Watch out Halloween gamers (Frankenstein's Monster)

[ClintTX]

Every year about this time the hype starts up about Frankenstein's Monster and how it is some great hidden horror gem that must be played. People come out of the woodworks about how it is BETTER than Pitfall and all this when this game is nothing more than just another piece of Data Age trash. Do not be fooled by them, and DO NOT PAY the hundreds of dollars that they will be charging this Halloween for this game. The game is lame as can be the normal game is bad enough, but it has this terrible mini-game I guess you would call it when you finally complete the screen. The sound effects are aweful as well.

 

Just because it is a horror themed game this game gets overrated to an insane level. If you want to play a scary game this Halloween season, I would honestly suggest skipping the Atari 2600 as all of the horror games on it are equally as bad, although Haunted House does have some merit, though it is more of a children's game.

[+xucaen]

OMG I want one!!

[Lord Innit]

I bought it back in the day and really enjoyed it. Regretted selling it in the late 80s. I've played it on Stella recently and still think it's a good game. Better than Pitfall? Maybe not, but good enough for me to get enjoyment from it. Haunted House is good too, especially game 9.

[Skippy B. Coyote]

Huh, most reviewers seem to think it's pretty good and I have to admit it does look fun. I already have three of the four other horror games for the 2600 (Haunted House, Ghost Manor, and Halloween. I never picked up The Texas Chainsaw Massacre because it just doesn't look like much fun to me) and enjoy all of them a great deal, so I will be purchasing a copy of Frankenstein's Monster at some point when I stumble on a copy locally, but your criticisms have been noted. Of the horror games I have played on the 2600 I think Ghost Manor is probably my favorite. The visuals are detailed and interesting, the gameplay is fairly diverse by 2600 standards, and I dig how you can choose a male or female character using the Color/B&W switch. The only complaint I could really make about it is that the audio can be a bit grating. Still, if you're looking for a fun game to satisfy your horror cravings on the Atari 2600 I'd recommend giving Ghost Manor a try.

Edited October 30, 2015 by Jin

[+KaeruYojimbo]

You must be using a different internet than I am. I have never seen any hype, seasonal or otherwise, for Frankenstein's Monster. And I have never seen it going for hundreds of dollars but I haven't been looking (I saw a loose copy for $35 dollars at PRGE and that was appalling enough). It's a solid game, but it gets repetitive after a while and the bat screen is pretty annoying at the higher levels.

 

Also, there's no e in awful.

[ClintTX]

I bought it back in the day and really enjoyed it. Regretted selling it in the late 80s. I've played it on Stella recently and still think it's a good game. Better than Pitfall? Maybe not, but good enough for me to get enjoyment from it. Haunted House is good too, especially game 9.

 

The problem with Haunted House is that at the higher levels there is just nothing you can do to avoid the mobs, they move faster than you so there is nothing you can do. Especially at level 9 it is impossible.

[ClintTX]

Huh, most reviewers seem to think it's pretty good and I have to admit it does look fun. I already have three of the four other horror games for the 2600 (Haunted House, Ghost Manor, and Halloween. I never picked up The Texas Chainsaw Massacre because it just doesn't look like much fun to me) and enjoy all of them a great deal, so I will be purchasing a copy of Frankenstein's Monster at some point when I stumble on a copy locally, but your criticisms have been noted. Of the horror games I have played on the 2600 I think Ghost Manor is probably my favorite. The visuals are detailed and interesting, the gameplay is fairly diverse by 2600 standards, and I dig how you can choose a male or female character using the Color/B&W switch. The only complaint I could really make about it is that the audio can be a bit grating. Still, if you're looking for a fun game to satisfy your horror cravings on the Atari 2600 I'd recommend giving Ghost Manor a try.

I don't know what to say, Ghost Manor is terrible, I mean I guess it is better than nothing, like hamburger, but when I sit down to eat I want a steak, and the Atari 2600 just doesn't have it in it's horror library.

[Torr]

For today's "retro" crowd, I'd say Frankentein's Monster appeals to people because it's a "platformer", of which the VCS didn't have many, probably because the genre didn't even exist early in it's life.

Being a "platformer", it's a game where you can let score can fall to the wayside and focus on running and jumping to the boss and "beating" him. A gameplay style that today's "retro" crowd will be more attracted to than, say, shooting the same three asteroid shapes repeatedly trying to top an old hi-score.

I'm sure it's a general concensus that Asteroids is far and away a better game, but if you only describe basic gameplay, especially to people today, Frankenstein's Monster DOES sound like the more fun option.

Edited October 30, 2015 by Torr

[Lentzquest]

I enjoy it just fine. And a quick search shows multiple copies available for under $20.

 

Seems really strange to start a thread to tear down a game that nobody was even presently talking about.

[sloth-machine]

If you want to play a scary game this Halloween season, I would honestly suggest skipping the Atari 2600 as all of the horror games on it are equally as bad, although Haunted House does have some merit, though it is more of a children's game.

 

I don't know what to say, Ghost Manor is terrible, I mean I guess it is better than nothing, like hamburger, but when I sit down to eat I want a steak, and the Atari 2600 just doesn't have it in it's horror library.

 

You are asking a bit much out the the humble 2600. Skeleton+ has you covered. It's a great maze game that gets tense, especially when you hear skeletons nearby and you are playing the hardest difficulty.

 

The 2600 port of Ghostbusters is a favorite of mine and the best port of the Commodore 64 version (next to the master system). Skip the 2600 for Halloween themed games? I wouldn't go that far. Lots of games put me in the right spirit. Berzerk (perused by robots in dark rooms), Dark Chambers, Xenophobe, etc.

 

I also like to play ET around this time of year, mainly because the film takes place during the Halloween season.

Edited October 30, 2015 by sloth-machine

[ClintTX]

 

You are asking a bit much out the the humble 2600. Skeleton+ has you covered. It's a great maze game that gets tense, especially when you hear skeletons nearby and you are playing the hardest difficulty.

 

The 2600 port of Ghostbusters is a favorite of mine and the best port of the Commodore 64 version (next to the master system). Skip the 2600 for Halloween themed games? I wouldn't go that far. Lots of games put me in the right spirit. Berzerk (perused by robots in dark rooms), Dark Chambers, Xenophobe, etc.

 

I also like to play ET around this time of year, mainly because the film takes place during the Halloween season.

Ah, I didn't think of the homebrews, I haven't yet tried any 2600 homebrews, but Skeleton+ sounds like it might be good. The others you bring up are pretty valid, too. But I can't see myself playing the 2600 versions of Berzerk and Ghostbusters over the Arcade via MAME and the C64. Not sure if there are better versions of Dark Chambers and Xenophobe.

[high voltage]

Ghost Manor is excellent actually.

[ClintTX]

Ghost Manor is excellent actually.

 

Meh, I guess I'll have to download the rom again and read the manual, I know I've tried it before and just couldn't get into it. Only Xonox games I like is Sir Lancelot/Robin Hood. Maybe I am just too hard on games.

[+save2600]

Never really cared for Frankensteins Monster and have tried and tried to give it a chance due to its popularity for a Data Age game. Agree about seeing it somewhat hyped, but would rather play a game like Ghost Manor where you've got a better variety of levels.

 

Just saw thevideogamecritic's score for Ghostbusters and totally disagree with his D rating! One of the best games on the system IMO.

[roadrunner]

Frankensteins Monster and Ghost Manor are good games