Master of Monsters: Disciples of Gaia

by Sony

Product Details

• ASIN: B00002STJF
• Media: Video Game
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #32,385 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

GameSpot Review

Ascii's Master of Monsters for the Sony PlayStation falls into the category of strategy RPG, in as far as playing it is like a match of... RPG chess. You control one of six commanders who summon up monster troops to fight the forces of an enemy commander or commanders. Each type of monster has its plusses and minuses. For instance, a unicorn can cover a lot of ground but is generally pretty weak, while a serpent is very powerful but doesn't move all too fast. You can combine creatures in special shrines as well, giving the game a small degree of Monster Rancher flavor. If the melding goes well, you might get something cool like an ass-kicking Golem, but if the match is poor, you'll probably end up with a little puddle of woe that is the Slime. Once everything is set and on the field, it's all turn-based, one-on-one combat, with the different types of terrain and other similar factors weighing in to affect each fight's outcome.

It's a decent enough recipe for a game, but it's got problems in its implementation. Master of Monsters' interface is very clunky, the storyline is cheesy, the music is a dull repetitive loop, and the graphics aren't too much beyond what you'd expect from the original MOM for the Sega Genesis. Altogether, save for the infrequent bit of voice-over, it seems it could've been done for the 16-bit systems. But none of these factors means much to a strategy game if the strategy is advanced enough, right?

That's the rub. Master of Monsters has really basic AI, which is tuned so that your opponents go straight after your commander with little or no consideration as to the taking or retaking of towers - one of the main strategic focuses of the game. As such, each round consists of sending out Rocs, Pegasi, and other fast-moving creatures to claim neutral or enemy towers. Doing this increases the number of monsters you call or summon, and, in the latter case, lessens the number that the enemy is capable of bringing in. From there, it's just a matter of picking off your opponent's dwindling ranks and then your opposition himself. Repeat and serve. Sound simple? Too much so. It only approaches being a challenge when you're facing more than one opponent at the same time.

Still, MOM has its addictive qualities, and its multiplayer mode offers you the option to square off against three other human opponents with the best monster as the pot (multiplayer with a prize, not bad). There are a few nice minor touches too, such as being able to turn off the time-wasting battle animations (bet you would've liked to have done this to the spell displays in over a dozen RPGs) and a button command to show which monsters you haven't used yet. But when it all comes down to it, let's face it, games are expensive, and you'd be better off saving your money for stronger strategy RPGs such as Final Fantasy Tactics, Dragon Force, or Tactics Ogre. --Joe Fielder
--Copyright ©1999 GameSpot Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of GameSpot is prohibited. GameSpot and the GameSpot logo are trademarks of GameSpot Inc.

Manufacturer Description

The 16-bit classic is conjured back to life only this time in 32-bit style! A turn-based strategy game Master of Monsters delivers everything imaginable. Take command of the land by creating your own monsters to fight against enemies. Have your creations gain levels and experience by defeating enemy monsters. A plethora of different landscapes will add lasting value to this title as well as the endless fun of taking over the world in campaign mode.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars horrible re-make, January 28, 2006

By 

Audrey (Bayside, ny United States) - See all my reviews

= Fun:1.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Master of Monsters: Disciples of Gaia (Video Game)

I don't know how they did it, but some developers took one of the most fun, and simple stradegy games (that is very deep once you get into it) and ruined it.

First of all, this game runs so slow. In the genesis version, there was a fast mode, and it was easy to mover the cursor whereever you wanted. This is so tediouos. Things like a tower occupation, you can't just occupy a tower, without "tower occupation" taking over the screen for 5-10 seconds. The game has to make a major production out of this. The moster battles are slow. It's OK, if there are just a couple, but a game has hundreds of battles, when you have a few seconds here, a few seconds there, every move you have to wait. Everything is SO SLOW. I can't emphasize this enough. Being a hex based stradegy game, you're going to need some patiece moving your guys one by one, but the developers has no interest in speeding things up. The original genesis version (which I love) has a slow, middle and fast mode, I kept mine on fast. If you don't know what this is like, imagine playing a civilization game, where every time 2 units fight, the screen changes, and a massive 30 second production is made out what you ordinarily watch in 5 seconds. And all the battles look the same. I used to like watching my mosters grow and duke in out in the genesis version, but I don't want to stare at them and yell at the screen "fight already" moving the cursor is tedious, summoning monsters is tedious.

Second, the playstation controller has lots of buttons. This game uses it. What used to take a milisecond to do in the original MOM, now requires massive thought as to what button does what. All you really need is an action and cancel button. WHY did they have to complicate it?

Third, what's with the whole anime storyline and everything. This is MOM, let me summon my monsters and have it out against my foe.

fourth, the graphics are terrible. Even though the genesis graphics where so simply for a 16-bit system, I could at list tell what mosters my units where. In the PS one version, they are so unclear. I much prefer the older graphics, where I could make everything out.

This is a horrible, horrible game. When I used to play the original version all night long, I used to think of ways they could make a sequel into to best game ever. I used to wish they made a sequal. None of the great aspects of the original MOM have been expanded on. They took on the the best war games ever, slowed it down to the point where it's just about unplayable, gave it annoying graphics, annoying controls, an unnessary storyline, got rid of the great music (Even today, I don't think any game has ever had such epic, dramatic music), and called it a sequal.

Do not buy this game!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This game has a strange cult following!, August 12, 2002

By 

Ira Bracket Carmel (Sacarmento CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Master of Monsters: Disciples of Gaia (Video Game)

I first rented master of monsters for Sega Genesis in the Early 90's. I lived in a college house, and my Genesis was the house console. Once we found this game, there was no playing any other games in the house. My housemates were big strategy gamers. Part of the allure of MOM is that its a hex map game. There weren't any other hex map games back then. I don't acctually know of any other hex map strategy games now either, but I'm not a big strategy gamer. Anyway, when I found out that MOM was going to come out for Playstation I was PSYCHED! This game is a fun bash of the AI, (its none to bright), but its an excellent game for 2 or more. Saving is easier accomplished on the PS version then it was on the Genesis. Sometimes I think that the rolls are rigged, or not accurate, but it doesn't really matter, the game is still somehow really fun. It really reminds me of that old game Ogre, its quite similar, and honestly if you like strategy map gaming, this may be the game for you. The monsters all have some pretty serious stats, and abilities. Its nice to have the computer keep track of all that stuff for you.

-Ira

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If you love the original..., May 24, 2000

By A Customer

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Master of Monsters: Disciples of Gaia (Video Game)

.. you'll like this one... Has some of the original Master of Monster Pro's and a new ones,. Has new monsters, new items, a lot of things but it doesn't have a diference beetwen "Masters" Summons. But its good and gonna give a lot of hours of fun and strategy. The 23 chapters are long enough to put your brain to work but in some places are predictables. If you played good enough, the game is gonna give you a few Extra Episodes... try it!