• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

Monster World IV

O

Oni Link 666

Member
I'm playing Monster World IV for the first time ever. I just finished Shantae Risky's Revenge on Steam the other day and I have always heard how Shantae is supposed to be like Monster World IV, so this was on my mind. I got it on PS3 and I'm playing it with a Wii U Pro Controller via the PC adapter. It's pretty great. A lot of times hear about old games I missed and how they're so amazeballs, but when I actually play them, they're really not all that, but this game is so much better than I ever imagined.

I see why people compare Shantae to this. You play as a girl in a Middle Eastern-like setting with Genies and deserts and stuff and it has that sort of Zelda II and Simon's Quest kind of progression, but Mr. Bozon has said before that Shantae is more like the Parodius to Castlevania and that he didn't play Monster World until it came to PSN. And well, I'm really looking forward to Shantae and the Pirate's Curse now knowing Bozon has played Monster World IV.

At first I didn't think this game was much of a looker and maybe could have looked better on SNES or something, but the art direction really carries the graphics. There are so many little details in the environments and the animations on everything. I think it looks fantastic. The music is also really good. I really like the main theme and the different versions of it.

I just got to the end of the second dungeon and I think the biggest surprise for me has been the depth of the gameplay. I didn't know you could use your Pepelogoo for so many things. I'm having a lot of fun just running around and exploring everything I can by finding different ways to use my Pepelogoo. Do you get even more stuff as the game goes on?

I have another question. Are there breakable environments like in Castlevania or something? I've been randomly slashing at walls in hopes of finding a big chicken or roast on a platter, but I haven't found anything.
 
I recently finished Shantae: Risky's Revenge and currently playing MWIV too. Except that I've had more fun with Shantae and already want to replay it again for better times and 100% items and I have the feeling I'm going to get tired of MWIV before I finish it.

We need more Arabian-themed games with cute girl protagonists. Hey Ubisoft, wanna shake off some of your bad rep? Announce Princess of Persia.
 
I love it. It's one of the best 16-bit adventure games, which has sadly become overlooked thanks to remaining Japanese only for so many years. I was really surprised to see Sega re-release it with an official translation.
 
I prefer the less linear design of Dragon's Trap and Wonder Boy in Monster World, but generally I love Monster World IV.

It has the best combat-system and dungeon design in the series. It's also incredibly charming and the mechanics with pepelogoo are awesome (though the whole concept is a bit underdeveloped).
 
I still find it super hard to believe that Bozon never at least saw the game before making Shantae, because it's so similar in a lot of ways.
The whole Monster World series is super good and underappreciated. Really glad I got the Monster World collection for PS2 way back when.
 
Reminds me I still need to beat it, was great, but finished the first ice temple and life got caught in the way.

Started getting pretty tough around that point as well.
 
Great game, I can't believe Sega never released this in NA. I was a huge fan of the Dragon's Trap, and always wanted a spiritual successor. It took me years to find this, but it definitely that gap when I finally did.
 
Those colors <3

monster.png
 
I like it but not as much as the earlier games. Felt more linear. I wish they would kickstart a new one.
 
Aeana said:
I still find it super hard to believe that Bozon never at least saw the game before making Shantae, because it's so similar in a lot of ways.
The whole Monster World series is super good and underappreciated. Really glad I got the Monster World collection for PS2 way back when.
Click to expand...

It is weird, but I believe him when he says he never played it, because he admits that it's a Castlevania ripoff instead. I mean, why not just admit that he played MWIV then? I don't know about just seeing it. I can believe that the aesthetic was inspired by Aladdin too. They're big fans of Disney animation over there.
 
Xizk said:
I like it but not as much as the earlier games. Felt more linear. I wish they would kickstart a new one.
Click to expand...

Check out Flying Hamster 2 on Kickstarter. It's not the same game, but you'll be surprised at the similarities.

MWIV is one of my favourite games of all time. I've been writing a Wonder Boy retrospective series for SEGA Nerds these past few months, and I just have this game left to go. Sadly, my lack of spare time is stopping me from finishing it right now. :/

I can't recommend the M2 Wonder Boy collection for 360 and PS3 enough. Excellent games that should be experienced by all.
 
My favorite Monster World game. Love the sprites, love the music and the mechanics with the blue creature thing are great.
 
ALLseeingEYE said:
Great game, I can't believe Sega never released this in NA. I was a huge fan of the Dragon's Trap, and always wanted a spiritual successor. It took me years to find this, but it definitely that gap when I finally did.
Click to expand...

As a big fan of Dragon's Trap, I owe it to myself to play this!
 
Wish Bratwurst would come back. He was the OG Sega repro guy and his B&W manuals were awesome. His repro for the English patch of this game was no exception.
 
Oni Link 666 said:
I just got to the end of the second dungeon and I think the biggest surprise for me has been the depth of the gameplay. I didn't know you could use your Pepelogoo for so many things. I'm having a lot of fun just running around and exploring everything I can by finding different ways to use my Pepelogoo. Do you get even more stuff as the game goes on?

