin no Bōken Jima) for the Nintendo Entertainment System
by Hudson Soft, a modified version of the first Wonder Boy in which the main character replaced with a caricature of real-life Japanese video game expert named Takahashi Meijin
. Adventure Island was followed by a series of sequels that were independently produced by Hudson Soft with no involvement from Westone.
Following the launch of the TurboGrafx-16
, Hudson Soft released ports of all the subsequent Wonder Boy games for the platform with the exception of Monster World IV. The ones that were modified included Bikkuriman World (a port of Monster Land released exclusively in Japan with characters from the Bikkuriman
trading stickers), Dragon's Curse (a port of Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap released as Adventure Island in Japan) and The Dynastic Hero (a port of Wonder Boy in Monster World released as Chō Eiyū Densetsu Dynastic Hero in Japan). The TurboGrafx-16 version of Monster Lair was the only TG16 version of a Wonder Boy game that was left unchanged from its source game (although, the western version omitted the "Wonder Boy III" portion of the title).
A port of Wonder Boy: Monster Land was also released for the Family Computer titled Saiyūki World, developed by NMK for Jaleco
and released in Japan in 1988. This was followed by a sequel unrelated to the Wonder Boy series titled Saiyūki World 2 in 1990, which was released in North America Whomp 'Em
.
by Tec Toy
, Sega's official Brazilian distributor. The games were translated into Portuguese
and the characters were replaced with characters from the Brazilian comic book, Turma da Mônica (Monica's Gang
). Other cartoon characters were superimposed on the Brazilian releases of Teddy Boy
, Ghost House
, Astro Warrior
, Psycho Fox
, and Kung Fu Kid
. (The latter three forming the Sapo Xule series)
, which were loosely based on Wonder Boy in Monster World. "Wonder Boy in Demon World" ran between issues 2-9 and saw Shion, the protagonist who has a dislike of being referred to as Wonder Boy, fighting to save some people whilst staving off a demon curse. "Wonder Boy in Ghost Land" ran between issues 22-27, and saw Shion travel to a world of ghostly dinosaurs.
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
and developed by Westone Bit Entertainment
Westone Bit Entertainment
Westone Bit Entertainment is a computer game developer founded in May 1986 and based in Mukoujima, Sumida-ku, Tokyo. They are most famous for their first work Wonder Boy and the Monster World series. Originally called Escape, the company was renamed to Westone as the word Escape make them sound...
(formerly Escape).
The series itself consists of the main Wonder Boy series, and the Monster World sub-series. Games may be part of one, the other, or both. This has resulted in a sometimes confusing naming structure resulting in titles like "Wonder Boy V: Monster World III". In North America and Europe, the whole series is kept under the Wonder Boy brand, but in Japan there is one title that belongs exclusively to Monster World and is not part of the Wonder Boy series.
To further complicate matters, Westone had a unique licensing arrangement with Sega whereby Sega retained the rights to the names and characters of the games in this series, but Westone retained the rights to everything else. Westone, in turn, had a licensing arrangement with Hudson Soft
Hudson Soft
, formally known as , is a majority-owned subsidiary of Konami Corporation is a Japanese electronic entertainment publisher headquartered in the Midtown Tower in Tokyo Midtown, Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, with an additional office in the Hudson Building in Sapporo. It was founded on May 18, 1973...
, who created new characters and titles and ported these games to non-Sega platforms. The most well known of these is Adventure Island
Adventure Island (video game)
Hudson's Adventure Island, also known simply as Adventure Island and released in Japan as , is a side-scrolling platform game produced by Hudson Soft that was first released in Japan for the Family Computer and MSX on September 12, 1986...
, which was more commercially successful than Wonder Boy was.
Condensed series chronology
There are a combined six official titles in the Wonder Boy and Monster World series with original release platform.- Wonder BoyWonder Boy (video game)is a 1986 video game published by Sega and developed by Escape...
