Monster Bash HD Review (Steam)

by Jim Smale · November 8, 2021

Our Monster Bash HD Review lets us revisit Apogee’s bash’em and smash’em adventure that plunges Johnny Dash into the evil Underworld of Count Chuck when his dog Tex is kidnapped by Count Chuck along with hundreds of other dogs & cats! It’s up to you to rescue them all.

Monster Bash HD Review Pros:

Nice graphics.
162.03MB download size.
Steam achievements.
Own in-game achievements.
Controller support.
Platformer gameplay.
Graphics – fullscreen and resolution.
Steam Workshop support for levels.
Online leaderboards.
Powerful level editor/creator.
Can rebind controls.
The game has 3 episodes and is all unlocked from the beginning.
Four difficulties – Easy, medium, hard, and nightmare.
Bonus challenges for each episode with a checklist for all skull watchers, Johnnies, bonus items, chests found, and par time reached.
Classic soundtrack.
You have to crawl and jump around a level and rescue animals caged up.
Combat has you using a slingshot to shoot enemies.
Power-ups include shooting multiple projectiles at once.
Checkpoints throughout.
End of a level breakdown showing the time taken, par time, splatter bonus, survival bonus based on lives lost, loot ratio, total bonus points, and finally your final score.
A lot of fun to play.
A modern nostalgic trip.
Hidden areas and routes.
Find extra lives.
You can shoot left and right along with angled shots left and right.
Projectiles can and will bounce off walls and ceilings.
Health bar and you can pick up hearts to replenish it.
When dying the game saves your collected sweets and enemies killed.
Sweets mean points.
The compass shows the direction of missing animals and will turn gold when you have them all and the exit door opens.
Can pan the screen up and down slightly.

Monster Bash HD Review Cons:

Minimal graphic settings.
Can rebind controls but it only shows keyboard.
No tutorials.
Not always sure what will kill you.
It’s funny how much a gap won’t let you crawl under despite clearly fitting.
Killing enemies can be really tricky.

Related Post: Pumpkin Jack Review (Xbox Series S)

Monster Bash:

Official website.

Developer: Emberheart Games

Publisher: Apogee

Store Links –

Steam

GOG

8/10

Graphics - 8/10
8/10

Sound - 8/10
7/10

Accessibility - 7/10
8/10

Length - 8/10
8/10

Fun Factor - 8/10

7.8/10

Summary

I vaguely remember playing this game originally (yep I’m old) and liking it except I sucked at it so it was one of those games you take turns with friends to play. This game is the exact same game that I remember, I mean clearly, it’s not all original as they have done a lot of work cleaning up the movement with controller support, etc but in my head, this is how it was. The devs have done a really really good job here, the game plays flawlessly and sounds amazing with its untouched soundtrack, the controls are tight and the whole premise is brilliant. Add in online leaderboards and a powerful level editor and you have it set up for life. I just like how much love clearly went into restoring this classic, again it’s a complete package and well worth the price of admission.