Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The Movie Monster Game puts you in control of one of six gargantuan creatures—ranging from the officially licensed Godzilla to a hulking Tarantula or a massive Robot—on a city‐smashing rampage. Unlike its predecessor, Crush, Crumble and Chomp!, which relied on strategy‐style order inputs for each movement, The Movie Monster Game embraces arcade‐style freedom. You can roam London, Paris, New York, Moscow or San Francisco at will, smashing landmarks, toppling skyscrapers, and hurling debris without pausing for complex command menus.

Each city offers five distinct scenarios, such as rescuing a companion monster, escaping from military lockdowns or simply obliterating a famous landmark before time runs out. The developers have retained the playful spirit of the original by including tanks, jets, missiles and swarms of tiny humans that attempt to slow your destruction, but the real thrill is how your monster moves and reacts in real time. Stomping on bridges, swatting fighter jets from the sky and unleashing special attacks keep the action fresh across multiple playthroughs.

The controls are intuitive: directional joysticks or arrow keys guide your behemoth through the urban landscape, while weapon or roar buttons trigger special abilities. This streamlined approach makes the game highly accessible for newcomers, yet the variety of monster abilities and mission objectives ensures there’s still enough depth to challenge seasoned players. If you’ve ever wanted to feel the power of a skyscraper-crushing creature without fumbling through menus, The Movie Monster Game delivers that visceral satisfaction.

Graphics

For an early 1980s title, The Movie Monster Game offers surprisingly detailed cityscapes. Each map—be it the foggy skyline of London or the neon lights of New York—features distinct architectural landmarks rendered in crisp, blocky sprites. The destruction effects are particularly satisfying: buildings crumble in stages, windows shatter and debris falls realistically around your monster’s feet.

Monster animations are fluid and expressive. Godzilla’s tail whip and the Robot’s mechanical stomp feel weighty, conveying the sense of mass you’d expect from a giant creature. Explosions, missile trails and smoke plumes are all represented with simple yet effective pixel art, and the limited color palette holds up thanks to thoughtful design choices that emphasize contrast and readability, even when chaos reigns on-screen.

While the game lacks the high-resolution sprites and particle effects of modern titles, its retro aesthetics have a certain charm. User interface elements—health bars, objective pointers and a minimalist city map—are unobtrusive and keep you immersed in the action. Overall, the visual presentation strikes a solid balance between functional clarity and nostalgic flair.

Story

The Movie Monster Game offers a light narrative framework rather than a deep storyline. You select one of five mission types—escape, rescue, attack or protect—and then choose the city and monster that best fit your destructive agenda. This loose storytelling approach allows you to jump straight into the action without wading through long cutscenes or dialogue.

Each monster comes with its own tongue-in-cheek backstory leafed into the manual: Godzilla awakens from the ocean depths, the Tarantula spins webs across city blocks, and the Robot is the result of a top-secret military experiment gone awry. Although these tales are brief, they add personality and context to your rampages, making each playthrough feel a bit different.

Despite the minimal plot, mission objectives give you clear goals and a reason to revisit different cities. Whether you’re racing against the clock to free a trapped companion or systematically dismantling a famous monument, the scenario variety keeps the overall narrative loose yet engaging enough to sustain multiple sessions.

Overall Experience

The Movie Monster Game is a delightful blend of arcade action and classic monster‐movie mayhem. Its pick‐up‐and-play mechanics, combined with the freedom to roam and destroy iconic cityscapes, create an experience that remains entertaining decades after its release. The absence of a complex command system makes it immediately accessible, while the range of monsters and mission types ensures replayability.

Nostalgic fans of Epyx’s earlier titles will appreciate how the game honors the spirit of Crush, Crumble and Chomp! without feeling like a mere clone. Newcomers seeking a quirky, vintage rampage simulator will find plenty to enjoy in the varied scenarios and the satisfying crash-and-bash gameplay loop. The Movie Monster Game excels at delivering on its core promise: monster-sized fun.

While it may not satisfy players looking for deep strategy or expansive narratives, it more than makes up for that with unbridled destruction and memorable set-piece moments. If you’ve ever dreamed of bringing a towering creature to life and unleashing havoc on civilization, The Movie Monster Game is an essential classic that still stands the test of time.