(ArcadeArcade gameAn arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
) - Ported to Master System as Wonder Boy and to the Game Gear as Revenge of Drancon. - Wonder Boy: Monster Land (ArcadeArcade gameAn arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
) - Ported to Master System as Wonder Boy in Monster Land. - Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair (ArcadeArcade gameAn arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
) - Ported to Mega Drive as Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair - Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's TrapWonder Boy III: The Dragon's TrapWonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap is a platforming and action-adventure video game developed by Westone. It was published by Sega and released for the Sega Master System in 1989 and for the Game Gear in 1992 under the title Monster World II: Dragon no Wana...
(Master System) - Ported to Game Gear as Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap. - Wonder Boy V: Monster World IIIWonder Boy in Monster WorldWonder Boy in Monster World, known in Japan as Wonder Boy V: Monster World III, is a side-scrolling action RPG originally developed by Westone Bit Entertainment and published by Sega for the Mega Drive/Genesis in...
(Mega Drive) - Titled Wonder Boy in Monster World for overseas releases. - Monster World IVMonster World IVMonster World IV is an adventure platform game, released exclusively in Japan for the Sega Mega Drive in April 1994. It is the sixth and final game in the Wonder Boy/Monster World series....
(Mega Drive)
Series overview
The first game of the series was initially an 1986 arcade gameArcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
simply titled Wonder Boy
Wonder Boy (video game)
is a 1986 video game published by Sega and developed by Escape...
developed by Escape (later known as Westone) and published by Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
. It was a side-scrolling action game where the player controls a young boy seeking to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend, making use of items such as throwing axes and skateboards in order to proceed through eight worlds, each consisting of four stages and a boss. During the same year the arcade version was released, Sega developed a version of Wonder Boy for the SG-1000
SG-1000
The SC-3000 was the computer equivalent of the SG-1000.The SC-3000 sold for ¥29,800 in 1983 and was marketed as a computer for beginners...
, available exclusively in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, that was a great departure from the arcade version due hardware differences. The following year, Sega released a second home version titled Super Wonder Boy, this time for the Sega Mark III. In contrast to the SG-1000 predecessor, the Mark III was a more faithful conversion
Porting
In computer science, porting is the process of adapting software so that an executable program can be created for a computing environment that is different from the one for which it was originally designed...
of the arcade original, but with added content such as a new set of eight additional stages and all-new bonus stages. Since the SG-1000 was unavailable outside Japan, Super Wonder Boy was the first console game in the series released in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. The overseas releases for the Master System had the title changed to simply Wonder Boy (omitting the "Super" prefix).
In 1987, Wonder Boy: Monster Land
Wonder Boy in Monster Land
Wonder Boy in Monster Land is an action role-playing platform video game developed by Westone. It was released by Sega for the arcades in 1987 and for the Sega Master System in 1988; Activision released the game for the Amiga, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, and Atari ST...
was released for the arcades exclusively in Japan. The sequel was a complete departure from the original, eschewing the original game's tropical setting with a medieval world and changing the game's format from a traditional platform game
Platform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
to an action RPG with elements such as a health gauge, collecting currency to purchase new weapons and equipment, magic spells and supporting character who provide the player with information. This sequel was ported to the Sega Mark III the following year under the title of Super Wonder Boy: Monster World, making it the first game in the series to be released under the "Monster World" banner. This home version was released in North America and Europe as Wonder Boy in Monster Land. Home computer versions were also made by Activision which bore the title of Super Wonder Boy in Monster Land on their cover art.
Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair, released in , was the final arcade release in the series. This installment also featured a different format. This time the stages were composed of two segments each, in which the first segments featured auto-scrolling platforming action with rules and mechanics similar to the original Wonder Boy, while the second segments involved the player fighting his way to the boss' lair while riding a dragon. It bears the distinction of being the only Wonder Boy game with a 2-player co-op mode. Home versions were released for the TurboGrafx-16
TurboGrafx-16
TurboGrafx-16, fully titled as TurboGrafx-16 Entertainment SuperSystem and known in Japan as the , is a video game console developed by Hudson Soft and NEC, released in Japan on October 30, 1987, and in North America on August 29, 1989....
in 1989 (making it the only Wonder Boy game that was ported unaltered to the platform) and the Mega Drive in 1990.
