Wonder Boy (prototype?) - MAME machine

Arcade Video game published 38 years ago:

Wonder Boy © 1986 Sega.

Wonder Boy is a horizontally-scrolling run 'n' jump game featuring a tribal-like boy whose girlfriend, Tina, has been kidnapped by the dark King. The player must guide Wonder Boy through seven areas, each consisting of four rounds, to reach the dark king and rescue his girlfriend.

The game scrolls from left to right and each round is full of platforms and obstacles to negotiate, as well as numerous enemies that must either be avoided or killed. Wonder Boy's vitality (health) constantly depletes and he must collect the fruit that regularly appears to keep his vitality topped up.

Enemies can only be killed after Wonder Boy has armed himself with a stone hammer. The hammer and other items can be found in large eggs that occasionally appear. Running into the eggs breaks them and releases their contents. Other items include a skateboard with which Wonder Boy can rush through the levels and survive one attack by an enemy and an angel that offers temporary protection and allows him to destroy foes by simply running into them.

There are also eggs that contain unpleasant surprises, including curses that deplete vitality at a faster rate or poisonous mushrooms that remove all of Wonder Boy's vitality in one go. These Bad eggs can be easily spotted, as they are covered in red spots.

There is also one doll to collect in each round that doubles the bonus points awarded at the end of the stage. If all 28 dolls are collected, an eighth area will be unlocked. The game's stages are made up of forests, hills, oceans, caves, ice palaces and occasionally mountains lands.

At the end of every area (after every forth round), Wonder Boy will encounter an incarnation of the chief antagonist as a boss character. Once defeated, the mighty lord's mask flies off and transforms into a bonus item, such as a tea cup or a piece of fruit, for the boy to collect. The evil witch doctor then makes his escape.

TECHNICAL
Game ID: 315-5135

Runs on the Sega "System 1" hardware.

Players: 2
Control: 2-way joystick
Buttons: 2

TRIVIA
Wonder Boy was released in April 1986 in Japan.

Licensed by Escape.

Chris E McClard holds the official record for this game, on factory setting, with 1,217,240 points on 06/05/2005.

TIPS AND TRICKS

• Round 8: If you manages to finish the game (Round 7 area 4) without forgetting any of the sweet little faces that multiply the vitality at the end of the screen, you can enjoy the Round 8.

SERIES

• Wonder Boy [Model 315-5135] (1986, Arcade)
• Wonder Boy in Monster Land [Model 317-0043] (1987, Arcade)
• Wonder Boy III - Monster Lair [Model 317-0084] (1988, Arcade)
• Wonder Boy III - The Dragon's Trap (1989, Master System)
• Wonder Boy V - Monster World III (1991, Mega Drive)
• Monster World IV (1994, Mega Drive)

PORTS

• CONSOLES:

[JP] Sega SG-1000 (1986) "Wonder Boy [Model C-69]"
[JP] Sega Mark III (mar.22, 1987) "Super Wonder Boy [Model G-1316]"
[JP] Sony PS2 (mar.8, 2007) "Monster World Complete Collection [Sega Ages 2500 Vol.29] [Model SLPM-62760]"
[JP] Sony PlayStation 4 [PSN] (jul.10, 2014) "Arcade Archives - Wonder Boy [Model CUSA-00647]"

• HANDHELDS:

[JP] Sega Game Gear (dec.8, 1990) "Wonder Boy [Model G-3205]"

• COMPUTERS:

[EU] Sinclair ZX Spectrum (1987) "Wonder Boy [Model 21255]" by Activision
[EU] Sinclair ZX Spectrum (1988) "Wonder Boy [Budget] [Model AC10]" by Hit Squad
[US] Commodore C64 (1987) "Wonder Boy [Model UDK574]"
[EU] Commodore C64 (1987)
[EU] Amstrad CPC (1987)
MSX

CONTRIBUTE
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