Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee

Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee is a fighting game based on Toho's Godzilla franchise. It was developed by Pipeworks Software and published by Infogrames under the Atari brand for GameCube in 2002. A companion game developed by WayForward Technologies for Game Boy Advance, Godzilla: Domination!, was released in November of the same year. Destroy All Monsters Melee was later released for Xbox in 2003, featuring additional content and enhanced graphics.

Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee
North American Xbox cover art
Developer(s)Pipeworks Software
WayForward Technologies (GBA)
Publisher(s)Infogrames[a]
Director(s)Matt Bozon (GBA)
Producer(s)John Beck (GBA)
Designer(s)Armando Soto
Matt Bozon (GBA)
Programmer(s)Michael W. Stragey (GBA)
Artist(s)Armando Soto
Matt Bozon
Luke Brookshier (GBA)
Composer(s)Jake Kaufman (GBA)
SeriesGodzilla
Platform(s)GameCube, Xbox, Game Boy Advance
ReleaseGameCube
Xbox
Domination
Game Boy Advance
Genre(s)Fighting
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

A sequel, Godzilla: Save the Earth, was released in November 2004.

Gameplay

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The player plays as one of eleven giant monsters (Anguirus, Destoroyah, Gigan, Godzilla 90s, Godzilla 2000, King Ghidorah, Mecha-King Ghidorah, Megalon, Orga, Rodan, or Mechagodzilla). The player must defeat their opponents via punches, kicks, and limb attacks (usually a tail-attack). Each monster can use their signature beam attack and throw environmental objects. Army forces (missile and freeze tanks) and the monster Hedorah (which slows a monster's energy regeneration) are also present and sporadically attack all monsters. Extras include powerup orbs, which provide additional health, energy, unlock a finishing move, or summon Mothra for an airstrike. Extra features include choice of several locations, and a "destruction" mode (in which players compete to destroy buildings in a city) and "melee" mode (in which up to four players can compete simultaneously).

Plot

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The plot involves an alien race known as the Vortaak invading the Earth and assuming control of the planet's giant monsters, sending them to attack cities across the globe. One monster (the player's character) breaks free from the Vortaak's control, and battles the other monsters in order to drive off the Vortaak.

Development

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The game was announced by Infogrames on March 25, 2002, as a GameCube-exclusive, with Pipeworks Software announced as the developer and a release date within the fall of 2002.[7] It was later shown off at E3 2002[8] and at Infogrames' press event in August.[9]

In January 2003, Infogrames announced that the game would be released for the Xbox with the addition of MechaGodzilla 3 as a new playable character, two new stages, a Destruction Mode for single-player, and graphical upgrades.[10]

Reception

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The game received "mixed or average reviews" on all platforms according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[31][32][33]

Entertainment Weekly gave the GameCube version a B and stated that the game's biggest blunder "is that it just isn't campy enough."[30] However, The Cincinnati Enquirer gave the same version three-and-a-half stars out of five and stated that "while the game has a variety of game-play modes, they aren't very deep once you've mastered the basics."[29] The Village Voice also gave the Xbox version a score of 7 out of 10 and stated that "When buildings light up—Big Ben, say—you can let your opponents know what time it is by picking up the structure and hurling it at them."[34] During the 6th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Godzilla for "Console Fighting Game of the Year", which it ultimately lost to Tekken 4.[35]

The game grossed over $15 million in the United States.[36]

References

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  1. ^ a b Bramwell, Tom (November 15, 2002). "What's New?". Eurogamer. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  2. ^ "Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters - Melee". GameNation. Archived from the original on June 9, 2003. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  3. ^ "Atari's Godzilla®: Destroy All Monsters Melee Stomps Onto Nintendo GameCube Massive Scale, True-to-Movie Monsters, Four Player Mayhem Highlight Fighting Game". GameZone. October 15, 2002. Archived from the original on December 2, 2002. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  4. ^ "Godzilla Ships". xboxaddict.com. Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  5. ^ "Infogrames Ships Godzilla: Domination for GBA". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  6. ^ "Godzilla Domination". GameNation. Archived from the original on March 11, 2003. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  7. ^ "Godzilla Tears Apart GCN". 25 March 2002. Archived from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  8. ^ "E3 2002: Godzilla vs. E3". 20 May 2002. Archived from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  9. ^ "Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee". 7 August 2002. Archived from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  10. ^ "Green is Its Color". 22 January 2003. Archived from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  11. ^ Frankle, Gavin. "Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee (GC) - Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
  12. ^ EGM staff (December 2002). "Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee (GC)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 161. p. 234.
  13. ^ EGM staff (May 2003). "Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee (Xbox)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 166. p. 132.
  14. ^ Reiner, Andrew (November 2002). "Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee (GC)". Game Informer. No. 115. p. 131. Archived from the original on June 14, 2009. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  15. ^ "Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee (Xbox)". Game Informer. No. 122. June 2003. p. 113.
  16. ^ Pong Sifu (October 15, 2002). "Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Review for GameCube on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on February 14, 2005. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  17. ^ Major Mike (April 16, 2003). "Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Review for Xbox on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on February 14, 2005. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  18. ^ Dodson, Joe (November 2002). "Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Review (GC)". Game Revolution. Archived from the original on October 9, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  19. ^ Dodson, Joe (June 2003). "Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee - Xbox Review". Game Revolution. Archived from the original on July 1, 2003. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  20. ^ Kasavin, Greg (October 10, 2002). "Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Review (GC)". GameSpot. Archived from the original on December 19, 2014. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  21. ^ Kasavin, Greg (April 16, 2003). "Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Review (Xbox)". GameSpot. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  22. ^ Hodgson, David (November 9, 2002). "GameSpy: Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee (GCN)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on December 3, 2005. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  23. ^ Gibson, Jon M. (March 29, 2003). "GameSpy: Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee (Xbox)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  24. ^ Watkins, Rob (November 12, 2002). "Godzilla(R): Destroy All Monsters Melee - GC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on June 4, 2009. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  25. ^ Casamassina, Matt (October 8, 2002). "Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee (GCN)". IGN. Archived from the original on July 20, 2014. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  26. ^ Thompson, Justin (April 15, 2003). "Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Review (Xbox)". IGN. Archived from the original on July 19, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  27. ^ "Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee". Nintendo Power. Vol. 162. November 2002. p. 219.
  28. ^ "Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee". Official Xbox Magazine. May 2003. p. 80.
  29. ^ a b Saltzman, Marc (December 3, 2002). "Godzilla gets game". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  30. ^ a b Robischon, Noah (October 18, 2002). "Crush Groove (Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Review; GC)". Entertainment Weekly. No. 678. p. 123. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  31. ^ a b "Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee for GameCube Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on March 11, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  32. ^ a b "Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 27, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  33. ^ "Godzilla: Domination! for Game Boy Advance Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on July 13, 2014. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  34. ^ Catucci, Nick (May 13, 2003). "Monster Mash-up". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on June 15, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  35. ^ "2003 Awards Category Details Console Fighting Game of the Year". interactive.org. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  36. ^ "Foundation 9 Entertainment Ships 300th Title". backboneentertainment.com. October 26, 2005. Archived from the original on October 22, 2007. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  1. ^ Released under the Atari brand name
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