- Blow On The Cartridge
- Posts
- Wonder Boy
Wonder Boy
When one game became two series through the magic of licensing chaos
In partnership with
PRESS START
An Introduction To Today’s Game
A caveman in a grass skirt clutches a stone hatchet. His girlfriend Tina has been kidnapped by an evil king with interchangeable heads.
The only way to save her is to sprint, jump, and skateboard through forests, caves, and beaches while your vitality bar ticks down like a doomsday clock.
Welcome to Wonder Boy, the 1987 Master System platformer that would kick off one of gaming's most beloved, yet confusing, franchises.
Originally an arcade hit by developer Escape, later known as Westone, this bright and colorful romp marked Sega's early attempt to compete with Nintendo's platforming dominance.
It also created one of the strangest licensing situations in gaming history, but we'll get to that later.
BEHIND THE PIXELS
Let’s Dive Into The Game
If you've never played Wonder Boy, imagine a platformer where standing still is just as dangerous as jumping into a pit. This is a side scrolling action game where you control Tom-Tom, a prehistoric hero on a rescue mission.
You run from left to right through nine areas, each containing multiple stages, all while your vitality meter constantly drains. The only way to refill it is by collecting fruit scattered throughout each level.
Apples, bananas, watermelons, you name it. If your vitality hits zero, you lose a life. No fruit means no progress. This mechanic transforms Wonder Boy into something more urgent than Super Mario Bros.
You can't take your time exploring or planning your next move. You're always racing against your own health bar.
The game gives you a stone hatchet as your primary weapon, but it has limited range due to gravity. You'll also find a skateboard that lets you zoom through levels at breakneck speed, though controlling it is easier said than done.
Invincibility power-ups appear occasionally, turning you into an angel who can destroy enemies on contact. But these moments are fleeting. Most of your time is spent carefully timing jumps, avoiding snails, bats, and rolling rocks, all while keeping an eye on that vitality meter.
Combat isn't the focus here. Avoidance is.
The level design leans heavily on platforming. You'll navigate flat plains, hop across floating platforms, and dodge environmental hazards. It's repetitive by modern standards.
There aren't many surprises once you've played through the first few areas. The real challenge comes from the physics. Unlike Super Mario Bros., where you can adjust your trajectory mid-air, Wonder Boy commits you to every jump.
Once you leap, you're locked in. This makes precision paramount and mistakes costly. Boss encounters happen every four rounds, where the evil king appears with different animal heads. These fights break up the formula slightly but don't add much variety.
Graphically, Wonder Boy makes excellent use of the Master System's color palette. Everything is bright, cheerful, and whimsical.
The sprites are charming even if the animation is limited. The music is catchy and upbeat, fitting the tropical island vibe. Technically, the game holds up well for 1987. It's a faithful port of the arcade original with two bonus areas added exclusively for the home version.
Tech moves fast, but you're still playing catch-up?
That's exactly why 200K+ engineers working at Google, Meta, and Apple read The Code twice a week.
Here's what you get:
Curated tech news that shapes your career - Filtered from thousands of sources so you know what's coming 6 months early.
Practical resources you can use immediately - Real tutorials and tools that solve actual engineering problems.
Research papers and insights decoded - We break down complex tech so you understand what matters.
All delivered twice a week in just 2 short emails.
GAME INFORMATION
|  |
WHERE TO PLAY
The original is part of the Wonder Boy Collection, which was released in 2022 for the Switch and PS4/5.
Original Copies of the Game (All prices in USD)
Loose: $21
Complete: $44
New/Sealed: $90
COVER ART
RETRO NEWS
RetroAchievements brings Wii support, adding achievements to over 180 classic titles
RetroAchievements adds Wii support with achievements via Dolphin emulator integration — Read more here
Fan-made Alien vs Predator revival concept imagines a modern return for Capcom’s arcade classic
Concept art shows a modern revival of Capcom’s Alien vs Predator arcade game — Read more here
Retro Fighters turns to fans for investment as it looks to expand its retro controller business
Retro Fighters launches fan investment campaign to expand its growing retro controller business — Read more here
Now Men Can Fight Eye Bags From Home
Worried about eyebags, dark spots and wrinkles? Particle Face Cream is the #1 selling solution for men to tackle these issues. Boasting over 1,000,000 satisfied customers, Particle is easy, effective and worth adding to your routine. Get 20% off now with the code BH20!
GAME OVER
Why You Should Play This
Why play Wonder Boy today? Honestly, for most people, the answer is curiosity. This is the game that started it all, the foundation upon which the superior sequels like Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap were built.
It's also the spiritual ancestor of Hudson Soft's Adventure Island series on the NES, created through a licensing loophole that let Escape reskin their own game for Nintendo's console. If you're interested in gaming history or want to understand how the Wonder Boy franchise evolved, this is where you begin.
But let's be clear. The controls feel stiff by modern standards. The level design gets repetitive. The physics take patience.
If you're looking for pure fun, skip ahead to the later entries. If you want to play it, the 2022 Wonder Boy Collection on Switch and PlayStation is your best bet, offering save states and rewind features to soften the brutal difficulty. Otherwise, grab some fruit, hold on to that skateboard, and prepare for a brisk jog through gaming's late eighties. Just don't expect perfection.
SUPPORT
This is a passion project made with love, and every open or read means the world.
If you’d like to show extra support, you can use the button below.
RETRO HARDWARE
Miyoo Flip V2 Retro Handheld Game Console
The Miyoo Flip V2 is a tiny clamshell retro handheld that lets you carry a whole library of classic games in your pocket. With a bright screen, solid controls, and the nostalgic flip design we all remember, it’s perfect for quick gaming sessions anywhere. Click the picture to check it out. My readers can use the following code for a 12% discount: NY12
Our merch shop is online! Check out the new designs below.
Reply