Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom

 Switch
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 149 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 114 out of 149
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 149
  3. Negative: 18 out of 149
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  1. TheAdjuster
    Aug 30, 2019
    0
    I'm not sure why this game is so highly rated. The platforming is frustrating. Not hard, just frustrating. The art is nice, but the animation is terrible. The controls are sluggish. And it doesn't bring anything new to the metroidvania genre. Why is the map not visible at the same time? Why is it such a pain to switch gear? I really wanted to like this game, but I just can't.
  2. cyruszuo
    Jan 24, 2020
    4
    Impossible to recommend.

    The game had uneven difficulty until it becomes kick your teeth in brutally hard. Looks great. Plays well. Ok design with some stupidity (soft locks in poorly thought out puzzles). But that late game difficulty is so the opposite of the fun and cheery visuals I would save your money.
    The Sega remake of the old master system game is better.
  3. bl1rt
    Feb 24, 2019
    3
    I have fond memories of playing the game on Master System with my brother, and I enjoyed the remake a lot, so I had high hopes for this. And in regards to animation and artwork, the game delivers - it looks gorgeous. But the game mechanics are so bad, I dropped it after few hours.
    Many of its flaws seem like botched features from the original. For example, in the original, enemies    I have fond memories of playing the game on Master System with my brother, and I enjoyed the remake a lot, so I had high hopes for this. And in regards to animation and artwork, the game delivers - it looks gorgeous. But the game mechanics are so bad, I dropped it after few hours.
    Many of its flaws seem like botched features from the original. For example, in the original, enemies sometimes reappeared from outside the screen - here, they just pop up out of thin air, right next to you. Or the "puzzles", where it pretty much tells you which form you need to change to next: In the original, you could instantly change form only towards the end of the game, which allowed you to explore freely. Here, it is a core mechanic of the game, and half of your time is spent switching to the next form in a sequence the game shows you - become snake to enter hole, become frog to leap upwards, become snake again to exit through hole. Since it takes a bit of time to change form (there even is a noticeable lag when you change using the menu), it is just tedious.
    Overall it feels like the game does not rely on skill, but on patience. You fail a lot of challenges because you grew impatient at the third or fourth repetition, and the game punishes you by setting you back to zero. It is mind-numbing.
    Ultimately, I wonder who this game is for. It is too hard for children, but too linear and simplistic for adults. I wanted to like this, but I thoroughly didn't.    … Expand
  4. Arigoki
    Jun 17, 2020
    4
    Nice gameplay and visuals... That is all. Ohhh and race at the end (I'll know when you see) is just idiotic with switch controllers (frog part).

    Music - rubbish Controlling - bad Storyline - none existing Kids friendly - NO way! This game is as kids friendly as ET game on Amiga - I mean, it looks like it must be (because of cool title etc) but it absolutely is not. I do not like it and    Nice gameplay and visuals... That is all. Ohhh and race at the end (I'll know when you see) is just idiotic with switch controllers (frog part).

    Music - rubbish
    Controlling - bad
    Storyline - none existing
    Kids friendly - NO way! This game is as kids friendly as ET game on Amiga - I mean, it looks like it must be (because of cool title etc) but it absolutely is not.

    I do not like it and even though I played all game I regret buying it.    … Expand
  5. matt1184
    Oct 28, 2021
    0
    This game is literal garbage. I'm not sure which is worst, the story, the gameplay, or the progression. It is all simply pure garbage.
  6. Rockfletch3000
    May 3, 2020
    2
    Oh my days.. this game! Despite its colourful cute graphics and jolly soundtrack, this is anything but bright and cheerful when you knuckle down and actually play it! I’m pretty sure it’s one of the most frustrating, tedious and downright unfair platform games I’ve ever played! It’s not just a difficult game, it’s physically impossible to get through large sections of it without repeatOh my days.. this game! Despite its colourful cute graphics and jolly soundtrack, this is anything but bright and cheerful when you knuckle down and actually play it! I’m pretty sure it’s one of the most frustrating, tedious and downright unfair platform games I’ve ever played! It’s not just a difficult game, it’s physically impossible to get through large sections of it without repeat dying to learn what to do next, it’s mind numbing.. Which wouldn’t actually be so bad if you didn’t have to go so far back in some sections just to get back to where you died last time. And then, by the time you reach where you previously died, and with the little life you have left again, if you don’t make a perfect move you have to start all over filled with pure anger!

    I’m actually getting into a rage now just thinking about it, so I’ll leave it there... So anyway, be warned. Not much ‘fun’ to be had here which is a shame. Get Dragons Trap instead that was awesome. Grrr...    … Expand
  7. Daisuk
    Oct 19, 2020
    4
    I found this game very underwhelming, though it should be said that I'm not a follower of the whole game series (although I did play Wonderboy on the Amiga 500 back in the day). I found it slow paced, really imprecise and boring combat, dull and "blocky" platforming, the whole package is just very ... it's for kids and/or fans, basically.
  8. nibasc
    Nov 12, 2021
    3
    I made the mistake of buying this game based on reviews. It's one of the most frustrating games I've ever played. You die almost instantly. The gear is totally useless even the golden one, 2 - 3 hits from an enemy and you are dead. Some of the challenges are not fun at all, you just keep dying until you finish them, there is absolutely no logic in them. Switching gear is just terribleI made the mistake of buying this game based on reviews. It's one of the most frustrating games I've ever played. You die almost instantly. The gear is totally useless even the golden one, 2 - 3 hits from an enemy and you are dead. Some of the challenges are not fun at all, you just keep dying until you finish them, there is absolutely no logic in them. Switching gear is just terrible also navigation on the map. The only nice part is the art work and the colors.
    Don't buy it unless you just want to enjoy tons of frustrating moments.    … Expand
  9. Kwist
    Feb 3, 2023
    0
    Inconsistent tone and theme problems. Graphics are good, but art syle is terrible. Music is grating. Gameplay is weirdly sluggish, changing gear requires a pause and delay as the game reloads your character. Difficulty is a mess, either being easy or strangely difficult. First boss is terribly designed, being awfully punishing at random. Could have been improved by introducing hisInconsistent tone and theme problems. Graphics are good, but art syle is terrible. Music is grating. Gameplay is weirdly sluggish, changing gear requires a pause and delay as the game reloads your character. Difficulty is a mess, either being easy or strangely difficult. First boss is terribly designed, being awfully punishing at random. Could have been improved by introducing his mechanics throughout the level instead of all at once in the boss fight. Your drunk uncle isn't a good villain.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

23
#23 Best Switch Game of 2018
51
#51 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2018
72
#72 Most Shared Switch Game of 2018

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Aug 22, 2019
    85
    Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom appears to have been well worth the wait. [Issue #38 – March/April 2019, p. 71]
  2. Cubed3
    May 22, 2019
    90
    Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom is not on the budget side of the indie spectrum, but what Game Atelier and FDG Entertainment have released is far from a cheap experience. The beautifully hand drawn art style, rocking soundtrack, rewarding boss battles, excellent progression system, and thrilling adventure, offers the very best of what makes a great action-adventure platformer, and turns it into a must own for anyone interested in the genre.
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  3. FNintendo
    Apr 13, 2019
    70
    Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom is a rather surprising and very enjoyable 2D platformer that openly dresses the skin of a metroidvania-style of game, with a well-structured experience, a high quality cartoon-like art style and well implemented gameplay mechanics. It does not reinvent the wheel when it comes to 2D platformers but it certainly does a very good job at delivering a quality metroidvania type of game.
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