SEGA Vintage Collection: Monster World (XBLA): "A Retro Platforming Series That Withstood The Tests Of Time!"

Once again I find myself diving head first into a collection of retro game titles that were produced by the gaming giant, Sega. Growing up in the 80's, and 90's I did hear of the "Monster World" games, and I distinctly recall seeing an image from "Monster World IV" on one of my GameFan magazine covers. Yes I did buy those gaming magazines. I just couldn't help myself. It gave me a window into the gaming universe allowing me to see such games as "Monster World IV" even though I knew I'd likely never play them in my lifetime. The awesome thing is I finally did get my chance to play "Monster World IV" along with two of the earlier titles in the series. I count myself lucky that the Sega PR was willing to give me the opportunity to review their game. As a reviewer I do get some enjoyment out of my job, but ultimately my main goal is to inform my readers about the games I play. I like sharing my hands-on knowledge as well as giving my honest opinion on whether, or not  a game is worth spending your hard earned money on. You can't be too careful these days with games being released half-arsed.

As a gamer I enjoy many different genres of video games. This allows me to review games with an open mind, and unbiased opinion when starting a playthrough. Without getting to far ahead of myself, I found that as I grew up platforming games were a hit in my family. Games similar to Sega's "Monster World" collection were constantly enjoyed by myself, my brothers, and my sisters. It's a video game genre that youngsters, and hardcore gamers all can enjoy.

Sega released their "Monster World" collection on the XBL Marketplace about two weeks ago. I'm a little late reviewing it, but definitely glad I got the chance to do so. This collection of "Monster World" games includes three unique, but similar style titles. You've got "Wonder Boy in Monster Land" which is the first game in the series. This is followed up by "Wonder Boy in Monster World", and finally there's the highly anticipated and never before released (In the U.S.) "Monster World IV". All three games have a handful of things in common such as how the various characters enter doors, the killing of monsters, boss fights, and an epic quest. Other than that each game stands on it's own with individual styles of gameplay, and visuals.

The first game in the series which is titled "Wonder Boy in Monster Land" features a cupid-like male protagonist who somehow winds up in a land that is infested with various types of monsters. Initially he sets out on his journey with nothing but a loin cloth hiding his manhood. This pretty much stays the same throughout the game's entire length, but I thought it would be humorous to bring it to everyone's attention. Getting back on track though ... after meeting up with various shop owners this boy gathers the equipment he needs to defeat the evil that plagues the land, and ultimately rescue the damsel in distress. Along the way he encounters mushroom-like minions, death, and various other monstrosities. As the gamer it is up tou you to guide this ragamuffin of a hero to his ultimate destiny. You will find various weapons (swords, bombs, magic spells ...), defense items (shields ...), and health refills/potions that will aid you in your quest. To be able to afford all of the luxuries that the various merchants have to offer there is a a way to earn cash, and that is through good old fashion monster slaying.

The second game you'll happen upon in the collection is "Wonder Boy in Monster World". This game is leagues better in both visual, and function quality. Unlike the first game this one features a lad who not only has a more anime-like appearance, but who also comes fully clothed with armor. It kind of makes you wonder if there were complaints about the boy in the first game being half naked. The world within "Wonder Boy in Monster World" has a more vivid overtone with characters, and backdrops that are more reminiscent of games from the 'Sega Genesis' era. As with the first game our pint sized hero is on a quest to save a damsel in distress. Along the way he will encounter unique characters who help to move the ever-advancing story forward. There are a more diverse array of monstrous adversaries this time around, and the bosses you will encounter are much grander in scale. You'll also find a save game feature, as well as several different puzzle solving scenarios. The game definitely has a lot more to it, and even the various inhabited buildings, and shops seem to be presented in a more visually interactive way.

Last, but certainly not least is "Monster World IV". This game is the epitome of platforming games. Unlike it's predecessors "Monster World IV" features a female character as the game's heroine/warrior. One other thing to note is that unlike the first two games this one features a fully arabesque world. Not only does the lady heroine sport a wardrobe from the middle east, but so do all of the other characters within the game. You'll even find genies within the game which further support the games mythology. The plot behind this visually interesting tale revolves around "Asha" who is the female heroine I mentioned earlier. It seems that she is at the right age to set out on her first quest as a "Warrior". Asha's people are both sad to see her go, and are also rooting for her as she initially sets out on her adventure. During her adventure she encounters a much more diverse collection of baddies who each have their own unique attack styles. Like "Wonder Boy in Monster World" this game also features larger than life bosses. Don't be afraid though, because Asha has a the proper defensive, and offensive equipment to aid her in her quest. Later on in the game she'll also gain the help of a flying creature that helps her get past certain obstacles. Aside from the generic weaponry though, Asha also has more agile attacks, and a set of abilities (rope climbing, directional slashing, magic attacks ...) that are unique solely to this game. Surviving for the long haul isn't so tough this time around.

All three games in "SEGA Vintage Collection: Monster World" feature a significant amount of extras. Each game has two modes of play including "Local", and "Trial". The game mode "Local" doesn't sound at all like what it really is. In essence it's just the game as it was years ago. Of course the graphics are enhanced to give it that nice next-gen appearance though. The "Trial" modes are modes where you race against time with certain objectives, or limitations in place in hopes of topping someone else's score. As with any Sega Vintage Collection your results in the "Trial" mode (considering you completed the task) will immediately be uploaded after you finish the given trial. There are leaderboards in each game showcasing exactly who has the current highest score, and those who rank below the leader. Aside from the two modes, and leaderboard features there are also various settings that can be tweaked. You'll find a variety of different wallpapers for each game which decorate the screen behind the actual gameplay screen. You can also set various filters that deal with the visual aspects of the game (smoothing, lines). Each game in the collection also has different console, and region versions available. In retrospect the game definitely has a lot to offer the gamer.

In closing I have to say that "SEGA Vintage Collection: Monster World" is a "Must Have!!!". Every game in this collection is both fun, and have all been beautifully restored for the newer gaming generations. All of the extras given significantly enhance what is already great about this collection. The fact that you can set the game's controls, and visuals to your liking only makes it that much better. I will admit that initially the control settings within each game don't really work that well, and seem sort of out of place on the Xbox 360 controller. After tweaking the controls just a little I was able to enjoy each game to it's fullest though. With that being said, If you do choose to change the controller setup in "Wonder Boy in Monster World" you will be in for one nasty surprise, because there are puzzles that require button input sequences that only match the initial control setup. If you have the patience to figure them out though then it works out quite well. I suggest having a pen, and paper ready to decipher the puzzle inputs. Aside from all of that the collection is brilliant, and as a lot of reviewers have already said, "Monster World IV" is a gem that should not be missed. It alone is worth the 800 msp asking price. Like I said earlier this collection is a "Must Have!!!". Not many games get such high praise from me, so it would be wise to listen.