Monster Party
System: NES
Release Date: June 1989
Developer: Human Entertainment
Publisher: Bandai
Genre: Action
Here we have Monster Party, developed by Human Entertainment, who I love because of Fire Pro. The game starts with a story sequence setting everything up. You are Mark, little league slugger extraordinaire. You are visited by Bert of the Dark World, he wants you to destroy the monsters that are running amok on his planet.
Mark has his baseball bat, which really is all you need to defeat the monsters that inhabit the Dark World. You can either bash them with the bat until they explode, or if they shoot projectiles, you can send them back with a well-timed swing. Some enemies drop items, the heart replenishes health. You can grind the same enemy multiple times, until they don’t drop the heart anymore. Some will drop question marks which can act as a heart, points, or the pill. Other enemies drop a pill, which transforms you into Bert.
Bert has the ability to flap his wings and fly instead of just jumping. He doesn’t have a bat and the ability to knock projectiles back at his enemies, but he shoots a laser beam, instead. Sometimes the beam is a better weapon, other times the bat is better. You don’t stay as Bert forever, though, as he’s on a timer. Once he starts flashing and making a warning noise, you’re about to be Mark again.
You need to find a key to open the end door in each level. In order to do this, you have to enter open doors and defeat bosses. These bosses range from stationary creeps that shoot projectiles at you to moving baddies that chase you down. There are typically three bosses on each level that you need to defeat to get the key, but once you see it in the corner, you can rush for the exit. Many rooms are empty or have some odd scene for you to watch.
Levels have a variety of monsters that mostly move in a set back and forth fashion. You can measure where they move and then stand right outside of their movement range to kill them without any danger to your health. You don’t get lives, but instead have unlimited continues. If you die, you get sent back to the beginning of the stage. You don’t have to beat the game in one sitting, either, as there are passwords to move you back to where you left off.
Graphics: 3.0
The graphics are all very interesting and weird. Walking fish, bleeding skulls, an onion ring, dancing zombies, the Grim Reaper and so much more are out to kill you.
Sound: 2.5
The music is varied and mostly good. The maze level has some really annoying sound effects that bring this score down.
Gameplay: 2.5
Getting the bat timing down is crucial for success. Learning how Bert works is also pretty important.
Difficulty: 3.0
You can blast through this one because of unlimited continues and passwords. It’s not really that bad once you get the controls and physics down.
Fun Factor: 2.5
I mostly have fun with Monster Party, but sometimes get annoyed by it.
Overall Grade: 2.7
Monster Party earns a B-. This is a game that not everyone is going to enjoy, I know I didn’t like it when I was a kid, but I appreciate what it brought to the table as an adult.