Around the same time Monster Lair was released, Westone began developing a sequel to Monster World specifically for the Sega Mark III titled Monster World II: Dragon no Wana
Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap
Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap is a platforming and action-adventure video game developed by Westone. It was published by Sega and released for the Sega Master System in 1989 and for the Game Gear in 1992 under the title Monster World II: Dragon no Wana...
("Dragon's Trap"). However, when the game finished development in 1989, Sega already discontinued sales and support for the Mark III in Japan, but still sold the Master System overseas. As a result, an English-language version was still released for the Master System under the name of Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap (titled as such since it was the third Wonder Boy game for the Master System, even though its officially recognized as the fourth Wonder Boy game in Japan). The game eventually saw a Japanese release for the Game Gear in 1992.
Wonder Boy V: Monster World III
Wonder Boy in Monster World
Wonder Boy in Monster World, known in Japan as Wonder Boy V: Monster World III, is a side-scrolling action RPG originally developed by Westone Bit Entertainment and published by Sega for the Mega Drive/Genesis in...
was the final game in the Monster World series to be given an international release outside of Japan, and the last game in the Wonder Boy series. Known as Wonder Boy in Monster World in the west, it was made the first game specifically for the Mega Drive and its American counterpart, the Genesis. A version was also released for the Master System exclusively in Europe, making it the only Wonder Boy game to be released on both platforms.
Monster World IV
Monster World IV
Monster World IV is an adventure platform game, released exclusively in Japan for the Sega Mega Drive in April 1994. It is the sixth and final game in the Wonder Boy/Monster World series....
was the series' last installment, released only on the Mega Drive exclusively in Japan. Exclusive to that title is a main, female character named Arsha. Instead of boasting a medieval look, it features a Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
ern style. This is the only game part of the Monster World series while not being part of the Wonder Boy series.
Part of both series
- Super Wonder Boy: Monster WorldWonder Boy in Monster LandWonder Boy in Monster Land is an action role-playing platform video game developed by Westone. It was released by Sega for the arcades in 1987 and for the Sega Master System in 1988; Activision released the game for the Amiga, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, and Atari ST...
- Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's TrapWonder Boy III: The Dragon's TrapWonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap is a platforming and action-adventure video game developed by Westone. It was published by Sega and released for the Sega Master System in 1989 and for the Game Gear in 1992 under the title Monster World II: Dragon no Wana...
- Wonder Boy V Monster World IIIWonder Boy in Monster WorldWonder Boy in Monster World, known in Japan as Wonder Boy V: Monster World III, is a side-scrolling action RPG originally developed by Westone Bit Entertainment and published by Sega for the Mega Drive/Genesis in...
Exclusive to the Wonder Boy series
- Wonder BoyWonder Boy (video game)is a 1986 video game published by Sega and developed by Escape...
- Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair
Complete list of games
- Wonder BoyWonder Boy (video game)is a 1986 video game published by Sega and developed by Escape...
(Arcade (System 1))- Wonder Boy (SG-1000SG-1000The SC-3000 was the computer equivalent of the SG-1000.The SC-3000 sold for ¥29,800 in 1983 and was marketed as a computer for beginners...
) - Super Wonder Boy (Sega Mark III/Master System, released outside Japan as Wonder Boy)
- Re-released for the WiiWiiThe Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
Virtual Console (NA: 03/31/08, JP: 04/08/08, EU: 04/11/08)
- Re-released for the Wii
- Wonder Boy (Game Gear, released in America as The Revenge of Drancon)
- Ported to the Amstrad CPCAmstrad CPCThe Amstrad CPC is a series of 8-bit home computers produced by Amstrad between 1984 and 1990. It was designed to compete in the mid-1980s home computer market dominated by the Commodore 64 and the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, where it successfully established itself primarily in the United Kingdom,...
