Gamers who've always wanted to play The Dynastic Hero but were unable or unwilling to pay the $350 the game generally fetches on eBay can now breath a big sigh of relief. Hudson is bringing this wonderful side-scroller/rpg hybrid to the Wii Virtual Console this week and the game will only set you back 800 Wii Points. Sega Genesis fans will better know this game as Wonder Boy in Monster World. Hudson was forced to change the characters and their names throughout the game due to licensing issues, but the game is still basically the same otherwise. The game features a good amount of side-scrolling action, but the entire game play package is heavily influenced with basic rpg elements. The resulting game is a title that features the action most side-scroller fans enjoy but adds a nice amount of depth with its rpg overtones. It might sound like a strange combination, but once you begin playing the game you'll understand how well it actually works.

In The Dynastic Hero you take on the role of Dyna the Prince of Beetras. You're given the task of traveling the land in search of the evil reptile Mandra who's trying to take over the land of Tarron, a once peaceful place ruled by the fairy maiden Brenna. Mandra has already attempted to capture Brenna the fairy and now you're the only hope for restoring peace to the land. You'll have to travel to many new places in your search for Mandra but luckily you'll meet up with many people who'll lend a helping hand and provide useful information to your quest.

Since The Dynastic Hero is basically a side-scroller at heart, that's what you'll spend the majority of your time doing. You'll have to perform some platforming along the way as well as fight the many enemies throughout the game. The unique thing about this game is the rpg elements. When you defeat enemies, you'll pick up gold. You can then use this gold to purchase better armor, shields, and weapons that will increase your character's attributes. You'll also be given certain magical abilities that you can use to defeat enemies as well. Although the game is set up in a 2-D side-scroller type atmosphere, the sheer size of the game is astounding. It feels almost like an ever-changing but never-ending level. There are generally multiple paths you can take which makes exploration yet another important part of the game. As with most side-scrollers you'll also have to fight bosses at various times.

Most of the bosses in the game are fairly basic, but some that you'll go up against later on in the game get a little tough. As you progress through the game you'll often come upon an Inn at which you can rest and save your game. That way you can pick up where you left off in the event that you're character runs out of health hearts. The control in the game feels a little stiff at times, but it seems to fit in with the way the play control is set up for the game. It feels more like the control of an rpg than a side-scroller and it's really the rpg elements that make the game so much fun to play anyway. Overall it's a fairly strong game play experience that stays fresh enough throughout the game to keep you interested until the end.

Visually The Dynastic Hero really shines with outstanding use of colors in both the foregrounds as well as the backdrops of the game. As good as Wonder Boy in Monster World looks on the Sega Genesis, Hudson has somehow been able to better it with this version of the game. Most of it has more to do with the wider color palette of the TurboGrafx-16 system, but it makes a big difference when you see the two side-by-side. Every new area is distinct in look and feel so you'll constantly get a new change of scenery to keep the game fresh. One of the better Super CD titles visually but not enough of an upgrade from the Sega Genesis version to warrant a purchase if you already own the Genesis title.

The music in The Dynastic Hero is radically different from the musical score in Wonder Boy in Monster World. Most of the new tunes are outstanding and among some of the best the Turbo CD ever featured, but every once in awhile you'll come across a song in the game that just seems to stick out like a sore thumb. It's not that these tracks are necessarily bad, it's just they don't seem to fit the game very well. It's really difficult to complain given the high quality soundtrack the game sports. This is a good example of how big a difference the CD medium made when it came to video game soundtracks from this era of gaming. The only real shortcoming with this game is the lack of voiced dialog, although there's not a huge need for it given the way the game is laid out.

It's great that all gamers can now experience this fantastic title without having to pay an arm and a leg for it on eBay. Of course it does take a little of the bragging rights away from those of us who own the US TurboGrafx-16 CD release. If you already have Wonder Boy in Monster World, you're not likely to find enough new in this release to warrant as purchase, but if you've yet to give these games a try, do yourself a favor and pick The Dynastic Hero up. It's become a very highly-regarded title over the years and it won't take much playing time for you to see why people are willing to pay such a high premium for this amazing game.