Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World
- June 28, 2021
- Monkey Craft
Get on SteamIn "Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World," players join Asha and her flying companion Pepelogoo on a mission to save their world from a grave threat. Featuring side-scrolling action that is both lighthearted and challenging, players must work with Pepelogoo to solve puzzles and defeat enemies in their quest to become heroes. The game offers a variety of action-packed levels for an exciting adventure.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- A very faithful and polished remake of the Genesis gem, with bright and vibrant graphics.
- Quality-of-life improvements, such as the ability to save anywhere and carry multiple life potions, enhance the gameplay experience.
- The game features memorable characters and a charming atmosphere, making it enjoyable for fans of the series.
- The game feels simplistic and lacks depth, with repetitive level design and minimal exploration opportunities.
- Controls can be confusing, especially with the default button layout on different controllers, and some animations feel clunky.
- The overall length of the game is short, with many players feeling it doesn't justify the price due to its limited content.
- graphics30 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising their bright, cute, and sharp quality, while others express disappointment over the lack of customization options and full 16:9 support. Although the visuals are considered a highlight, some players feel that the overall aesthetic does not fully modernize the experience, likening it to an 8-bit game with enhanced graphics. Overall, while the graphics are charming and appealing, they are not enough to compensate for the game's perceived shortcomings.
“The graphics were bright, beautiful, and razor-sharp; however, like so many titles recently, I cannot understand how or why the developers did not allow full 16:9 monitor support.”
“The game is fun, with great graphics and catchy music.”
“This was such a charming revisit that enhanced the story and characters with the new visuals and adorable voice acting.”
“This was supposed to be a remake of a 16-bit game, but it feels like an 8-bit game with fancy graphics.”
“If you wanted graphics options, sorry but there aren't any.”
“It does have similar visuals, music and gameplay but that's about where it ends.”
- music28 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the catchy and interesting tracks, particularly the original soundtrack's experimentation with odd time signatures. However, many players noted that the music can feel repetitive, with a limited variety of tracks that sometimes don't fit the game's scenarios. While the option to switch to the original soundtrack is appreciated, some found the overall musical experience lacking compared to other remakes.
“The original soundtrack was already really solid, with a lot of really interesting tracks with neat experimentation like odd time signatures, which helps keep them interesting despite a lot of them sharing the game's main leitmotif.”
“Very nice remake, fun with a catchy soundtrack.”
“The game is fun, with great graphics and catchy music.”
“Sometimes, the music doesn't entirely fit with the scenario, and other times it feels like you are listening to the same track throughout most of the game.”
“It does have similar visuals, music, and gameplay, but that's about where it ends.”
“Aimw is first and foremost a remake of a 1994 game; the differences and upgrades are nothing out of this world, but they do make for a smoother experience.”
- gameplay18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding the original mechanics, such as bouncing off enemies without taking damage, frustrating, particularly during boss fights. While the remake introduces quality of life improvements and retains solid progression and boss design, many still feel that it doesn't quite match the engaging gameplay of the Dragon's Trap remake. Overall, while there are enjoyable elements, the gameplay experience is seen as lacking compared to its predecessor.
“The gameplay is solid, the progression is solid, the bosses are solid.”
“And the quality of life and new gameplay additions also add onto the experience; both versions of Asha and Pepe's journey are my favorites in the Wonder Boy series. I enjoyed this one a lot and look forward to replaying.”
“Let's discuss some remake changes that the developers included to try to improve the gameplay, rather than aesthetic.”
“The main problem lies in the gameplay of the original game.”
“The idea of bouncing off enemies while taking no damage is an annoying mechanic that gets you boxed in during some boss fights (the ice wizard boss feels especially dated as a 'last one to lose all health' challenge).”
“This is nothing to complain about, but most would probably agree that the dragon's trap is still infinitely better than this in terms of gameplay.”
- story8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The story of the game is characterized by light fantasy elements and minimal depth, similar to its predecessor in the Wonder Boy franchise. Players appreciate the short yet satisfying plot, which combines humor with moments of seriousness, and the remake enhances the narrative through improved visuals and voice acting, making it a charming revisit to Asha's epic quest. Overall, it serves as a fitting closure to the Wonder Boy saga.
“Judging the game as a purely retro game, it really stands out as one with excellent controls, a short but satisfying plot full of humorous moments and a bit of seriousness, and the closure of the Wonder Boy saga.”
“This was such a charming revisit that enhanced the story and characters with the new visuals and adorable voice acting.”
“When you compare this remake and its original to the Dragon's Trap and its original, the kind of light fantasy storytelling with minimal depth is mutual between them.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, with a limited number of levels that are padded with repetitive tasks and backtracking. Combat is often described as either mindless or overly tedious, leading to a lack of engagement during progression. Overall, the experience is marred by the need to repeatedly load saves and the challenge of managing resources in a game that feels unnecessarily drawn out.
“The game has few levels, but pads time within each level: there is a tutorial level, four tedious and mostly boring main levels, some decent intermittent action in the town, and the final level.”
“Combat and progression are especially hit and miss, as enemies are usually either mindless or tedious to fight through.”
“The second dungeon is tedious backtracking galore and the third dungeon is heavy on puzzles.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its blend of humor and seriousness, featuring a satisfying plot filled with amusing moments that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the retro style and excellent controls, which contribute to its charm.
“Judging the game as a purely retro game, it really stands out as one with excellent controls, a short but satisfying plot full of humorous moments and a bit of seriousness, and the closure of the Wonder Boy saga.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its overwhelming cuteness and wholesomeness, creating a lighthearted and enjoyable experience. However, some players noted a confusing translation issue that detracts from the overall clarity of the gameplay.
- replayability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with a short playtime of only 3-4 hours and minimal incentives to revisit it, leading to a consensus that it offers little value for repeated playthroughs.
“Remember, the game is only 3-4 hours long and has basically no replay value.”
“This is a big no-no, and one cannot confuse this with replayability.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The developers have successfully revitalized the game's atmosphere, particularly in the 2.5D areas, enhancing the overall experience and providing engaging platforming elements.
“The developers did a fantastic job of enhancing the original game's atmosphere, particularly the 2.5D areas, which make for some interesting platforming.”
