I played Monster World IV for a monthly retro game club I started for an online community I’m part of. My friend @imtherealgibbon nominated the first game, this fine gem of the Mega Drive. I’m glad he did because it pushed a lot of my buttons.

First of all, the Monster World series has an extremely convoluted history. It’s a subseries of the Wonder Boy games, which are in a unique licensing position whereby Sega owns the name but other companies have ported the games with names and graphics changed; these ports in turn have had sequels, and then there are multiple revivals and spiritual successors in the works. Also Shantae is considered to be inspired by this game specifically, although Matt Bozon hasn’t given any indication that he was aware of it.

Anyway, MW4 is an action platformer with light RPG elements; a hub town can upgrade your equipment and collectibles can increase your health. Levels are more or less linear but can be intricate with slight puzzles, and combat is chunky, precise, and fun. The best hook of the game is the partner character: the Pepelogoo, a blue blobby creature who adds mobility to Asha and can also interact with environmental elements. It floats freely but comes when called, and it makes for a compelling dynamic rarely seen in games like this, especially as its status changes over the course of the game.

The player character Asha is adorable and spunky, although she’s better represented in artwork. With the fluid animation and puffy pants (and the vaguely Arabian-ish setting), it’s easy to see where the Shantae comparisons come from. The setting and the female protagonist help the game stand out among the series, and more broadly among its peers of the time. Enemy characters have a cartoonish charm, and the theme music being constantly rearranged throughout the game—while eventually getting tiring—helps the game feel cohesive, as does returning to the hub town and seeing it change. Some dungeons get right tedious, but play sensibly and it’s a very rewarding experience. Oh, and don’t forget that the genie can return you to town at any time.

MW4 was only released in Japan originally, but it has of course been translated by fans. However, I highly recommend Sega’s official release on the PS3’s digital store (it’s on 360 too but only in a multipack). It has a new translation that’s even better than the fan one, a better font, some neat emulation options as expected of M2’s stellar porting work, and it’s half the price of Nintendo’s Virtual Console. Don’t miss the fourth wall-breaking NPC on the screen second from the right in town.