Won’t somebody think of the Kaiju?
There’s an entire shelf of Godzilla toys staring at me as I write this, so I must be careful. Godzilla: Save The Earth is clearly the finest and greatest game of all time, and clearly the peak of gaming that it has never bested in the many years since its 2004 debut…
Ah, I think they’ve fallen asleep. I can talk freely now.
I’m a big fan of the big green guy, but the reality is that for a character with a mix of real world commentary, whether you like the nuclear menace of the original or the dark satire of Shin Godzilla and overtly ridiculous cardboard city stomping action, there haven’t been that many memorable Godzilla games.
Also, just to make my better half smile, I feel compelled to point out that the creature will not make landfall.*
I spent a week playing the (mostly miserable) Godzilla Generations for my retro gaming challenge some time back, and I noted when writing that up that Godzilla is a tough nut to crack for video games.
Godzilla: Save The Earth at least has the simplest and arguably best idea of how to handle a Godzilla game. Give him the flimsiest possible plot, 15 or so enemies to fight through, standard fighting game style and let the players step back and hurl buildings, rocks and atomic breath at each other. Wrap it up in that super-fine soundtrack, and you’re done.
For the purposes of long-term gameplay, is it as good as, say, Street Fighter Anniversary Collection? No, probably not — and I say that as someone who adores Godzilla!
But for the purposes of this challenge, it’s good, clean destructive fun, and I can’t help but play through long enough to run through the entire (not hidden) game roster once.
Fat Duck Tech Retro Xbox Game Rankings
- Prince Of Persia: Sands Of Time
- Taito Legends 2
- Outrun 2
- Ninja Gaiden
- The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction
- Godzilla: Save The Earth
- SSX Tricky
- NFL Street
- Disney Extreme Skate Adventure
- FIFA 2004
- NHL Rivals 2004
- Rocky
- Spy vs Spy
- Rugby League
- Judge Dredd: Dredd vs Death
- Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball
Nobody tell the Godzillas I didn’t put it first, OK?
Next time: Not being guilty would be wise.
*This joke will make sense to exactly one person. But she’s worth it.