Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Monster Force delivers fast-paced, isometric shooting action reminiscent of classics like Zombies Ate My Neighbors. Players navigate maze-like levels filled with switches to activate, traps to avoid, and hordes of supernatural foes to dispatch. The core loop is simple yet addictive: explore each stage, locate and flip switches to unlock new areas, and clear out waves of monsters before time runs out. This straightforward structure makes for instantly accessible fun, but deeper challenges await those who seek them.

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Timed challenges add an extra layer of tension, forcing you to think quickly and manage resources. Ammo and health pickups are scarce, so every shot counts, and retreats become as crucial as advances. Boss encounters break up the standard run-and-gun formula with multi-phase fights that test your reflexes and strategy. Learning each boss’s pattern is satisfying and gives a sense of progression beyond mere high-score chasing.

Multiplayer on the Game Boy Advance elevates the excitement, allowing two players to team up for cooperative mayhem. Sharing the screen and coordinating attacks on Dracula, Frankenstein, the Mummy, and Wolf Boy makes for memorable sessions with a friend. While the link-cable requirement can feel antiquated today, it still captures the joy of handheld couch co-op and enriches replayability.

Graphics

Visually, Monster Force embraces a colorful, superdeformed art style that injects personality into Universal’s classic monsters. Dracula’s oversized cape, the Mummy’s cartoonish wrappings, and Wolf Boy’s exaggerated claws bring charm to each antagonist. Character sprites are crisply animated, and enemy designs pop against the muted tones of haunted mansions, moonlit graveyards, and fog-shrouded forests.

Backgrounds and level details remain clear and distinguishable despite the GBA’s limited resolution. Environmental elements such as flickering torches, creaking gates, and bloodstained walls create an appropriately spooky atmosphere without overwhelming the screen. Occasional slowdown can occur when too many projectiles or enemies appear simultaneously, but it never hinders gameplay significantly.

Special effects—explosions, magical blasts, and item pickups—are vibrant and give each action its due weight. The isometric perspective is handled adeptly, avoiding confusion when lining up shots or navigating tight corridors. Overall, the graphics strike a balance between playful and eerie, catering to younger audiences while still appealing to older fans of retro monster lore.

Story

Monster Force uses a light narrative framework to justify its action-packed levels. The Universal monsters have returned, wreaking havoc across the globe under a mysterious dark force. A team of rookie monster hunters, each armed with unique weapons and abilities, steps forward to seal away these terrors once more. While the story rarely intrudes on the action, it provides enough context to keep players motivated through successive stages.

Each chapter introduces a different classic monster as its focal villain, tying in neatly with Universal’s refreshed lineup. Brief cutscenes bookend key levels, offering humorous quips and glimpses of character personalities. Though the plot doesn’t delve into deep character development, it delivers on charm and nostalgia, leveraging familiar horror icons in a family-friendly package.

Dialogue is kept snappy and sparse, ensuring gameplay remains front and center. Voice clips—or rather, chiptune renditions of monster howls and hunter yelps—add spice without overstaying their welcome. The overarching narrative carries you from one themed stage to the next, culminating in a showdown that pays homage to monster movie finales without straying into overly dramatic territory.

Overall Experience

Monster Force shines as a portable shooter that combines retro inspirations with bite-sized level design ideal for on-the-go play. Short stages and clear objectives make it easy to jump in and out, while hidden secrets and time trials encourage repeated runs. Though it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it refines a beloved formula into a tightly crafted handheld experience.

The cooperative multiplayer remains a standout feature, especially for those who own two GBA systems and a link cable. Teaming up amplifies the fun, with strategies emerging organically as players cover each other and synchronize switch activations. Solo players will still find plenty of challenge in higher difficulty modes and the desire to perfect each boss fight.

With its engaging gameplay loops, endearing art style, and nods to classic horror, Monster Force offers solid value for fans of isometric shooters and monster-movie aficionados alike. It’s not the deepest handheld title on the market, but for those craving frantic action and nostalgic thrills, it’s a ghoulishly good time worth investigating.

Retro Replay Score

7/10