Written: 8.15.08
Acquired: 3.1.06
Status: Cart only
Price: $2.99

In 1991 SNK released a 2-player arcade game that seemingly took elements from Street Fighter II, giant monster movies and the WWF. The results were a bit mixed, but more than a few arcade goers enjoyed the simple cheesy monster mayhem. After all, what can beat heaving a giant sweaty gorilla headfirst through the Tokyo Tower? It's gotta be a damn short list. SNK saw fit to release a sequel the very next year. SNES fans would get the game 2 years later
"I CALL THIS... ATOMIC NOOGIE!"

Before we go any further I do have a confession (!) to make. Back in early '94 I was reading a
GamePro magazine at Target. I saw a King of the Monsters 2 preview at the back of the mag. It
was only about a quarter of a page -- not even that, more like one fifth. Anyway, I was so hyped
to get my hands on the upcoming Super Nintendo port that I actually ripped the page out of the
magazine and walked out of Target like nothing ever happened. I was only ten at the time and
desperate you see. I remember spending that afternoon just studying the tiny KOTM 2 preview
for a good 20 minutes or so in my room. I have long lost it (the GamePro preview I mean), and
perhaps it's fitting that I have



The moral of the story is, errr, uhhhh... isn't it enough that I've confessed?



*breathes deeply while rubbing forehead*   That felt SO good to get out of the way

[You're SICK.  Is everyone on dope?!  -Ed.]

ARCADE DENIAL

God Bless the SNES. You see, my old town, love it still though I may, never carried King of the Monsters 2. I looked everywhere, but it was hopeless. Not ONE lousy arcade hall had it. I read the preview in EGM and it was killing me to play it. After all, I loved the original. Nope, I would have to wait until June 1994 to finally play the game. I'll never forget the first time [Neither have
I -Ed.] but alas, I'm getting ahead of myself again

Let us then travel back to the years 1991 and '92...

KING OF THE MONSTERS

An innocent trip to Safeway along with my dad and brother in '91 saw my first exposure to the original arcade game. My bro and I were locked and engaged as our dad stood in that long line. That night a love and bond was forged. It was one of the first arcade games I ever played, and the first one I ever beat. The next year, 1992, it came out for the Super NES. It was also the first video game I ever bought without my brother having his say. Back then, like many other kids, we were lucky if we received two new games a year, so it was a very big deal any time we did come away with one. It's too bad though that the port was rather subpar. What made the arcade so fun and charming was MIA in the SNES port, though I still had an odd fascination for it. Would SNES-owning KOTM-loving fans be vindicated in ROUND TWO?  Let's find out...
Hope ya didn't like Poison Ghost, Beetle or Rocky too much...

I'll never forget that December evening at the mall in '92 and how I was able to convince my mom to buy me the game. It was a minor miracle in its own right, and one of my fondest gaming memories


I remember sitting back to admire the mall Santa. I was too old for that by '92, but I still believed in the magic of Christmas. For me, Christmas will always be about caring, giving, the spirit of Santa... and King of the Monsters

Yep... it was a time of MIRACLES and MONSTERS

JUNE 1994... JACKPOT CITY AT GAME HUNTER!

June '94 was one for the record books. In my old town there was a small little diehard gaming rental store called GAME HUNTER. Every kid in my town knew it was the place to rent games. It carried nothing BUT games. No film crap, no posters of blockbuster movies adorning the walls, none of that lousy nonsense. Just good ole fashioned video games (and anime). Everything from 8-bit NES to Neo Geo and in-between. And of course, they were perhaps most well-known for their selection of import titles. Keep in mind that back in the early-mid '90s, IMPORT did not mean just another version of a game but rather carried a strong aura of mystique

On a lazy Saturday afternoon in June 1994, my dad drove me and my old best pal Nelson to Game Hunter, as per usual. However, that day turned out to be one of the defining moments of my SNES career. It was right there that Nelson and I nearly fainted, when we saw perched high on the top shelf Fighter's History for the Super Famicom!  Nelly and I loved the arcade, and we had NO idea we would see it there that day. It was like finding a hundred dollar bill in your jacket. We just looked at each other flabbergasted. What a gorgeous sight to see the import version sitting there, with the US release months away!
"WHY SO SERIOUS?"

                     If that weren't enough to wet our appetite, right
                     next to Fighter's History was Muscle Bomber! 
                     Better known to most gaming fans of the mid
                     90s as SATURDAY NIGHT SLAM MASTERS.
                     It was another arcade game that Nelson and I
                     loved; we sure as hell poured our fair share of
                     quarters into the cab at the local GOLFLAND. 
                     Nelson and I grew up as big fans of the WWF.
                     Slam Masters captured that crazy circus of a
                     world quite well, with its almost larger-than-life
                     wrestlers that seemed to have stepped out of
                     some colorful, zany, violent comic book


                     "Pinch me, Steven. Seriously, pinch me"


                     My eyes wide like the Grand Canyon, I was
                     practically speechless. There we were, just
                     two ten-year-old boys slobbering like hungry
                     dogs looking at a fine piece of meat

                                                                                                   Saturday Night Fever!

