Wonder Boy

From Sega Retro

"Super Wonder Boy" redirects here. For the sequel (also called Super Wonder Boy on some releases), see Wonder Boy in Monster Land.

n/a

Wonder Boy Title.png

Wonder Boy
System(s): Sega System 1, Sega SG-1000, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, Virtual Console, ZX Spectrum
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Genre: Action

















Release Date RRP Code
Arcade (System 1)
JP		 ¥? ?
Arcade (System 1)
US		 $? ?
Arcade (System 2)
JP		 ¥? ?
Arcade (System 2)
US		 $? ?































SG-1000
JP 		¥4,3004,300 C-69
SG-1000
TW
Sega Master System
JP 		¥5,0005,000 G-1316
Sega Master System
US 		5068
Sega Master System
EU 		MK-5068-50
Sega Master System
AU
Sega Master System
BR
Sega Master System
KR 		GB-1316
Sega Game Gear
JP 		¥3,5003,500 G-3205
Sega Game Gear
US 		2302
Sega Game Gear
EU 		2302
Sega Game Gear
BR 		012080
Amstrad CPC
ES
(Cassette)
Amstrad CPC
ES
(Disk)
Amstrad CPC
UK
(Disk) 		£14.9914.99[7]
Amstrad CPC
UK
(Cassette) 		£9.999.99[7]
Amstrad CPC
UK
(The Hit Squad) 		£2.992.99[8]
Commodore 64
UK
(Disk) 		£14.9914.99[7]
Commodore 64
UK
(Cassette) 		£9.999.99[7]
Commodore 64
UK
(The Hit Squad) 		£2.992.99[8]
Commodore 64
AU
ZX Spectrum
ES
(Cassette)
ZX Spectrum
UK
(Cassette) 		£9.999.99[7]
ZX Spectrum
UK
(The Hit Squad) 		£2.992.99[8]
Wii Virtual Console
JP ▼ 		500pts500[10]
CERO: A
Wii Virtual Console
US ▼ 		500pts500[13]
ESRB: Everyone
Wii Virtual Console
EU ▼ 		500pts500[11]
Wii Virtual Console
AU ▼ 		600pts600[14]
OFLC: General (G)

Wonder Boy (ワンダーボーイ) is a platform game developed by Escape and Sega in 1986 for Sega System 1 and Sega System 2 arcade hardware.

Story

“ WONDER BOY starts off a long and hazardous journey in pursuit of KING, who has kidnapped his girlfriend, TINA. KING lives in a faraway place, inhabited by monstrous creatures and full of many surprises. On the way, our hero has to collect food to increase his energy. WONDER BOY's ultimate mission is to rescue TINA and prove to one and all that true love always triumphs. „


Gameplay

Wonder Boy is a sidescrolling platform game, in which the basic goal is to keep heading to to the right, avoiding obstacles, attacking enemies and jumping across platforms. Though it is not a requirement to do so, the game encourages players to keep moving to the right, as health decreases over time and the screen cannot scroll left. Health, and by extension, time, is added to by collecting fruit. There are numerous items hidden in eggs, including hammers, skateboards and fairies which can assist Tom-Tom in his quest.

One button jumps, another attacks. If the attack button is held, Tom-Tom will run and be able to jump higher, similar to the mechanics in Super Mario Bros..

History

Legacy

Wonder Boy's success in the arcades led to numerous home conversions of the game.

Its first home release occurred in later in 1986, when it was adapted it was brought to the SG-1000 in Sega Card format. Due to the limitations of the console (and the chosen form of media), this version has only five stages and omits several enemies, items, and bonus stages. It is also considered to have very choppy scrolling, although features new additions such as a secret weapon and backwards warp-zones. Each of the five stages were also completely redesigned, with the final stage unlike any stage in any other version.

The following year, a more arcade accurate version was brought to the Sega Master System. This version, known as Super Wonder Boy (スーパーワンダーボーイ) in Japan, would provide the basis for a subsequent Sega Game Gear conversion in late 1990. In North America, the Game Gear version of the game was renamed Revenge of Drancon for unknown reasons. The Master System version of the game was also made available through the Wii's Virtual Console service in 2008.

1987 also saw the release of several home computer ports by Activision in Europe. Versions for the Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum were released around the same period, though an Atari ST version (advertised and priced at £24.99) never saw the light of day. The Spectrum version of Wonder Boy would later be bundled with issue 48 of Your Sinclair as Smash Tape 24.

Following the release of this game, the Wonder Boy series notably branched off into two different series during the late 1980s. Escape (now Westone) initially signed a deal with Sega which gave Sega the rights to the names and characters featured in Wonder Boy, however Westone still had control over the source code, meaning the game could be brought to other systems in different forms. Westone's contract with Hudson Soft meant that Wonder Boy was brought to the Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Boy under the name of Adventure Island (Takahashi Meijin no Bouken Jima in Japan).

