The title screen to Monster RPG 2.
This is a review I wrote for the iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad game Monster RPG 2, developed by Nooskewl. I played through both v1.1 and v1.2, with this review being based on the content in v1.2. The computer version is available at nooskewl.com.
You start out seeing two kids, Eny and Tiggy, picking mushrooms in the woods. On their way back home, Tiggy finds a wizard’s staff and is possessed by its evil powers, which drive him to team up with goblins and wage war against the local towns and villages. It is up to you to control Eny and the companions she meets to rescue Tiggy and save the world!
Monster RPG 2 is a role playing game mimicking the style of classic Super Nintendo games such as the Final Fantasy and Lufia series. Just like these games, it features turn-based combat, a large array of characters to meet and play as (only three playable characters in this demo), and an original and only slightly cliché storyline with numerous plot twists. There is beautiful pixel art and a melodious mood-setting synthesized soundtrack. If the soundtrack is not to your taste, you can utilize the fact that you are playing the game on a music player, and listen to your own tunes instead.
The battle screen. In the lower-left corner there will be buttons for actions to perform, but because the dialog box is at the top, they are not displayed.
When I first started this game, I saw the loading screen. It’s a little bit tacky. Then there’s the company logo screen with a terribly annoying “beep beeeep” sound. Companies like Capcom have an appealing and recognizable chime to brand their products with, but Nooskewl has chosen to forgo that approach. I like the logo and the way it fades in and out, but the sound effect really needs to go! This is probably the worst part of this game right here, so don’t let it deter you.
You can control the game by either tapping to perform actions or by using a virtual D-pad and buttons. I thought that I would prefer the virtual D-pad at first, but found the tapping interface to be more usable because there were no controls obstructing my view.
A dialog in Monster RPG 2.
When I first played this game, I complained that it was ridiculously hard. This is where it differs from other games in its genre. When I would play games on my Super Nintendo, running from a battle was out of the question except in dire emergencies. You start out this game in an emergency situation, so don’t be afraid to run from a few battles.
Every so often you will encounter mini-games, which you would expect to find in most modern games. These help break the monotony which sometimes comes from playing RPGs like this, and they are welcomed challenges.
Overall, this game is top notch, and I would definitely recommend it to any fans of old school console RPGs.