, ZX SpectrumZX SpectrumThe ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
and Commodore 64Commodore 64The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
by Activision
- Wonder Boy (SG-1000
- Wonder Boy: Monster LandWonder Boy in Monster LandWonder Boy in Monster Land is an action role-playing platform video game developed by Westone. It was released by Sega for the arcades in 1987 and for the Sega Master System in 1988; Activision released the game for the Amiga, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, and Atari ST...
(Arcade (System 2), Japan only)-
- Re-released for the Wii Virtual Console (JP: 06/21/11)
- Super Wonder Boy: Monster World (Sega Mark III/Master System, released outside Japan as Wonder Boy in Monster Land)
- Re-released for the Wii Virtual Console (JP: 12/24/08, EU: 01/23/09, NA: 01/26/09)
- Ported to the Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Atari STAtari STThe Atari ST is a home/personal computer that was released by Atari Corporation in 1985 and commercially available from that summer into the early 1990s. The "ST" officially stands for "Sixteen/Thirty-two", which referred to the Motorola 68000's 16-bit external bus and 32-bit internals...
and AmigaAmigaThe Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
by Activision as Super Wonder Boy in Monster Land
-
- Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair (Arcade (System 16))
- Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair (PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16TurboGrafx-16TurboGrafx-16, fully titled as TurboGrafx-16 Entertainment SuperSystem and known in Japan as the , is a video game console developed by Hudson Soft and NEC, released in Japan on October 30, 1987, and in North America on August 29, 1989....
CD-ROM², released in North America as Monster Lair)- Re-released for the Wii Virtual Console (NA: 12/17/07, EU: 12/21/07, JP: 04/15/08)
- Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair (Mega Drive, released only in Japan and Europe)
- Re-released for the Wii Virtual Console (JP: 01/06/09, EU: 03/06/09, NA: 04/20/09)
- Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair (PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16
- Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's TrapWonder Boy III: The Dragon's TrapWonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap is a platforming and action-adventure video game developed by Westone. It was published by Sega and released for the Sega Master System in 1989 and for the Game Gear in 1992 under the title Monster World II: Dragon no Wana...
(Master System, a Japanese version titled Monster World II was planned but unreleased)-
- Re-released for the Wii Virtual Console (EU: 10/09/09, NA: 11/09/09)
- Monster World II: Dragon no Wana (Game Gear, released in Europe as Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap)
-
- Wonder Boy V: Monster World IIIWonder Boy in Monster WorldWonder Boy in Monster World, known in Japan as Wonder Boy V: Monster World III, is a side-scrolling action RPG originally developed by Westone Bit Entertainment and published by Sega for the Mega Drive/Genesis in...
(Mega Drive/Genesis, released outside Japan as Wonder Boy in Monster World)-
- Re-released for the Wii Virtual Console (JP: 03/27/07, NA: 04/23/07, EU: 05/04/07)
- Wonder Boy in Monster World (Master System, Europe only)
-
- Monster World IVMonster World IVMonster World IV is an adventure platform game, released exclusively in Japan for the Sega Mega Drive in April 1994. It is the sixth and final game in the Wonder Boy/Monster World series....
(Mega Drive, Japan)-
- Re-released for the Wii Virtual Console (JP: 01/15/08)
-
- Sega AgesSega AgesSega Ages refers to a number of compilations or re-releases of classic video games from developer and publisher Sega.-Saturn version:Sega-AM2 released several Sega Ages games for the Sega Saturn in Japan:...
