Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World is a side-scrolling action-RPG that is a 2.5D remake of the original Monster World IV. Improvements to the game include brand new visuals, the inclusion of new voice actors, and a new soundtrack. I won’t be comparing this remake with the original game because, in all honesty, I’ve never played any of the original Wonder Boy games before. I’ll be looking at this game from a fresh perspective as if this were a brand new platformer.

Apparently, Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World is based on the original Monster World IV, which means much of the story is carried over from that title. The game is mostly about a young woman named Asha who is accompanied by her new companion, Pepelogoo. Asha is determined to prove herself as a warrior and must free the four spirits confined by evil forces, as she discovers their secret origins throughout her journey.

For hardcore platformer fans, Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World has it all. The game definitely has classic platform elements that will satisfy any fan and the mixture of simple RPG elements makes it a bit more unique. Like most platformers, the game is fairly linear and while there is some exploration, it’s not very heavy or needed. This is a straight up action platformer game for the most part.

If you’ve played enough platformers, you know that each one plays a bit differently and this game is no different. You’ll have to get used to things like sword slashing normally as well as an upward and downward slash. You’ll also have to learn how to sword bounce on multiple enemies to effectively kill mobs. Jumping is also a bit different here in which different kinds of jumps can be performed with the help of your friend, a special blue Pepelogoo that follows you around. If you grab on to the Pepelogoo, you can double jump, jump float, and you can also throw him to get items you can not reach otherwise. It’s an interesting game mechanic and one that makes you think a bit differently.

Visually, Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World looks pretty fantastic. The new 3D visuals look very good and are very colorful with some great character designs. The animations also look very fluid and I just like how lively everything looks. The 3D visuals also give the look a lot of depth and keep the game from looking flat and outdated. For the most part, the environmental designs and updates also look pretty good.

Another area where we see improvements is in the sound department. The audio has been beefed up where as mentioned above, new voice overs were recorded and a brand new soundtrack was inserted as well. All of it just adds to the overall atmosphere of the game and makes what I assume was a good game back then, even better now.

So do you buy Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World? If you’re a fan of the Wonder Boy and Monster World series, then I’d definitely say yes. This seems like a solid remake and all the improvements and new visuals make it worth a new playthrough if you’ve played the original. If you’re new to the series, the game is worthwhile to pick up because of its solid platforming gameplay and RPG elements. The overall game itself is very well done which will make most gamers happy.

Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World is available now on the Nintendo eShop and is published by STUDIOARTDINK. You can also pick up the physical edition which is published by ININ Games and includes a free copy of Monster World IV exclusively.

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Received game from developer and/or publisher for coverage purposes.
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