Released in 1989 for the NES by Toho, Godzilla: Monster of Monsters! is a unique blend of strategic board game mechanics and side-scrolling action. Players take command of either Godzilla or Mothra, moving them across a hexagonal grid of planets in the solar system to thwart an alien invasion by “Planet X”. When encountering an enemy monster or an enemy base, the view shifts to a 2D action level where you must fight your way through alien forces and iconic Toho kaiju.
How to Play
The objective is to conquer each planet by moving across the grid and defeating the boss monsters waiting there. On the strategic map, use the arrow keys to select adjacent hexes to move. During the side-scrolling action stages, use the arrow keys for movement, Z to attack (punch or bite for Godzilla, shoot projectiles for Mothra), and X to jump. Pressing Enter pauses the game, and Shift opens your status menu.
Tips
- Mothra is excellent for navigating action levels quickly. Her flying ability lets her effortlessly bypass many ground-based hazards that would slowly wear down Godzilla.
- In one-on-one monster battles, Godzilla’s tail whip (duck and press attack) has excellent reach and is often safer than trying to punch fast-moving opponents.
- Don’t rush straight to the bosses. Clearing out regular enemy bases on the grid is an important way to level up your kaiju’s power and health gauge before the big fights.
Leave a Comment / Review: