Release
Wonder Boy was released to arcades by Sega, in 1986, in collaboration with Escape, which later became Westone.
Gameplay
A side-scrolling platform game, in the same tradition as Super Mario Bros., Wonder Boy can be seen as a forerunner of Sonic the Hedgehog, having a similar tropical theme with totem poles. Like these games, it features an unlikely character running and jumping through various environs, beginning in an outdoor scene with lots of greenery. Game-specific elements include the skateboard, the need to constantly consume food, and the fact that, until he obtains shooting power (tomahawks) from an egg, the main character has no means of attack. Eggs appear throughout the game, and house various power ups, angels, and other surprises.
Zones
As in Sonic and Super Mario Bros., worlds are divided into levels, and at the end of each world there is a boss to battle. Drancon is the final boss.
Ports
Wonder Boy was ported to many popular systems, including home computers, consoles, handhelds, and cellular telephones. See Wonder Boy for a listing.