Monstrous Encounters – The Dawn of the Monsters review

If, like me, you’ve ever wished for a modern interpretation of the Neo Geo classic, King of the Monsters, your prayers to the Kaiju gods have been answered with “Dawn of the Monsters” (DotM). Developed by the Canadian studio 13AM and published by WayForward, a publisher celebrated by both us and many gamers for its pixel-heavy and nostalgia-filled releases.

Kaiju Chaos

In the dystopian setting of Toronto, the city is in grave danger as gigantic monsters suddenly emerge, wreaking havoc all around. It’s your duty, along with your team of ‘pilots,’ to confront these monstrous foes on equal footing. You have the option to step into the shoes of various Mechas and domesticated kaiju, all with the common goal of cleansing the city from this malevolent menace by pummeling them into submission. You are free to choose from four available monsters, each of which can be individually upgraded through DNA augments. These augmentations encompass everything from stat enhancements to additional special moves.

All over the world

The game’s narrative is divided into distinct locations, each featuring a variety of missions. These missions primarily revolve around causing widespread destruction in environments ranging from cities to plants and rainforests, offering players an exhilarating and action-packed experience.

Augments

You have various attack options at your disposal, ranging from light and heavy attacks to character-specific special moves. Each character boasts significantly different stats, which can be further customized by adding DNA augments to your Kaiju’s genetic structure. Some augments grant you bonus HP for finishing moves, while others provide passive stat boosts. After completing each stage, you can choose three new augments or enhance existing ones.

Western Kaiju

A testament to its ambition to reach a broader audience is the departure from typical anime aesthetics that one might expect in a game like this. Instead, “Dawn of the Monsters” draws its art style primarily from Western comic book influences, particularly those seen in non-superhero comics like Vertigo and Image Comics. The sprite art truly shines on the OLED Switch, featuring vibrant colors and intriguing character designs. However, it’s worth noting that the environments tend to blend oddly, often characterized by dark tones and uninspiring city and forest landscapes.

Straight forward Beat’em up

The beat’em up action in “Dawn of the Monsters” starts off pretty straightforward, offering light and heavy attacks. However, when combined with the DNA augments, it becomes significantly more engaging and dynamic. This system allows you to experiment and blend special skills and attacks that you unlock as you progress. The real charm comes from the ability to individually enhance the four available characters, providing tactical depth for those who grasp the nuances of the augments and the strengths and weaknesses of each character. I did encounter instances where certain character builds felt ineffective, and unfortunately, the game didn’t offer much guidance on how to rectify this issue. This led me to stick with the two characters that worked for me and avoid tinkering with them further, except for upgrading the augments I was already using.

The build that works for you

Despite the somewhat limited character build options, the combat can start to feel repetitive after going through several levels with a similar formula. However, the game does occasionally come to life with challenging boss battles and intriguing level twists. The ability to utilize the environment or the remains of defeated enemies in battle adds a satisfying layer of gameplay depth. There’s something oddly gratifying about ripping the head off an opponent and hurling it at another enemy or a towering 10-story building. Plus, the augments rewarding you with a health boost for such actions makes it all the more appealing.