And then, there it was. Right next to Muscle Bomber, which was right next to Fighter's History... KING OF THE MONSTERS 2!  I think that was the precise moment where I fainted. All those years searching countless arcade halls for a cab only to be denied, on this day my quest would end. For those of you who have read Memories of Renting, you know I often did the dirty work of renting the games my brother wanted, because at a certain age he became too shy and/or lazy to go rent games on his own accord. That day I said "SCREW IT!"  I can't remember what he wanted me to rent, I just knew seeing King of the Monsters 2 changed everything

My dad picked the KOTM 2 box off the top shelf.
"You sure this is what Kevin wants?"  he asked

"Suure..."

Hey, these were bold and reckless times. And I was a bold and reckless guy

And so was Nelson. He rented Fighter's History and I rented King of the Monsters 2. I could only rent one game, and so could he. We agreed to split time that weekend with both games. Hooray for best friends eh?
Epic gaming weekend for the ages

Moment of truth time. My bro Kevin rushed the door as usual to see if I had delivered the goods or not. When he saw me holding King of the Monsters 2, Kevin snapped. I guess he was really looking forward to whatever game it was he instructed me to rent, or maybe, it was moreso his knowing that I had disobeyed his orders; little bro upstaging older bro. Or maybe a combination. Whatever the case, he TRULY lost it. So badly that I had to jet off to Nelson's to give Kevin time to cool down. Hell, he even threw my Crash Dummy action pal, Spin, at me. The nerve of him....

After we arrived back at Nelson's place, we put the incident behind us best as two ten year old boys knew how: we played video games. We started off with Fighter's History for a good while. I remember really liking it and thinking what a very faithful translation of the arcade it was, which I had spent much time with in '93 and even parts of '94. To this day it's a translation that holds up

But then... it came time for the Main Event. Finally, I would get to experience King of the Monsters 2. Long story shorter, Nelly and I had a blast trying to destroy all the ugly alien monsters together. About 3 hours later, Nelson and I went back to my house to find cooler heads had indeed prevailed. Kev gave KOTM 2 a go and he ended up liking it a lot. That weekend the 3 of us rotated turns on Fighter's History and King of the Monsters 2, glued to the TV set like zombies

As for Game Hunter, it sadly went by the wayside by the time the 32-bit era hit its stride. Its service wasn't always all that hot, either. Still, I'll always look back on GH with nothing but fond memories. It earned a cult-like legendary following in my town among my gaming friends, and its grand import selection shall forever resonate with a part of my being. Thank you for the memories, Game Hunter. It was an innocent and great era... my wonder years

I SALUTE THEE, GAME HUNTER!

                                                   Playing import versions before US release FTW!

"WHO IS THE ROBOT MONKEY?"

Last month, two five-year-old twins restored my faith in humanity. This summer I taught some public speaking classes to young children, young as five even. I know, insane that such youngsters have to even grapple with public speaking, but hey, times change don't they?  To read more about this rather incredible tale, if you haven't already: Who is the Robot Monkey?



You mean Mechani-Kong?  Oops, wrong one...

PLOT

... a deadly and evil Alien race has crashed the party... winner takes all!

[Wait... lemme put on my zoo animal party hat -Ed.]

OBJECTIVE

DESTROY ALL MONSTERS!!  King Famardy awaits...

"THE GOOD GUYS"

The roster stands at just three. A little bit disappointing, considering the original gave
you double the choice. Sorry to all the Poison Ghost, Beetle and Rocky fans out there...
these guys are nowhere to be found. It's just Super Geon, Atomic Guy and Cyber Woo!

THE BAD GUYS

Six different parts of the world you'll need to romp and raid. At the end of each short
level awaits a big, bad and ugly monster for you to tango with. Trust me, none of these
guys will ever win a beauty contest!

"BAR"-BARIC

There are a couple bars to pay attention to. Your own, the boss' and your power bar. When you have fully charged your power bar you can unleash a vicious attack

  As you see, the later the
  boss, the badder he gets.
  Some of the bars can be
  a little bit intimidating, ya

OTHER (CREATURE) FEATURES

Charge your power bar by holding L. You cannot move or attack when charging, so of course, you leave yourself wide open to enemy attack. With two players, it's a lot easier to have your buddy entertain the boss while you charge up, or vice versa. On your own though?  You better pick your spots


As the old saying goes: Charge wisely

Just like the original, grappling is still the main point of attack. You still gotta toggle back and forth like a mad man all the while cursing and hollering like a raving mad lunatic. Trust me, it's a lot more fun that way


Unlike the first one, here
it seems the victor of a grapple isn't random but actually awarded to the one who toggles faster. What a concept!

