Monster Sanctuary

 PlayStation 4
Monster Sanctuary Image
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 10 Ratings

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0 out of 10
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  • Summary: Embark on an epic adventure using the powers of the monsters you collect, and the team you build, to unlock an ever-expanding world. On your quest to become the ultimate Monster Keeper you’ll unravel the cause of a mystery that threatens the peace between humans and monsters.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. PSX Brasil
    Jul 17, 2022
    90
    By uniting great systems of side-scrolling, turn-based combat and generous touches of a good RPG in the best pixel art style, Monster Sanctuary is a beautiful example that a mixture of several known things can result in something full of identity, charisma and enchantment. And with an expansion of respect, it shows that it is far from exhausting itself.
  2. GameSpew
    Dec 7, 2020
    80
    There’s a lot to love about Monster Sanctuary. Exploring its world is rewarding and enjoyable, and its turn-based combat packs enough depth to keep you invested. Hitting a brick wall and needing to grind can be frustrating, but the desire to progress is usually strong enough to keep you going. It’s the perfect blend of Pokémon and Metroidvania, and it works exceptionally well. Even if you’re a fan of only one of those, you’ll find plenty to love in Monster Sanctuary.
  3. Push Square
    Dec 7, 2020
    80
    Monster Sanctuary is a delight. Exploring the interconnected world with your team and discovering cool new monsters is always fun, but it's the process of developing your favourite companions that makes the game so hard to put down.
  4. PlayStation Universe
    Dec 7, 2020
    80
    It may seem simplistic on the surface but even if you're like me, someone who has a passing interest in the genre, Monster Sanctuary does do a few things differently to most. It's a monster collecting game sprinkled with platforming, exploration and small puzzles. Monster Sanctuary was the game I needed to play right now, it's simple and very rewarding. It plays flawlessly and has a quaint presentation that harkens back to the days of old. Whether it's the Metroidvania exploration, the amount of monster skill and gear customization, or the enjoyable battle system, there is a lot to love here.

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. eMJayDesu
    Aug 9, 2023
    9
    A very enjoyable game! The fights are really fun and fast! I like the leveling system. The variety of skills and monsters is also satisfying.A very enjoyable game! The fights are really fun and fast! I like the leveling system. The variety of skills and monsters is also satisfying. The music is pleasant. The game, despite the fights and all that, can be very relaxing. Nothing but play!… Expand
  2. Molec_man
    Dec 19, 2020
    9
    If you like games that allow you to build multiple teams for pokemon like battle, this is the game. It was my first time really diving into aIf you like games that allow you to build multiple teams for pokemon like battle, this is the game. It was my first time really diving into a game like this, and I found it surprisingly deep and enjoyable. At times it can be difficult. But you can reevaluate your team, rebuild a synergistic group that can stomp whatever is in your way. Whether its a beast team with a nuker, a bleed team, a bird team, etc. The synergies in the skill tree between the monsters is key.

    The graphics are dated. The price is great. The depth is surprisingly good. The length of the game is solid for the price. And the extras that can be enjoyed post-story is also a nice touch. I hope you give it a chance and enjoy it.    … Expand
  4. ZXSth
    Jun 26, 2021
    8
    As commonplace as the story now is - a single person develops a wonderful indie video game that is met with critical acclaim - MonsterAs commonplace as the story now is - a single person develops a wonderful indie video game that is met with critical acclaim - Monster Sanctuary is a phenomenal example of a developer combining aesthetic accessibility, initial simplicity and shocking depth.

    Monster Sanctuary combines the gear upgrades, levelling up, party system and combat of a turn-based RPG with the backtracking and movement upgrade system of a Metroidvania. The integration of these two seemingly wildly different genres works quite well - while turn-based systems might seem archaic by today's standards, I have yet to find this combat system as repulsive as I once found it in other games. To add to that, the skill upgrade system for each individual monster means that among the dozens of monsters one can find in the game, there are multiple builds possible for each monster. The potential to meticulously delve into optimizing the combat prowess of each of your monsters is outright shocking for a 2D, indie-developed adventure.

    Admittedly, other games have done the pixelated Metroidvania schtick before, and the cues that Monster Sanctuary takes from Pokemon is obvious. But despite this game wearing its influences so brazenly upon its sleeve, I believe the game does depth in a way that neither Pokemon nor any Metroidvania has yet. Especially when considering the payoff for its low price point, Monster Sanctuary is a game I cannot help but recommend.    … Expand
  5. Flammie
    Sep 26, 2021
    7
    Monster Sanctuary is an indie JRPG metroidvania with pokemon-style gotta catch em all theme. Overall the game is quite well made, the graphicsMonster Sanctuary is an indie JRPG metroidvania with pokemon-style gotta catch em all theme. Overall the game is quite well made, the graphics are decent indie-style "pixel art", music is good and story is good enough that it's fun to follow and has some plot twists even. The battle is very traditional JRPG style turn based combat, quite engaging and 99 % of the game the difficulty level is just right that keeps you interested without being too hard, where it falls down is that last part of the game has so hard difficulty spikes that makes it nearly impossible to complete even after googling ideal party combinations and finding out everyone else had the same problem. The game is also quite unthankful towards grinding, having level caps and skill trees that cannot be finished, to top it all you will find out that grinding levels for all the monsters was total waste of time since simply catching the monster anew when you're at max level will give you an almost max level monster, this kind of uncommunicated things about the main game mechanics are typical indie mistakes that I cannot score this game more than 7, it left bad after taste.… Expand