I have another question. Are there breakable environments like in Castlevania or something? I've been randomly slashing at walls in hopes of finding a big chicken or roast on a platter, but I haven't found anything.
Click to expand...

The Pepelogoo grows a little after each dungeon, which changes what it can/can't do, but you don't really gain new abilities in the same manner as previous game.

There aren't really any of those kinds of secrets, no. The other games has a lot of 'em, but MW4 is fairly light on that sort of thing.

Poimandres said:
As a big fan of Dragon's Trap, I owe it to myself to play this!
Click to expand...

ALLseeingEYE said:
Great game, I can't believe Sega never released this in NA. I was a huge fan of the Dragon's Trap, and always wanted a spiritual successor. It took me years to find this, but it definitely that gap when I finally did.
Click to expand...

You guys have played Wonder Boy in Monster World, right? If not, you should jump on it ASAP--it's much closer in style to Dragon's Trap than MW4.
 
A great game, although Dragon's Trap is still my favorite. I got hit with some gaijin protection when I played it on the PS2 MW collection but thanks to the recent official English translation, I was able to beat it. Quite a challenging game, too!

I really wish more companies would take Sega's route and translate more Japanese-only games for the Virtual Console/PSN/XBLA.
 
XNVI0ft.jpg


I have the PS2 collection too but...
English Monster World IV on PC, please, Sega !

Oni Link 666 said:
It is weird, but I believe him when he says he never played it, because he admits that it's a Castlevania ripoff instead. I mean, why not just admit that he played MWIV then? I don't know about just seeing it. I can believe that the aesthetic was inspired by Aladdin too. They're big fans of Disney animation over there.
Click to expand...

Maybe not MWIV as it wasn't released in the west at that time, but the rest of the Wonder Boy/Monster World was a pretty big series at the time of the Master System/Genesis. Really hard to pretend you have never heard of the series if you were a gamer at that time.
 
Aeana said:
I still find it super hard to believe that Bozon never at least saw the game before making Shantae, because it's so similar in a lot of ways.
The whole Monster World series is super good and underappreciated. Really glad I got the Monster World collection for PS2 way back when.
Click to expand...

Does this compilation have English language versions where available, ala the Phantasy Star Complete Collection?
 
The music got really grating after awhile. I just wanted to get to the towers already so I wouldn't have to hear the area's theme anymore.
 
I'm not crazy about this game (I don't like it as much as Dragon's Trap or what I've played of Monster Land), but I definitely enjoyed it and it's a big step up from Monster World III. Very charming all around.
 
Poimandres said:
As a big fan of Dragon's Trap, I owe it to myself to play this!
Click to expand...

I should say that it doesn't have the transformation stuff, but it's a great next game in the series type thing. Highly recommended.

@MUWANdo said:
You guys have played Wonder Boy in Monster World, right? If not, you should jump on it ASAP--it's much closer in style to Dragon's Trap than MW4.
Click to expand...

I've tried the other monster world games, but for whatever reason didn't enjoy them as much. The attack range always seemed a bit too annoyingly short from what I remember, and I thought the art style was a bit too cutesy for my liking.

Flying Hamster 2 would normally be too cutesy for me too, but I tried FH1 and it was awesome, so I'm full on hyped for FH2. THat truly looks like the first real homage to Dragon's Trap.
 
Tain said:
I'm not crazy about this game (I don't like it as much as Dragon's Trap or what I've played of Monster Land), but I definitely enjoyed it and it's a big step up from Monster World III. Very charming all around.
Click to expand...

You're the first person I've seen who liked Monster Land but apparently didn't think much of Monster World, which is weird, because Monster World is basically a remake of Monster Land with the metroidvania gameplay of Dragon's Trap.

FWIW I love every game in this series very much, they're all so different. No two games are very similar. Monster Land is probably my most played in the series, I grew up with that game. I absolutely adore it.

Kissenkopf said:
That looks super charming.

Never played the game before but now I'm curious to try it out. How is the difficulty of the game? Is it a good game to relax after work and jump around in an colorful world?
Click to expand...

Outside of small sections in specific games (The Dragon's Castle in Monster Land... the stairs...) they are all mostly pretty easy. There is one bit in Monster World III where you need to grind a bit to make the rest of the game easier (right before glagg and gragg) but it's all really smooth sailing.

Wonderboy in Monster World (aka Wonderboy IV: Monster World III) is my favorite in the series. Monster World IV is more of a return to the linear, level-based gameplay of Monster Land than the metroidvania structure of Wonderboy III: The Dragon's Trap and Wonderboy in Monster World.

ALLseeingEYE said:
I've tried the other monster world games, but for whatever reason didn't enjoy them as much. The attack range always seemed a bit too annoyingly short from what I remember, and I thought the art style was a bit too cutesy for my liking.
Click to expand...

