Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World Image
Metascore
66

Mixed or average reviews - based on 40 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 28 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
Rate this:
  • 10
  • 9
  • 8
  • 7
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • Summary: An icon in adventure gaming history is back!

    Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World becomes a real Wonder Boy adventure that stays true to its roots as the latest part of the legendary and successful series, that dates back to 1986. Asha is tasked to free the four spirits being confined by
    An icon in adventure gaming history is back!

    Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World becomes a real Wonder Boy adventure that stays true to its roots as the latest part of the legendary and successful series, that dates back to 1986.

    Asha is tasked to free the four spirits being confined by evil forces whose origin she discovers throughout her journey. Luckily, she does not have to face this adventure alone, as early on she finds her new companion, a special blue Pepelogoo.

    The players can experience the adventures of the dynamic duo like never before thanks to cell-shaded 3D graphics and 2D gameplay as well as enhanced visuals and refined play content. Especially in the event scenes the performance is deepened and the world view is reproduced vividly and colorfully. Plus, for the first time in the series, it comes with a character voice by the popular and talented Japanese voice actress Ai Fairouz.
    Expand
Buy Now
Buy on
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 40
  2. Negative: 1 out of 40
  1. Jun 2, 2021
    90
    Unlike many remakes glutting the market, the existence of Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World makes complete sense. After all, many gamers in the west never got to delight in what is likely the best entry in the Wonder Boy/Monster World series. How does this fancy remake play? Imagine for a second that Zelda II: Return of Link was good. That’ll get you pretty close.
  2. May 25, 2021
    80
    Overall, there are parts of Asha in Monster World that are a little rusty, and the end product could've used more than just the tweaking we ended up getting. While fans of the Mega Drive game may enjoy revisiting it, they may also be disappointed that there's not a whole lot that's new. Still, the elements that made it such a classic in the first place — the endearing protagonist, the delightful game world — are still present, and all of that still holds up brilliantly even after nearly thirty years.
  3. May 24, 2021
    70
    Preservationist gripes aside, Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World is a great remake of a delightful, if flawed, Mega Drive classic. The new art style is gorgeous, capturing the vibrant beauty of the original wonderfully, and the modern tweaks are welcome, though a few more wouldn’t go amiss. But most importantly, it stays true to what made Monster World IV so unique, which, for a game that Sega seems to have largely forgotten about, is lovely to see.
  4. Jul 10, 2021
    70
    If you think that old games had the perfect gameplay and just needed some better graphics, this game is absolutely for you. If you believe graphics are equally important to gameplay - you may wait for a sale and just play the original while you wait for it.
  5. May 31, 2021
    65
    Wonder Boy Asha in Monster World is a faithful remake of Monster World IV with many good additions and enhancements but one that suffers from performance issues in the Nintendo Switch version.
  6. Jun 1, 2021
    60
    While all its relevant parts are good, none of them really stand out among today’s very best. So if you’ve only given this a passing glance when scrolling game trailers on YouTube and it’s not particularly floating your boat, be prepared for a decent player here but not one that’s going to dazzle you for months ahead.
  7. Jun 30, 2021
    42
    While not a game to strictly advise against, Asha in Monster World has plentiful irks and, as easily the weakest of the recent Wonderboy releases, is difficult to recommend.

See all 42 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 10
  2. Negative: 1 out of 10
  1. Sep 21, 2021
    10
    A classic title remade for the modern day. Nearly everything has been updated, but some things are still a bit dated by today's standards, butA classic title remade for the modern day. Nearly everything has been updated, but some things are still a bit dated by today's standards, but other remakes tend to be too, so it's not truly an issue. The controls, music, and even the cut scenes are indeed superior to the original game in every way.

