Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair

From Sega Retro

n/a

  • System 16
  • Mega Drive

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Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair
System(s): Sega System 16, Sega Mega Drive, Virtual Console, Steam
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Sound driver:
Sega Mega Drive
SMPS Z80
Genre: Action[1][2]

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Arcade (System 16)
JP
¥? ?
Arcade (System 16)
US
$? ?






























Sega Mega Drive
JP
¥6,0006,000 G-4025
Sega Mega Drive
EU
1108
Sega Mega Drive
BX
Sega Mega Drive
UK
£34.9934.99[4][5] 1108
Sega Mega Drive
SE
(Rental)
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Mega Drive
KR
GM4044JG
Wii Virtual Console
JP
600pts600[7]
CERO: A
Wii Virtual Console
US
900pts900[8]
ESRB: Everyone
Wii Virtual Console
EU
800pts800[9]
PEGI: 7+
Wii Virtual Console
AU
800pts800[11]
OFLC: General (G)
Steam
US
$2.992.99[13] 71168
ESRB: Everyone
Steam
EU
€2.492.49[13] 71168
PEGI: 7+
Steam
UK
£1.991.99[13] 71168
PEGI: 7+
Steam
AU
$3.493.49[13] 71168
OFLC: General (G)
Steam Linux
US
$0.990.99[15] 71168
ESRB: Everyone
Steam Linux
EU
€0.990.99[15] 71168
PEGI: 7+
Steam Linux
UK
£0.790.79[15] 71168
PEGI: 7+
Steam Linux
AU
$1.351.35[15] 71168
OFLC: General (G)
Steam OS X
US
$0.990.99[15] 71168
ESRB: Everyone
Steam OS X
EU
€0.990.99[15] 71168
PEGI: 7+
Steam OS X
UK
£0.790.79[15] 71168
PEGI: 7+
Steam OS X
AU
$1.351.35[15] 71168
OFLC: General (G)
Non-Sega versions

Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair (ワンダーボーイIII モンスターレア) is a Sega System 16 game in the Wonder Boy series. It is not to be confused with Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap, which is actually the fourth game in the series that was mislabeled in localization. It is the last game in the "Wonder Boy arcade trilogy".

It was later ported to the Mega Drive. It was also brought to the PC Engine CD-ROM² hardware as an actual Wonder Boy title, although Sega was not involved with it.

Gameplay

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Player Select.png

Leo and Princess Purapril

The game combines elements of a platformer and a shooter. It is unlike other games in the Wonder Boy series, though it resembles the original more than it does the Monster World games. Wonder Boy's sword fires projectiles, and the screen auto-scrolls to the right. The game can be played with a single player or with two players simultaneously. Player one plays as a green-haired boy named Leo and player plays as a pink-haired girl named Princess Purapril (Priscilla in the Western localizations).

Characters are moved with Left and Right, jump with A or C, and shoot with B. While in the air, characters can slow their descent with Up or fall faster with Down. The character's life bar steadily diminishes as time passes. Health is replenished by collecting food items or weapon icons. Some fruits, when shot, expand and burst into multiple items. Weapon icons change the character's weapon temporarily.

The second part of each round has the characters ride dragons and plays more like a conventional shoot-'em-up. In these segments, the character's health does not decrease over time, so food items are not present. Characters cannot jump or turn around in these segments.

Players are given extra lives at 5,000, 10,000, and 18,000 points.

Weapons

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Weapons.png
Spiral Shot
Surrounds the character in spirals that damage enemies that they touch.
Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Weapons.png
Missile
Fires missiles that explode in short range.
Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Weapons.png
Wide Ring Blaster
Shoots rings that spread out into a large area.
Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Weapons.png
Fireball
Shoots fireballs laterally in front of and behind the character.
Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Weapons.png
Beam
Fires beams that penetrate through multiple targets.
Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Weapons.png
Big Fire Shot
Emanates large fireballs in a spiral out from the character.

Fairies

Fairies appear floating in bubbles and can be broken out by shooting the bubble.

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Fairies.png
Pink Fairy
Turns food into pieces of cake for a duration, which fully replenish the life bar.
Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Fairies.png
Green Fairy
Makes the character invincible for a duration.
Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Fairies.png
Trix
Turns food into flowers for a duration, which award bonus points.