Vol.29 : Monster World Complete Collection (PlayStation 2, Japan only)
Modified ports
Westone, the developer of the series, owns the copyrights to each game in the series, while Sega owns the Wonder Boy trademark. Because Westone was an independent company from Sega, this created a unique situation which allowed other game companies, namely Hudson SoftHudson Soft
, formally known as , is a majority-owned subsidiary of Konami Corporation is a Japanese electronic entertainment publisher headquartered in the Midtown Tower in Tokyo Midtown, Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, with an additional office in the Hudson Building in Sapporo. It was founded on May 18, 1973...
and Jaleco
Jaleco
is a Japanese video game publisher and developer established in 2006.The original Jaleco Ltd was founded in 1974. In 2006, it decided to become a pure holding company by renaming itself Jaleco Holding and splitting its video game operations into a newly created subsdiary that took its former name...
, to publish ports of the games to non-Sega platforms under license from Westone, provided that they changed the titles and characters to remove all references to "Wonder Boy" or "Monster World".
The first of these modified ports was Adventure Island
Adventure Island
Adventure Island may refer to:* Adventure Island , or its sequels:** Adventure Island II** Adventure Island III** Adventure Island IV ** New Adventure Island** Super Adventure Island...
(originally released in Japan as Takahashi-Meijin no Bōken Jima) for the Nintendo Entertainment System
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
by Hudson Soft, a modified version of the first Wonder Boy in which the main character replaced with a caricature of real-life Japanese video game expert named Takahashi Meijin
Takahashi Meijin
Takahashi Meijin , real name Toshiyuki Takahashi is a former executive of Hudson Soft.-16 shot per second:...
. Adventure Island was followed by a series of sequels that were independently produced by Hudson Soft with no involvement from Westone.
Following the launch of the TurboGrafx-16
TurboGrafx-16
TurboGrafx-16, fully titled as TurboGrafx-16 Entertainment SuperSystem and known in Japan as the , is a video game console developed by Hudson Soft and NEC, released in Japan on October 30, 1987, and in North America on August 29, 1989....
, Hudson Soft released ports of all the subsequent Wonder Boy games for the platform with the exception of Monster World IV. The ones that were modified included Bikkuriman World (a port of Monster Land released exclusively in Japan with characters from the Bikkuriman
Bikkuriman
is a Japanese anime series.The original Bikkuriman series, created by Toei Animation, aired from October 11, 1987 to April 2, 1989. Sequels include a second Bikkuriman series and Super Bikkuriman.-History:...
trading stickers), Dragon's Curse (a port of Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap released as Adventure Island in Japan) and The Dynastic Hero (a port of Wonder Boy in Monster World released as Chō Eiyū Densetsu Dynastic Hero in Japan). The TurboGrafx-16 version of Monster Lair was the only TG16 version of a Wonder Boy game that was left unchanged from its source game (although, the western version omitted the "Wonder Boy III" portion of the title).
A port of Wonder Boy: Monster Land was also released for the Family Computer titled Saiyūki World, developed by NMK for Jaleco
Jaleco
is a Japanese video game publisher and developer established in 2006.The original Jaleco Ltd was founded in 1974. In 2006, it decided to become a pure holding company by renaming itself Jaleco Holding and splitting its video game operations into a newly created subsdiary that took its former name...
and released in Japan in 1988. This was followed by a sequel unrelated to the Wonder Boy series titled Saiyūki World 2 in 1990, which was released in North America Whomp 'Em
Whomp 'Em
Whomp 'Em, known in Japan as , is a platform game released on the NES in March of 1991.Whomp 'Em is an action platformer, akin to many games at the time. It is notable for being one of the few video games to feature a Native American as the protagonist, though the Japanese version did not do so....
.
Mônica's background
The first three Monster World games were published in BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
by Tec Toy
Tec Toy
Tectoy is a Brazilian videogame and electronics company. They are best known for publishing and distributing Sega's consoles and video games in that country. The company stock is also traded at Bovespa...
, Sega's official Brazilian distributor. The games were translated into Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
and the characters were replaced with characters from the Brazilian comic book, Turma da Mônica (Monica's Gang
Monica's Gang
Monica's Gang is a popular Brazilian comic book series. The series was created by Mauricio de Sousa, who signs his work as "Mauricio". Plots are centered on the adventures of a group of seven-year-old friends in the fictional neighborhood of "Limoeiro" in São Paulo...
