Monster Lair – TurboDuo Game & Back Art – No Manual VG+

Monster Lair is a colorful, arcade-style hybrid action game that mixes side-scrolling platforming with horizontal shoot-’em-up stages. Originally an arcade title by Westone, the TurboGrafx-CD version brings enhanced CD-quality music, sharper visuals, and smooth two-player co-op.

You play as Leo (and Princess Purapril in 2-player mode), battling through fantasy worlds filled with monsters, hazards, and mid-stage transformations. Each stage begins with fast platforming where you collect fruit for health and power-ups, followed by an aerial shooter segment where you ride a flying dragon into boss battles. The game is known for its bright color palette, playful enemy designs, and addictive arcade pacing.

The original Japanese release of this title is ワンダーボーイIII モンスターレア (Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair), published in arcades by Sega in 1989 and developed by Westone. When ported to the PC Engine/TurboGrafx-CD, the Japanese version retained its arcade name and featured:

• Original Japanese text and stage names

• Slightly different sound mixing (due to regional audio encoding)

• The same core side-scrolling platform/shooter hybrid gameplay

• A two-player simultaneous mode, identical to the TurboGrafx-16 version

When the game was localized for the North American TurboDuo as Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair, the title was unchanged, but the marketing and packaging used Western character art and emphasized the CD soundtrack.

Language: English
Rating: E for Everyone
Platform: TurboGrafx-CD / TurboDuo
Genre: Platformer / Shooter (Hybrid)
Players: 1–2 players (simultaneous)
Developer: Westone
Publisher: NEC
Release Year: 1990 (North America)

TurboGrafx-CD discs are region-free, but system cards are region-locked. A U.S. System Card is required to run this game on American hardware.