If you play through the game on the lowest difficulty, then it won't take too long to make it through the campaign.  You'll have challenging moments, but overall most gamers will be able to play through it to the end.  The difficulty ramps up quickly on the next level, though, and the computer-controlled monsters become very adept at fighting and locating the power-ups scattered about the levels.  Games at the higher difficulty levels often turn into hit and run fracases as the computer-controlled monster will strategically retreat when its health drops too low and run around the city scooping up health boosters.  The difficulty settings apply to the game's other modes too, so you can adjust the computer's fighting ability to match your skill level.

Bug versus machine.

The single player game also includes a free-for-all mode in which you can fight up to three other monsters to a set number of wins or in unlimited play.  Endurance mode pits you against the other monsters one by one, and you get one life to see how many enemies you can vanquish.  What's missing are practice and free roam modes.  It would be nice to have the opportunity to test out each monster's attacks and combos without worrying about being pounded by another brute.  Also, it's too bad that you are not given the chance to run around bashing things for the sake of bashing things.  The great level design provides cities that are just begging to be explored ... and smashed.

The multiplayer game lets two players compete against each other and up to two other computer opponents in free-for-all or endurance matches.  There are also some mini games that can be unlocked for play, but there's not much to them and you won't spend too much time with them since the other modes are so much more fun.  The game uses a vertically split screen that merges into one when the monsters are in the same area.  Since the tall buildings give the game such a vertical scope, the game's method of splitting screens works quite well.  Tragically there is no support for online play.  Playing a full screen, four monster battle royale against three other people would certainly have been an absolute blast.

War of the Monsters can be a lot of fun, but falls a little short of greatness.  It has a few problems, namely the advanced AI's preoccupation with power-ups, lack of a good storyline to go with the monsters, limited combos, and a lack of online play.  However, the great environments and the sheer level of destruction that can be wrought will make this the favorite of a lot of gamers.

In The End, This Game Hath Been Rated: 85%.  Let's do the mash, let's do the monster mash...

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