Meg's Monster (Computer)
Official GBAtemp Review
Product Information:
- Release Date (NA): March 2, 2023
- Release Date (EU): March 2, 2023
- Publisher: Odencat Inc.
- Developer: Odencat Inc.
- Genres: Turn-based RPG
- Also For: Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Game Features:
The Underworld is a land populated by monsters and mutants that literally have humans for breakfast; and it’s surely no place for a little girl. But when Meg does accidentally end up in this ruthless place and is found by Roy and Golan, the latter pair quickly discover that they should not let the stranded girl cry, for her tears apparently hold destructive powers.
And so, rather than having Meg for breakfast, Roy and Golan venture on a quest to help Meg get out of the Underworld and reunite her with her mum while defending her from the threats of the Underworld. In the process, they surprisingly get to uncover secrets about the Underworld as well as themselves.
A humane story in a monster-filled world
Meg’s Monster’s premise is a simple yet original and touching one that expands on the relationship between the stranded girl and her new friends and environment. As you control the hulking ogre Roy, you get to experience first hand how his relationship with Meg evolves from unrelated strangers to one with strong emotional ties.
The plot also packs its fair share of unexpected twists that keeps it intriguing. The origins of the Underworld, its inhabitants, Meg’s background and even Roy’s favourite food hold more than meets the eye and are slowly revealed across the game’s ~4 hour playthrough.
While there are some plot aspects that feel rushed, overall the narrative is a heartwarming one that feels fresh and is welcome to the JRPG genre.
All this is presented in an appealing retro-aesthetic that reminded me of GBA games and accompanied by fitting soundtracks. You’ll get to explore various areas of the Underworld and interact with its colourful, often humorous, inhabitants.
Interesting twist to the turn-based RPG formula
Also taking inspiration from retro games is the combat which unfolds in a turn-based fashion. The layout is very similar to Pokémon battles, with a menu offering options such as attack, guard and using items. At the end of a successful battle, you gain experience points and level up.
However, battle sequences in Meg’s Monster adopt an interesting twist to the turn-based formula. You see, Roy is practically invincible with an HP gauge of 99,999; but he will still receive hits from enemies which will emotionally hurt Meg, and impact a second gauge dedicated to Meg’s emotional state.
It’s the latter, more vulnerable gauge, that you have to keep an eye on if you don’t want the world to end. For that, you will have to distract Meg by playing with her with Toys in your inventory such as a rocket figure or a football and restore her morale.
Later on, there are other mini-games such as pattern recognition and QTEs that you’ll encounter during combats and exploration which diversify the gameplay. However, such diversity takes some time to be introduced, which leads to the first half to follow a mostly formulaic pattern of visiting a new place, battling someone and repeat.
This pattern gets trying and I wish the varied gameplay aspects would have been introduced earlier as they really got me hooked to the game. But the final execution did not feel that well optimised.
A short and sweet game
While a relatively short game and not offering that much of a challenge, Meg’s Monster delivers a memorable experience with its original, heartwarming plot and interesting twist to its turn-based combat mechanics.
Meg's Monster Teaser Trailer
Verdict
- Heartwarming premise with some intriguing plot twists
- Original take on turn-based combat mechanics
- Reliance on formulaic progression in first half
- Some rushed plot aspects
