Wonder Boy / Revenge of Drancon (Sega Game Gear review)

Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
Released: 1991

Wonder Boy (a.k.a Revenge of Drancon) is a 1986 Arcade action-platformer that was also ported to the Sega Master System (1987).

+ Gameplay has a satisfying rhythmic quality, and this port includes two worlds not featured in the Arcade original.

+ Lengthy adventure with just enough variety and the controls are improved over the SMS version, with less momentum.

+ Each level is broken up into four continuous areas to give the game progression and to encourage you to keep trying.

+ Your constantly depleting life metre and the need to locate food adds a fun survival element that deepens the gameplay.

- Often relies on memorisation and the caves feature platforms that blur into the background due to clashing colour palettes.

- Slowdown frequently rears its ugly head, and it's disappointing that the bosses always require the same strategy to defeat.

- Decreased screen real estate makes it difficult to plan ahead, with moving platforms / volcanoes being particular annoyances.