Adventure Island was a success for Hudson Soft, and so many sequels were produced starting with Adventure Island 2. Most Adventure Island games build on the gameplay seen in Wonder Boy, and are seen by many to be the true lineage of the series. For Sega, Westone radically changed the Wonder Boy formula with the 1987 release of Wonder Boy in Monster Land, which in-turn led to another split in creative direction. The 1988 release of Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair is often cited as the official end of the classic Wonder Boy lineage - subsequent games would market themselves as sequels to Wonder Boy in Monster Land (Monster World), known in Japan as Monster World II, Monster World III and Monster World IV.

In its original arcade form, Wonder Boy has only been re-released once since 1986 - it was featured in the 2007 release of Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 29: Monster World Complete Collection alongside its SG-1000 and Master System counterparts (and other games in the "series").

Hints

Magazine articles

Main article: Wonder Boy/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Wonder Boy/Promotional material.

Artwork

  • WonderBoy Art.jpg
  • WonderBoy Art RevengeOfDranconCover.png

Physical scans

Arcade version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
50 [15]
Arcade
 50
Based on
1 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Arcade
 N/A
Based on
0 reviews

Wonder Boy

System 1, US
WonderBoy System1 US Marquee.jpg
System 1, JP
WonderBoy System1 JP InstructionCard.jpg

SG-1000 version

SG-1000, JP
Wonder Boy Box JP.jpg
Cover
Wonder Boy SG-1000 JP MyCard Back.jpgWonderBoy SG1000 JP Card.jpg
Card
Wonder Boy SG-1000 JP Manual.pdf
Manual
Wonder Boy SG-1000 JP Inside.pdf
Inside
SG-1000, TW

Master System version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
79 [16]
80 [17]
80 [18]
80 [19]
60 №23, p60
84 [20]
Sega Master System
 77
Based on
6 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
79
[16]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
80
[17]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK) PAL
80
[18]
Computer Action (DK)
100
[21]
Console XS (UK) PAL
81
[22]
Happy Computer (DE)
79
[23]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
80
[19]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
50
[24]
Sega Pro (UK)
84
[20]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
81
[25]
Soft (DK)
80
[26]
Tilt (FR)
70
[27]
Sega Master System
 79
Based on
12 reviews

Wonder Boy

Master System, US
WonderBoy SMS US cover.jpg
Cover
Wonderboy sms us manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, EU
WonderBoy EU cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, EU
® variant
WonderBoy EU R cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, EU
"No Limits" variant
WonderBoy SMS EU nolimits cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, JP
WonderBoy SMS JP backcover.jpgNospine.pngWonderBoy SMS JP cover.jpg
Cover
Wonderboy sms jp cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, AU

WonderBoy SMS AU Cart.jpg
Cart
WonderBoySMSAUManual.pdf
Manual
Master System, BR
WonderBoy SMS BR cover.jpg
Cover
WonderBoy SMS BR Cart.jpg
Cart
WonderBoySMSBrManual.pdf
Manual
Master System, KR
WonderBoy SMS KR cover.jpg
Cover

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
90 [28]
77 №13
73 [29]
89 [30]
94 №13, p132
60 №23, p61
84 [20]
87 №19, p91
Sega Game Gear
 82
Based on
8 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
80
[31]
Consoles + (FR)
90
[28]
Console XS (UK) PAL
84
[32]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
63
[6]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
64
[33]
Games-X (UK)
77
[34]
Génération 4 (FR)
73
[29]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
60
[35]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
60
[36]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
89
[30]
Joystick (FR)
94
[37]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
70
[38]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
61
[39]
Play Time (DE)
76
[40]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
50
[41]
Sega Pro (UK)
84
[20]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
84
[42]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
69
[43]
Supersonic (FR)
89
[44]
Zero (UK)
87
[45]
Sega Game Gear
 75
Based on
20 reviews

Wonder Boy

Game Gear, US
Wonder Boy GG US back.jpgNospine.pngWonder Boy GG US front.jpg
Cover
RevengeofDrancon GG US Cart.jpg
Cart
Game Gear, EU
WonderBoy GG EU Box Back.jpgNospine.pngWonder Boy GG EU front.jpg
Cover
Wonder Boy GG EU cart.jpg
Cart
Game Gear, JP
WonderBoy GG JP Box Back.jpgWonderBoy GG JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
WonderBoy GG JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Wonderboy Game Gear JP Manual.pdf
Manual
Game Gear, BR
WonderBoy GG BR Box.jpg
Cover
Wonder Boy GG BR cart.jpg
Cart
Wonderboy gg br manual.pdf
Manual