New to the KOTM universe is the ability to block. By simply pressing R, you can thwart
the opposition's blows. It's a welcomed feature and adds some strategy to the fold, particularly in the two-player game

THE GOOD GUYS UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

ATOMIC GUY

Height: 321 feet tall
Weight: 126,000 tons
Advantage: Speed


Formerly a (mad, mad) scientist, Guy transformed during an experiment gone wrong (or right...) when the Monsters first appeared in 1996. Ambitious, he was trying to discover ways to make the human body immune to radiation. Well shit, look at him now. See kids, ALWAYS practice safe science. Surviving the ruckus of the original war, Astro Guy evolved into Atomic Guy -- stronger and faster than before. Master of lightning, fireballs and fashion!

"Just remember, I'm the SEXY ONE!"

                                               The Megaton Thunder is my favorite in all of the game

Atomic Guy's version of SHOCK THERAPY!   [*slaps forehead* -Ed.]

Rumor has it, the scientist was a wrestler in his younger days...

... as the form on his Front Suplex is
worthy of a standing ovation from the
greats of professional wrestling

                                               A splendid "show-off" move, and damn effective too

SUPER GEON

Height: 367 feet tall
Weight: 132,000 tons
Advantage: Power


Ahh, everyone's favorite Godzilla knockoff, or at least, mine anyhow. It doesn't move as fast as the other monsters but damn if it isn't strong. Like Atomic Guy, big Geon too has evolved. Now he's Super Geon, folks. Equipped with sharp spikes, fangs, claws, and most important of all, one very nasty disposition, Super Geon is ready to tear down any obstacle in his way. Looking more like FIN FANG FOOM in part 2 than Godzilla, this dragon beast can make the earth quiver with one of his mighty Earthquake leaps

"No scent of a rare Chinese herb can put ME to sleep!"

                                                                 The Geo Sword is pretty wild!

Still, for Geon, nothing compares quite like frying the opposition to a crisp!

CYBER WOO

Height: 295 feet tall
Weight: 180,000 tons
Advantage: Balance

Of all the monsters, Woo underwent the most drastic change; as in
the original he was an overgrown gorilla but here he is mechanical. No one knows for sure how he came to be in this state, but rumor has it he was assembled by the government as a top secret weapon. Some say the original Woo is dead and that this is something new altogether. Whatever it is, it has broken free of wherever it came from and is ready for battle!
                                                     "MEGATRON AIN'T GOT NUTTHIN' ON ME!"

Rocket Punch is kind of a wash, but the other two are pretty cool

My favorite grapple attack with Cyber Woo... oh yeah that's just plain nasty

Ray Gun is simple, but sometimes the greatest pleasures in life are just that: simple. Observe

                                                   You can just see Green Boy thinking "OH ****"

Now THAT'S gotta hurt

GAME OVER

Ooooh... icky. What is he -- wax?!  The death sequences are pretty gnarly

Talk about "sleeping with the fishies" tonight eh!

"THANKS A LOT FOR LOSING!"

                                                                        ALIEN BOSSES AND STAGES

            HUGE FROGGER
            American City


            The entry soldier of King
            Famardy's line of defense.
            Huge Frogger looks really
            nasty, but he's a bit of a
            wimp, especially when
            compared to the other
            monsters. Don't overlook
            him though, as he can
            teleport, emit laser rays
            from his ugly mouth and
            scar you with his razor
            sharp elbow horns. He's
            also got the biggest feet
            of them all and if you're
            not careful, he'll smash
            your face in with them!
            He loves to laugh at your
            expense too, the bugger.
            When he reveals his face
            it's apparent why he hides
            it behind that huge mask

The game opens with Famardy's messenger giving you the ol' pep talk

Next comes Frogger for
a brief scrimmage, after which he'll teleport and await your arrival at level's end, the wuss








                                                              Excuse me, are we in Wisconsin?

[I'm sure as hell glad you didn't forget the 'M' there -Ed.]

                                                     WATCHING ME... AND I HAVE NO PRIVACY!

*throws hands up*  Here we go again folks!

                                                                  IT'S ON LIKE DONKEY KONG

Look at the size of those knockers, no, not those kind, sheesh


[Nice seeing ya be mature for once -Ed.]


You know what they say about monsters with big feet don't cha?


[Oi!  Spoke too soon -Ed.]

                                                                            They don't call him huge for nothing

Now there's a face only a mother could love, huh?