    It really boils down to what graphical style you prefer honestly. The reveal trailer had me disappointed, but the developers managed to clean up a lot of that and I'm happy with the result! It gets a ten from me ^_^
    Expand
  2. Sep 12, 2021
    9
    Completamente fiel ao original inclusive no gameplay, mas traz algumas melhorias interessante. Os gráficos 3D não surpreendem mas também nãoCompletamente fiel ao original inclusive no gameplay, mas traz algumas melhorias interessante. Os gráficos 3D não surpreendem mas também não fazem feio. No Switch o grande este varia e não fica em 60. Expand
  3. Sep 15, 2021
    9
    This is a clean recreation of the original Monster World IV with some quality of life updates and some added content. My only true beef withThis is a clean recreation of the original Monster World IV with some quality of life updates and some added content. My only true beef with it is that it's too easy and some areas get blocked off late in the game for a certain reason I won't spoil for you. An update to Asha's moveset other than the Magical Hit would have been nice to have too. If they plan on a sequel or something, I hope they won't keep it so simple. Expand
  4. Sep 13, 2021
    9
    Asha in Monster World is a remake that focuses on one thing mainly, making itself accessible to everyone and as such it is an easy game, aAsha in Monster World is a remake that focuses on one thing mainly, making itself accessible to everyone and as such it is an easy game, a relaxed adventure that you can finish with next to no problems at all
    It is also a very straight forward retelling of the original game, but in no way lacks new content. AiMW has a few completely new optional quests and subplots that helps fleshing out the general state of Monster World and Rapadagna
    The plot additions, the extra characterization of almost every classic NPC and greater graphical freedom makes this game a prime addition to the hardcore fans of the Wonder Boy saga, and the generally lighthearted tone is ideal for casual players that just want to spend a few hours with a superbly polished action game

    In this remake you can backtrack to previously cleared dungeons which was impossible in the original release, which is utilized to a good extent by adding extra collectibles which you can track down in the old classic areas and a few redesigned spots, which in the end will bag you a new ending

    The soundtrack has been remastered too with the collaboration of the two main composers of the Wonder Boy Saga, giving you the chance to swap between the new and the retro soundtracks

    in general Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World is an undoubtedly complete experience, albeit an easy one
    But it has some clear flaws too
    The translation is faulty, nothing game breaking but it can make you scratch your head in confusion in certain key points of the game
    The a few characters have been redesigned, most in a good way (but not all of them) while others didn't got the redesign that they so much deserved
    The backtrack function is very enjoyable but sadly it's not complete and you are completely unable to return to the starting area

    Recommended game for everyone but especially to the long time fans which will be able to fully enjoy it for what it is and what it teases
    Expand
  5. Sep 12, 2021
    8
    Welcome to Monster World!
    This remake of Monster World 4 while being a faithful recreation of the original, also does excellent job of making
    Welcome to Monster World!
    This remake of Monster World 4 while being a faithful recreation of the original, also does excellent job of making good use of the modern era technology. From cutscenes that add to the narrative to quality of life features like saving anywhere and rebalancing in various areas and new items, the game is certainly an improvement over the original. The snappy and responsive combat truly shows that the devs behind know what they were doing.

    If the game appear short in length, know that the game encourages you to make multiple runs and backtracking for items that can make your journey easier. Collect the achievements and you may even find secrets

    Don't worry about difficulty either, the rebalancing made the game easier for casual players, and also let's you freely self impose challenged like nuzzloke challenged in Pokemon. And the game was made to be played on a controller, it can and will work on a keyboard, but be aware that the game will be made harder given it's a platformer that relies on quick inputs.
    Expand
  6. Sep 13, 2021
    7
    Around 27 years after the release of the original, the traces of the age are already visible. With some sometimes questionable level design,Around 27 years after the release of the original, the traces of the age are already visible. With some sometimes questionable level design, blunt plot and short playing time, unfortunately you can't win a flower pot these days. The graphic style, the remixed music and the general gameplay, on the other hand, are bursting with charm. You can really tell while playing that this project was close to the hearts of the developers. Unfortunately, they have tied a little too closely to the conventions of the original. One could have deviated a little from the formula from back then. Expand
  7. Dec 5, 2021
    4
    This game is basically a re-skin of the Mega Drive game Monster World IV. It looks and sounds newer but not much was added, except theThis game is basically a re-skin of the Mega Drive game Monster World IV. It looks and sounds newer but not much was added, except the possibility to save the game at any moment and the shrill Japanese voice acting. The production value doesn't seem to have been enormous, especially when compared to the earlier released Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom which has a lot more polish. The settings feel a little sterile, maybe the developers could've added stuff like passing birds to fill up the scenery. Furthermore this game is easy and short. It took me a bit more than 5 hours to finish it, including the time I wasted running around in the hub town to gather items needed to progress in-game.

    In conclusion it might be a fine game for small children.
    Expand

See all 10 User Reviews