Despite being Hudson’s Vol.2, this was in fact released almost a month before The Kung Fu. It’s a conversion of what most people know as Wonder Boy in Monster Land, and it’s as perfect a conversion from the arcade as you’re likely to get. As with a number of TurboGrafx games, Westone encountered licensing issues with this title and rebranded the game under the popular Japanese Bikkuriman franchise. This game takes a different pace from the first Wonder Boy game, being more of an adventure with a slower pace and more strategy. You start the game with barely a thread on and are given a sword by some wise looking dude who lives in a tree – so far so good. It is then your task to travel through the various platform-based levels defeating monsters and evil bosses along the way. Each enemy you kill leaves behind a coin or money bag (these are also at various hidden locations if you jump at the right spot) and shops will offer you armour, shields, weaponry and go-faster shoes. You can also pop into a bar and top up your energy if you can afford it. Levels are time limited (shown by an egg-timer on the left) so you need to be quick, or energy is taken away from your heart meter.
There appear to be two versions of this rom, indicated but the difference in spelling on the first sign – Monster Land and monsterland.
Bikkuriman World
