C&VG


Movie Monster
By Epyx
Commodore 64/128

 
Published in Computer & Video Games #63

Movie Monster

Now, this game might not be to everybody's taste. But if you, like me, sit glued to the TV when there's a Godzilla monster movie on, you'll love it!

Instead of dodgy rubber monsters fighting it out on screen, you get some nice computer graphic representation of monsters like Godzilla, Mr Meringue(?!), The Clog and Mechatron.

You can select a monster to control, chose a city to rampage through and then simply get on with it.

The Movie Monster Game

The whole thing is put together as if you were watching a movie. The game begins outside the cinema - which doubles as an icon driven menu.

You see pictures of the monsters you can select the cities which include London, New York, Tokyo and Moscow, plus an icon representing the type of game you want to play.

Once you've made your selection you find yourself inside the cinema watching the adverts! If you've seen them before you can zap onto the written prologue to the scenario you've chosen. This gives you a background to your monster and to the action that's about to take place.

The Movie Monster Game

Each monster has different strengths, weaknesses and special powers. My favourite is The Glog a sort of lump of slime whose touch corrodes anything. Others spit globs of meringue, breathe fire, shoot webs or possess a paralysing scream.

There are five "actions'' or objectives to carry out. They are:

Destroy landmark: Your objective is to destroy a city's famous landmark. You've had many a sleepless night since they installed that irritating new radio transmitter atop the building's roof. The transmitter must be destroyed... and the building is going with it.

The Movie Monster Game

A proximity indicator in the menu window continuously shows how close you are to the landmark you must destroy. The closer you are, the longer the bar in the indicator.

You start at the edge of the city, make your way to the landmark, turn the building into rubble and then leave the city again.

Escape: Your objective is to escape from your chosen city. You must have been sleeping, or daydreaming about eating Paris in the springtime, but those pesky human creatures caught you off guard. You were captured. But you're going to escape. You've just broken free in the middle of the city to escape, you must exit the screen at the edge of town in any direction as fast as you can. The safest path is away from the tanks, even if you have to crush a few buildings or other obstacles that get in your way.

The Movie Monster Game

Lunch: It's been weeks since your last square meal, and the MonsterBurger Drive-In just went out of business. You are ravenous. Your objective is to enter the city and gulp down everything in sight. Eat as much as you can before you're destroyed, so keep an eye on the hunger indicator as you munch away. Of course, if you don't want a ticket to Monster Heaven you can try to get out again, but only after your hunger indicator has dropped to zero. And look out, the National Guard has arrived! Watch the hunger indicator whenever you eat something, and you'll soon discover the food monsters love best!

Search: Those nasty humans have your young one, and you're going to turn the city upside down until you find him. Your objective is to enter the city and demolish everything in sight until you locate the little guy. Occasionally you can hear the young one's cry. The proximity indicator in the menu window will randomly appear during play to indicate how far away he is. When you've located the building he is in, knock it down quick.

Berserk: Cities are an incredible nuisance, and you'd like nothing better than to take revenge on those nasty humans. Your objective is to enter the city and destroy as much as you can before your endurance runs out. You will be awarded points for all buildings and objects that you destroy. There's also a bonus for leaving the city alive. This is the best scenario!

The Movie Monster Game

Each city has a different map and is packed with well known landmarks. In San Francisco you'll find the Golden Gate Bridge while in London your monster will come across Big Ben.

Graphics are pretty good - especially the Godzilla, Glog and spider monsters. Sound is nice - with brilliant slimy sounds for The Glog and screams from Godzilla. Plus many more...

I love monster films - the dodgier the better! So I liked this game. It's well put together, brilliantly presented and enjoyable to play.