                                   Ole Frogger makes quite the mess all
                                   over American City (what a name eh?)
                                   when you're done kicking his ass from
                                   pillar to post. I'd hate to have to clean
                                   up that pile of goo. Kinda reminds me
                                   a bit of Poison Ghost here actually.
                                   I'm still upset they left him (and Woo,
                                   when Woo was just Woo) out of the
                                   SNES port. Surely the SNES could
                                   have handled it. Damn lazy porters,
                                   Genki  [Let it go, man, let it go -Ed.] 

THIS LAND IS MY LAND... THIS LAND IS... MY LAND!

                   EIFFLELYTE
                   French City


                   Great original city names
                   so far, eh?  Well this guy
                   is quite the piece of work.
                   Disgusting tissue-y mass
                   with an alien brain sucking
                   on his face. Nice design.
                   The second soldier of King
                   Famardy, as expected he's
                   a bit tougher and deadlier
                   than Huge Frogger was.
                   You'll discover Eiffle has
                   freak-ish strength; able to
                   lift you high up and pound
                   you into the ground several
                   times over before you can
                   scream 'Uncle!'  With the
                   ability to stretch his limbs,
                   he can strike from almost
                   any distance. Once he is
                   defeated, his blobby brain
                   will detach from the body
                   and it's a brand new ball
                   game!  BATTER UP!

The messenger has another "original" message for you!

Also new in the sequel is the ability to uproot tall buildings
and structures. One can guess what this may entail

Super Geon with
the wind-up...

 

















                                                                                               STRIKE!

This little green guy is my favorite non-boss
enemy. He reminds me of a cross between
Capcom's Firebrand and SNK's Gen-An!
Kinda cute... in a repulsive sort of way...


[That's what I say 'bout the wifey -Ed.]



And that's why you sleeping alone tonight!

                                                                 You don't gotta tell me twice!

The Eiffel Tower is an awesome landmark, isn't it?

         In tonight's bone-crushing,
         teeth-jarring epic war, it's
         Super Geon vs. Eifflelyte!
         Come one, come all!


         [Put me down for 50 on
         Brain Face -Ed.]

Eiffle can stretch with
the best of 'em. I'd hate
to have to give that guy
a hug

His legs are fair game
too. Look at him. What
an abomination of a
creation... gotta love it!

Here's his freak-ish strength on full display, as he slams poor Geon into the canvas repeatedly with the greatest of ease

[HA!  Get those fifty smackaroos
ready, kid! -Ed.]


Are you serious?  What kind of an
editor-in-chief are you?!


[The kind that takes cash only! -Ed.]

                                OUCH, Super Geon takes a big bite
                                out of crime with this painful-looking
                                grapple move


                                [Wait, I changed my mind, Super
                                Geon is my call -Ed.]


                                That's not fair now, come on


                                [Fair is a 4-letter F word, pal! -Ed.]

Monsters have needs too ya know

                                                              [I like it medium-rare myself -Ed.]

One of the best leaping attacks in the business!

          Don't celebrate
          prematurely, the
          Brain would like
          a word with ya!

Shades of ALIEN huh?
It's trying to claim your
body as the new host!
Shake it off, and then
blow it to Hell and back.
Talk about a headache!

CLAWHEAD
Grand Canyon


Bogun. F'N Bogun from
Ultraman. That's the first
thing I thought to myself
when I first saw the brilliant
design that is Clawhead. I
mean, just look at it. Hands
for feet. Mad eyes lurking in
the mouth, horns and two
faces that have clearly been
struck numerous times with
the ugly stick. Now there's
a monster!  This two-headed
menace guards the Grand
Canyon with malice and ill
intent. It can spit a web of
destruction at you, as well
as leap into the air at an
alarming velocity. Quite
the nimble sucker. And
wondering what exactly is
hiding in that hideous mouth
of his?  Find out when
Clawhead unleashes his
secret attack. Kill him
and you're halfway home!

What's got six eyes, two horns and a black heart?

                                                    I love the pseudo-Western feel Stage 3 evokes

Hey -- IT'S YOU OR THEM BUDDY! 

                                                [In college we played Whac-A... uh, nevermind -Ed.]

I just love the animation on this.
Your monster rocks it back and
forth a bit in order to dislodge it.
Whether a skyscraper or a tall
boulder, it's oddly satisfying...
though I'm not sure why tearing
out this huge boulder causes an
explosion like such, but it's all
'good in the hood' as they say


Bad wisdom teeth memories, anyone?

Even better than the pulling out animation is the satisfaction you get
from heaving it at whatever target you see fit!

