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Over a decade since Pokémon swarmed the world, and monster-gathering games are making a return, but this time around, the focus is on creating the beasts you collect and foster. Spore has been receiving most of the attention in this new wave of games, while Eidos’ quiet announcement of its action-RPG Monster Lab has almost slipped out into the world unnoticed.
Despite the RPG elements, Monster Lab is looking decidedly user friendly, and is apparently designed to appeal to the innate human desire to be mischievous and have fun. This sounds fantastic, but so far few of the game’s exploration elements have been demonstrated, while we have seen a fair amount of the mini-game content, which is enough to draw cynical groans from gamers already disillusioned by the recent spate of low quality party gaming compilations reliant on the microscopic game.
The gameplay is anchored firmly to a storyline that sees you assume the role of a scientist’s apprentice. You must go forth into Monster Lab’s eccentric game world and reunite three influential crack-pot inventors and use their power to overthrow an evil doer blessed with a knowledge of chemistry and a penchant for world-dominating plans.
To do this you must create numerous beasts to go out and do battle for you, via a process of several mini-games. Unlike Spore, you appear to be limited to two-legged beasts, but their creation looks like a very interesting process. New body parts are created through thirteen mini-games that have basic experimental fiddling and tinkering at their core. These include a welding game using the Wii-mote as a pointer to create what appear to be a random selection of limbs and upgrades, though few others have been revealed at this stage. It is known that the better the quality of your work in each challenge, the better the quality of the components you produce.
Evolution of your species is handled by what is best described as a high-speed version of classic printed game spot-the-difference that helps you manage selective breeding, weeding out your worst creations and perfecting your best. Combat is handled by a pastiche of the traditional beat-’em-up, though little has been revealed about the system for fighting other than that it is based on a boxing model. It is already known that this means a weight class system, but if it will also include rounds and the like is unclear.
Monster Lab’s styling will be familiar to anyone who has played other games that are set in a cartoon world filled with unholy science and spooky thrills, such as Dead Head Fred and Medieval. From white haired professors to steampunk robots, many gaming clichés are present and correct, but implemented with a clear eye for good design and a great sense of humour.
However, there is some way to go before Monster Lab has any technical muscle to flex, as at this stage it is looking a little flimsy with regard to any polish. Still, this is early days, and with a little time Monster Lab’s visuals could impress in terms of both design and visual prowess.
The idea of Pokémon meets Tim Burton is an intriguing one, and is certainly a recipe for an incredible game. It’s just too early to predict if Monster Lab will be the title that makes best use of this fantastic concept. Eidos has focussed on showing mini-games rather than the RPG elements so for now it seems best too reserve judgment. There’s plenty of potential here, but not enough hard evidence that this is one to put at the top of any list of future hits.
