I want to share a little story with you. It’s about a very, very old console—the Sega Master System—and a single game on it that changed everything for me. The name of this legendary game? Wonder Boy in Monster Land.
First, let’s talk about the console. The Sega Master System, or SMS for short, launched in Japan as the Sega Mark III back in 1985 and hit international markets in 1986. This was Sega’s answer to the Nintendo Famicom, or NES. But here’s the thing: in North America, it wasn’t nearly as popular as the NES. In Europe and Brazil, however? It was huge. I was one of the kids who had the Sega Master System, not the NES. And because I had it, I discovered a game that was truly revolutionary to me, one that I have the most nostalgic memories of.
That game was Wonder Boy in Monster Land. Now, the original Wonder Boy (1986) was a pure side-scrolling platformer. But this sequel, released in 1987, was the first in the series to introduce RPG elements. We’re talking gold, shops, armor upgrades, and even branching paths, all while keeping that fast-paced arcade-style action.
This was one of the very earliest games to merge platforming with RPG mechanics. It had persistent progression, meaning you could upgrade your weapons, armor, and magic—a total rarity for arcade games at the time. It really paved the way for future action RPGs. The music was amazing, and the game was just absolutely charming. It was the first time for many gamers, including me, that it truly felt like you were going on a grand adventure.
It had its weirdly memorable quirks, too. Most 8-bit games just had enemies disappear or explode. Wonder Boy in Monster Land was… different. I’d even say a little dark. Almost every enemy had a special, one-frame death picture. The best example is the slow mushroom enemy. When you hit it with your sword, its face changes to show this look of pure pain and crying horror right before it disappears. For such a colorful game, it gave it this strange, dark feeling.
Because the console was kind of “niche” in the US, where Nintendo had 83% of the market, this game’s popularity was held back. If you were in Europe, you probably played it. For those of us who did, it’s a game that will forever be embedded in our memory.
Retro gaming is all about reliving those memories. It’s crazy, but I still have a crystal-clear image in my head of a friend coming over with the game. I remember the case, sitting on a table in the balcony area near the living room. I remember playing it in the afternoon. Ask me to remember anything else from that time, and I’ve got nothing. But I remember that day. That’s the power of these games.
If you want to experience it, the most recent official release was in 2022 as part of the Wonder Boy Collection for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4. It includes the original arcade version, and it’s a fantastic way to see why this game is considered one of, if not the first, action RPGs.