So make sure you check the entire landscape

                                 Good ol' Washington, Jefferson and
                                 Roosevelt (Theodore -- not FDR)...
                                 Mount Rushmore's nicely depicted
                                 here in the Grand Canyon stage.
                                 (Sans Lincoln, oddly enough). Of
                                 course, in real life Mount Rushmore
                                 is found in South Dakota, not in the
                                 Grand Canyon, so one can assume
                                 the Grand Canyon here is simply a
                                 generic name, rather than an actual
                                 representation of the real McCoy

                                 Can ya guess what is lurking inside
                                 Mount Rushmore? ... you got it!
                                                                                                   LINCOLN HATERS!

If you answered "Clawhead"... then
you sir are officially a certified genius!
Ha, tell that to the feds why don't cha!


I know I know, this move was shown
earlier, but it looks best on Clawhead.
You can actually see his flesh being
torn out... ouch

                        From the dark depths of
                        his vile mouth Clawhead
                        emits a deadly web-like
                        projectile

"GET OVER HERE!"

              As I said earlier, Clawhead
              may appear a bit clumsy
              [Hey you try having hands
              for feet -Ed.] but he's quite
              a nimble sucker. Without
              warning he soars through
              the air, looking not unlike
              Cyber Woo's Hurricane
              Attack. Great detail on the
              back there eh?

That's game... NEXT!

BEETLE MASTER
Desert

You gotta love the developers at SNK when they made this game. American City, French City... by stage four they clearly said "f*ck it" and named it simply Desert. At any rate, you find yourself halfway to King Famardy, and this bugger is out to make sure you don't get one step closer. Remember the messenger?  The repugnant brain that spouted out all those original, creative threatening messages?  But then immediately scurried away? Well, now it takes a stand. And to help it take that stand, it employs the hideous body of Beetle Master. Think Krang from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. When weakened, it gets all hot and tempered, sort of like Hwa Jai from Fatal Fury fame. Sorry folks, Beetle Master has no relation to Beetle Mania, though like Megalon, Master loves to attack his foe by burrowing underground. He's got a nasty purple laser ray too. Oh, and if you say his name at night three times, he'll appear out of thin air and eat you whole. No kidding. Kiddies, don't try it
"LONG LIVE KING FAMARDY!"

                                                Keep moving, as it tries to suck you up... cool stuff

Amid all the swirling chaos of the sand constantly moving you toward their death pits, land sharks whisk along in formation. If you don't act fast enough, they'll knock you down and you'll find yourself sliding toward the nearest sucking pit. Then it becomes a battle of pushing A quickly enough to recover in time before the jaws of life snatches you up, literally and, pardon the pun



"I'm pressing A as fast as I can, GOD DAMNIT!"

Once you're in, there's no escape. The Gapurin is always hungry and waiting at the helm
for its next meal. This equals the loss of a life automatically. Bummer, dudes

Anyone up for a game of Twister?  Well, in King of the Monsters 2 you've no choice!  It'll transport you to the second section of... DESERT!







We're not in Kansas anymore... well no shit!

                                                       And hey, around here, the uglier the better!

"Oh yeah?  What'cha gunna do, playa?  Yeah, run away again!"

                                                  [F*ck Kevin Bacon, gimme Michael f'n Gross! -Ed.]

"Sorry pal, I don't swing on that side of the fence. But if it's a sandworm killing machine you lookin' for, you barked up the right tree. For two hundred and fifty thou a pop, I'll incinerate every last one of 'em this side of Perfection!"


[Uhh, we're not in Perfection. Also, it was a joke -Ed.]


"Oh, sorry I jumped the shark there. It's just, you know, I'm looking for work right now. I mean, have you seen 100 Million BC?  Which, by the way, is available at all fine video retail stores right this minute!"


[Alright, SECURITY! -Ed.]

We love Michael Gross, really

                                          Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the desert...

Finally, the Messenger shuts up, and puts up!

                                  Descending into the pyramid,
                                  it explodes into a billion pieces
                                  as Beetle Master, Beetle Master,
                                  Beetle Mas -- oof!  [Sorry, I didn't
                                  want you saying it a 3rd time -Ed.]


                                  As I was SAYING *rubbing head*,
                                  Beetle Ma, uh, rather, Beetle MAN
                                  breaks free and the fight is on!  I'm
                                  requesting HAZARD PAY for this!

"Beetle Boy, tell me how does my ass taste!"

                       From its sinister belly it emits
                       a laser ray of death. Don't let the
                       feminine color fool you, this ain't
                       no Kumbaya, mate

Beetle Master gives new
meaning to the phrase:


"For God's sake man,
USE YOUR FRIKKEN
HEAD!"

The stinger is no joke. Lifting you up like a toy car, he injects you with poison

                           When things get too
                           hairy he'll seek shelter
                           beneath the surface...

... and resurface by trying to pull you
down under!


Shades of Megalon, no?  Megalon was
most likely the source inspiration of one,
Beetle Mania, from the original King of
the Monsters

                                          Now you've pissed him off!


