Developer: Sonata Publisher: Bandai Release: 08/89 Genre: Action
These days whenever you hear about Monster Party one theme is common: it’s weird. Trippy enemies, strange bosses, and inane dialogue are a common factor in all these discussions. And you know what? It is all true. Monster Party is an homage to classic movie monster films and revels in its absurdity. But at the end of the day the question remains: is it any good?
Mark is on his way home from a baseball game when he witnesses a demon fall from the sky. Rather than run like any normal human being he instead strikes up a conversation with the demon whose name is Bert. Bert asks for his assistance ridding the Demon World of the evil monsters that have taken over. Armed with nothing but his baseball bat Mark accepts. I will point out that not only can Bert fly because he’s a frickin dragon but he can also shoot lasers. And that is the least of the strange shit in this game.
Monster Party keeps things simple. Mark’s only weapon is his baseball bat. Aside from one item you get no other weapons throughout the course of the game. Aside from a mean swing you can knock back any projectile in your path and I mean anything. Rocks, javelins, cats (I am being serious), if its thrown it can be sent back. Mastering the timing of this is vital as many bosses can only be defeated in this manner. Reflected attacks also spell instant death for regular enemies, making this skill even more crucial.
Popping a pill changes Mark into Bert. Bert is a bad ass, able to fly indefinitely and shoot long range lasers. At first he is weak and barely stronger than Mark. But with each level he becomes stronger. The change is temporary, but usually long enough to kill a boss or two if you are fast enough. As the item drop is random it prevents you from steamrolling the game as Bert. It makes you wonder why Mark is even necessary…..
If first impressions are anything to go by then Monster Party is a doozy. Ignoring the silly story the game starts out simple enough. Despite the strange enemies the first level gives off the impression of a cheery if slightly creepy platformer. Even the goofy first boss does little to make you think otherwise.
That all changes once you reach the level’s midpoint. Once you walk past the Haniwa statue it makes an abrupt change. All of those happy faces morph into skulls dripping with blood. The sky turns blood red and those previously harmless enemies become even freakier. If the game wanted to signify shit just got real they succeeded. It is as if someone took LSD and you are along for the ride. I am almost amazed this managed to escape Nintendo of America unscathed.
Now if only the rest of the game kept the same tone! Once you pass the opening Monster Party becomes your standard platformer, albeit a strange one. Structurally it reminds me of a Treasure game although this came first. Each level has the same basic premise: enter each of the rooms to kill each boss, one of whom has the key to the exit. Every level has three, with some featuring more. The small bits of platforming in between merely serve as filler to refill health between each bout. While the levels themselves are not impressive the boss battles are what make Monster Party memorable.
The game’s cover art depicts an all-star lineup of famous monsters such as medusa, Dracula, and the creature from the black lagoon. But it doesn’t stop there. The game has its own share of unique creations as well as Japanese yokai. These range from the creative to the strange. Every boss is a bit chatty and has nonsensical dialogue. Chances are anyone familiar with the game has seen the dead spider who apologizes for being dead. There are dancing zombies that want you to watch them…..dance. There’s a mummy, a disembodied rock musician, and even the Grim Reaper. They come from all over yet somehow it makes sense. Most of these boss fights are not particularly challenging but they make the game that much more memorable.
I’ve continually mentioned the game’s strangeness but that is because it is what helps it stand out. Otherwise this is only a solid action platformer. The difficulty is not that high despite the frequent boss battles. If you can stick to a pattern and learn how to time your swings you are golden. You can easily kill respawning enemies between fights to make things even simpler. The main source of frustration comes from Mark’s short attack range. As the game progresses Bert becomes stronger while Mark falls behind. With a little more range and power I think the game would have been significantly better since you spend most of your time as Mark. It isn’t game breaking but could have been better.
In Closing
Monster Party was pretty obscure at release but has gained a cult following in recent years. While the conversation surrounding Monster Party focuses on its weirdness there is a solid game worth spending an afternoon with. Chances are this will never be re-released but luckily it is dirt cheap now. I say go for it.
