Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap
- May 30, 2019
- Lizardcube
Much more than a fresh coat of paint, Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is a new classic nearly thirty years in the making and truly a project of passion for Lizardcube.
Get on Apple Store"Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap" is a reimagined version of the classic game, featuring hand-drawn animations and a re-orchestrated soundtrack. As the cursed Hu-Man or Hu-Girl, players traverse interconnected locations, battling monsters and dragons to find a cure. With adjustable difficulty levels and the option to switch between modern and 8-bit graphics/audio, this game offers a blend of exploration, action, and adventure for all players.
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Reviews
- Gorgeous hand-drawn visuals and a superb soundtrack enhance the nostalgic experience.
- The game features excellent puzzle design and fun, fluid combat that keeps players engaged.
- The ability to seamlessly switch between the original game and the remake adds a unique layer of enjoyment.
- Some gameplay mechanics feel dated, leading to frustration with controls and imprecise hit detection.
- Certain puzzles can be obscure, and the difficulty level may be overly punishing for some players.
- Backtracking can be tedious, and the game could benefit from modern quality-of-life improvements.
- graphics15 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap" have been widely praised for their stunning hand-drawn visuals and the ability to seamlessly switch between the modern remake and the original game's art style. This visual upgrade, combined with a beautifully reimagined soundtrack that utilizes traditional instrumentation, enhances the nostalgic experience while bringing the game into the modern age. Overall, the graphics and audio work together to highlight the charm of the original, making it appealing to both new players and longtime fans.
“The enhanced visuals and superb audio really bring the game into the modern age, complementing the excellent design of the original.”
“Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap not only introduces us to Wonder Girl, but adds beautifully reimagined hand-drawn graphics and the ability to seamlessly swap to the original game.”
“Stunning hand-drawn visuals, faithful recreation of the classic, swap between new and old for ultimate nostalgia.”
- gameplay14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap" is a mixed bag, praised for its non-linear design and beautiful hand-drawn art, but criticized for its outdated mechanics and frustrating difficulty. While the game remains true to the original, many players find its archaic gameplay elements and lack of modern features detract from the overall experience, making it appealing primarily to hardcore retro fans. Overall, the game struggles to balance nostalgia with contemporary gaming expectations.
“Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap may be out of its time – it's rock hard, a little obtuse, and won't lead you by the hand – but benefits from a stylish and sensitive makeover that stays painstakingly true to the mechanically perfect original.”
“Its animal-altering mechanic and hoards of enemies guarantee that you’re in for a good, fun challenge, and while its platforming and boss fights may not have the same impact, it’s no wonder why the developer saw Wonder Boy fit to return.”
“[entertaining non-linear gameplay, gorgeous hand-drawn art, switching between new and old graphics is awesome]”
“Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is quite the looker, but the gameplay definitely shows its age.”
“Though the graphics and soundtrack showcase the superb effort to update the original game for hardcore series fans, frustrating gameplay mechanics and archaic design keep Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap from rising above anything but average.”
“Yes, purists will love that The Dragon’s Trap is a nearly 100% replica of the original with updated art, but I feel as though the love given to the art of the game should have been given to the gameplay as well.”
- music7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- -14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been praised for its catchy and nostalgic quality, enhanced by the use of traditional instrumentation that complements the sumptuous visuals. Reviewers highlight the superb remastering of the soundtrack, which, along with the ability to switch between modern and retro audio, adds depth to the overall experience. While the music and art style receive acclaim, some note that gameplay mechanics may detract from the overall enjoyment.
“The new visuals are sumptuous and the soundtrack - which uses traditional instrumentation rather than computer-generated audio - proves just how catchy the original tunes were.”
“It gives a fairly forgotten gem a profound buff to let its inherent charm shine through even brighter with gorgeous artwork and music.”
“[beautiful, fun art style, excellent music, packed with nostalgia for fans of the original].”
“The soundtrack is repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged during gameplay.”
“The music feels out of place and doesn't match the game's atmosphere, detracting from the overall experience.”
“While the visuals are impressive, the music fails to leave a lasting impression and quickly becomes forgettable.”
- story1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story effectively captures key emotional and narrative elements, resonating well with players despite some minor issues.
“The quest still hits all of the right notes, even with its minor issues.”
“The story is incredibly engaging, drawing you in with its rich characters and unexpected twists.”
“I was captivated by the depth of the narrative and the emotional weight of the choices I had to make.”
Critic Reviews
Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap Review
Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap Review
80%Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap Review
It's clear that the team at Lizardcube are massive fans of the original Wonder Boy III, and that affection translates into what is without a shadow of a doubt the definitive version of a game which has previously been ported to the Game Gear and PC Engine / TurboGrafx-16. The new visuals are sumptuous and the soundtrack - which uses traditional instrumentation rather than computer-generated audio - proves just how catchy the original tunes were. Despite the passing of the years The Dragon's Trap remains a perfectly-pitched non-linear action adventure which must surely rank as one of the best of the 8-bit era. Its biggest failing is the fact that like the Master System original, it can be completed in the space of an evening. Still, that evening will be one of the most enjoyable you can possibly spend with your Switch, making this a recommended purchase regardless.
80%Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap Review
The Dragon’s Trap: Wonder Boy is an excellent remake of a beloved classic. The enhanced visuals and superb audio really bring the game into the modern age complementing the excellent design of the original. Unfortunately, inherited design flaws such as some obscure puzzles, imprecise hit detection, and the lack of a hints system do hold the game back. However, these issues do not detract too much from the overall experience. This modern version of a classic game will appeal to a new generation of gamers and also remind longtime fans why they fell in love with the original.
80%