                                          Quite reminiscent of another
                                          SNK brawler, eh?  This is it,
                                          the final push. Beetle Master
                                          is reeling. Now is the time to
                                          deliver the knockout punch!

Once his exosuit so to speak
is destroyed, the Messenger
will charge you with all his itty
bitty might. It's a quick romp,
and a messy one too!



Until the very bitter end...

SACK EYES
Sea Bed


Forget ole Snake Eyes, it's all about Sack Eyes! Now none of the monsters will be winning any sort of beauty contest in this lifetime, but Sack Eyes truly takes the cake. He
is one FUGLY, repulsive MF'er. And tougher than a 2 dollar steak to boot!  If his looks don't kill you, his offensive skills will. His squalid face is the stuff nightmares are made of, and that throbbing red blob around his neck is as dangerous every bit as it is unsettling

Tell 'em, Geon, it's all REAL here!

Press B here repeatedly to swim safely across these chasms. It's a nice little detour from walking and jumping around in the previous stages. Even though it's way too short,
I love going through this Sea Bed level. It's also arguably the most unique stage in the game, and does well to make me feel like I'm actually 20,000 leagues under the sea




                                                     Where's Michael Phelps when ya need him?!

Look at all those
lovely bases to rip
apart. Perhaps you'll
find icons of aid, or
at the very least, have
something to throw at
all the minor baddies
floating around

    Hmmm, what could possibly be
    lying inside that enormous rock?
    Let's examine the matter, shall
    we? 

Surprise surprise, it's SACK EYES


His throbbing, disgusting, veiny blob of a neck isn't just there for decoration. He can form a giant fist with it and pound you senseless!

                 Now that hurts just
                 to look at it. Get too
                 close and the git will
                 violently stab you in
                 the privates with his
                 special needle friend

Sack Eyes can also
lock you up in a solid
wall of ice... not very
fun, and oh-so-cold






Nope, we have never seen Godzilla like this before...

He can also blow you up to look like those Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons!

LAVICUS
Lava Zone


Lavicus. What can I say about this git?  He's King Famardy's right-hand man, er, monster, so you better believe he's tough as nails. As the last line of defense, anything less would be disappointing. With two players he's not too bad. By yourself? Good luck. He terrorized my gaming group back in the day with his incredible endurance, cheap tricks and all-around badassery. He's got a vacuum-like move where he sucks you in, chomps on your body, and then spits you right out like you were yesterday's garbage


Just how tough is he? Hell, there is NO stage. You just fight him right away. The game makers must have thought, "Why delay the inevitable ass-whupping?  Let's just feed them to Lavicus out of the blocks"

Best to get it over with...

Lavicus' Lava Zone is absolutely eye candy deluxe. It's simple, but therein lies its wicked effectiveness. The lava flows along as the monsters duke it out. Jump up on the hill if ya like, or settle the score right there in the bright scorching molten lava





Oooh, purty

                                                              He sure is. Cheap, too. Good luck

The fire hurts, but not the lava. Only in video games, folks!

KING FAMARDY
Hide-Out


Congrats!  You've made it to the last stage. Famardy is the ruler of this Alien race of monsters. Fatter than Santa, and not nearly as jolly, he is quite the sight for sore eyes. He moves around a lot faster than one might anticipate, and has a host of tools he can use to decimate you. Kill him, and the world is yours as King of the Monsters. Die, and well, what do you care?  You won't be alive to find out!

"MMMMM... bacon..."

                                                                        Not SO fast though...

[What, no insult to Beijing? -Ed.]

These weird flying creatures operate just
like the land sharks do in stage four. Super Geon doesn't seem so amused, does he?


After a brief traipsing, guess what?  Famardy? Ha, you wish. Nope, it's the most annoying age-old video game cheap trick in the book:


GAUNTLET!

Yes, I'm afraid you'll hafta go through all of them again, one at a time. Yes, even Lavicus. Fun, no?  Hey, it was an arcade quarter-muncher to start off with remember...

Thankfully, in-between each victory you're given a supply of power ups and such. Little L's for small health recovery (like soda pop from beat 'em ups if you will), large L's for, surprise surprise, mucho health gain (like BBQ chicken), P's for leveling up, and if you're lucky enough, the odd 1UP will crop up here and there. However, there is a bit
of a catch. There's only enough time to grab two, so pick the best ones. With two players, each player nabs two and clears the field

                                          That gruesome voice can only belong to... KING FAMARDY!

If you thought his front side was unattractive, you oughta see his back side! Great details, especially the scales. You also got to dig the twisted touch of the alien's feet protruding out of Famardy's back. That can't be too healthy now can it?

