Overview
Tom-Tom races to save his girlfriend Tina. Wonder Boy introduced a vitality system that constantly drained—stop collecting fruit and you’d die of hunger. Grab a skateboard for speed, throw axes at enemies, and navigate hazards across vibrant jungle landscapes. The series would evolve through many forms, but this original defined momentum-based platforming.
Fast facts
- Developer: Escape (Westone).
- Publisher: Sega.
- Protagonist: Tom-Tom (later “Wonder Boy”).
- Clones: Adventure Island (Hudson reskin).
Vitality system
| Mechanic | Effect |
|---|
| Constant drain | Health always decreasing |
| Fruit collection | Restores vitality |
| Starvation death | Unique failure condition |
| Urgency | Encourages constant movement |
Power-ups
| Item | Effect |
|---|
| Skateboard | Increased speed |
| Stone axe | Ranged weapon |
| Angel | Temporary invincibility |
| Fairy | Hidden bonus |
World structure
| Area | Theme |
|---|
| 1-4 | Forest |
| 5-8 | Ocean |
| 9-12 | Mountains |
| 13-16 | Desert |
| 17-20 | Ice |
Hazards
| Obstacle | Type |
|---|
| Snails | Walking enemies |
| Bees | Flying enemies |
| Rocks | Ground obstacles |
| Fires | Instant danger |
| Frogs | Jumping enemies |
Series evolution
| Title | Innovation |
|---|
| Wonder Boy | Original platformer |
| Wonder Boy in Monster Land | Action-RPG hybrid |
| Wonder Boy III | Multiple forms |
| Monster World IV | Final evolution |
See also