Godzilla Domination!

RETRO NEWS

Happy Friday friends, Crix here. I was asked recently do I play modern games. Of course I do! While I focus on retro here there many modern games that I love and can’t wait to write about being “retro” in 20 years. I’ve put many hours into Valheim lately and loving every painful grinding second. Definitely recommend that one if you like survival games.

Today's retro news brings us an arcade shooter from the 1980s, the return of a legendary home computer, and a beautiful tribute to PlayStation history (this doesn’t get you off for removing physical games though).

Taito's 1987 shoot 'em up Exzisus has joined Arcade Archives, bringing its transforming fighter, robotic animal companions, and giant bosses to modern consoles.

Meanwhile, Commodore has announced a new retail distribution deal that will bring the C64 Ultimate to stores across Europe and parts of Africa and Asia, with plans to expand into the United States.

And Sony is celebrating three decades of PlayStation with PlayStation: The First 30 Years, a massive 400-page hardcover book filled with console designs, artwork, marketing materials, and behind-the-scenes history.

Yes, that Arnold Schwarzenegger.

He has a newsletter on beehiiv. So do Codie Sanchez, Jay Shetty, David Begnaud, Colin & Samir, and Joanna Stern.

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PRESS START

An Introduction To Today’s Game

Somewhere in my Game Boy Advance collection, a very large lizard is waiting for a city to step on. Godzilla: Domination! gives him that chance on a tiny handheld screen, and nobody has to file any paperwork.

With Godzilla Minus Zero just coming out, a sequel to one of the greatest Godzilla films ever, and a remaster of Godzilla Destroy All Monsters Melee releasing in the same week, I thought it was a good time to dive back into one of the older forgotten Godzilla games.

Six kaiju, a rage meter, and a final boss as tall as the screen are on the menu. Pick a monster, pick a fight, and try not to feel too bad about the skyline. It is a simple idea, and sometimes that is all a handheld needs.

BEHIND THE PIXELS

Let’s Dive Into The Game

Godzilla: Domination! is a monster brawler that feels a lot like SNK's King of the Monsters. Forget memorizing complicated combos or spending hours learning a character.

This is about picking your favorite giant monster and beating the stuffing out of anything that gets in your way. The story is straight out of a cheesy B movie. A mysterious object called Meteor X appears over Tokyo 2, sending out magnetic waves that drive the world's monsters into a frenzy.

Only one monster seems immune, and naturally, that is the one you get to control. Over eight levels, you fight your way toward Meteor X while news reporter Connie Matsu keeps everyone informed about the destruction.

There are six playable monsters: Godzilla, Mechagodzilla, King Ghidorah, Mothra, Megalon, and Rodan. Sadly no Gigan, Biollante or Destoroyah, three of my personal favorites. An expanded roster would have helped the game but I still love what’s here.

Each has different ratings for speed, power, and special attacks, so there is some incentive to try them all. Rodan is the fastest of the bunch but lacks punching power, while Mechagodzilla is a slow-moving powerhouse.

The controls are simple enough that you can get comfortable within a few minutes. A handles high attacks, B handles low attacks, L blocks, and R jumps. Holding either attack button charges a special move, which you unleash once your monster starts flashing.

The real fun comes from the rage meter, which lets you unleash more powerful attacks at the cost of one, two, or three bars. Godzilla gets his famous atomic breath, while Mothra can unleash a cloud of toxic pollen. You can even rip heavily damaged buildings from the ground and throw them at your opponent. Because sometimes punching another monster just isn't enough.

Once you have finished Story Mode, there are a few other ways to keep the destruction going.

Custom Mode lets you set up matches against as many as three computer-controlled monsters, with options for teams, difficulty, and arenas. There are seven locations to choose from, including Moon Base, where reduced gravity sends monsters jumping much higher than usual.

Versus Mode is probably where the game shines brightest, supporting two to four players through the Game Link Cable. Better yet, the Single Pak option allows everyone to play using just one cartridge, although there is a catch.

Everyone has to play as Godzilla. It is a strange limitation, but considering how much of a pain it could be to get four friends together with four copies of the same game, it was a welcome feature.

Visually, Godzilla: Domination! goes for a bright, cartoonish look rather than trying to recreate the darker atmosphere of the films of that era.

Not everyone appreciated that direction when the game launched, and reviews were mixed. Still, the monsters are recognizable, the animations have plenty of personality, and the familiar monster cries sound surprisingly good coming out of the GBA's tiny speaker.

Jake Kaufman's soundtrack helps keep things moving, too. The biggest challenge comes at the end of Story Mode, when you face Mecha-King Ghidorah, an enormous boss who practically fills the screen.

Getting him down to his final head is only half the battle, as his energy blasts become increasingly difficult to avoid. It is a frustrating fight, but defeating a giant mechanical three-headed dragon was never supposed to be easy.

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GAME INFORMATION

WHERE TO PLAY

• The original copy will be your best bet.

• Original Copies of the Game (All prices in USD)

  • Loose: $40

  • Complete: $110

  • New/Sealed: $130

COVER ART

GAME OVER

Why You Should Play This

Godzilla: Domination! is worth playing if you enjoy simple arcade-style brawlers and need to kill 30 minutes. There isn't much depth to the combat, and the mixed reviews it received back in 2002 weren't entirely undeserved. Still, the six playable monsters, ridiculous rage attacks, and destructible environments make it an entertaining little game to pick up for a few rounds.

Multiplayer is another reason to give it a shot, assuming you still have a few Game Boy Advances and a link cable lying around. The Single Pak feature makes getting a group together a little easier, even if everyone has to settle for playing Godzilla. Throw four players into the Moon Base arena, with its low gravity and oversized jumps, and you have a pretty good recipe for chaos.

Finding an original cartridge today means searching the secondhand market, but copies are still out there.

And while the GBA game remains its own little curiosity, Godzilla fans have other ways to get their monster-fighting fix, including the console game Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee. There is something wonderfully silly about watching these enormous creatures beat each other senseless while entire cities crumble around them in full pixel glory.

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RETRO HARDWARE

The Miyoo Flip V2 is a tiny clamshell retro handheld that lets you carry a whole library of classic games in your pocket. With a bright screen, solid controls, and the nostalgic flip design we all remember, it’s perfect for quick gaming sessions anywhere. Click the picture to check it out. My readers can use the following code for a 12% discount: NY12