Don’t forget your skateboard
ININ Games hasannounced a release datefor its upcoming retro compendiumWonder Boy Collection.The quartet of qutesy adventures will be available to purchase on PS4 and Nintendo Switch from June 3, available in both digital and physical formats.
Developed by indie outfit Bliss Brain, theWonder Boy Collectionfeatures four titles pulled from the legendary adventures of Ryuichi Nishizawa’s fantasy explorer. First on the agenda is 1986’sWonder Boy, which tasks players with guiding our caveman hero through the slippiest, skiddiest platform adventure ever designed. The second title is 1987’sWonder Boy in Monster Land, a classic arcade actioner that introduced typical RPG elements, as well as a fantasy-themed sword-and-sorcery universe.
Next up is the 1991 arcadeWonder Boy in Monster World,in which the adventurous Shion is guided by four friendly spirits on a quest to defeat the troublesome BioMeka and their army of magical monsters. The fourth title in Wonder Boy Collection is 1994’sMonster World IV, which sees new protagonist Asha set out to rescue the four friendly spirits captured by a roving party of evil sorcerers. This entry remained confined to the Sega Mega Drive platform until its latter-day re-release on Nintendo Wii, followed by afull remake in 2020.
While a pretty fun package of titles, it can’t be denied that — for licensing and other reasons — so much is missing here.Wonder Boy Collectiondoesnotfeature the best game in the series, 1989’sWonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap, nor does it feature the legendary home ports of the first three titles, the Dotemu remakes, nor 2018’s pseudo-sequelMonster Boy and The Cursed Kingdom. As such, it’s difficult for ININ Games to warrant that “Collection” moniker.
Wonder Boy Collectionlaunches on PS4 and Nintendo Switch June 3.
