Friday, March 11, 2011

The Great Gaymathon Review #12: Monster Lair (PC Engine CD-ROM2)


Game: Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair
Genre: Platformer/Shooter
Developer: Alfa System
Publisher: Hudson
System: PC Engine CD-ROM2
Release date: 1989

I'm pretty sure I've told this story a number of times before, but I'm going to share it again just in case my memory is failing me (it certainly wouldn't be the first time): Monster Lair was the game that prompted me to buy the TurboGrafx-16 CD attachment way back when. I'd never played--or even heard of--the arcade original, so that wasn't what attracted me to this platformer-shooter hybrid. No, what attracted me to it was its bright, beautifully drawn graphics--especially its so-cute-they-could-make-you-puke enemies and bosses. There's more to Monster Lair than fetching foes, though; there's also a rockin' Red Book soundtrack and a whole lotta challenging levels (14, to be exact). All that said, I wouldn't buy this game expecting it to become your favorite PC Engine title, but I would expect it to be well worth whatever you pay for it (which, at this point, should be less than $20).


See also: Previous 'Great Gaymathon' posts

6 comments:

Gaelach Rose said...

Oh. My. Goodness. Those are such cute drawings. I think I'm going to die.

I still have $45 to spend yet, too.

Bryan Ochalla said...

Yeah, it's definitely a cute game. Do you have a PC Engine, Gaelach Rose?

Viewtiful_Justin said...

Well...that might have to wait until after I stop obsessing over Pokemon Black. Which will start the second I get it...dang Amazon...

Bryan Ochalla said...

Oh, I hear ya, Justin! I'm waiting for my copy of Pokemon Black, too. I guess Amazon must have been inundated with preorders as a result of that $10 credit offer?

Which starter are you planning to use, by the way? I'm thinking of using the little pig, although the lizard-like thingy is tempting, too.

Viewtiful_Justin said...

I'm using Tepig, for sure. But...really it's only to see if my assumptions about its evolution are correct. I'm guessing it evolves into something with a name like "Warmhog", since Tepig sounds so much like "tepid". And then...something about blaze or hot or something with another porcine reference.

Bryan Ochalla said...

I love the name Tepig, by the way. Of course, what else would you expect from the top-notch localization folks at Nintendo of America?

I don't know what Tepig's evolutions are like, to tell you the truth. I've barely read anything about the game since it was first revealed.

I guess we'll both be surprised -- hopefully pleasantly :)