                            He has a multitude of
                            various projectiles to
                            throw your way; this
                            one blowing you up
                            like a big balloon a la
                            Sack Eyes

Talk about the roar of a lion

Geon's Geo Sword is a very cool special move. Out of nowhere a gigantic horn grows on his head, he rips it off and then uses it to pierce the heart of his victims. It lasts for a few seconds, or if you prefer, you can chuck it by pressing Y, ace!

Come on now, get a hotel you two

Wait, this clearly ain't consensual!  Famardy gives new meaning to
the phrase "Open wide"


[I've said that a "few" times in my day... -Ed.]

If you get caught in this
vicious trap, kiss it bye
bye. It's vile, it's raunch
and it's more than a bit
disturbing. Damn, what
a way to go






MMMM, tasty!

I love the game's wacky sense of humor, too. After all, as with the giant
monster movies, part of the charm lies in the camp value... just ask any
Godzilla fan and they'll tell you the same. Whenever you have rubber
suited monsters prancing around miniature cities, there will always be
a little camp value to it. Honestly, we wouldn't want it any other way

[Where 'cha park the car, Dick Tracy? -Ed.]

              Awwww, poor
              King Famardy
              has gone limp
              under duress


              *rimshot*


              Thank you

Just like a summer
blockbuster, it's never
over 'til it's over. At the
very end you have a
brief set amount of time
to destroy all these
little gits, OR ELSE

                                              Hard to believe it all comes down to some midgets, eh?

If successful, you're blown sky high. Now kick back and enjoy

                                                       Yeah yeah yeah, now tell me what I've WON!

On the other hand, bitter defeat


"Hey bro what you have this morning huh?"


"Just the brand new Burrito Mega Supreme Deluxe, #2 on the menu"


"I think we 'bout to have a #2 here..."
"Perhaps we already have.."

See what you've done now?  We can't do anything but pray and wait until January 20, 2009,
and it's ALL BECAUSE OF YOU, PAL!  .... Ahem, and now, time for the GOOD ending

Please click here first: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sg0CeRog-yQ

It's not a Rick Roll, promise

[*sings along*



                                               It's always times like these

                                                   When I think of you

                                                       And I wonder

                                                         If you ever

                                                     Think of meeee 




                                           Cause everything's so wrong

                                                  And I don't belon --




*cough*  See the uh, game last night?  Yeah good game.. -Ed.]

THE REAL ENDING

                                                  It is... until KING OF THE MONSTERS 3 anyhow...

TWO TIMES THE FUN

Though I still miss the bedlam of the two vs. two mode in the original, it's a hoot to team up with a buddy and take out the computer alien bosses one at a time. It lends a certain strategy you don't get when playing alone. It is a short game, but damn fun with two while it lasts. There's nothing like taking turns charging your power bar, and then having your bud block while you attack from behind. All's fair in love and war, baby!  Too bad though there isn't an option for you and a friend to take on two alien bosses at a time. Now that would be pretty wicked indeed. Instead we get three options, 1P vs. CPU, 1P and 2P vs. CPU or the ho-hum 1P vs. 2P mode, which plays a bit like the SNES King of the Monsters port, where it's just you and a buddy trying to win 3 out of 5. Unfortunately, you cannot control the alien boss monsters in this mode, which is truly a shame. Honestly, it's a rather disappointing standard throw-in home option. The 2P vs. CPU mode is definitely where the fun is at

M-AD-NESS

The SNES ad used the Americanized King of
the Monsters depiction, stating that you're a 120 foot tall monster, ripping chunks off the bad aliens who have come to rule the earth, and Mom wants you to set the dinner table? Not the best ad ever, but it's definitely got some cheese to it. Although Super Geon looks more like regular ole Geon (seriously, compare the US KOTM SNES box cover, they look virtually identical!) while Atomic Guy was somehow made from being "cool" to being flamboyantly, well, you know. Oddly enough, for the Genesis ad the Takara boys used the original Japanese design. The Genny ad is very simple.
I liked how they kept the original design and didn't "Americanize" the monsters. Instead, they actually look like they do in the game, what an original concept...

Speaking of Genesis, it should be noted that the Genesis port of King of the Monsters 2 was vastly different from the arcade, which the SNES port mirrored. In the Genesis version, it's a 1-on-1 brawler essentially. That's pretty cool because it gave gamers something different, and though I never played it, I heard it's pretty good. Select from 9 monsters (all except King Famardy) and duke it out with special moves being executed via a clever combination of Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombat-like motions. All the trademark moves of the monsters from the arcade were transferred over, with some moves reimagined. The stages are the same as in the arcade too. This port reminds me of my childhood fantasy game "MONSTER FIGHTER" which was alluded to in King of the Monsters

On the Genesis ad, to the right was a little section that mocked the B&W Classifieds found in any ole newspaper. I actually sent in a request for my own King of the Monsters 2 key chain!  I remember how excited I was the
day it arrived in the mail. Sadly, I lost the darn thing over the years, but I'll never forget the innocence of that summer, and what it was like to be a 10-year-old boy growing up in suburbia 1994. And hey! Remember when stamps were actually 29 cents? [Bah, I remember when they were 11 cents -Ed.]

