Hello! I am back once more for another instalment of Lost Gems, covering games that have been forgotten, pulled from distribution or simply abandoned. This time, I will be discussing a game that was panned by critics upon release, but has gained a cult following in subsequent years. So it is now time to take a look at Battle Monsters, a digitised fighting game with a horror edge, released on the SEGA Saturn in 1995 courtesy of Scarab and Naxat Soft.
Disclaimer: while the game discussed here is no longer officially on sale, there are still ways to obtain it. This can either be through the second hand market, or through unofficial digital roms/rips. I do not condone or promote piracy, so there won’t be any links to roms or rips of the games being covered.
So with the introductions out of the way, let’s get started. I will be discussing the general game experience, then providing my own personal thoughts on the title.
About the game
Released in Japan in 1995 and to other territories in 1996, Battle Monsters is a one-on-one fighting game, using digitized sprites for the characters. Set in the netherworld, there is a tournament where demons and monsters are locked in a deadly battle. There are 12 contestants from across hell, who have stepped forward as the champions of their territory. The winner of this tournament is granted the ultimate prize, the power to rule for 1000 years.
The characters of Battle Monsters are inspired by various creatures and archetypes from media. There is Makaryudo, who wears a helm like a Minotaur, Deathmask, a creature that looks like Frankenstein’s monster and Drethdok (Strawbelly Jam in Japan), a Cyclops beast with multiple arms. The majority of the characters are represented by costumed actors. However, two were created through fully articulated models, like Goro from Mortal Kombat.
There are two gameplay modes for this release, the single player Arcade mode and 2 player Versus. In the arcade mode, the player must select their chosen warrior and battle through all 12 combatants, including a mirror match against their own. The battles play out in the traditional best 2 out of 3 rounds, with candles representing their health. Victory can be achieved by snuffing out the opponents candles, or having more health when the timer expires.
Each of the characters have a fairly robust moveset, with the traditional punches and kicks, along with a taunt button. Alongside these standard attacks, all of the characters have a variety of special attacks, which are activated by directional commands. These command moves use the four primary directions, allowing for easy to pick up gameplay and making characters easy to use. But that is not all, as all characters have their own unique ultimate attack.
During a round, the Mana bar will fluctuate during battle, which can be influenced by taunting the opponent and unseen mechanics. When this bar is filled, the player can activate the special “super death blow” skill. This can be attempted multiple times while the bar is full, as it lasts for a few seconds. If the attack is successful, the opponent will take significant damage, using up the power in the bar. This can be the difference between victory and defeat.
Now all of these mechanics are fairly common in fighting games, but what separates Battle Monsters from the rest is the stage mechanics. Many of the stages in this game contain platforms, where the player can leap between multi-tier positions. This changes up the action of combat, as players can bounce between different the different platforms in stages. This adds more depth to the combat, letting players approach fights from different angles.
The platforms aren’t the only special mechanic in this game. There is a special stage called the hungry cave, where the fighters can be knocked off the stage. If this happens, they will be instantly killed by the carnivorous plants of the stage, chomping down on them. This can make for a lot of competitive fun in the Versus mode, as players try to knock each other off the edge. If the victory is fast enough, the player will get congratulated by the game.
As the player makes it through the game, they will see the world map, with all defeated opponents being crossed out. This occurs a few times during the single player mode, adding to the presentation. When all of the other challengers have been defeated, a cutscene will play out right after the last playable character is beaten. This is the prelude to the final battle, taking place in the Palace of Spirit against the imposing BIG 4.
This battle against the Big 4 is a challenging gauntlet, against four opponents in a row that embody the elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water. In this final stage, the rules of combat change going from best of 3 in rounds to best of 7. The player must defeat each of the four elemental champions, with the next appearing in succession if the player can win a round. If the player loses the match, they must start off the fight from the beginning again.
If the player can overcome the BIG 4 in combat, an ending scene will play out for the chosen character. These are pretty simple cutscenes, where the camera scrolls across a static image, which is simple but pleasing to see. The player will then be able to enter their ranking into the high score board. The score system gives the game some replay value, as there is the chance for some really high scores, and even speedrunning opportunities.
Personal Thoughts
I grew up in a period when Mortal Kombat was a massive phenomenon, with many games trying to duplicate it. Battle Monsters was one of these, coming out only 3 years after the first game, using the same style of graphics. While it may seem like a pale imitation, there is a lot of creativity and unique depth to the game, making it feel different. Rather than the standard martial arts themes, there were creative monsters and a distinct roster.
The game is pretty janky and has some flaws, but there is a lot of fun to be had with it. The battles are quick and snappy, with lots of cheap ways to win, but it is a pretty special game because of how unique it is. When it released in the west, it wasn’t received well, with complaints about the looks and mechanics. However, to me these are what make the game stand out, sure it can be a little choppy and awkward, but that is part of the charm.
I have been playing this game for almost 30 years, with the same wonder and excitement each time I boot the game up. I even have an import copy of the Japanese release, just because the Cyclops character has the original name Strawbelly Jam. It even has an announcer that calls out their names when selecting a character. There were other changes to names in the west, which was one of those things that happened back in the day.
There has been some attention brought to the game over the years, but not by much as it is still a pretty overlooked game. I myself casually speedrun the game, with two runs currently pending on the games online leaderboard (they will be added to the bottom if approved). I have many fond memories of this game, with the creativity and simple yet engaging experience. Yes it is rough around the edges, with some weird and inconsistent pacing at times, but that is what makes it so special to me.
It is one of those games that fluctuates in price quite often, with the Japanese version often being the more affordable release. The English release can be very expensive when trying to buy complete in box, so if you are looking for a good condition complete edition, that may be your best bet. Sadly all of the companies that were involved in the game, both domestic and international have since become defunct.
I would love to see a re-release of this game using the emulator that powers the S-Tribute series, but with no knowledge of what happened to the rights of the game. This is quite sad as it is a piece of gaming history that deserves to be preserved, like many of the games I have and will discuss in this feature. Thankfully, there is a bit of a cult following for this game, which will hopefully keep the fires burning for this wonderfully charming yet janky release.
If you have enjoyed this feature, then please stick around and see what else catches your eye. I cover a wide range of games in reviews, get special previews for some and put out regular features. I have Lost Gems, Retro Revival where I discuss re-releases and Gaming Oddities, where I cover weird and wacky titles. So stay a while and have a look around.
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