Get ready to save the neighbourhood!
- NA release: 18th July 2006
- EU release: 4th August 2006
- JP release: N/A
- Developer: Artificial Mind and Movement
- Publisher: THQ
- NGC Magazine Score: N/A
- Mods Used: Widescreen Code
I must not have paid much attention to films at this point in my life as here’s another video game based on a film I know nothing about. The story involves three kids investigating a creepy man, as rumours about him say he eats animals and children. It turns out that his house is alive and does eat people. The trio decide to investigate.
While not much backstory is given on the three main characters, you don’t need it. You have the slightly nerdy main character, his larger comedy relief best friend and a smart girl, so just standard tropes. What is interesting is the house itself, which will try to trap you and create monsters out of floorboards, chairs and other objects. There’s lots of eerie sounds and the atmosphere is actually quite creepy.
Even more horrifying are the controls. It looks like a third person shooter, but it isn’t. The left analogue turns and moves forwards/backwards while the C-stick turns the camera without impacting the movement. Essentially tank controls with a free moving camera and it feels immensely wrong.
You also use the A Burton to shoot your infinite water gun (just straight forward, there’s no aiming other than a wonky lock-on) and R to use your melee attack which, again, just feels completely wrong. The game has the right vibe and an interesting premise, but these controls are just a nightmare to play.
There is one neat bonus, a retro style action platformer called Thou Art Dead. It’s quite enjoyable and plays a bit like the first Castlevania, smashing your way through monsters and struggling to go up stairs. The film featured a character that played this game in an arcade, so a playable version is a really nice.
Fine
Monster House wants to be Resident Evil for Kids, but a child would learn more and have a better time with Resident Evil 4 than with this manufactured tripe. Licensed games like this are cruel because they prey on young people who love a book or a movie so much that they want to experience more of it. Without a little education, these children may grow up to think that every video game is as unimaginative as Monster House.
Evan Burchfield, Nintendo World Report
Remake or remaster?
The concept of a living house trying to kill you is a great idea for a new game.
Official Ways to get the game
There’s no official way to get Monster House
Europe
Japan
North America
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