Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap

Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap is a hand-drawn action adventure from Lizardcube. The 2017 remake continues the gameplay of the Sega classic Wonder Boy III from 1989. After fighting the Meka Dragon, a transformed hero searches for the Salamander Cross, which can lift the curse.

Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap came out in April 2017 for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One. The PC version followed on June 8, 2017, and the iOS and Android versions on May 30, 2019. A standalone PS5 version came out on Oct 7, 2022.

The story and level structure go back to the 1989 game. Graphics, music, controls and the playable Hu-Girl were reworked for the remake.

The game launched natively on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS and Android. The PC version supports Windows, macOS and Linux. The Switch version is playable on Switch 2 via compatibility, not as a separate native release.

The mobile versions adapt the controls for touchscreens. The PS5 has its own version on the PlayStation Store.

In Monster Land you explore interconnected areas, defeat enemies and find new equipment. Dragon battles drive the story forward, but also change your character's form. This makes previously unreachable paths accessible.

Skill at jumping and close combat is just as important as spotting side paths and secrets.

For Windows, Steam lists at least 4 GB RAM, Intel-HD-4000/5000 graphics, DirectX 10 and about 1.1 GB of free storage. Recommended are 8 GB RAM, a GeForce GTX 760 and DirectX 11.

The original minimum specs refer to Windows 7. The current Steam client requires Windows 10 or newer.

Lizard-Man, Mouse-Man, Piranha-Man, Lion-Man and Hawk-Man each have different movement and combat abilities. Small passages, waterways and high ledges each call for a suitable form.

Animal forms are a core part of exploration. Changing form opens up new areas of an already familiar environment.

Graphics and music can be switched during play to the classic 8-bit look or the original sound. Lizardcube hand-drew the characters and environments for the new presentation.

The switch changes the audiovisual presentation, not the levels or combat system.

The music from the original was newly arranged for the remake with classical instruments. The original melodies can be re-enabled in the game at any time.

The official soundtrack is also available on PC as a standalone music add-on. It is not needed to play the main game.

Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap offers three difficulty levels. At the start, Hu-Man and Hu-Girl are available to choose from. Both play by the same basic rules.

The game is designed for single players and can be played with a controller.

The Meka Dragon transforms the hero or heroine into a lizard creature. To find a cure, more dragons must be defeated and the secrets of Monster Land uncovered.

Each curse leads to another animal form and therefore to new ways to traverse the world.

The PC and console versions offer German on-screen text. The official Nintendo version also lists English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Japanese.