Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap

I had just as much fun during my six- or seven-hour playthrough of Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap as I have with many of its contemporary counterparts. While its antiquated roots cause some minor frustration with unreliable hitboxes and unnecessary grinding, the foundational combat and exploration is still engaging and fun after 30 years. From long-time Wonder Boy fans to platformer enthusiasts who’ve never heard of it until now, you’ll likely be able to find whimsical fun and a neat bit of genre history in this charming adventure.

Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap may be out of its time – it's rock hard, a little obtuse, and won't lead you by the hand – but benefits from a stylish and sensitive makeover that stays painstakingly true to the mechanically perfect original. The Dragon's Trap is a remarkable thing, then. Not only is it a retro remake that's actually not crap, it's as good as the day it first came out and even holds its own against modern releases.

If you’re looking for the areas in which Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap falls short, you can look back to the original title and find clunky, outdated gameplay. However, everything that has been altered by Lizardcube is truly excellent. I really hope they go on to make an original title after this as they have done a lot of great work here. The score is most pleasing and the aesthetic sublime, but gameplay is so important and here it leaves you wanting.