Video Game Reviews
Title: War of the Monsters
Review rating: ***1/2
Platform/console: Playstation2
Release date: January 2003
Genre: Action / Fighting
Players allowed: 1 to 2
ESRB rating: T (violence)
Production company: Sony Computer Entertainment America
More fun than you can shake a big stick at! Game designers
construct a smash and grab format that allows you free reign
over buildings in your area (a force field stops you from
going too far) or other players. There’s enough control
option to make player to player battles more than just a rock/paper/scissors
duel. Two players can play, plus you can add in a maximum
of 2 CPU players. The game screen changes from a split screen
to full when you engage someone else.
Invisibility and special health boosts are plenty, but if
you really want to have fun you’ll take advantage of
the rubble and make crumbling city into a large dodgeball
field. Use your circle button to pick up debris on the ground.
Those gas trucks really pack a punch. The ground elements
interact very well, but don’t get too comfortable squashing
the people below. Take to the air or climb up structures for
special power-ups or to take a sniper position on other players.
Once you pick up pipes, towers or other long objects by pressing
circle, you can use them as bats by pressing square (light
attack). Use those buildings for cover and jump out of the
way because once your opponent finds a pile of fun stuff to
throw, you could be in for a long night. This option to constantly
barrage your opponent can get annoying after a while, not
to mention the laser rays. Fighting combos are also very useful
and timing is very important if you want to avoid attacks.
In the one player mode, you can earn tokens for extra monsters,
costumes, mini-games and 2 player levels, but make sure you
save to memory card because there’s no auto save option.
The graphics and classic B movie look gives War of the Monsters
a lasting appeal to compliment to fun gameplay and high replay
value. The only thing missing is a first person view with
radar. An extremely fun title, especially if you can avoid
attacks as well as successfully unleashing powerful moves
on your opponents. Learning to master the controls and combos
is definitely worth it!
Review by Michael Siebenaler
© Sony
®