Rounds

System 16 version

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Round 1

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Round 2

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Round 3

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Round 4

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Round 5

Notavailable.svg

Round 6

Notavailable.svg

Round 7

Notavailable.svg

Round 8

Notavailable.svg

Round 9

Notavailable.svg

Round 10

Notavailable.svg

Round 11

Notavailable.svg

Round 12

Notavailable.svg

Round 13

Notavailable.svg

Round 14

Mega Drive version

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 1-1.png

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 1-2.png

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 1-2 Boss.png

  • Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 1-1.png

  • Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 1-2.png

  • Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 1-2 Boss.png

The Southern Isles

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 2-1.png

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 2-2.png

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 2-2 Boss.png

  • Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 2-1.png

  • Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 2-2.png

  • Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 2-2 Boss.png

The Jungle

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 3-1.png

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 3-2.png

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 3-2 Boss.png

  • Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 3-1.png

  • Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 3-2.png

  • Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 3-2 Boss.png

Cavern

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 4-1.png

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 4-2.png

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 4-2 Boss 1.png

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 4-2 Boss 2.png

  • Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 4-1.png

  • Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 4-2.png

  • Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 4-2 Boss 1.png

  • Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 4-2 Boss 2.png

Deserted Village

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 5-1.png

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 5-2.png

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 5-2 Boss.png

  • Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 5-1.png

  • Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 5-2.png

  • Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 5-2 Boss.png

Ice World

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 6-1.png

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 6-2.png

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 6-2 Boss.png

  • Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 6-1.png

  • Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 6-2.png

  • Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 6-2 Boss.png

The Desert

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 7-1.png

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 7-2.png

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 7-2 Boss.png

  • Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 7-1.png

  • Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 7-2.png

  • Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 7-2 Boss.png

A Town in the Valley

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 8-1.png

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 8-2.png

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 8-2 Boss.png

  • Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 8-1.png

  • Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 8-2.png

  • Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 8-2 Boss.png

The Northern Isles

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 9-1.png

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 9-2.png

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 9-2 Boss 1.png

Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 9-2 Boss 2.png

  • Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 9-1.png

  • Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 9-2.png

  • Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 9-2 Boss 1.png

  • Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, Stage 9-2 Boss 2.png

The Enemy Hideout

History

Legacy

The Mega Drive version of the game has been brought to the Wii's Virtual Console service.

Versions

Monster Lair was ported to home platforms relatively unscathed, although the Mega Drive version has entirely re-drawn graphics to better suit the hardware.

Production credits

Main article: Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair/Production credits.

Mega Drive version

Source:
Uncredited
Source:
Sega TV Game Genga Gallery[17]


Digital manuals

Magazine articles

Main article: Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair/Promotional material.

Artwork

Physical scans

System 16 version

System 16, JP
Notavailable.svgNotavailable.svg
Instuction card(s)
System 16, World

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
40
[18]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
75
[19]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
58
[20]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK)
64
[21]
Console XS (UK) PAL
79
[22]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
67
[23]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
60
[24]
Génération 4 (FR)
75
[25]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
20
[26]
Joystick (FR) NTSC-J
78
[27]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
27
[28]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
64
[29]
Mega (UK) PAL
37
[30]
MegaTech (UK)
47
[31]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
90
[32]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
47
[33]
Player One (FR)
85
[34]
Power Play (DE)
69
[35]
Raze (UK) NTSC-J
81
[36]
Sega Power (UK)
41
[37]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
25
[38]
Sega Pro (UK)
76
[39]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
79
[40]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
53
[41]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
40
[42]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
68
[43]
User (GR) PAL
71
[44]
Zero (UK)
86
[45]
Sega Mega Drive
61
Based on
28 reviews

Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair

Mega Drive, JP
WB3ML MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
WonderBoy3ML MD JP CartTop.jpg
WB3ML MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
WB3ML MD JP Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
WB3ML MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
MonsterLair MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Wonder Boy III in Monster Lair MD EU Manual.pdf
Manual
WB3ML MD EU pcb.jpg
PCB
Mega Drive, BX
WB3ML MD BX Box front.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, SE rental (HENT black)
WB3ML MD SE rental cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, SE rental (Kanal10)
WB3ML MD SE rental Kanal10 Box.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, AU (Horizontal manual)
WB3ML MD AU h cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, AU (Vertical manual)
WB3ML MD AU v cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, AU (?)
WB3ML MD AU alt cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, KR
WB3ML MD KR Box.jpg
Cover
WB3ML MD KR Cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

Main article: Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair/Technical information.

