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- E10+
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Monster Sanctuary
Released On: Dec 8, 2020
74
8.0
Where to Buy
Where to Buy
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 11 Critic Reviews
74
36% Positive
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
64% Mixed
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 11 Critic Reviews
74
36% Positive
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
64% Mixed
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
While clearly inspired by other similar titles, Monster Sanctuary takes that inspiration and runs with it, carving out its own spot in the gaming world. I can't wait to see how things flourish in the future!
An interesting mix of well-known details that manages to offer a familiar taste and yet be extremely fun. As you can imagine Monster Sanctuary doesn't have anything particularly new to offer, but it's a fun metroidvania with all kinds of pocket monsters that's also pretty deep.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 35 User Ratings
8.0
77% Positive
27 Ratings
27 Ratings
14% Mixed
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
9% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 35 User Ratings
8.0
77% Positive
27 Ratings
27 Ratings
14% Mixed
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
9% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
10/10 states exactly what it is, other than the mechanics of battle ahead of time so you know what you are getting into. The combat is 3v3 at once, that and other things make it a lot more refreshing. In the last 3-5years I have only completed a handful of games. I buy them like mad and then play halfway through and get bored. I 100% this game. Other games I have completed in last few years though not much relevant are Pokémon Scarlet, Pokémon Sword, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Rune Factory 4 Special, Metroid Dread, Dead Cells, Elden Ring & Dark Souls 3.
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Nintendo Switch
Phenomenal game. It has lots of great RPG elements like unique skill trees for each monster, a very diverse cast of monsters, lots of different items to equip etc. The story is well written. The areas are fun to explore. The battles are awesome. This game does not disappoint. Amazing value for the price.
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Nintendo Switch
Monster Sanctuary is a clever entry in the Monster Catcher genre, it naturally combines a deep battle system with Metroidvania elements with the lore of the game to create quite a special 2D pixel art indie title.
Monster Sanctuary blends a Metroidvania game with monster capture
elements, and it does a great job at bringing those worlds together.
With its enormous amount of content and a fun, well-designed sense of
progression, Monster Sanctuary does not stand out as brilliantly when it
comes to its exploration, which feels rather simplistic, but there are
plenty of elements here to make it worthy for everyone who enjoys any of
both genres represented.
An expansive and content-packed game, Monster Sanctuary would be easy to criticise as a grind if we didn't find that said grinding was never really necessary to enjoy it. It's a difficult one to review because a lot of what this reviewer personally found a little boring is exactly what's going to appeal to its core audience of number-crunching statisticians. While Monster Sanctuary's is a little plain at the outset, the right people will find it one of their favourite games of the year. It's a total timesink, but that's a term that implies said time is being wasted, when it really isn't. Every fight is pushing your team forward, and the potential for maximising the efficiency and power of your squad is seemingly infinite. It can feel more like organising a spreadsheet than playing a game at times, but it's impossible to deny that it's an accomplished game with a lot to offer - and that's without even taking it online to battle other players. If you like min-maxing, feel free to add a point or two to the score below.
Monster Sanctuary is a charming take on the monster raising formula, albeit not without its faults. The combat's ranking system betrays the gameplay's nuances - discouraging high concept strategies or support tactics in favour of brute force - and the Metroidvania level design is marred in being broken up by methodical puzzles and turn based battles. In spite of this, Monster Sanctuary is an addictive RPG that is hard to put down. Monster hatching is an incredibly simple process, every single monster has its own skill tree, and combat has been balanced enough so that just about any team can get through the main game in the hands of savvy players. Monster Sanctuary is a diamond in the rough if there ever was one.
I like Monster Sanctuary for what it tries to accomplish, I just wish I liked the execution as much as the concept. I could see the threads of its attempt weaving into a better cohesive whole, but instead each different ingredient feels incomplete or misses the mark of what makes each genre it pulls from so compelling. There’s still fun to be had if setting expectations right and wanting a unique twist that is no muss, no fuss, but I was hoping for more that Monster Sanctuary wasn’t quite there to give.
This is a fun game. It’s like Pokémon with skill trees. You don’t have to worry about making the wrong decisions when picking skills because you can reset them for cheap.
