The statement that "the telephone is for making calls and sending messages" has long since devalued. Users and developers know it very well, which is why every year more and more mobile games appear on the market. This state of affairs is also conducive to the adaptation of slightly older titles. An example of such a remake is Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap , which I had the opportunity to play on iOS 12.
Since I was introduced to the world of games relatively recently, I did not have the opportunity to play the original. To make a fair judgment and evaluate the work of the Lizardcube team, I had to do some research and find information about the original.
Well, a classic!
I figured out that an 8-bit platformer 1989 Wonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap was an absolutely cult title in some circles of players. Thanks to the Westone studio, the owners of SEGA consoles played the role of a “great boy” or “great girl” and set off in search of a dragon. After killing the reptile, the situation got worse instead of better. This reptile wielded magical powers and cast a spell on the daredevil. As a result of the curse, the hero transformed into a lizard-man. From then on, the player’s goal was to take the spell off himself.
How is it done?
Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap is an almost exact copy of the game from 20 years ago. Of course, the appearance was refreshed – the 8-bit sprites were replaced with hand-drawn graphics, but the rules and plot remained the same.
The mechanics of the game are not complicated. We move on a two-dimensional board, collect collectibles, avoid enemy attacks and explore the map with numerous traps. The beginning of the campaign can be confusing. We start the game as a human being. Our inventory looks impressive: several types of weapons, magical artifacts, and so on. The aforementioned situation with the curse administered by an enraged dragon makes it a bit more difficult. We are losing our considerable instruments, but we are gaining new skills.
As the story progresses, new bosses appear on our way – they are also dragons and, just like the first reptilian opponent, they cast spells that change our physiognomy and range of possibilities. An interesting aspect is that the initially linear structure of the game changes and takes the form of a voluntary choice of path and free decision-making where we want to go. Some areas, of course, require the hero to take a specific form, so it will often happen that you will have to go back somewhere.
As for the difficulty level, I usually start with the normal one. I did the same this time. After completing two levels, I decided to make a fire test and switched to a more difficult game. Unfortunately, it turned out that my dexterity gave way to ambition and I politely returned to the original settings, because it was simply too hard for me to overcome adversities “on the harrd”.
Return to the past with one click
Something that players who remember the original will appreciate is the ability to switch to the old school view and the option to turn on the original sound. For me, it was an interesting little thing, which I mention only for your sake. Personally, I preferred the game in the new version – it is simply nicer.
Game over
After completing Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap, I probably didn’t become a fan of platformers. I understand the hype, I understand the effort put into refreshing the iconic title – if someone remembers the original, they are definitely glad to play such a new version. For me, however, the plot was not particularly surprising or addictive, and I have to judge the contemporary title, not a nostalgic sigh. The mechanics turned out to be interesting – each incarnation of the hero had a different skill. However, the necessity to return to particular parts of the location made me think of grinding too much.
