The classic does not beat. Surely they also thought that in the studios of FDG Entertainment and The Game Atelierwhen they decided to develop Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom. Heir to the cult videogame of SEGA "Wonder Boy", the platform game that we are pleased to review via the PlayStation 4 version is set in the same Monster World of his predecessor, whose title he does not share solely for copyright reasons. This game is first of all a tribute to the old platformers very popular during the 8-bit era, and follows many aspects, especially as regards the gameplay, here renewed thanks to the possibility of free exploration of the game world. 
What is the secret of your power?
Our adventure begins on a pier, where Jin, the blue-haired boy, ”is intent on fishing when he is abruptly interrupted by his arrival Uncle Nabu. The latter, prey to the fumes of alcohol and riding a flying barrel, will transform all the inhabitants of Monster World in animals, including the protagonist, who finds himself transformed into a plump pig. From this moment it begins for Jin the search for the legendary spheres that will allow him to break the curse. By collecting the spheres we will also be able to acquire the power to mutate into various creatures: Asp, Rana, Lion e Dragon. Each of these forms, including Pig, has particular abilities which we will have to resort to depending on the obstacles we will find on our path.
The spirit of adventure is the true soul of Monster Boy. From the beginning to the end of the game, we will be able to explore the map in total freedom, which will expand as we proceed with the completion. Note the fact that, unlike most platformers, in the title of The Game Atelier there will not be a single solution to overcome the schemes, but it is possible to approach them by choosing the strategy most congenial to us. The idea of the developers was precisely to offer an experience that can be enjoyed by any type of player, from the most distracted and occasional to the obsessive of completion. The ability to explore the environment at will allows us to return (thanks also to some very convenient teleportation portals) to the closest point to our destination, in order to recover objects and bonuses that we had left behind. This feature of the game makes it 100% completable already on the first run. 
Shapeshifter
Finding the numerous bonus items and the many secret rooms involves the player exactly like the plot, punctuated by the right balance between action and exploration. In addition to trying to break the curse of Uncle Nabu, in the role of Jin we will also have to face several side quests. There is no shortage of challenging Bosses to beat to earn rewards and increase our powers. To defeat them we will have to pay attention to the resources offered by the surrounding environment, thus discovering that a direct attack may not always be the best solution. The difficulty of the title cannot be chosen, but Monster Boy it does not exceed neither by falling into banality nor by putting us in front of insuperable challenges. The game can be easily completed within 15/20 hours, during which, however, there will be challenging moments that will require some attempts to be solved. Even with a little effort, the in-game experience remains consistently enjoyable and rewarding, making sense of the progress made.
In addition to the engaging gameplay and the ability to freely explore the map, a strong point of this title is undoubtedly the graphics. While maintaining the two-dimensionality of the platform genre, Monster Boy boasts truly exceptional drawings and animations, thanks to the cartoon style that brings that pinch of comedy that makes us immediately fond of the various characters. This is accompanied by a slap-up soundtrack, made by, among others Motoi Sakuraba, musician who collaborated on the compositions of the soundtracks of the series of Dark Souls, Super Smash Bros. and Mario Tennis Ace, just to name a few. 
As already explained, the game remains very tied to the classics of the genre and basically does not differ much if at all from them. Wanting to find defects in its implementation, we feel the lack of a more "modern" online sector or network functions (an online ranking would be enough) that can increase its longevity. Once it is 100% completed all that remains is to start it all over again. On the other hand Monster Boy remains a light and fun title that will surely find appreciation among lovers of the platform genre looking for a novelty with a retrogaming "flavor". Overall, however, the game of The Game Atelier it's really hilarious and we recommend you try it. Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom, released on December 4, 2018, is available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC at a price of € 39,99.