Amstrad CPC version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
64 [8]
Amstrad CPC
 64
Based on
1 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Computer & Video Games (UK)
64
[8]
Amstrad CPC
 64
Based on
1 review

Wonder Boy

Amstrad CPC, UK (cassette)
WonderBoy CPC UK Box Cassette.jpg
Cover
Amstrad CPC, UK (disk)
WonderBoy CPC EU cover.jpg
Cover
Amstrad CPC, UK (The Hit Squad)
WonderBoy CPC EU hitsquad cover.jpg
Cover
Amstrad CPC, ES (cassette)
WonderBoy CPC ES Box Cassette.jpg
Cover
Amstrad CPC, ES (disk)
WonderBoy CPC ES Box Disk.jpg
Cover

Commodore 64 version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
70 [46]
62 [8]
60 [47]
52 [48]
Commodore 64
 61
Based on
4 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Commodore Force (UK)
63
[49]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
70
[50]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
62
[8]
Your Commodore (UK)
50
[51]
Zzap!64 (UK)
52
[48]
Commodore 64
 59
Based on
5 reviews

Wonder Boy

Commodore 64, UK (cassette)
WonderBoy C64 EU cassette cover.jpg
Cover
Commodore 64, UK (disk)
WonderBoy C64 EU disk cover.jpg
Cover
Commodore 64, UK (The Hit Squad)
WonderBoy C64 EU hitsquad cover.jpg
Cover
WonderBoy C64 EU hitsquad cassette.jpg
Cassette
Commodore 64, AU (cartridge)
WonderBoy C64 AU backcover.jpgNospine.pngWonderBoy C64 AU cover.jpg
Cover
Wonder Boy C64 AU cart.jpg
Cart

ZX Spectrum version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
60 [8]
43 [52]
72 [53]
67 [54]
ZX Spectrum
 61
Based on
4 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Crash (UK)
43
[55]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
60
[8]
Sinclair User (UK)
72
[53]
Tilt (FR)
50
[56]
Your Sinclair (UK)
70
[57]
Your Sinclair (UK)
67
[54]
ZX Spectrum
 60
Based on
6 reviews

Wonder Boy

ZX Spectrum, UK
WonderBoy Spectrum EU cover.jpg
Cover
WonderBoy Spectrum EU cassette.jpg
Cassette
ZX Spectrum, UK (The Hit Squad)
WonderBoy Spectrum EU hitsquad cover.jpg
Cover
WonderBoy Spectrum EU hitsquad cassette.jpg
Cassette
ZX Spectrum, UK (Smash Tape 24)
SmashTape24 Spectrum UK Box.jpg
Cover
ZX Spectrum, ES
WonderBoy Spectrum ES cover.jpg
Cover
WonderBoy Spectrum ES Cassette.jpg
Cassette
ZX Spectrum, ES black variant
WonderBoy Spectrum ES black cover.jpg
Cover

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
SG-1000
 ?
CRC32 160535c5
MD5 76f29fee0cd3af921e488a276dace636
SHA-1 4a54933135cdff546fd79cbc61a38355f7335f3f
32kB Cartridge (JP)
SG-1000
 ?
CRC32 e8f0344d
MD5 d26fabfe84ad40ae04a2cd3dc6cf75df
SHA-1 240600a0dda16809f49b173f731c7fdaf921466a
32kB Cartridge (JP) (Alt)
SG-1000
 ?
CRC32 953fc2b2
MD5 d6fab98601ade59cf90a500c05446163
SHA-1 8f261b955162c179fe4c936ece767bbf25c4888c
32kB Cartridge (TW)
Sega Master System
 ?
CRC32 73705c02
MD5 7e805aa51bfb5f206c950a32ebcdab7c
SHA-1 63149f20bf69cd2f24d0e58841fcfcdace972f49
128kB Cartridge (EU/US)
Sega Master System
 ?
CRC32 e2fcb6f3
MD5 a4e48850bf8799cfac74b1d33f5900b5
SHA-1 14210196f454b6d938f15cf7b52076796c5d0f7d
128kB Cartridge (JP/EU)
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 ea2dd3a7
MD5 03adbea26158137de3f18d82e119c520
SHA-1 f2c546bc87c5e89719fe01a59142bb3250861b83
128kB Cartridge (EU)
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 9977fcb3
MD5 917c3e4f4c50d6506e64e2f05b945d9c
SHA-1 7ff0f0757c7b2e84d99a4291656d74a20ec2651d
128kB Cartridge (JP)
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 03e9c607
MD5 c985b4316d8d58e48e2dc61264ab0071
SHA-1 286f673b11739d624899479216e30b58efd049be
128kB Cartridge (US)

