- Publisher: SCEA
- Release Date: Jan 14, 2003
- Also On: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
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The battles themselves are chaotically free-for-all, allowing up to four monsters to grapple hand-to-hand and even rip up handy lampposts, buildings, and cars to bludgeon enemies.
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Official U.S. Playstation MagazineIt's incredibly satisfying, regardless of your gaming abilities [thanks to huge explosions], and it's so well designed that the control system becomes transparent after spending very little time with it. [Jan 2003, p.118]
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It’s been a long time since a title kept me up till 4 am and this one has done so on two separate occasions. Interesting characters, excellent graphics and addictive gameplay make this one a winner.
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The loud beats and high drama themes fill up your speakers with some great sound, especially if you have yourself some nice speakers set up. The soundtrack is simply perfect for the type of game.
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Entertainment WeeklyThe must-see special effect in Monsters is unveiled in the multiplayer mode: When opponents are bashing it out close to each other, they share the same screen. But the screen automatically splits in two when either player flees... A massive improvement. [17 Jan 2003, p.86]
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A deliciously cheesy romp into the giant monster genre.
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This is a straight up monster brawler done right.
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It may not be the best value for your bucks unless you have a regular opponent to play with, but fans of the theme need not hesitate.
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GMR MagazineEvery stage looks utterly fantastic, with detailed architecture filling every corner of the screen... [and] the controls are simple enough to keep the action intense. [Feb 2003, p.62]
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Cheat Code CentralIf you've got your PS2 hooked up to a good stereo you will be tempted to do the glass-of-water test from the movie Jurassic Park. So powerful are the pounding sounds that they're sure to leave ripples in your glass of water.
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If Incog could double the monster count, toss in four-player and online play, and add a couple more stages we could see the beginnings of the greatest party game ever made.
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Both visceral and visually astounding, WotM is a smashing good time.
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The controls are amazingly easy to navigate (though a bit slippy), and though the enemy A.I. is out for your blood (wow, just like TM:B), War is much more forgiving.
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netjakWhat War of the Monsters lacks in story depth, it more than makes up for in presentation. One thing that the designers really took to heart was the B-movie atmosphere.
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It has a few problems, namely the advanced AI's preoccupation with power-ups, lack of a good storyline to go with the monsters, limited combos, and a lack of online play. However, the great environments and the sheer level of destruction that can be wrought will make this the favorite of a lot of gamers.
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While it may not have as much as depth as many other action titles, the solid graphics, fun two-player battles and schlocky humor should keep players coming back for more.
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What makes War of the Monsters unique is its effect combination of ranged and close-up attacks.
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Nearly everything in the game can be beaten down, picked up, thrown or in some way interacted with, and to see the effect this has on a sprawling downtown metropolis is simply breathtaking.
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Sure, this isn't the most realistic-looking game on earth, but it's definitely one of the coolest. I don't think I have ever seen destructive effects this good before!
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As dee-lish as all the camp and nostalgia is, it's also very reminiscent of the source material; pretty, stylish, but ultimately rather vapid when it comes to depth.
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Fans of classic horror and science fiction will enjoy it more than most, but the emphasis on action will win over gamers whose tastes are in tune with competitive games like "Twisted Metal" and lighter fighting game fare.
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The multiplayer is worryingly addictive too. Rounds last anything from minutes to hours depending on the quality of the players involved, and things can get very strategic.
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A really nice mix of "Powerstone" and "Rampage."
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PSM MagazineIt's rare that game arrives that looks this good, plays this well, and feels this fun and fresh. [Feb 2003, p.26]
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If this game were to have some sort of co-op mode of play or four-player multiplayer mode, it would have been great.
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Only two humans can play War at once and fight up to two CPU opponents. This is a distressing flaw—especially considering how repetitive the single-player adventure mode gets after a while.
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A great idea done just about well enough to warrant a close look, but with slightly over-complex controls for what it does. Top fun, though. [GamesMaster]
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Electronic Gaming MonthlyI defy anyone, whether they care about big monsters or not, to pick this game up and not experience two things. First, they'll develop rudimentary skills within about a minute or two of play, and second, they'll have an enormous amount of fun. [Feb 2003, p.142]
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To make things worse, War of the Monsters has probably some of the cheapest enemy A.I. I've seen in some time.
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GameNowLacks that essential feeling of impact. [Feb 2003, p.42]
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In any full 3D combat game, targeting can sometimes be a difficulty, and in War of the Monsters, that manifests as an irritating inability to switch cleanly between targets.
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War of the Monsters will appeal to anyone with an appreciation for the source material, but aside from its graphics, the game doesn't quite live up to its potential.
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While its unlockable content may not always seem worth the effort, and its innovative multiplayer features are less than they could have been, it's just plain fun to control a six-story-tall gorilla as it ravages a modern metropolis.
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Suffers from a developmental imbalance between the excellent mechanics and the actual gameplay. The best example of this is illustrated by the difference between the superb two-player and the grating single player experiences.
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Play MagazineWeighs in on the hard side mainly because of its balance and control issues, rather than its AI. [Mar 2003, p.65]
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Weekly Famitsu7 / 7 / 7 / 6 - 27 [Vol 798; 2 Apr 2004]
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I am simply amazed at how cowardly these creatures become when close to death.
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The single player game doesn’t last all that long unfortunately, and some camera issues can definitely become an annoyance, but the game is still fun for a while.
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Game InformerThe root of the problem is gameplay balance and enemy AI. [Feb 2003, p.96]
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Any country that regularly throws machine-recovered meat down their throats while sucking on a drink that tastes like it should be pumped down the gullets of burns victims can’t have their tastes taken too seriously.
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Fights soon degenerate into a short-range melee where you slug it out with blows and the occasional throw move. There is no balance, and button-bashers will feel right at home as you soon realise there is little room for tactics or skill.
Awards & Rankings
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56
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35
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#35 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2003
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7
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#7 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2003
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User score distribution:
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Positive: 70 out of 84
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Mixed: 9 out of 84
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Negative: 5 out of 84
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Jul 1, 2022
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Jul 8, 2020
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Feb 23, 2018