Meg's Monster - Switch Review

Title Card for Meg's Monster. The Monster, Roy, is a big blue brute with his right arm that looks like a crab. He has horns and is wearing shorts. He is being lead down a grassy path with rocks either side by Meg. Meg is a little blonde girl wearing a blue dress over a red and white striped long sleeve shirt, with purple shoes. She has holding on to Roy's index finger.

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Coming to us from Japanese developer Odencat is a JRPG with a twist. Meg’s Monster will pull at your heartstrings and make you ask, who is the real monster?

Meg’s Monster is available on Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. Today we’ll be looking at the Switch version, which comes in at £12.79/$14.99

Not All Heroes Wear Capes, Some Are Huge Indestructible Monsters Named Roy.

Meg’s Monster centres around a little girl named Meg, who falls into the Underworld, a place filled with monsters. While the premise may sound similar to Undertale, Meg’s Monster offers a fresh take on the formula, with unique gameplay mechanics and a heartwarming storyline.

Roy is stood in front of his house. There is a door in to the cliff face which Roy lives in. Roy is stood on a stone path that leads to his door. The cliffs enclose the whole area. There is grass and shurbbery around as well as junk such as a branch, a bottle and a box. Next to the door is a sign that looks like it's meant to be saying "no humans". There are mushrooms growing off of the cliff face. — Roy is a simple monster with simple needs.

The game starts with Meg stumbling upon two monsters, Golan and Roy. Golan, initially planning to eat Meg, realises that she is a Harbinger of Ruin, and her crying could bring about the end of the world. Golan calms her down, and she runs to Roy. From here, the player takes control of Roy, a virtually indestructible monster whose job is to protect Meg from harm and return her to her Mother.

Gameplay

The game’s combat system is a unique take on the classic JRPG turn-based formula. While the fights are generally straightforward and easy, the game’s primary challenge lies in managing Meg’s emotional state. If Meg sees Roy get hurt, it upsets her and she gets closer to crying. The player must ensure that Meg doesn’t cry while dispatching enemies. Throughout the game, the player collects toys that can be given to Meg during battle to cheer her up, as well as give her and Roy buffs.

Roy is facing off against 2 monsters, with Meg stood behind him. Roy and Meg are to the left of the screen closest to us. The 2 monsters are to the right of the screen further away. The monster on the left is a short round green monster, the monster on the right is a tall purple one. We are stood on rock platforms in a grassy area surrounded by cliffs. There is not much natural light. — Come on lads, why even bother?

While the game’s mechanics are unique, they can also be somewhat simplistic. The scripted nature of the battles may make the game feel somewhat repetitive for players looking for a more challenging experience. However, the game’s focus on Meg’s emotional state adds an extra layer of depth to the gameplay. I just wish they had added in some random encounters to mix things up a bit, giving you the ability to train up Meg’s mental fortitude.

Let Me Tell You A Tale

What truly stands out is its characters and story. The game’s short length does not detract from the depth of character development and emotional impact of the narrative. The relationship between Roy and Meg is heartwarming, and seeing Roy develop into someone who truly cares about Meg is touching. Despite its relatively brief runtime, Meg’s Monster manages to tell a compelling and emotionally resonant story that will stick with players long after the credits roll.

Roy is wandering through a field of beautiful luminescent flowers with Meg on his shoulder. They are leaving as the are is believed to be haunted. Roy is saying to Meg "Even if it's all just mumbo-jumbo, it was still extremely dangerous to wander out here on your own". — Seeing Roy going from protector by necessity to protector because he cares tugs at the ol’ heartstrings.

But Meg and Roy aren’t the only characters you’ll become attached to during your time with Meg’s Monster. Whether it’s Gustav, the powerful leader of the Underworld council who’ll do whatever he can to protect his citizens. Golan, whose motives throughout will keep you questioning where his allegiances lie. Paul, the resident human of the Underworld, who’ll help Meg in any way he can. Or Sebastian the Elder of the council who’s a lot wiser than he might initially let on. Each character has their own flaws, motivations and personalities that will make you care deeply about their story.

Golan, is a tall goblin looking creature with green skin and darker green hair. He has red pointy out ears. He is wearing a red sleeveless jacket and grey trousers. He is talking to a mysterious figure on a wrist mounted communication device. The mysterious figure is saying "you'll need to be extremely careful going forward."Golan is stood on a rock platform that runs through the middle of a murky body of water. There is purple shrubbery on the ground and debirs in the water. — What are you up to Golan?

Graphics & Audio

Meg’s Monster pixel art is incredible. It’s visually stunning. Every detail, from the vibrant colour palettes to the intricate character designs, has been expertly crafted to create a truly stunning visual experience. The set pieces are equally impressive, with each location expertly designed to be immersive and atmospheric, drawing players into the game’s world and story. Whether you’re exploring a dark, foreboding dungeon or a lush, luminescent meadow, the game’s environments are always a joy to behold. And the ethereal soundtrack only adds to the game’s ambience. Harking back to JRPGs of old, the soundtrack immerses players even further into the game’s world and creates an unforgettable gaming experience.

Longevity

As mentioned, the game isn’t a long one at all. Meg’s Monster should only take you around 5 or so hours to complete. It features a small map with a handful of sidequests that you can and should complete. It’s also very linear, so there isn’t much in the way of replayability. The game will be exactly the same the next time you play it. This isn’t a bad thing though. It’s a tightly crafted experience.

A map of the underworld. In the centre is the monster town. To the right is a forrest. In the bottom left there is the meadow of luminous flowers. In the bottom right is a cave. There is a red quest marker over the town to signify the main quest. There is a green quest marker over the cave to signify a side quest. — It’s a small world after all.

Final Thoughts

Meg’s Monster is a unique and heartfelt little game that manages to stand out from its peers. While its gameplay mechanics could benefit from more variety, its characters and story make it a worthwhile experience for players who enjoy games with strong emotional themes. The game’s short length won’t disappoint, and more than makes up for it with a heartfelt and memorable gaming experience. I would love to see Odencat build on the formula in a future title. Meg’s Monster is worth every penny and definitely worth checking out.

Meg’s Monster earns itself a Thumb Culture Gold Award!

Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.

About Author

Vinno

California Games was the first game I had ever played, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater took an unreasonable amount of my teenage years, and I used corporate social media accounts to Tweet “#MakeEASkateAgain”. My name is Vinno and I like skateboarding games.

I’m also a fan of arcade racers, RPG’s, Action games, and the Yakuza games and their spin-offs. I play on PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

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