Monster Tale
9.2
10
12
13
This is what the DS was made for
This game is just about the pinnacle of DS gaming. The majority of Nintendo DS games are all shovelware or lame gimmicks (there's plenty of overlap). The worst offenders are the first-party games, which make claims of a new, innovative way to interact with gaming. Once you actually play it, you get some worthless, flawed, touch screen mechanic. Heaven help me if I ever buy another game with touch-based movement. That's what makes this game special. It seems that Majesco Entertainment is the only company that remembers that DS stands for Dual Screen.
If the entire game is just a dream, I'd never want to wake up. Running around stages with all of the powers is nothing short of elegant Parkour bliss. Enemies do grow along with you. Of course you will come across beginner enemies when backtracking, but they will have stronger enemies with them. Even if something is a one hit KO, a good combo will hold it for a while. The latest powers are especially impressive. Super charged shots are a piece of cake for Ellie. The only way to make combat more exciting would be to add a rambunctious monster teammate that fights with its own unique powers. And the creators did exactly that.
The lower screen doesn't demand too much attention, but it's just as interesting. Early on there are not many item drops, but after the first boss or so it accelerates. Sometimes there's an excessive amount of items for Chomp to use, and its fun to let him activate them all. Moments like that best demonstrate the fluid duality of the protagonists: Ellie can thrash enemies with her fighting skills, Chomp can barrage foes with toys, but the best strategy is for the duo to fight in tandem. Naturally, this takes the most skill. The advantage is that boss battles become even more exciting.
The characters in this game are unique and intriguing. One of the few drawbacks of this game is that the bosses aren't playable (there's an idea for the sequel). They have drastically different fighting styles and presentation. Don't be alarmed; "hit it til it stops hitting back" is a viable plan. Each character has an independent and moving backstory, although some may resonate better than others. Learning about the individuals that drive the plot is a rewarding experience.
The entire game is beautiful. There really isn't much to say beyond that. Separate worlds are appropriately designed; lush meadows are pretty, and gloomy cliffs are daunting. Character design is also brilliant. It is beneficial to remember not to judge the boys by their initial appearance.
The music at the title screen is probably enough to hook most people. If that's not enough, then the stages will certainly do so with their wide range of themes. The music grow in intensity further into a stage. Ellie's attacks sound as explosive as they look. Chomp is delightfully vocal. The few voice clips that exist are absolutely terrific.
Replay value is mildly low. Starting from scratch can be fun, though. Knowledge of Chomp's growth trees helps to hone in preferred skills or experiment with new ones. What really would have convinced me to give this game a perfect score would be the ability to fight bosses again. Another fun idea would be the customization of Chomp. Once a physical feature is unlocked, Chomp can be modified anyway desired. These are just a few concepts that would be incredible in a sequel. This game really made my DS library feel complete. I hope to see more games like it. I don't care about poking objects, taking pictures of garbage, or glasses-free 3D when it comes to my DS. Games need to satisfy the namesake of the system they're on.
10/19/11
Okay
It's addicting, but a ton of "backtracking" and there's nothing to do after you beat it
6/8/11
Game is great.
Top five is what I think about when I look back at games I played. Great action, story, creativity. You just can't put it down. I played it twice because there was not enough game to try out all the monsters and their ability. Maybe Monster tale 2 would allow to use every monster you unlock. But this still is top 5 game. Get it, play it!
5/25/11
WOW WOW WOW
The best part of this game is raising chomp, many evolves!(PS I found the wall climbing glitch near the end!)
4/7/11
Outstanding
This game is extremely polished. The graphics are great, the art style fits very well for the type of game. After about 30 seconds of turning the game on you're already in the action. The pet system is very well done and easy to control.
Pros: Easy to play, Pet system very simple, Chomp is very customizable (L and R buttons are used to hotkey his abilities), Many different evolution paths for chomp allowing for many play throughs, Balanced combat system with both melee and ranged (both benefit eachother), music is fitting, and a shop used to buy gear/abilities
Cons: none so far
Overall the game is great for all types of gamers casual and hardcore alike.
3/17/11
I pre-ordered my copy!
Game Looks Sweet ! Hatsworth is is the best game on the DS! I can't wait to play this game also!
3/6/11
Looks pretty good.
I love Metroid's awesome exploration and shooting and Pokemon's idea of capturing monsters so this should be pretty good.
2/28/11
Looks Great!
This looks great beacuse I love the storyline and it has a great price!
2/18/11
Light-hearted action/adventure
Based on the previews I've read and the videos I've seen, this is going to be a great game. Most people write it off as a kiddie game when they here you play as a girl with a pet monster and you have to defeat the evil kid kings. I say don't underestimate this title. The game plays like a Castlevania or older Metroid title. You explore 5 areas with plenty of backtracking once you gain new abilities that will let you access places that you couldn't before. On top of that, there is an interesting pet raising aspect. Depending on what items you have your monster eat or train with he will evolve and gain new abilities and forms. I eagerly await this title's release.
2/10/11
Fun Genre-Blending Game!
I first got information about Monster Tale from Nintendo Power and was instantly intrigued. While pet raising isn't all that intense, Chomp's different evolutions seem to change the gameplay often. I wish there was a better pre-order incentive gift (there don't seem to be many lately) like a stuffed Chomp, but I think I'll still get this game.
2/9/11