Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom

I've tested the game with a friend game console : nice musics (BGO rocks too), nice graphics and funny story. I should have put 4 stars because I can't play it at home on my linux computer.

If you enjoy Metroid-Vania type platformers then this game is for you. A vibrant, colorful, world with some most excellent platforming and challenging areas and bosses. Easily worth the $27 I paid for it. Combat feels good, controls are pretty good (I'd like clearer hitboxes on the shield) and it's a ton of fun. In my opinion there are two cons to this game: The first is that the story feels phoned in. The second, and this is more a personal pet peeve, is Zeke - a little dragon ally that is a character you often interact with as you progress through the story. Unfortunately, he also helps you on bosses if you failed to kill a boss after the first two times. The game designers made a bold and frankly arrogant decision to assume players would want help with a boss after the first two attempts. First, Zeke showing up in this way makes no sense to the story since he's often supposed to be off at a different area entirely. Second, it takes away the joy and feeling of accomplishment to have figured out the fight and beat it on your own without assistance. My advice in future games is to always ALWAYS give the player the choice. This could easily have been done by granting the player an item that will allow the player to magically summon Zeke should you decide you need his help. This could easily be handled in the context of the world and story and gives control to the player. Unfortunately the phoned in story and Zeke are enough for me to dock a star from this otherwise fantastic game which still comes strongly recommended by me. If you're looking for a great metroid-vania type platformer you'll be well served by this game.

Graphically brilliant. Outstanding sound. Perfect control. Funny characters. The story is not gone. Balanced puzzles. A slowly increasing level of difficulty. Lovable. All these features I associate with Monster Boy and the cursed kingdom. It was an experience and a fulfillment that I have rarely experienced in games. Many thanks to the developers for such a masterpiece. It runs just as well on my high-end PC as it does on my GPD Win 2 UMPC. Scaling to perfection. Simply great.

I've tried a few of the Wonderboy games, but they are either slow or really simplistic, not like other old game classics I'm used to playing (I mostly play old games). This game, however, is great and reminds me of Zelda but as a sidescroller (like Shantae).

The game has a lot of secrets and collectables. The authestics are pleaasing, and the music is catchy. There is however a puzzle in the town that I had to use a guide for, but besides that, everything is obvious to the keen observer.