If anyone has looked this game up, they’ve probably been met with tons of references to the cult-classic Sega/SNES hit, Zombies Ate My Neighbors. That old gem that gave one or two players the option of blasting through level after level filled to the brim with zombies was nothing short of exhilarating. Heck, it may have been too hard for its own good, but that didn’t stop the game from being a serious fan-favorite back in its prime. Artificial Studios is reviving what was presumably left dead with the last Loaded game. But don’t fret dear old-schoolers. This revitalization is not being mirrored on the Hollywood LP formulae. Monster Madness is the sort of game that aims to be nothing more than a fun throwback to what gamers loved about cooperative gore-fests, found in the likes of Total Carnage or Cyber Lip.
The story is a no-brainer zombie thrash through a neo-1960's suburbia. Hence the name, Monster Madness: Battle for Suburbia. Players presumably start in what looks like one of the main characters’ house, and work their way out from there. But not all of the game will take place in a retro neighborhood setting. After the four main heroes get attacked by zombies, mummies, and other night-bred creatures of fright, they’ll venture through cemeteries, malls, and forests. There will be an approximate total of 20 individual levels for players to venture through, causing all sorts of horror-related mayhem.
Each of the four characters will come equipped with a melee weapon to help fend off baddies, in case they get too close. Yet the real treat for attacking the enemies of the night lies in the vast arsenal of machine guns, shotguns, pistols, rocket launchers and flamethrowers. What’s more is that a player will be able to collect items along the way, which can be used to build super-weapons. The way the game is setup, however, players won’t find all the necessary objects the first time around. Monster Madness will require at least two or three play-throughs before everything is unlocked.
Enemies are also a varied bunch of critters, as I may have mentioned earlier; the stock of zombie hordes made the cut, along with vampires, ghouls, ghosts, and other baddies. Players will even have the opportunity of turning into different monsters to thwart the forces of evil, using special attacks and monster-given abilities. What’s interesting, though, is that while battling foes players will also have a slew of physical effects taking place around them. For instance, like Midway’s Stranglehold, every bullet and projectile in Monster Madness renders an effect after a collision. All thanks to Ageia’s PhysX PPU and advanced physics engine capabilities, the cause and effect concept has been taken to new heights. Debris will scatter, body parts will fly, blood will spray, boobies will bounce, and things will explode, all to the satisfaction of action-crazed gamers.
To top off all the adrenaline pumping mayhem, Artificial Studios has added 16-player multiplayer support for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC versions of the game. The multiplayer modes include standard Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch (which can also be played with four players on the same system). But the game also includes modes that pit players vs. monsters, or participate in classic capture-the-flag. Most of the multiplayer modes will have all players pitted against one another on one screen, where all the carnage can be viewed from a birds-eye view. Alternatively, though, split-screen options will also be available for players going at it on the same console. The developers even mentioned that the PC version will support up to four-players on the same PC.
On a final note, Monster Madness has some interesting visuals despite being a zoomed-out action game. Don’t let the 3/4 view fool you. All the details and enhanced capabilities of Unreal Engine 3 have been used to full advantage. All the graphical niceties you could ask for in a next-gen title will be appearing in this game; from soft shadows to dynamic, real-time lighting, it’s all there. Still, graphics should be the least of a gamer’s concerns when gameplay is what counts. And Monster Madness seems to be keen on delivering gameplay depth. With cooperative multiplayer havoc and chaos, upgradable weapons, interactive vehicles and destroyable environments, be sure to keep your eye out for Monster Madness. With the release set for early 2007, you can expect to see the game on shelves for the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.