Your attack range grows with each weapon upgrade you get in Wonderboy in Monster Land, Wonderboy III: The Dragon's Trap, and Wonderboy in Monster World.

Wonderboy in Monster World is especially bad about this early on. Your range is really short until you get a spear or a good sword like Excalibur. Luckily you get a spear in the first village run into.

Example of how your range increases:

g11T6IJ.png

Beginning of the game

Anqugy9.gif

Middle of the game

tN8oJR9.png

Late in the game
 
Krejlooc said:
Outside of small sections in specific games (The Dragon's Castle in Monster Land... the stairs...) they are all mostly pretty easy. There is one bit in Monster World III where you need to grind a bit to make the rest of the game easier (right before glagg and gragg) but it's all really smooth sailing.
Click to expand...

Thanks, exactly the game I was looking for. Some old school gaming with nice graphics and not too difficult.

You sure know a lot about the Wonder Land games!
 
Kissenkopf said:
You sure know a lot about the Wonder Land games!
Click to expand...

Wonder boy and Monster World. Two different, but linked series :D

I adore these games, I honestly believe they're the best IP sega owns. I remember dying for a 3D Wonderboy gama ala Zelda: OoT back in the day.
 
Krejlooc said:
Outside of small sections in specific games (The Dragon's Castle in Monster Land... the stairs...) they are all mostly pretty easy. There is one bit in Monster World III where you need to grind a bit to make the rest of the game easier (right before glagg and gragg) but it's all really smooth sailing.
Click to expand...

I don't agree with this.

I think that, with the sole exception of MWIV, all Monster World games are quite challenging (especially at the beginning).

Monster World IV is the only game I'd call relatively easy.
 
Krejlooc said:
Wonder boy and Monster World. Two different, but linked series :D

I adore these games, I honestly believe they're the best IP sega owns. I remember dying for a 3D Wonderboy gama ala Zelda: OoT back in the day.
Click to expand...

Sega had initialy alex kid as their mascot. Just at the time when wonderboy games were at their peak and were going to replace alex, sonic arrived. The rest is history.

I knew sega through those two, hence it was difficult to accept sonic who had no arcade roots
 
petran79 said:
Sega had initialy alex kid as their mascot. Just at the time when wonderboy games were at their peak and were going to replace alex, sonic arrived. The rest is history.

I knew sega through those two, hence it was difficult to accept sonic who had no arcade roots
Click to expand...
Wonder Boy wasn't created by Sega though.
 
IMO Wonderboy in Monster World is the easiest one, kind of rushed it (except the last boss, the overseas version is kind of brutal there). Monster World IV was a tad harder for me, especially because the levels are kinda long. but still pretty manageable.

Monster Land is harder than both, especially the last stage, I never beaten it (mainly because of the time).
 
I played this one recently on the VC and was disappointed. Dragon's Trap is still my favorite game in the series.
 
FlyingSaucer said:
XNVI0ft.jpg


I have the PS2 collection too but...
English Monster World IV on PC, please, Sega !



Maybe not MWIV as it wasn't released in the west at that time, but the rest of the Wonder Boy/Monster World was a pretty big series at the time of the Master System/Genesis. Really hard to pretend you have never heard of the series if you were a gamer at that time.
Click to expand...


You're getting into specifics I just don't know about. I can't vouch for the man's childhood gaming history and I don't remember him ever talking about the rest of the series. I grew up playing NES in the 80s and did not own any Sega systems until Sonic came out. The only Wonder Boy games I ever played back then were the arcade games. I played Zelda 2, Simon's Quest, and Metroid back in the day and I can see the influence of those games in the Shantae games and his story makes sense to me. I see why people compare Shantae to MWIV, but I don't see why he must have been influenced by the rest of the WB series and not NES games like Zelda, Metroid, and Castlevania.
 
FlyingSaucer said:
Maybe not MWIV as it wasn't released in the west at that time, but the rest of the Wonder Boy/Monster World was a pretty big series at the time of the Master System/Genesis. Really hard to pretend you have never heard of the series if you were a gamer at that time.
Click to expand...
I think it depends on where you live. In the US it's pretty easy to believe someone growing up wouldn't have heard of the Wonderboy series. Adventure Island was pretty well known though.
 
flowsnake said:
This dungeon is making me not want to play anymore. I don't understand why they thought it was necessary to add those puzzles.

I mean it's not the end of the world but it feels completely different to the first two dungeons.
Click to expand...

And there's 3 Ice Pyramids to beat before you're done here and they all have the statue puzzle too. I'm on the third one.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Warhammer 40K Dawn of War IV Release Date Trailer
3
77
Danny Dudekisser replied
Diablo: IV | The Lord of Hatred Review Thread
Analysis  2
50
978
Joramun replied
LTTP: Monster Hunter Rise
LTTP 
17
670
NanaMiku replied
SMT IV HD mod out now
13
576
StereoVsn replied
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion turns 20 today!
45
665
JimmyRustler replied
Top Bottom