The Gamer's Quarter

dessgeega

in the mood to play some wonder boy in monster land, i tried to find a copy of bikkuriman world, the anime-licensed pc-engine port of the game. the cheapest i found it was for fifteen dollars, which - i realized - is about half the price i could get the new sega ages monster world ps2 collection for.

i havn't made up my mind yet, but the monster world series comprises a bunch of excellent games.

a brief history lesson: ages ago, the world of wonder boy - a kid in a loin cloth who hurtles through a fast-paced version of super mario bros. - was torn asunder, split into hudson's adventure island series and sega's monster world series. the monster world series looked inward and found for itself a new identity.

wonder boy in monster land is a wonderful platform adventure game that plays next to nothing like the original wonder boy. in this game, wonder boy (his loincloth replaced by a diaper) braves a monster-infested world, purchasing weapons and armor, boots that increase his speed, and liquor from a grinning lizard barkeeper. in spite of the upgrading, it's a fast-paced game - an arcade release. and the real hilights are the bosses - pajamaed demons who swoop down at you from the air, hopping mushrooms who seed the ground with their mushroom babies. it got a home release on the master system, and - with the bikkuriman license - on the pc-engine.

monster world II - the dragon's trap - is set immediately after monster land and is in fact a cadashalike. you begin by playing through a lite version of monster land's final dungeon, then fight a lite version of monster land's final boss. at its death, the monster curses wonder boy, transforming him into a dragon. now he needs to wander a big, consistant world, slaying dragons and transforming into new forms, which grant him new abilities. it's a very ambitious and playable game. it too received a master system and pc-engine release.

monster world III is, honestly, my least favorite game in the series, not as interesting as monster world II or as playable as monster world IV. it mimics the original monster land's gameplay but not its fast pace, and involves a lot of shuffling back and forth between areas. it's a mega drive and genesis title, and was released for the pce super cd-rom as "dynastic hero".

though it is styled similiarly to the previous game, monster world IV is something else entirely. it's a linear platforming adventure game (with a hub world, where the plot develops) for the mega drive. it is gorgeous and amazing, dressed up in an arabian nights aesthetic. the protagonist, arsha, has a small blue companion creature she can use to float, double-jump, and more as the game permits. it's a lovely game, and i wouldn't mind replaying it, as i've never quite finished the last dungeon.

there's also wonder boy III - monster lair (monster world III is wonder boy IV), an arcade title that's more similiar to the original wonder boy than any of the monster world games. it's an autoscrolling platforming shooter - in fact, the second half of each stage has you fly and shoot enemies. it has two-player co-op, and isn't a bad game at all. it was released on the mega drive and (i think) genesis, as well as the pce super cd-rom.

so that's the series. all of these games are on the sega ages disc, in various forms (wonder boy in monster land, for example, can be played in its arcade original, master system, game gear or sg-1000 versions), plus the original wonder boy. i am going to mull over buying it, and everyone else can talk about what great games these are.
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JasonMoses · . Joined: 15 Oct 2004 Posts: 407

You really, really need to get the Monster World Collection. You mentioned in another thread that the Konami Arcade Collection for the DS is the "rare compilation that gets everything right," which sounds like the perfect way to describe Monster World collection. The extra features consist of stuff like original scans of the sheet music for several games, multiple superplays of Monster World and design documents. It's also $30 or so, which is ridiculously cheap for an import game.

SuperWes · Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 11:07 pm Post subject:

Mister Toups · Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 12:29 am Post subject:

JasonMoses · . Joined: 15 Oct 2004 Posts: 407

It doesn't have every version, but it has most of them. It's missing the european version of Super Wonder Boy in Monster World, and the PC-Engine version of Monster's Trap, among others, but it's remarkably thorough otherwise. As far as the language-barrier is concerned, the only game that isn't in English that I'd recommend hunting down the translation patch for and playing seperately is MWIV. Other than that, you should be fine, wes.

SuperWes · Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 8:17 am Post subject:

Ok! Just bought it to make myself feel better about spending $200 on John Mayer tickets.

-Wes
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Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

I was super excited about this game's release for a long time. And then the same thing happen with the Treasure Box, I don't feel compelled to get it right away. I mean, I will get it and love it (wonder boy iii!!!) but it's going to be when I want to play it. I have quite a list of games I'm working on right now and it will be a while until I get to it.
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“The average man has a secret desire to be a swaggering, drunken, fighting, raping swashbuckler.”
-Robert E. Howard in a letter to a friend circa Decmber 1932

"There is no place in this enterprise for a rogue physicist!"

dessgeega · Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 9:23 pm Post subject:

important question!

what's the manual for the monster world disc like? because i've been flipping through the enormous manual for the treasure box after playing alien soldier. it has a complete manual for each game on the disc, full color and with lots of illustrations. is the monster world manual like that?

other crucial question: ps2 saturn pad compatible?
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aerisdead · . Joined: 03 Dec 2006 Posts: 254 Location: Toronto, Canada

You're just stalling. It obviously has both of those things.
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aerisdead

dessgeega · Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 4:59 am Post subject:

so that's a "yes"?
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aerisdead · . Joined: 03 Dec 2006 Posts: 254 Location: Toronto, Canada

I'm not entirely sure, but it can't be any less complete than the Treasure Box. I think I've seen reviews that do state these things are true. Tim Rogers'?
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aerisdead

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

Do you mean by works with the Saturn PS2 pad that it has a custom controller scheme just for the saturn pad? Because it's obviously going to work with it.

