Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom

About Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom

Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom is a side-scrolling action RPG developed by Game Atelier and published by FDG Entertainment. Released December 4, 2018, it blends platforming, puzzle-solving, and combat across six platforms including PS4, PC, and Switch. The game pays homage to 80s and 90s retro titles, featuring vibrant visuals, catchy music, and a story where protagonist Jin battles his uncle’s curse. Jin transforms into five monsters to access new paths, defeat bosses, and collect orbs to save the kingdom. It’s a straightforward but polished homage to classic side-scrollers with modern refinements like smooth controls and tight level design.

Gameplay

The core loop revolves around Jin’s transformations, each creature (like a frog, wolf, or bird) grants unique abilities for platforming, puzzle-solving, and combat. Levels force you to experiment: use the wolf’s jumps to reach high ledges, or the bird’s flight to bypass gaps. Boss fights are methodical, requiring memorization of attack patterns and quick reflexes. Exploration is key; backtracking to previously locked areas with new forms reveals hidden upgrades and secrets. Combat mixes real-time dodging and timed button presses, though it never feels overwhelming. A typical session balances platforming challenges, exploration, and story progression. The game’s difficulty curves steadily but remains fair, with optional collectibles encouraging replay.

What Players Think

Community ratings are strong: 85/100 on Metacritic and 4.3/5 on Steam. 78% of players complete it, with an average playtime of 12 hours. Moods lean nostalgic (“Feels like a lost 90s gem”) and appreciative of its polish. Critics praise the “tight controls and clever level design” but note some repetitive enemy patterns. Achievement hunters love the 100% completion goal, which includes collecting 350+ items. The most popular post-launch content is speedrun attempts, with top times under 3 hours. Players also highlight the soundtrack as a standout, with 89% rating it “uplifting.” Only 12% of reviews mention performance issues, mostly on older consoles.

PlayPile's Take

This is a must-play for fans of retro platformers. The 85 Metacritic score and 12-hour playtime justify its price, though it’s shorter than similar titles. Transformations keep the gameplay fresh, and the story is simple but engaging. While not perfect, some boss patterns feel reused, it’s a loving tribute to Wonder Boy’s legacy. If you miss the days of side-scrolling adventure games with heart, this delivers. 100 achievements add replay value, but don’t expect a massive open world. It’s a solid, if brief, trip down memory lane.

Storyline

A boy named Jin discovers his Uncle Nabu using magic to spread chaos across the kingdom, turning everyone, including his brother Zeke, into animals. While trying to stop Nabu, Jin gets turned into a pig. Learning from the king's court magician, Mysticat, about a way to return everyone to normal, Jin goes on a quest to recover five animal orbs from across the kingdom. Upon doing so, however, Mysticat takes the orbs from Jin and uses them to open the gateway to the Dark Realm for his master Lord Xaros, who had been manipulating Nabu to do his bidding. Venturing into the Dark Realm, Jin confronts Xaros and, with the help of his friends and the spirits of past Wonder Boys, manages to defeat him, restoring the kingdom to normal.