A curse turned him into a lizardman … and that was the origin of a great adventure! In this analysis of Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap we let ourselves be seduced by the nostalgia that brings us to relive this classic action and platform video game that almost 30 years after its birth, comes back to life with a beautiful remake that surprises with its beautiful section audiovisual.
Good classics never go out of style and certainly Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap is a good example of that. Almost 30 years have passed since this mythical action and platform adventure made the fans of Master System vibrate with excitement and despite the time that has passed, Ryuichi Nishizawa’s video game continues to dazzle like the first day. Yes, the passage of time is noticeable and yes, in some aspects it has lagged behind; but that magic, that ability of his to make you smile every time you overcome his most difficult obstacles, or discover one of the many transformationsTo which the hero has access, it remains there, intact!, as a good memory of that glorious time in which this classic was born. Didn’t you enjoy it at the time? This remake , or remastering depending on how you see it, because beyond the graphics and sound, little has been touched on what is playable, it is the perfect opportunity to discover one of those works that is worth trying.
In its day, the third episode of Wonder Boy was an innovative game, ahead of its time, which clearly bet on exploring increasingly labyrinthine scenarios at a level close to that of metroidvania adventures . However, unlike these, here you do not learn new skills, what you do is transform ! Become, because of a curse, a lizard man, or a swordsman mouse, a fierce lion, a piranha man or even a hawk that, of course, can take flight and travel the scenarios in a different way than the others. Each of these transformations gives us unique abilitiesEither the ability to spit fire, walk on certain surfaces, or break stone blocks; and apart from them, we can also resort to special items with which to face the many enemies that await us in the colorful fantasy world in which the action takes place. Tornadoes, boomerangs, fireballs … anything goes as long as you survive the dangers of an adventure that knows how to put you to the test.
Wonderboy The Dragon’s Trap: Launch Trailer
The Lord of the BeastsI said it before. Almost three decades have passed and as far as playable, The Dragon’s Trap continues to be a current action and platform adventure, which maintains the type, even though in many respects it is a somewhat simplistic video game compared to more recent titles. The level design , which is traced to the original, has become somewhat outdated; there are few vagaries and settings that attract attention beyond the visual, where certainly the small French studio Lizardcube has done an extraordinary job. You can see the affection, the love they profess for this great classic that they have known how to adapt to the new times with a precious audiovisual section that at key moments of the adventure, can even leave you speechless.
Facing a big boss is always fun, it’s also a challenge! But these are battles that today feel somewhat simple.
There are settings of unparalleled beauty, which captivate the senses, and are full of small details that denote the passion with which they have worked. No less spectacular are the animations of the protagonist of the adventure, who moves as if it were a cartoon movie, or the lighting effects. In the vein of other remasters / remake, at any time, by pressing a simple button, we can take a jump back in time and enjoy the action of Wonder Boy 3 with the graphics and sound of the original ; that’s when you appreciate even more the titanic work carried out by the Lizardcube team. What a change! Too bad the control system has not been refined as playable, because in some platform sections the hero, who can be a boy or a girl, does not respond with the desired precision. The same thing happens when fighting.
Despite all these years it is still a fun video gameThe hitboxes seem not to have adapted well to the new visual style of the game, generating a certain imprecision when hitting enemies with the sword. It can be frustrating at specific moments in the game. You can also see the passing of the years in the design of the final phase bosses : although aesthetically they are not bad at all, their attack mechanics are quite simplistic; they are far from the spectacular and epic that defines the fight against these rivals in more recent video games. It is the predominant tonic in this remake.
At any time we can change the graphics for the original; it is an instant action that helps to visualize the enormous work done by Lizardcube.
Visually great progress is noted; even its soundtrack, which is committed to orchestration, has managed to improve the already great musical repertoire of the original, but at a playable level, except for minor adjustments in a fight against a final enemy, it is just like the title that was born in 1989. On the one hand It’s great, I love that respect for the original work, but it also has certain drawbacks that should be taken into account. I said it before. The level design feels somewhat simple; Although there is a lot of exploration and a lot of secrets to discover, do not expect to find complex scenarios in which to lose yourself, or tough battles against the many enemies that await you here. Everything gives off the old flavor of that golden age, and as such the work should be enjoyed, without asking for more than what it already did in its day. That was not little!
What surprises me the most is that despite all these years it is still a fun video game, that hooks, that catches you during the close to five hours it can take you to complete the adventure. More if you want to unlock all the extras, there is even a gallery with beautiful illustrations of the video game, and lots of pieces of equipment with which to improve the hero’s potential; ideal to face the secret levels that are hidden in this beautiful video game.
“Okay”
Wonderboy: The Dragon’s Trap
8.5
Readers
(3)
When you work with passion and dedication, it is easy to convey those same feelings to fans, and that is exactly the greatest achievement of this remake of the classic Wonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap. Without changing practically anything about its playable base, but with an impressive face lift, this action adventure and platform is a great little nostalgic pill capable of making anyone smile who in its day, almost 30 years ago, enjoyed this great classic. Its level design and a somewhat imprecise control system make it less attractive, as the years go by, but even with those years, this is a video game that keeps all its magic intact; it’s still as fun as before.
- Great tribute to a classic; there is a lot of respect for the original work
- Despite the years it is still a very fun adventure
- Great staging. On an artistic level, and at a sound level, it is a delight
- Control system somewhat imprecise
- The passing of the years is noticeable in the level design, which is something simple