Also, yeah, now that you mention it I'm a bit curious about the manual too. I love what they did with the manuals.

Seriously, the Treasure Box is really an amazing thing. It's the criterion of games. I think that criterion (janus games!) should get into this market.
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“The average man has a secret desire to be a swaggering, drunken, fighting, raping swashbuckler.”
-Robert E. Howard in a letter to a friend circa Decmber 1932

"There is no place in this enterprise for a rogue physicist!"

dessgeega · Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 8:36 am Post subject:

aerisdead · . Joined: 03 Dec 2006 Posts: 254 Location: Toronto, Canada

he specifically sez the manual is lovely in that review, man.

Also:

Shaper, I'm considering "collecting" the Sega Ages titles. I certainly want to pick up Monster World, Decathalete, Dynamite Deka and Panzer Dragoon, for example.

They're almost all OOS on Play Asia now though ;_;
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aerisdead

SuperWes · Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 8:56 am Post subject:

aerisdead · . Joined: 03 Dec 2006 Posts: 254 Location: Toronto, Canada

I didn't know it existed either until I was linked by someone who I won't name for some reason or other.

He might have mentioned it on Selectbutton? But I quit it so I wouldn't know.
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aerisdead

Nana Komatsu · weak sauce Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1293

He indirectly asked me for help with this website. Which is to say he bitched to me about how hard writing wordpress templates can be, and hoped I would say "I will write it for you oh great and wonderful Tim Rogers who has clearly had hundreds of japanese girlfriends".
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resetbutton.net: videogames for unattractive people

JamesE · Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 12:40 pm Post subject:

Hi aerisdead I was looking for this thread

There was a Wonder Boy strip in the European Sonic the Comic, two series. It was pretty bad but you know, if you're a Wonder Boy completist it can be found online via googling "STC archive".

I'd like a collection disc of games that are like decap attack. Kid Kool,.Psycho Fox, that magical top hat adventure one with the bizarre Dizzy the Egg cameo.
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JasonMoses · . Joined: 15 Oct 2004 Posts: 407

Oh goodness.

JamesE · Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 1:15 pm Post subject:

Does the fact you didn't quote me mean I win?
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dhex · Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 1:24 pm Post subject:

dessgeega · Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 5:58 pm Post subject:

okay. i bought it.
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Mister Toups · Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 9:15 pm Post subject:

Mister Toups · Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 9:19 pm Post subject:

108 · . Joined: 26 Jan 2005 Posts: 60

dark steve · . Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 1110

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dessgeega · Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 12:48 am Post subject:

please, 108, put up a link. it would really mean a lot to me.
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108 · . Joined: 26 Jan 2005 Posts: 60

well, if you're going to roll your eyes it doesn't come across as too sincere . . . . . . Sad

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www.largeprimenumbers.com
www.insertcredit.com

dessgeega · Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 12:53 am Post subject:

i am asking you very sincerely.
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chompers po pable · . Joined: 10 Nov 2005 Posts: 142

tim that banner's gotta go. if i had time i'd draw you one (for money, you leech Wink

), though yeah.

edit--on second thought, i don't know...it's got a kind of lo-fi rugged charm to it maybe.

JasonMoses · . Joined: 15 Oct 2004 Posts: 407

Nana Komatsu · weak sauce Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1293

108 · . Joined: 26 Jan 2005 Posts: 60

aerisdead · . Joined: 03 Dec 2006 Posts: 254 Location: Toronto, Canada

108 · . Joined: 26 Jan 2005 Posts: 60

Mister Toups · Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 4:18 pm Post subject:

JasonMoses · . Joined: 15 Oct 2004 Posts: 407

dessgeega · Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2007 2:43 am Post subject:

i reviewed this disc in my new blog!

there's actually not a lot there that's not in this thread already, since it pretty much delivered everything that was promised, and the original post was basically the first draft of what i wrote about the games. i just wanted to link my new blog again. it's relevant!
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Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

So are the video options still all included (remove flicker/leave flicker, and 480p and the like?)
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“The average man has a secret desire to be a swaggering, drunken, fighting, raping swashbuckler.”
-Robert E. Howard in a letter to a friend circa Decmber 1932

"There is no place in this enterprise for a rogue physicist!"

dessgeega · Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 9:14 am Post subject:

yup.
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