). Other cartoon characters were superimposed on the Brazilian releases of Teddy Boy
Teddy Boy (video game)
is a 1985 arcade game made by Sega. It stars a young boy who is armed with a gun. Each level is an infinitely repeating maze with several dice. Each die is filled with monsters which hatch out and the player must shoot to shrink, then collect them...
, Ghost House
Ghost House
Ghost House is a 2004 South Korean horror-comedy film.-Plot:Pil-gi has finally saved enough money to make his late father's wish come true: He can buy his own house. However, upon moving in to his new residence, he is bothered by one if its previous residents, a poltergeist, who claims the house...
, Astro Warrior
Astro Warrior
is a shoot 'em up video game developed and manufactured by Sega for the Master System in 1986.-Game description:The game is a basic top down shooter that was common at the time, similar to Zanac for the NES. The game plays through three levels with a boss at the end of each. Astro Warrior's three...
, Psycho Fox
Psycho Fox
Psycho Fox is a video game published by Sega for the Sega Master System in 1989.In Psycho Fox, an evil god named Madfox Daimyojin has corrupted the land. The people who want him gone send a hero, Psycho Fox, to get rid of the evil god.-Gameplay:...
, and Kung Fu Kid
Kung Fu Kid
Kung Fu Kid is a Sega Master System video game about a kid that has knowledge of kung fu . This action game tests his skills as he defeats terrible enemies in order to save the day. It was released for the Sega Mark III in Japan as ....
. (The latter three forming the Sapo Xule series)
Mônica games
- Mônica: No Castelo do DragãoWonder Boy in Monster LandWonder Boy in Monster Land is an action role-playing platform video game developed by Westone. It was released by Sega for the arcades in 1987 and for the Sega Master System in 1988; Activision released the game for the Amiga, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, and Atari ST...
(Monica in the Dragon's Castle) – Sega Master SystemSega Master SystemThe is a third-generation video game console that was manufactured and released by Sega in 1985 in Japan , 1986 in North America and 1987 in Europe.... - Turma da Mônica em O ResgateWonder Boy III: The Dragon's TrapWonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap is a platforming and action-adventure video game developed by Westone. It was published by Sega and released for the Sega Master System in 1989 and for the Game Gear in 1992 under the title Monster World II: Dragon no Wana...
(Monica's Gang: The Rescue) – Sega Master SystemSega Master SystemThe is a third-generation video game console that was manufactured and released by Sega in 1985 in Japan , 1986 in North America and 1987 in Europe.... - Turma da Mônica na Terra dos MonstrosWonder Boy in Monster WorldWonder Boy in Monster World, known in Japan as Wonder Boy V: Monster World III, is a side-scrolling action RPG originally developed by Westone Bit Entertainment and published by Sega for the Mega Drive/Genesis in...
(Monica's Gang in Monster Land) – Sega Mega DriveSega Mega DriveThe Sega Genesis is a fourth-generation video game console developed and produced by Sega. It was originally released in Japan in 1988 as , then in North America in 1989 as Sega Genesis, and in Europe, Australia and other PAL regions in 1990 as Mega Drive. The reason for the two names is that...
Comic books
Wonder Boy was adapted into two stories that ran in Fleetway's Sonic the ComicSonic the Comic
Sonic the Comic, known to its many readers as STC, was a UK children's comic published fortnightly by Fleetway Editions between 1993 and 2002...
, which were loosely based on Wonder Boy in Monster World. "Wonder Boy in Demon World" ran between issues 2-9 and saw Shion, the protagonist who has a dislike of being referred to as Wonder Boy, fighting to save some people whilst staving off a demon curse. "Wonder Boy in Ghost Land" ran between issues 22-27, and saw Shion travel to a world of ghostly dinosaurs.