External links

References

  1. File:WB3ML MD JP Box.jpg
  2. 2.0 2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-20 09:51)
  3. Mega Drive Fan, "June 1992" (JP; 1992-05-08), page 75
  4. Raze, "September 1991" (UK; 1991-07-25), page 76
  5. Sega Power, "July 1991" (UK; 1991-06-06), page 25
  6. https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/software/09.html (Wayback Machine: 2018-01-28 13:27)
  7. http://vc.sega.jp:80/vc_lair (Wayback Machine: 2009-02-03 13:09)
  8. 8.0 8.1 http://www.nintendo.com:80/games/detail/gm69Zp71U1JJHcy0E9aMizMZd7-zYuOJ (Wayback Machine: 2010-11-21 03:04)
  9. 9.0 9.1 http://www.nintendolife.com/games/megadrive/wonder_boy_iii_monster_lair (Wayback Machine: 2017-06-09 06:06)
  10. https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Virtual-Console-Wii-/Wonder-Boy-III-Monster-Lair--280163.html (archive.today)
  11. http://www.nintendo.com.au/index.php?action=catalogue&prodcat_id=41&prod_id=19789&pageID=4 (Wayback Machine: 2012-03-28 00:18)
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 https://steamdb.info/app/71168/ (Wayback Machine: 2019-11-22 23:26)
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 http://steamdb.info/app/71168/ (Wayback Machine: 2013-05-22 20:01)
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 14.7 https://steamdb.info/app/71168/history/?changeid=5755188
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 15.7 http://steamdb.info/app/71168/ (Wayback Machine: 2019-11-22 23:26)
  16. http://sega.jp/segavoice/vol64/ (Wayback Machine: 2008-02-28 09:39)
  17. Sega TV Game Genga Gallery, Graphic Sha, page 101
  18. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 186
  19. Aktueller Software Markt, "März 1991" (DE; 1991-02-22), page 114
  20. Beep! MegaDrive, "December 1990" (JP; 1990-11-08), page 28
  21. The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 31
  22. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 136
  23. Computer & Video Games, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-02-16), page 88
  24. Famitsu, "" (JP; 199x-xx-xx), page 1
  25. Génération 4, "Février 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 96
  26. Hippon Super, "January 1991" (JP; 1990-12-04), page 42
  27. Joystick, "Mars 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 111
  28. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 95
  29. Mega Drive Fan, "March 1991" (JP; 1991-02-08), page 99
  30. Mega, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 21
  31. MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 81
  32. Micromanía (segunda época), "Junio 1991" (ES; 1991-0x-xx), page 55
  33. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 143
  34. Player One, "Juin 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 38
  35. Power Play, "4/91" (DE; 1991-03-15), page 136
  36. Raze, "July 1991" (UK; 1991-05-30), page 60
  37. Sega Power, "July 1991" (UK; 1991-06-06), page 24
  38. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 55
  39. Sega Pro, "April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-19), page 31
  40. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 68
  41. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
  42. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 171
  43. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 225
  44. User, "Aprílios 1992" (GR; 1992-0x-xx), page 87
  45. Zero, "June 1991" (UK; 1991-0x-xx), page 66
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Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair

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Games in the Wonder Boy Series
Wonder Boy (1986) | Wonder Boy in Monster Land (1987) | Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair (1988) | Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap (1989) | Wonder Boy in Monster World (1991) | Monster World IV (1994) | Monster World Complete Collection (2007) | Sega Vintage Collection: Monster World (2012) | Arcade Archives Wonder Boy (2014) | Wonder Boy Returns (2016) | Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap (2017) | Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom (2018) | Wonder Boy Returns Remix (2019) | Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World (2021) | Wonder Boy Collection (2022) | Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection (2022)
Music
Monster World Complete Collection Original Sound Track (2007)
Book
Wonder Boy V Monster World III Koushiki Guide Book (1991)