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID

EGM's DARE TO COMPARE, issue #60, July 1994

The SNES translation didn't win any end-of-the-year awards or anything, but critics mainly
agreed it was a great port job (that sounds a bit wrong..) considering the hardware limitations
of the ole 16-bit SNES compared to that of the mega-arcade power that was the Neo Geo

• EGM: 7, 7, 7, 8

• Super Play: 74%

CLOSING THOUGHTS

That Saturday afternoon June of '94, I realized my dream when I finally got to play King of the Monsters 2. I'm not quite sure if I liked it more than the first one, but I know I had fun. And that's what video games should be all about: fun. King of the Monsters 2 is filled to the brim with bright and bold colors. At times it is a visual feast. One look at the game and you know, without a shadow of a doubt, that it's a Super NES game circa '94. The monsters animate well, appear just as gruesome monsters oughta appear, and the moves are a treat to the eyes. Atomic Guy's Megaton Thunder is a crowd pleaser every time. The giant monsters are intricately detailed as are the stages you wreck. It
is this believability of the behemoths that makes it work, and makes it fun

Now in the street there is violence... rock down to Electric Avenue!

Of course, there's more to a good game than great visuals. As for the sound, KOTM 2 has some solid, rockin' tunes which really help add to the whole B-Movie feel of the game. Sound effects are a bit hit and miss though. Some sounds are out of place or oddly altogether missing. Where's the sound when my guy is crushing small buildings? What's up with the fact that jumping on water sounds the same as when I'm jumping on the ground? So with the good there is some bad. As for the gameplay, it's more sound than the original. This time, it really seems like the person who toggles the D-Pad faster actually wins!  I do miss the 2 versus 2 tornado tag team mode, but I welcome the ability to block as well as the mode where you and a buddy tackle the alien bosses one at a time. Having only 3 monsters to select from is disappointing, but on the bright side, unlike the original, their grapple moves are exclusively theirs. Only Atomic Guy can perform a front suplex, while Super Geon makes good use of the spikes on his back as he heaves his foe five hundred feet in the air, the poor victim crashing down on a bed of nails. Ouch!

I also enjoyed how you gotta march through each unique stage, ranging from cities to Grand Canyons to even an underwater sea bed where a mutated aqua slug resides. The stages are damn short though, but the main focus here
of course is on the seven boss monsters. The minor enemies you deal with as you romp through each level present minimal threat, but it's still a blast to strike down foul land sharks, wretched one-eyed freekazoids and what have you. And don't forget the human forces, either. They're back from the original once again trying to reclaim their land, with jet fighters, tanks and the "THUNDER HAWK 2" which fans of Toho's GODZILLA films will instantly recognize as a SUPER X clone. And of course, along the way there are various power ups as well as bad ones; like the BOMB icon (to keep you on your toes), the Power Down icon, and the Roulette where you're taking a chance with whatever icon the game decides to give you

No one will ever mistake King of the Monsters 2 as one of Super Nintendo's very best, but it serves its niche well as a creature feature. SNES fans got the shaft with the original, but here is redemption. I'm not sure which I prefer, the original or the sequel, but as ports go, they nailed it this time. Yeah, the game is rather incredibily short, and you can only choose from a scant 3 monsters, but man is it fun to look at and even more fun when playing with a like-minded bud. It's hard to believe it's now been more than 14 (!) oppressive summers ago that Nelly and I shitted our pants when we saw the import version of this game sitting high and pretty on the top shelf at Game Hunter. The exuberance surging through our ten-year-old bodies, and the sheer thrill of finding this unexpected gem before us, it was the perfect way to kick off what was one of the last great summers of my youth... my childhood. I guess I'll always remember King of the Monsters 2 most of all for that innocent summer day in June of 1994... I'm also happy to say that it's a pretty solid little two-player romp. If you love wanton monster mayhem, this is among the BEST on the SNES (in that class, albeit a small one). Speaking of which, its unique atmosphere may provide for a nice break from the norm. After all, how many Super Nintendo games allow two players to simultaneously rip a city apart as well as a tissue-y mass with a brain sucking on its face?  Really, nothing else needs to be said. Because if that ain't quality, sir, I don't know what is

Graphics: 8.5
Sound: 7
Gameplay: 7
Longevity: 6

Overall: 7.0

"THANK YOU FOR READING!  SEE YOU NEXT REVIEW!"

That one's for you, B!