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| Hmmm something doesn't look quite right with that monster's foot.. |
- Reviewed by: Mark Goninon
- Developer: Radial Games Corp/Dejobaan Games
- Publisher: Radial Games Corp
- Release Date: 19 March 2013
- Time played: 0.7 hours
Monster Loves You! happens to be the third game from the Humble Freedom Bundle that I'm going to review along with Potatoman Seeks the Troof and TIMEframe. So that would indicate that there are quite a few games in this bundle that are very short, since that's generally the only reason I've pushed these games to the top of my backlog (so I can at least get the number of games in the backlog down but not necessarily the number of hours). The game also sounds like my kind of game since it's meant to be a narrative rich game in the same vein as one of those "Choose Your Own Adventure" books from the 80s or "Fighting Fantasy" gamebooks. The game also reminds me of an old 1980s life simulation with RPG elements called Alter Ego, except that you play the role of a monster from birth to death and determine what impact your monster will have on the world.
So besides the game being short enough for me to tick it off my backlog, does Monster Loves You! have any other redeeming features?
What I like:
Light-hearted
It's good to play a light-hearted game every so often as a break from all the insanely difficult, ultra-competitive and profoundly thought-provoking games out there.Soothing soundtrack
The game has a soothing soundtrack that is a pleasure to listen to.Intriguing world/lore
It's obvious the developers went to a lot of effort making their world believable since there's a lot of lore here about the monster life cycle and their relationships with each other and humans. It's a bit like Undertale in that regard.Multiple Endings
Every good "Choose Your Own Adventure" has multiple endings, and Monster Loves You! is no exception. What's even better is that they made the smart design move (which I keep saying they should incorporate in similar games) where Steam achievements are tied to which ending you reach. Neat.Updated recently
Despite the game being four years old, it received an update in January this year! In fact…Steam Link support
… in the latest update the game claims to have full gamepad and Steam streaming support which means you should be able to play the game using your Steam Link - neat!Steam Trading Cards and Achievements
Just like any self-respecting game on Steam, the game comes with Steam Trading Cards and Achievements.What I dislike:
Short
It took me just under an hour for a playthrough which is pretty short, however, I suspect if you really wanted to experience every ending in the game, there's a good several hours of gameplay here.Lacking incentive to replay
I don't really feel like I'd want to play the game again. I can't put my finger on the precise reason why and I suspect it's actually because of several contributing factors. Maybe it's because I'm happy with the choices I made with my first playthrough and how it impacted the game world so I don't have the urge to go back and try again. The only reason for me to go back and play the game is in order to unlock more achievements, and I suspect it would be a struggle, considering the other endings in the game are likely not very appealing, at least to me.Ending
While things are definitely resolved and I liked the ending I achieved (in terms of storyline), there's a bit of an anti-climax since it's just a few sentences for an epilogue and there's no cutscene or painting to reward you for your efforts, just the achievement and that's about it. I think this is one of the contributing factors to my lack of motivation to replay the game.Monsters?
I don't know if the whole Monsters vs Humans world really appealed to me. Maybe if it were aliens vs humans or something entirely different it'd interest me more.Score – 7/10 (Not bad)
If you like "Choose Your Own Adventures" or visual novels, Monster Loves You! is definitely one of the higher quality ones out there, albeit a bit strange with respect to the fact you play a monster from birth to death. Whether the game represents good value to you depends on whether you're the sort to explore all endings in these sorts of games and whether you're that keen to roleplay a monster.Is the game worth $9.99 USD?: No. It's a bit pricey for what is basically a digital version of a Choose Your Own Adventure book. I think $5 USD is a fairer price so check it out when it's on sale.
If you like this game, you might like…
[ LINK: Official Monster Loves You! Website ]
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