Mail Order Monsters: Difference between revisions
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== Reception == | == Reception == | ||
''[[Ahoy!]]'' stated that ''Mail Order Monsters'' for Commodore 64 was a "very good game" that did not reach "true excellence" because of insufficient combat tactics, and suggested that it was best for younger players.<ref name="katz198511">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/Ahoy_Issue_23_1985-11_Ion_International_US#page/n47/mode/2up | title=Call to Adventure / Role-Playing Software for the Commodore 64 | work=Ahoy! | date=November 1985 | accessdate=27 June 2014 | author=Katz, Arnie | pages=49}}</ref> The magazine later described the game as "pure light-hearted mayhem", with exciting action that partially compensated for "the lack of mental challenge".<ref name="ahoy198604">{{Cite magazine |last=Kunkel |first=Bill |last2=Katz |first2=Arnie |date=April 1986 |title=Think Fast! Action-Strategy Games for the Commodore 64 |url=https://archive.org/details/ahoy-magazine-28/page/n40/mode/1up?view=theater |access-date=2024-09-04 |magazine=Ahoy! |pages= | ''[[Ahoy!]]'' stated that ''Mail Order Monsters'' for Commodore 64 was a "very good game" that did not reach "true excellence" because of insufficient combat tactics, and suggested that it was best for younger players.<ref name="katz198511">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/Ahoy_Issue_23_1985-11_Ion_International_US#page/n47/mode/2up | title=Call to Adventure / Role-Playing Software for the Commodore 64 | work=Ahoy! | date=November 1985 | accessdate=27 June 2014 | author=Katz, Arnie | pages=49}}</ref> The magazine later described the game as "pure light-hearted mayhem", with exciting action that partially compensated for "the lack of mental challenge".<ref name="ahoy198604">{{Cite magazine |last=Kunkel |first=Bill |last2=Katz |first2=Arnie |date=April 1986 |title=Think Fast! Action-Strategy Games for the Commodore 64 |url=https://archive.org/details/ahoy-magazine-28/page/n40/mode/1up?view=theater |access-date=2024-09-04 |magazine=Ahoy! |pages=41–45}}</ref> Writing in ''Vintage Games'', Bill Loguidice and Matt Barton identify it as a precursor to the ''[[Pokémon]]'' series.<ref>{{cite book|title=Vintage Games: An Insider Look at the History of Grand Theft Auto, Super Mario, and the Most Influential Games of All Time|last1=Loguidice|first1=Bill|last2=Barton|first2=Matt|publisher=[[CRC Press]]|year=2012|isbn=9781136137587|page=326|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mKF5AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA326}}</ref> | ||
In a retrospective, Levi Buchanan of [[IGN]] said that although he would love to see a remake, any new version, updated to suit modern gamers, would necessarily have to diverge from what made the game unique in 1985.<ref name=fond/> | In a retrospective, Levi Buchanan of [[IGN]] said that although he would love to see a remake, any new version, updated to suit modern gamers, would necessarily have to diverge from what made the game unique in 1985.<ref name=fond/> | ||
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== External links == | == External links == | ||
* {{Lemon64 game|id=1582}} | * {{Lemon64 game|id=1582}} | ||
* [https://www.mobygames.com/game/9462/mail-order-monsters/ ''Mail Order Monsters''] at Mobygames | * [https://www.mobygames.com/game/9462/mail-order-monsters/ ''Mail Order Monsters''] at Mobygames | ||
Latest revision as of 13:12, 9 August 2025
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Mail Order Monsters is an action-strategy computer game created by Paul Reiche III, Evan Robinson, and Nicky Robinson. It was published by Electronic Arts (Ariolasoft in Europe) for the Commodore 64 in 1985, then released for Atari 8-bit computers in 1986.[1] Players create monsters which they can use to battle multiplayer or against computer-controlled opponents.
Gameplay
The players create a variety of monsters and equip them with futuristic and modern weapons to do battle. Monsters can be further customized through buying special abilities, such as adding tentacles to use advanced weaponry. Two players can fight against each other, play capture the flag, or compete for a high score against a computer-controlled horde. In single-player mode, the computer controls an opponent to fight. Battles take place on various different maps that can have tactical effects, such as mountains for agile monsters to hide behind during combat. Monsters can be stored on diskette and can be upgraded by victories against other monsters or computer opponents.[1]
Development
Reiche had previously worked with designers Jon Freeman and Anne Westfall of Free Fall Associates on the game Archon for EA. The game was originally envisioned as dark and gritty, but Electronic Arts demanded a more whimsical style.[2] During this development, Reiche became fascinated with his friend Greg Johnson's development on Starflight, and spent a few weeks consulting on it before he realized he was "supposed to be working on Mail Order Monsters".[3]
Reception
Ahoy! stated that Mail Order Monsters for Commodore 64 was a "very good game" that did not reach "true excellence" because of insufficient combat tactics, and suggested that it was best for younger players.[4] The magazine later described the game as "pure light-hearted mayhem", with exciting action that partially compensated for "the lack of mental challenge".[5] Writing in Vintage Games, Bill Loguidice and Matt Barton identify it as a precursor to the Pokémon series.[6]
In a retrospective, Levi Buchanan of IGN said that although he would love to see a remake, any new version, updated to suit modern gamers, would necessarily have to diverge from what made the game unique in 1985.[1]
References
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External links
- Template:PAGENAMEBASE at Lemon 64
- Mail Order Monsters at Mobygames
- Pages with script errors
- Articles using Infobox video game using locally defined parameters
- Articles using Wikidata infoboxes with locally defined images
- Pages with broken file links
- 1985 video games
- Action games
- Action-strategy video games
- Ariolasoft games
- Atari 8-bit computer games
- Commodore 64 games
- Electronic Arts games
- Multiplayer and single-player video games
- Strategy video games
- Video games about dinosaurs
- Video games developed in the United States