External links

References

  1. ↑ https://sega-interactive.co.jp/special/history/title/wonderboy.html
  2. ↑ ACE, "January 1989" (UK; 1989-xx-xx), page 167
  3. ↑ Sega Power, "July 1991" (UK; 1991-06-06), page 20
  4. ↑ Raze, "September 1991" (UK; 1991-07-25), page 16
  5. ↑ Raze, "September 1991" (UK; 1991-07-25), page 77
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Electronic Gaming Monthly, "June 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 24
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Computer & Video Games, "June 1987" (UK; 1987-05-15), page 57
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 Computer & Video Games, "June 1990" (UK; 1990-05-16), page 66
  9. ↑ https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/software/07.html (Wayback Machine: 2018-03-05 23:01)
  10. ↑ http://vc.sega.jp:80/vc_ms_wonderboy/ (Wayback Machine: 2008-04-07 04:20)
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 http://www.nintendolife.com/games/mastersystem/wonder_boy (Wayback Machine: 2017-06-09 03:48)
  12. ↑ https://archive.is/k3NDq
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/J1zyLWJ7bKB2BXWdHLT8n9_IUzxujGga (Wayback Machine: 2010-11-23 00:44)
  14. ↑ http://www.nintendo.com.au/index.php?action=catalogue&prodcat_id=42&prod_id=19906&pageID=4 (Wayback Machine: 2012-03-28 01:04)
  15. ↑ Commodore User, "April 1987" (UK; 1987-03-26), page 98-99 (98)
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Complete Guide to Consoles, "" (UK; 1989-10-16), page 76
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 110
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 63
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 136
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 Sega Pro, "April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-19), page 31
  21. ↑ Computer Action, "Juli/August 89" (DK; 1989-0x-xx), page 36
  22. ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 146
  23. ↑ Happy Computer, "Sonderheft #21: (4. Spiele-Sonderheft)" (DE; 1987-1x-xx), page 110
  24. ↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 60
  25. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72
  26. ↑ Soft, "" (DK; 1988-02-18), page 31
  27. ↑ Tilt, "Janvier 1988" (FR; 198x-xx-xx), page 64
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Consoles +, "Tilt Hors-Serie" (FR; 1991-07-xx), page 115
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Génération 4, "Février 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 110
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Hobby Consolas, "Octubre 1991" (ES; 1991-xx-xx), page 43
  31. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "February 1991" (JP; 1991-01-08), page 84
  32. ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 149
  33. ↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 171
  34. ↑ Games-X, "18th-24th July 1991" (UK; 1991-07-18), page 39
  35. ↑ Hippon Super, "January 1991" (JP; 1990-12-04), page 43
  36. ↑ Hippon Super, "February 1991" (JP; 1991-01-07), page 42
  37. ↑ Joystick, "Février 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 132
  38. ↑ Micromanía (segunda época), "Noviembre 1991" (ES; 1991-1x-xx), page 45
  39. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 143
  40. ↑ Play Time, "6/92" (DE; 1992-05-06), page 88
  41. ↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 61
  42. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 75
  43. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 88
  44. ↑ Supersonic, "Septembre 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 29
  45. ↑ Zero, "May 1991" (UK; 1991-0x-xx), page 91
  46. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "August 1987" (UK; 1987-07-15), page 24-25 (24)
  47. ↑ Your Commodore, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-xx), page 36-37 (36)
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 Zzap!64, "August 1987" (UK; 1987-07-09), page 28
  49. ↑ Commodore Force, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-06-24), page 22
  50. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "August 1987" (UK; 1987-07-15), page 24
  51. ↑ Your Commodore, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-xx), page 36
  52. ↑ Crash, "August 1987" (UK; 1987-07-30), page 82-83 (82)
  53. ↑ 53.0 53.1 Sinclair User, "June 1990" (UK; 1990-05-18), page 26
  54. ↑ 54.0 54.1 Your Sinclair, "June 1990" (UK; 1990-05-xx), page 51
  55. ↑ Crash, "August 1987" (UK; 1987-07-30), page 82
  56. ↑ Tilt, "Décembre 1987" (FR; 1987-1x-xx), page 63
  57. ↑ Your Sinclair, "August 1987" (UK; 1987-xx-xx), page 34


Wonder Boy

Wonder Boy Title.png

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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)
Wonder Boy related media
Music
 Monster World Complete Collection Original Sound Track (2007) | Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap Original Soundtrack Sampler (2018) | Wonder Boy Collection - Best Of Soundtrack (2023)
Book
 Wonder Boy V Monster World III Koushiki Guide Book (1991)
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