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Developed by: Natsume Atari
Published by: BANDAI NAMCO Games
Platforms: Playstation 4 (retail and digital), Playstation 3 (digital only)
Players: 1-3 (multiplayer only on PS4)
Voiceover Languages: English and Japanese
Text and Subtitle Options: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
Marketed Resolution/Framerate: 1080p, 60 frames per second (PS4)
MSRP: $39.99 (PS3), $59.99 (PS4 retail and digital)
Post-release DLC: None planned as of E3 2015.
System Version Differences: Higher framerate, larger environments, online multiplayer, more monsters on PS4 version.
ESRB/PEGI/CERO/OFLC Ratings: T/12/B/PG
Release Dates: 7/14/2015 (North America), 7/17/2015 (Europe)
Sixty years ago, Godzilla first appeared to threaten the world. In the decades that followed, scientists studied the monster hoping to unlock its secrets as the beast faded from memory. The result: G-Energy, a seemingly endless source of power that could be used to better the lives of everyone. This breakthrough has come at a cost however: thanks to its widespread use, G-Energy reactors have awaken this revolutionary technology’s namesake. Godzilla, alongside other kaiju, have descended upon Japan, seeking G-energy. The choice of destroyer or defender, villain or hero, comes down to the player. Which monster will you take control of and evolve to become the undisputed King of the Monsters?
Serving as the primary focus of the game, players take on Destruction Mode as any of the twenty two monsters. Players are tasked with navigating a series of branching stages (twenty in total). Each stage puts the player in the position of navigating the environment and absorbing G-energy to grow the kaiju bigger. Kaiju start out at 50 meters tall but as they absorb G-energy, destroy their surroundings and defeat enemy monsters, they grow in size with proportionate strength and abilities. The goal is to achieve a maximum 100 meter height before the end of the game and complete as many objectives as possible. Doing so unlocks the game’s true ending and a final boss fight with a particularly Legendary enemy…
Throughout the course of Destruction Mode, the player’s continued decimation of the environment will cause their Disaster Level to rise. Once the meter is completely full, an enemy boss is introduced into the fray, whether it’s a G-Force weapon like a Super X or perhaps a kaiju like King Ghidorah. On certain stages, enemy kaiju may appear in quick succession regardless of your current Disaster Level rating which can quickly become a three-way foray. Some levels come with a time limit that encourage the player to take out their enemies as fast as possible lest they run out of time in the stage and fail the mission.
Players have the choice of taking on one of two different types of monsters: destructive or protective kaiju. Destructive monsters progress through the game taking on all of the tasks described above. Protective kaiju, however, are tasked with the opposite goal: defending the stage from invading enemy monsters. Players must minimize damage to the environment, prevent the enemy from destroying the G-energy reactors and defeat the enemy monster.
King of Kaiju Mode - Apart from Destruction Mode, King of the Monsters is the only other offline combat-focused mode in the game. Players engage in a boss rush scenario through a series of six stages, each one featuring a different enemy kaiju. As the player goes through each stage, the succeeding monsters become tougher and tougher with the most powerful kaiju to be found in the final two stages. Defeat each enemy boss as fast as you can to win!
Diorama Mode – As players progress through the game, they unlock various models of kaiju, environments and more. Players can use these unlocks in this photo mode allowing you to create scenes and share them with friends by taking pictures. Want to recreate the King Ghidorah death scene in Destroy All Monsters? How about the moment Godzilla Vs. The Thing in which the larval Mothra bit and latched onto Godzilla? You can do that! Pre-orders also include various film filters you can use to make that classic moment that much more authentic-looking.
Monster Field Guide – One of the primary unlockables of the game, the Monster Field Guide contains biographies, pictures and more information about the various monsters that appear in the game. These are unlocked through progress in Destruction Mode and King of the Monsters Mode.
Multiplayer - Exclusive to the Playstation 4 version of the game, the player can engage in up to three-way battles online against other players armed with the monster of their choice. Online leaderboards are included. Playstation Plus is required for online multiplayer. There is no local split-screen multiplayer mode.
As the player progresses through Destruction Mode, players will naturally complete objectives and defeat monsters in their path. In doing so, players can earn Evolution Points that can be spent to unlock new monsters as well as new abilities and upgrade existing move sets for those monsters. Each of the twenty two monsters in the game have their own skill trees. Godzilla, for example, can unlock enhancements to atomic breath or special moves such as Minilla’s smoke rings from Son of Godzilla. Evolved monsters can be used in all three primary modes of play so upgrading your monsters is highly encouraged.
