Wonder Boy: Monster Land

About

Wonder Boy: Monster Land is a sequel blending top-down action RPG and platformer elements. You play Tom-Tom, now tasked with stopping the resurrected MEKA Dragon who’s enslaved the land with mind-control tech. Progress by collecting items, upgrading gear, and battling themed enemies across varied zones. The game offers single-player action or split-screen co-op for two, making it rare for its time. Gameplay mixes exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving with a focus on weapon upgrades and enemy weaknesses. The sequel improves on its predecessor with tighter mechanics and optional challenges for replayability. Its cliffhanger ending sets up the series’ next chapter while delivering a standalone adventure. Though originally an arcade title, its 1987 release on Wii and earlier consoles gave it broad reach. Fans note its influence on later Westone games and its role as a bridge between side-scrolling platformers and early RPG hybrids.

Storyline

The plot of Wonder Boy: Monster Land follows the events in its predecessor, Wonder Boy. The game's main protagonist is a young boy named Bock Lee Temjin, known to his friends as Tom-Tom. In Wonder Boy Tom-Tom's girlfriend Tanya was kidnapped by the Evil King and was taken to his woodland kingdom; Tom-Tom set out to the kingdom, defeated the evil King, and saved Tanya. Word spread throughout Wonder Land about Tom-Tom's quest, and people bestowed upon him the title of Wonder Boy. Meanwhile, the Evil King was resurrected as the MEKA Dragon, who in turn established a powerful army. Additionally, the MEKA Dragon placed mind-controlling bracelets on the land’s various inhabitants and forced them to do his bidding. He also hired the Brothers of Knight (Red and Blue) to do his bidding. Tom-Tom heard of this incident and set off to kill the MEKA Dragon. The game ends with Tom-Tom defeating the dragon, leading up to a cliffhanger for the third game.