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Nintendo Switch
Starts strong, and has a lot of good ideas, which ultimately arent perfectly thought-through and executed, though:
Repetitive gameplay, lots of repeating world-abilities, very unspectacular "boss-fights" (which you simply need to beat to proceed, but dont add any new mechanics), annoying and disturbing puzzles, a boring level-design, and the lack of comfort disturb the experience the longer you play, and the further you get, and hinder the game from being great.
It still is a nice addition to the monster-collecting genre, and not a bad game, but didnt fulfill my personal expectations...
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Nintendo Switch
Monster Sanctuary was on its way to being a favorite of mine, as it combined the two genres I tend to enjoy the most and it felt pretty fresh. I love the idea that monsters grant you the metroidvania abilities, I love the art in your "dex" with long entries on each monster, I love the art style even though the environments were fairly uninspired, and I love that the combat feels completely separate from Pokemon. The music isn't very good, so I had the volume off for most of my time playing. The story is weak, but that doesn't matter too much in this sort of game.
My problem comes in where the Metroidvania aspects seem to be tacked on to expand off the combat system. I feel like the developers made the monster combat and polished up how that system works and then said "waaaaait, let's put it in a Metroid map". That's just what it feels like from my perspective. Maybe if they had mixed up the gameplay where some battles are Metroidvania style where your abilities for battle are based on the monsters you choose.
There is no catching mechanic, so obtaining a new monster relies on RNG drops (in your favor, it seems, this never gave me issues). Most monsters do not evolve, only a select few use random items that you give to a tree. I suppose this was to differentiate from Pokemon, but if that's the reason than why only give this to a few monsters? Maybe that should have given me a clue that the game doesn't care if you like your monsters or not, it expects you to consider a min-max team. I did not beat the game, because the monsters I had at the final fight were not enough to win and I preferred to walk away with a pleasant experience than look up the meta. I'm not sure why they decided to slap a difficulty curve at the climax of the game. Maybe they forgot the Elite Four isn't leveled to 100 so their lvl 40 cap that the last fights match is fine? Anyway, in a monster collector game I would prefer to win with the monsters I've bonded with along the way, not dump them at the last second. I have no doubt Pokemon haters will praise this game to no end and ignore the mediocrity, they can find a way to glorify an old potato if someone claims it's like Pokemon.
One last issue, it's disappointing that you get to pick between two white dudes at the start and there's no character customization whatsoever. If I'm not really supposed to care for the monsters, then at least give me some options for my own look (or at least a female character).
In the end, I would still recommend giving this game a try. It's a good game with some design flaws here and there that leave it middle of the road in the end. It's still going to be more interesting than most of the big releases.
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Nintendo Switch
Overrated. If we don't grade this game on a curve for being an indie, the story is barebones and not particularly engaging.
The entire overworld mechanic of using monsters to unlock and move through different areas is overstated. It's only a mild annoyance and a way to wall off areas instead of being integrated into a platforming challenge.
The real meat of the game and what draws people in is the gameplay. While it's interesting at first to build different teams to try for 5 staring fight, it eventually gets stale. Instead of scaling everything and properly balancing the game, the metroidvania mechanics have you cake walking through old areas with no good way to track what is where.
Monster Sanctuary has the beginnings of some good ideas but doesn't blend any of them together particularly well. The only interesting fights you'll find are in new areas, and usually only champion fights. New fights can be longer but really they're more tedious than challenging.
It's definitely a different flavor of game than pokemon or some other monster collectors, but different isn't always fun or good.
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Nintendo Switch
The game's fun but I don't like it. Your trainer battles are too **** difficult. I should not have to be an expert to get by.
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Nintendo Switch
Summary Embark on an epic adventure using the powers of the monsters you collect, and the team you build, to unlock an ever-expanding world. On your quest to become the ultimate Monster Keeper you’ll unravel the cause of a mystery that threatens the peace between humans and monsters.
Rated E +10
for Everyone +10
Platforms:
- PC
- Nintendo Switch
- PlayStation 4
- Xbox One
Initial Release Date: Dec 8, 2020
Developer:
- Moi Rai Games
Publisher: Team17
Genres:
