Game of the Month: April 2025 - Dynastic Hero

[geise]

Dynastic Hero

Here it is! Dynastic Hero! One game I didn't pick up when I saw it at Babbages before they took the stock off the shelves. I passed and got Terraforming and a few other games. Was going to come back later in the month after pay day but sadly stock was already pulled. Then time passes and I never picked it up before stupid price kicked in. Anyways get your emulators or cd burners ready! The Dynastic Hero is a slightly re-branded version of Wonder Boy in Monster World for the Turbo Duo.The game features palette-swapped visuals, new insect-themed graphics for main characters (and insects' natural predators as bosses), a Red Book audio soundtrack which is completely different from the Wonder Boy original (I love it), and anime-style cutscenes at the intro and ending. Shion was renamed Dyna and was modeled after a Hercules Beetle, and the final boss was changed to a giant lizard king. It has been ages since I popped my cdr of this in my Turbo Duo. It stuck my cd laser to the side. I had to open my system and adjust the pot so the laser would better read the disc. Luckily it worked and every cdr now runs perfect. Luckily I don't use to many burned games. Anywho I hope you all can play this awesome game on something this month. It is really worth a play through if you've never experience it! Enjoy!

[lukester 3.0]

great game! i played the genesis one first years ago before the pce version, so it was unfortunate to see the graphical downgrades, particularly the ocean stage. some of the new OST like the beach/tropical area was an improvement, but i don't really remember the genesis OST being noteworthy.
final boss wasn't nearly as frustrating though

pc engine version of dragon trap is still my favorite in the series. i would love to play a translated Blood Gear at some point.

[Mathius]

What a great game to feature during Springtime. A warm, green and breezy season just like this game. As an aside I actually prefer the Genesis version with its parallax and chiptune soundtrack.

[Necromancer]

Ugh, y'all sound like dirty FEKA agents. 

I dig Dynastic Hero, as it's cute, colorful, and a fun and fair challenge.  It's just too bad I didn't snag a copy back in the TZD days for cheaps.  Nowadays, I'll settle for ze free bootie.

[geise]

I haven't played the genesis wonder boy since it was first released. I prefer Dynastic Hero cause I love the music. Plus it's on the Duo. Lol! Been playing a good bit. Already at the Sphinx answering all the questions wrong. Lol!

[Paranoia Dragon]

I'm surprised that you saw it at a Babbages! I'm positive this is one of the games that I had to special order at the little game shop across the street from my high school. And that's considering that relatively speaking things were good in my area for Turbo stuff!

Love this game & its soundtrack! I do feel like it's kind of a quick port outside of the music and a cinemas. Maybe I'm erong, but I feel like most or all of the parallax could have been done with no problem, especially with it being this late of a release. It's not overloaded with tons of sprites on screen or anything so it's a shame that they didn't pull a few tricks. Also wish I had the wavy effect on the hearths.

Also would have been nice if they would have done more with the colors, leaning into the TG's strengths. Maybe a few more cinemas dispersed throughout would have been cool.

[Mathius]

I haven't played the genesis wonder boy since it was first released. I prefer Dynastic Hero cause I love the music. Plus it's on the Duo. Lol! Been playing a good bit. Already at the Sphinx answering all the questions wrong. Lol!

I was just at the Sphinx too this morning. And yes I answered the questions wrong as well lol. It took me 5 tries. 

[majors]

I never gave Dynastic much thought...I never figured out the whole Wonder Boy canon and this games' place in it. I have enjoyed Dragons Trap on SMS and also Monster World 4 on Genny, so this one is right up my alley. It has a breezy playstyle but a few challenges/aggravations along the way. I look forward to more play time with it. Another good pick!