Monster Lair for TG-16 CD

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Review #10028

Monster Lair

Baby Cuphead

TG-16 CD 1989 NEC Action Action › Gun
Monster Lair screenshot for TG-16 CD
Screenshot used for review/reference purposes.
4 / 5

Gameplay

Simple, responsive controls.
Short jump.
Great hit detection.
It's an auto scroller with the health mechanics from Adventure Island and constant weapon pickups straight out of Metal Slug. The weapons only last for 10 seconds or so but enemies are constantly dropping new ones.
Some enemies deal minimal damage while others kill you in a single hit. Feels extremely random.

3 / 5

Level Design

Every stage is an auto scroller and they toggle between a platformer and then a shoot em up stage. Kind of like Cuphead, now that I think of it.
The boss fights are always in the shmup sections and are more difficult than they need to be. I enjoyed my time with it but probably won't come back for another playthrough.

4 / 5

Theme

Very cute. Sprites are full of animation and personality. Crazy, random stuff is happening all the time.

4 / 5

Art Style

The graphics are dated but attractive. Sprites have idle animations and are very well drawn. Super cute

2 / 5

Audio

What a weird soundtrack! Hard rock is interspersed with goofy, absurdist nonsense. There were numerous times when people in the room with me looked over with a raised eyebrow. Oh and annoying sound effects.

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