War of the Monsters, What Made it so Awesome? (Retrospective Review & Story Summary)

Summary

This video script takes a nostalgic dive into the classic PS2 game 'War of the Monsters,' reflecting on its remarkable gameplay and mechanics. The narrator expresses admiration for the game's destructible environments, unique monsters, and intense battles, reminiscing about childhood memories while playing. The script highlights key characters, gameplay modes, and unforgettable moments, all while emphasizing how the game still holds up despite its age. The narrator also humorously discusses challenges, particularly the tough bosses, and praises the game’s design, concluding with a call to remember the chaos and fun it brought in split-screen multiplayer.

Takeaways

• 😀 *War of the Monsters* is a PS2 game that holds up surprisingly well despite its age, thanks to its destructible environments and exciting gameplay.
• 😀 The game allows players to control giant monsters and engage in battles where smashing enemies into buildings and using objects as weapons is a key feature.
• 😀 The adventure mode features backstories for each monster, with unique, often humorous origin stories for characters like Kinetic Clops, Magmo, and Robo 47.
• 😀 Levels in *War of the Monsters* are memorable and diverse, ranging from giant cityscapes to alien motherships, each offering unique gameplay challenges.
• 😀 Despite the passage of time, the game still impresses with its graphics, gameplay, and overall feel, evoking strong nostalgic memories for players.
• 😀 Characters in the game include a mix of sci-fi, mythical, and monster movie-inspired creatures, each with their own distinct powers and fighting styles.
• 😀 The game offers both single-player and split-screen multiplayer modes, with the latter providing chaotic, fun competition against friends and family.
• 😀 Boss fights, such as the one against Cerebolon, are memorable and tough, with multiple phases that require both strategy and quick reflexes.
• 😀 One of the standout features of *War of the Monsters* is its ability to flatten entire maps during combat, adding a dynamic element to the battles.
• 😀 *War of the Monsters* includes grindable unlockable characters, adding replayability to the game despite some grind being required to access all content.
• 😀 The humor and casual tone throughout the commentary reflects the speaker’s deep nostalgia for the game and highlights its unique blend of chaos, fun, and satisfying gameplay.

Q & A

What is the main game being discussed in the transcript?

The main game discussed is *War of the Monsters*, a fighting game for the PlayStation 2, released in 2003.

How does the author feel about the game's age and its visuals?

The author expresses that *War of the Monsters* has aged well and still looks great, even after many years, particularly through the use of the PCSX2 emulator.

What unique features of the game does the author highlight?

The author highlights the game's destructible environments, the sense of being a giant monster fighting others, and the hidden triggers and secrets that make the game stand out.

How does the author describe the combat mechanics?

The author describes the combat as intense and 'metal,' with actions like smacking enemies, using environmental objects (such as spikes or buildings), and performing powerful attacks.

What are some of the standout characters in *War of the Monsters*?

The standout characters include Kinetic Clops, Ultra V, Magma, Prey Tour, Robo 47, Kong Garr, Togara, and two unlockable characters: Raptrose and Zorgylon.

What is the adventure mode in *War of the Monsters* like?

The adventure mode offers a storyline for each monster, with origin stories revealed through cutscenes. It also provides various missions that are a mix of combat and objective-based tasks, featuring some tough bosses.

How does the author feel about the difficulty of the game?

The author notes that some parts of the game, especially certain boss fights, are incredibly difficult, with one fight taking 40 minutes to complete without dying. The author also compares these tough fights to Dark Souls-like moments.

What is the significance of the Sunopolis level?

Sunopolis is described as one of the best-designed levels in the game, featuring tight, Japanese-inspired cityscapes and Mecca battles. The author has vivid memories of this level and mentions dreaming about it.

What does the author think of the final boss fight against Cerebolon?

The author views the Cerebolon boss fight as one of the best childhood boss fights, noting its intense difficulty and the memorable second phase where the boss transforms and becomes more aggressive.

Why does the author mention PCSX2 in the review?

The author mentions PCSX2, a PlayStation 2 emulator, because it allowed them to relive their childhood by playing *War of the Monsters* again. However, they also note technical difficulties in recording gameplay later in the review.