Remember these?
You can unlock them!
Toho kaiju creations are depicted as large, lumbering and nigh-unstoppable beasts that will smash everything in their path. Developers over the past several decades have been back and forth on how to make these creatures feel when put in the hands of a player. Despite the success the Pipeworks Software series of Godzilla games from 2002-2007, Natsume Atari has chosen to move away from the wrestling-esque gameplay to something more akin to the films: slow, hulking monsters punctuated by short combos and powerful, stun-inducing attacks. The controls take some time to get used to as they feel a tad similar to the tank controls of fixed-perspective, classic PS1 titles but are quite representative of what you imagine these monsters would move like.
Combat in Godzilla can vary depending on the mode you are playing. In Destruction Mode and King of the Monsters Mode, players have a regenerating health system that turns the screen progressively orange as you approach defeat. Not sustaining damage for a short period of time will allow you to build back up your health. Though it cannot be confirmed at this time as the game has not launched, the online multiplayer looks to consist of non-regenerating health with life bars. Monster energy blasts consumes segments of a Temperature Gauge (which refills over time) with more powerful blasts draining all of it.
Monsters throughout Destruction Mode will vary in their strength and defensive capabilities based on their class size. In a manner similar to a wrestling or boxing game, kaiju can appear ranging from 50-100 meters in height with increased height indicating how tough they are. Fights between two kaiju that are within 10 meters of one another are fairly matched but 20+ meter differences can be extremely tough. Beware the risk of raising the Disaster Level of the stage if you have not grown your monster enough.
Controls:
Left Analog Stick/D-Pad ↕ - Move forward/back.
Left Analog Stick/D-Pad ↔ - Strafe left/right.
Right Analog Stick – Move camera.
L1/R1 – Turn left/right.
Square – Basic attack.
Triangle – Strong attack.
Circle – Energy attack. Drains a section of temperature gauge.
X – Charge attack.
R2 – Secondary energy attack.
R3 – Enable cinematic camera placement that collect's data about the monster (when monster is placed correctly and prompted).
Combos:
Square, Square, Square – Basic three hit combo.
Square (Hold) + LAS/D-Pad ↔ - 90 degree quick turn.
Square (Hold) + LAS/D-Pad ↓ - Rear attack.
R2 + Square (Hold) – Kick attack.
Circle (Light Tap) – Quick energy blast.
Circle (Hold) – Longer, sweeping energy blast.
Circle, Square – Light grapple combo.
Circle, Circle – Moderate grapple combo.
Circle, Triangle – Grapple with energy blast attack.
X, Square – Press square at the end of a charge attack to do extra damage.
L1 + R1 – Roar which buffs character and opens up special attacks.
Opening Cinematic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA6qXebD-2I
IGN King of the Monsters Playthrough as MechaGodzilla 1974: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrU2x751ZII
IGN First 20 Minutes of Destruction Mode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du3nMdXXo2I
Super Best Friends Play Godzilla The Game (PS4): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx28qW2amSM
E3 2015 Interview I did with Shunsuke Fujita, the game's producer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_oHqxm89Oc
(Full disclosure: I am not affiliated with Natsume Atari, Bandai Namco or the ESA. I got the opportunity at E3 to interview Mr. Fujita and was not paid for or professionally endorsed by doing so. This is being posted with the purpose of providing the most information possible to the reader. If a mod has a problem with it I will quickly remove it.)
IGN: 4.5/10
IGN said:
Destructoid: 4/10
Destructoid said:
Hardcore Gamer: 2/5
The Jimquisition: 3/10Hardcore Gamer said:
The Jimquisition said:
Game Informer: 3/10
Game Informer said:
Metro: 2/10
Metro said:
...I think you guys get the idea. Non-Godzilla enthusiasts need not apply.
(Disclaimer: This Neogaf Official Thread is subject to change. Content listed in the OT is provided based on the limited available preview coverage and news that has been released since January 2015 as well as personal playthrough of the original PS3 Japan-only release and the E3 2015 preview build. The information listed may not accurately reflect all aspects of the game. If I have made a mistake or there is information that is worth including, please PM me and I will gladly make the appropriate corrections or additions. All supplied videos and screenshots are taken from the publisher’s YouTube channel and press site. Please forgive me for any errors that you may read or see: this is both my first thread and my first OT and I want it to turn out well.)
