King of the Monsters (Neo Geo AES) Playthrough - NintendoComplete

A playthrough of SNK's 1991 fighting game for the Neo Geo AES, King of the Monsters.

Played through as Woo.

King of the Monsters was a dream game when it came out - it let you pick a Japanese rubber-suit movie monster (ok, ok, kaiju, if you want the proper term) and fight against other aberrations like yourself while gleefully laying a trail of destruction across the megalopolis that occupies the entirety of the Japanese southern coastline. In many ways, more modern games like the excellent War of the Monsters, and the more recent and even more excellent Godzilla for PlayStation 3 and 4, owe SNK a large debt for laying the foundation with King of the Monsters.

At its core, KotM is a wrestling game. You wear down your opponent until they can no longer fight back and pin them, all while being shot at by tanks, fighter jets, or any other military fire that was featured in Rampage. For extra bonus points, you can destroy famous Japanese landmarks, like Tokyo Tower, Kinkakuji, the Daikanransha, and the Tokyo City Hall building in Shinjuku, all of which are pretty neat in their inclusion.

This is the original home version, weighing in at a hefty 55 megabits, was one of the earlier releases on the AES when it went released in the summer of 1991, and the graphics and sound really impressed. It was one of many carts that showed off what a leap the Neo Geo platform was over the SNES and Genesis machines. And unlike the cut down ports that those machines had, this one features the same exact content as the arcade version, so you have access to all six monsters and stages.

I played as Woo for this video specifically because he was missing from the more popular 16-bit versions of the game.

The gameplay is simple and fast, and it's a load of fun to team up with a friend in 2-player co-op mode against the CPU. The only potential negative I can come up with is that it feels like an arcade game from 1991: there isn't really enough depth to the fighting to keep it going for extended play sessions. That hardly seems fair, though, since there's more than enough to it to provide an exciting half-hour or so at a shot.

It also has one of my favorite endings from a Neo Geo game!

If you've enjoyed some of the later Godzilla games (like Godzilla on PS4 or Godzilla Domination on GBA), you'll feel right at home with here.

It's classic SNK stuff.

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No cheats were used during the recording of this video.

[NintendoComplete]

If the WWE and Toho had a baby, it would probably resemble King of the Monsters. It's so damn fun to just angrily stomp on everything!

[LPetal]

There's something so satisfying about games that promote the message that humanity can't do anything against the forces of nature, no matter our science and military might. Look at those victory screens where one of the indicators is "Casualties" to add to your high score. Also, Merry Christmas to you! Man, it's the 19th already?! Time flies!

[Krbyfan]

"Alright the monsters are gone, time to rebuild the city."

"Hey what's that over the horizon?"

[davechristopher]

Old school much fun! Today's next gen games you need a degree to play.

[hamupinhere]

The ending with the news broadcast is one of the most unintentionally hilarious things I've ever seen.

[robertphillips]

I remember hearing the Neo-Geo music walking into HomeBase Home Improvement store. Parents would give me a few quarters while they shopped, is was either this or Samurai Showdown. Memories 😬

[Adrian]

Love that Beetle Mania theme for some reason

[ancientone]

Imagine if King of the Monsters made a comeback to the point where the 3rd sequel was in 3D CGI and had wrestling-like mechanics all while smashing buildings, SNK-Playmore should start revisiting a number of these old franchises.

[whatamalike]

I can only imagine getting a Neo Geo AES with this in 1991 would've been mindblowing!

[black]

This was my top 3 best arcade games growing up next to magician Lord and Golden Axe. They need to bring this back

[santonnwilson]

This game was so cool back in the arcade days. The home console ports of this did it no justice. Imagine if this game was remade now, Mind-blowing. I'd love to see you play through part 2 of this game.

[Polygonlin]

Man, that first mirror match with Woo Two "lol, get it?" He took a straight up ass pounding!

[VahanNisanian]

Everyone on Nick Arcade wanted to play this and other Neo Geo games, as I remember.

[trillfa]

The sound and base in this game is still amazing after all these years. Great game

[BloodyBay]

i always loved how 'King of the Monsters' was basically 'Pro Wrestling' with Kaiju monsters...or 'Pro Wrestling' meets 'Rampage'. 😄

I usually played either Poison Ghost or Astro Guy back in the arcades in the 1990's. 'King of the Monsters' was good fun, even if I kind of sucked at the game.

[Hemestal]

Man i loved this game back in the day and i'm still a Kaiju memorabilia collector in my mid 30's 🤣

[krystalfan]

if they had the license this would of been the best godzilla game

[legionbeast]

I played the HELL out of this on Genesis. Imagine my surprise when I learned this game was in the arcades and had TWO WHOLE OTHER CHARACTERS that the genesis didn't have. For those who didn't know, Woo and Poison Ghost were excluded from the Genesis port.

Fun fact, the Arcade release (and even the genesis release) can be cheesed by continually doing dash attacks. The AI can't quite deal with it. Also, yes, after you 100% deplete the opponent's health, you need to knock them down and pin them up to THREE times. On the plus side, if you are pinned with any health remaining, you can kick out. You also ALWAYS get ONE free kick out per match, so there was SOME mercy here. King of the monsters 2, however... that fiend was a quarter muncher and hated you.

[zukoulou]

Available on :
_ Neo Geo CD
_ Super Nintendo
_ Megadrive

[Koops]

Dude, that ape totally _destraaayed_ that lizard!!