I also had the C64 version. Loved it!
I remember waggling the stick like crazy during those pond jumps and yeah, that was pretty frustrating. I wonder if I was doing it the right way, though. Perhaps those jumps could’ve been performed by repeatedly pushing right instead, just like the arcade version? Gotta give that a try sometime!
Yeah, I’ve heard good things about the PC Engine port. Seemed just about arcade perfect.
The Famicom version is pretty bad, though, especially its graphics! I wonder what the hell happened there. The C64 port looks arcade perfect in comparison!
Now you mention it, Wonder Boy definitely has a lot of things in common with Pac-Land. Not only the colourful, cartoony graphics and simple but challenging gameplay feel similar, but also the way the character controls.
Both games immediately grabbed my attention when I spotted them at the arcade all those years ago. To child me, playing those games almost felt like controlling a cartoon!
Seems about what I’d expect for a 1985 Famicom release? Fami can do a lot more but people were still getting to grips with the hardware, which was only open to third party dev in 1984.
Might give my copies a whirl
Well, the first time I laid eyes on the Famicom port I had already played the C64 version to death, so I was rather shocked when I saw the difference in graphics. Usually, Famicom/NES games compared favourably to C64 games, but that wasn’t the case this time.
It being a very early release explains why it looks like it does, I suppose. Still, I can’t help but wonder what the game would’ve looked like if it had been released a bit later in the Famicom’s life.
Also, nice pic! That’s some great box art.
Valkyrie no Densetsu (also known as Legend of Valkyrie) is the next game to join the Arcade Archives range.
Release date: April 14th
Yeah well the Famicom is a much more capable system in every way, but it was a very early game for it. The C64 port was at least a couple of years later (seems it was 1987) so more time to learn how to do it I guess. By 1987 Pac Land was quite old school too, much more sophisticated platformers like Castlevania and Doki Doki Panic were around by then.
Right, I guess that’s also the reason why that version was never released in the West. By the time the NES caught on, Pac-Land was already surpassed by more advanced titles.
You know, I have the Famicom version of Pac-Land on my Switch (it’s on Namco Museum Archives Vol. 2). I might give it a spin and see if I can wrangle some enjoyment out of it 
The A500 Mini is out now! Here’s Nintendo Life’s review of the system:
You and me both on the cartoony aspects.
I often think Wonderboy would be too easy if it wasn’t for the autoscrolling. I remember being impressed with the C64 conversion, but was jealous of my friend’s master system one. Ha ha ha, the things yo think as a kid.
Now I have the wonderboy music set as my telephones ringtone! (not that anyone calls me anymore).
Haha, Wonder Boy’s tune is perfect for a ringtone!
My ringtone is also Sega-related: it’s Streets of Rage 2’s Go Straight 
Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium has officially been announced! Details are slim at the moment, but there’ll be more news soon.
This is what we know so far:
Release date: TBA
trying to think what I’d like to see, and Red Earth came to mind but then I remembered that’s on the Fighting Collection. really intrigued by this
I hope LED Storm will be included. The arcade version has never been ported, if I’m not mistaken. Played the C64 version a lot as a kid and really enjoyed it!
Another Capcom update! Here’s a new trailer for Capcom Fighting Collection.
Release date: June 24th
A remaster of Vanillaware’s PS2 RTS GrimGrimoire is coming to PS4 and Switch in Japan. It is currently unknown if it will be released in the West.
Release date: July 28th (Japan)
Another great ACA release however it’s too bad it also didn’t include the English language version which was exclusive to the now-very-expensive Namco Museum Vol 5 on PS1.
I wonder why certain Arcade Archives releases don’t feature multiple versions of games that clearly had regional differences.
Liquid Kids, another fairly recent release, was also only playable in Japanese.
Atlus mobile RPG Megami Tensei Gaiden: Shinyaku Last Bible has just been announced as a G-Mode Archives+ release for the Switch eShop.
Release date: TBA
Evercade owners (any of those present here?) can look forward to Intellivision Collection 2.
Games included are:
Release date: May 31st
Namco’s Gaplus is this week’s Arcade Archives release.
Release date: April 21st
