Monster Tale Game by DreamRift/Majesco Reviewed by Philip "Pocket Squirrel" Wesley Save: battery/2 Slots Released: 2011 Works with: All DS systems. ESRB Rated: E Rating Descriptions: Mild Cartoon Violence Quick Opinion: Own **************************************************************************** Opening Snide Remarks: I really enjoyed DreamRift's previous effort: Henry Hatsworth in a Puzzling Adventure. The combination of the platforming challenge with a puzzle game was very interesting. When they announced a new game titled: "Project Monster," I was cautiously wondering what the gameplay gimmick would be this time. Project Monster became Monster Tale and here we are at the precipice of a review. Shall we jump? **************************************************************************** Gameplay Description: The gameplay is very much like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. The main character can find variations on her attacks to get past various obstacles and defeat enemies more quickly. She can buy upgrades to her health bar and power ups that let her use he special moves more often. These can be purchased with coins that you get from defeating enemies. You can also "juggle" the enemies via a combo system to get more loot out of defeating them. You use that money and treasure to buy items as well. You can find these items by defeating enemies too. The items you find are sent to the bottom screen where your monster "Chomp" can use them to gain experience and level up. Oh! That would be the twist in this game. You have a pet monster who can go between the two screens to hit switches, attack enemies, or use special moves that heal you or hurt your enemies. Your monster has various forms/evolutions that you can unlock by giving him various objects. The forms do not really do too much, but I appreciate the idea. The game centers around a plot involving a few "Kid Kings" who ended up in the Monster World and have ruined everything. There's also an odd connection to a previous Dream Rift title. The game involves a lot of back tracking to take out obstacles in a search for "Chomp's Mother." But this never gets tedious as the game very clearly lays out -via dialogue- where to go next. While that may make it a bit easy for veterans of the style, it sets just the right balance for a good time with younger players. The evolution tree for Chomp is reasonably complex and thankfully intuitive. The game is really fun and I found that the story was also pretty enjoyable. Liked: This side scrolling "Metroidvania" (What an awful word..) style game combines RPG leveling elements that remind me a bit of the pet system in Lufia. The back tracking is not annoying and the ability to juggle enemies is satisfying. Hated: There is a bit of a scarcity to both drop items and money items that I will have to address in the Play Control/Design section. While the game is challenging and fun on it's own, there is an element of "grinding" that can be done in the game which could be considered monotonous to some players. I happen to be the kind of gamer who likes to wander in and out of doors in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night style games looking for item drops and money. While I enjoy this, there are some people who find that to be boring or dull. Thus, I have put it in this section of the Gameplay synopsis. **************************************************************************** Graphics Description: The character sprites look great in Monster Tale. The main character has fairly detailed animation and the quirky bosses fill the top screen handily. Chomp's various forms/evolutions are different enough from each other to be interesting and the level backgrounds are well done with small details here and there to make them unique. There element aspect for the game (Water > Fire > Grass > Water) is easy to understand and is conveyed very well through the graphics. I also enjoy the art style and fluid animation of the characters. This is a good looking side scrolling game with some reasonable variety in place settings as well. Liked: Looks great! Hated: There are only a couple dozen "fodder" enemies and these are now color coded to show off their attribute types. They could always make them completely different between types; but I understand why they did not do this. **************************************************************************** Sound/Music Description: The music in this game certainly delivers in both atmosphere, composition, and appropriateness for setting. The music box style opening theme is excellent and the themes for each area are very textured. Some of the sound effects are a bit annoying, especially the jumping "grunts" the heroine makes. There are some vocal clips to compliment the storyline cut scenes as well. As an aside, here is the list of voice actors/actressess who are in this game. I am pointing this out because we have interviews or content with a lot of them at Radio DMG and Area DMG. The names are listed in alphabetical order. Deanu - Leah Clark Ellie - Brina Palencia Ethan - Cynthia Cranz Meade - Todd Haberkorn Priscilla - Tia Ballard Zoe - Monica Rial I really like the soundtrack for Monster Tale and -aside from a few annoying grunts here and there- the sound effects are good. There is this one sound effect from a laser in the game that just sounds "raw" speaker destroying, like it should. Liked: The music is great! Hated: "Huh! Ehh. Ohh!" and other such grunts. **************************************************************************** Play Control/Game Design: The controls are explained in detail and work as they should. I have no complaint about how those work. I do -however- take issue with the lack of a few options. The evolution tree for Chomp is pretty complex but you run out of game to try all of those new powers and forms. This means that you need to spend a lot of time grinding for money to buy "Pet Items" to explore those evolution branches. Sadly, only a few of the evolutions are useful. It feels like the game is only half completed. This *could* have been solved by attaching a "New Game +" style option that just made enemies tougher while allowing you to retain your previous abilities and forms from your previous game. This could have allowed for sequence breaking and chances to see different dialogue from the main story characters. Sadly, the game feels like it was packed with ideas and then not given a long enough game to allow for the realization and use of those ideas. Many skills are woefully under utilized in this game. This is still a good game, but it feels like it needed a little bit more time in the oven to cook into a perfect cake. Liked: This controls well, has some great ideas, and is fun to play. Hated: It just happens to be too "grindy" and a bit too "short" in my opinion. **************************************************************************** Improve: New Game + and a longer storyline! RIYL: Castlevania, Henry Hatsworth, Metroid, and games of this nature. **************************************************************************** Final Words: Monster Tale is an excellent game and it is a lot of fun while it lasts. Do yourself a favor and pick it up if you want a decent story, some decent challenge (the bosses can get pretty tough actually), and a fun gimmick. **************************************************************************** Score Gameplay: **** Graphics: **** Sound/Music: ***** Play Control/Game Design: *** Value: ***** Star Total: 63% Personal Opinion Merit: 20% Final Score: 83% Letter Grade: A ****************************************************************************