Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom is a spiritual successor of sorts to the 1989 platforming and adventure game from Sega called Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap. Originally released back on systems from the Master System, Game Gear, and PC Engine to the TurboGrafx-16, Wonder Boy III widely considered by critics and players alike as one of the best games on the Master System and one of the best 8-bit games of all time. Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom has taken plenty of cues from the classic Sega game and is set for a PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch release this summer. Now, a physical version has been announced as well.
FDG Entertainment will release the game as a partnership with Sega as part of the Wonder Boy 30th Anniversary. Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom puts players in the role of a young boy named Jin, who must stop his Uncle Nabu from using his magic to continue to spread chaos across the kingdom. Along the way, you need to battle various enemies and solve puzzles to make progress.
There are six different animal transformations you can "collect" as you make your way through the game, with a unique set of abilities. For instance, the frog transformation can use its tongue to swing from posts and hoops, and the pig transformation can use its nose to sniff out hidden secrets here and there. Mostly, you’ll need to keep your wits about you from level to level as you make your way through the game.
There's a lot to see in the new Monster Boy game, and if you like difficult platformers and throwback looks, you'll find a lot to enjoy in this upcoming title, which is scheduled for release on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 in addition to the Switch version that likely has Nintendo fans hyped. If you’re looking for the perfect platformer to add to your portable gaming collection, you’ll definitely want to consider.
