Godzilla: Save the Earth
| Godzilla: Save the Earth | |
|---|---|
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| Developer(s) | Pipeworks Software, Inc. |
| Publisher(s) | Atari DreamWorks Classics Toho |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2 Xbox |
| Release date(s) | PlayStation 2 Xbox |
| Genre(s) | Fighting |
| Mode(s) | Single player, Multiplayer |
Godzilla: Save the Earth is a fighting game released in 2004 for the PlayStation 2. It was the first Godzilla title to be released for both the PlayStation 2 and Xbox game consoles. Based on characters and situations from the Godzilla film series, the game itself is the sequel to Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee, released for the GameCube and Xbox in 2002. Godzilla: Save the Earth is followed by Godzilla: Unleashed in 2007 for the Wii and PlayStation 2.
Plot
The storyline of Save the Earth takes place two years after Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee. The story involves mankind getting hold of Godzilla's DNA, known in the game as "G-Cells." The Vortaak learn of this, once again returning to Earth, controlling a vast army of monsters, including their ultimate weapon: SpaceGodzilla. The player faces down many controlled monsters in different locations. In the climax cut-scene, Godzilla confronts SpaceGodzilla in a final duel. Godzilla blasts off SpaceGodzilla's shoulder crystals causing a black hole to form. SpaceGodzilla is sucked in and apparently killed, forcing the Vortaak to retreat while Godzilla lets out a roar of victory having saved Earth yet again. This time around, new monsters are added as well as more detailed arenas including hills, elevated highways, and waist-deep water. Another addition is Challenge Mode, in which the player must attain goals other than simply defeating their opponent. Also for Xbox there was an online play. This mode is now offline.
Monsters
Playable
- Mecha-King Ghidorah
- Orga
Unplayable
- Battra - Summonable assistant.
- Millennian - Enemy on mothership challenge.
- Ebirah - Enemy on underwater challenge.
Scrapped
- Battra (Playable version) - After Super X-3 was confirmed to be an airstrike, Pipeworks decided to make Battra a playable character, however Atari wanted them both to be airstrikes, so Battra being playable was scrapped, however the Battra introduction by the announcer was used later in Godzilla Unleashed.
- Biollante - Was removed due to the fact that Atari had no idea if her final design was approved by Toho, was then locked. However, it was discovered that Simon Strange had left her in the game and you can still play her via hacking, though she is in an incomplete state, and thus only able to use her basic attacks.
- Gigan (Final Wars) - Was originally going to be playable side-by-side with its Showa counterpart, however due to budget, this version of Gigan was scrapped.
- Godzilla (1954) - Was to be a secret character; scrapped due to two other Godzillas present in the game.
- Hedorah - Was scrapped because it would be impossible to create his model without redesigning the whole game engine.
- King Caesar - According to Strange, he would have been the next choice after Varan.
- Mechagodzilla - Was to be a secret character; scrapped due to two other Mechagodzillas present in the game.
- Rainbow Mothra - On the cover of the game, Rainbow Mothra is featured but it was a mistake on Atari's part.
- Super Mechagodzilla - Was going to replace Mechagodzilla 2; was scrapped due to the extra time it would be required to fit on the Garuda, and to add in the new moves.
- Titanosaurus - Was scrapped because Atari could not acquire the license, so Titanosaurus was replaced by Megaguirus (much to Simon Strange's delight); Concept art of Titanosaurus still remain in the gallery.
- Varan - According to Strange, he would have been the next choice after Hedorah.
All of the monsters (except for Ebirah, Hedorah, Rainbow Mothra, Super Mechagodzilla and Zilla) appear in a sequel Godzilla: Unleashed, although Battra was only playable as an exclusive to the Sony PlayStation 2 version.
Vehicles
Vehicles can cause damage to the kaiju, and usually target whichever kaiju has the most health.
- Attack helicopters
- Tanks
- Submarines
- Battleships
- Super X-3
Arenas
Almost all arenas can be changed from day to night. All except for the Mothership and Boxing Ring have a smaller version (i.e. Tokyo Bay) which is used for melee battles.
- Tokyo
- New York
- San Francisco
- Osaka
- London
- Boston
- Monster Island
- Seattle
- Los Angeles
- Mothership (always dark)
- Boxing Ring (from Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee)
- Asteroid Belt (Challenge mode only)
- Ocean (Challenge mode only)
Scrapped arenas
- Las Vegas
- Arctic base
- Sydney
- Mount Fuji
- Terrain
Reception
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Critical reaction to Godzilla: Save the Earth was mixed. GameRankings and Metacritic gave it a score of 61.92% and 62 out of 100 for the PlayStation 2 version,[5][7] and 64.01% and 63 out of 100 for the Xbox version.[4][6]
1UP gave the game a "B−" score, saying: "Godzilla: Save the Earth is a fun game and a worthy sequel to Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee. If it had been afforded a little more finesse (especially regarding the Challenges) and a little more authentic Godzilla flavor, it'd be even sweeter. The fact is, though, that unless you're a Godzilla fan, there are better games of this general type out there (War of the Monsters and Def Jam: Fight for New York come to mind). Still, the kaiju in Godzilla's universe are way cooler than grown, sweaty men in tights. This game's just the thing if you need to administer a quick and dirty slap-down. Just be sure to pick up the prettier Xbox version if that's an option for you."[8]
References
- ↑ http://www.gamefaqs.com/ps2/920436-godzilla-save-the-earth/data
- ↑ http://www.gamefaqs.com/xbox/920435-godzilla-save-the-earth/data
- ↑ http://www.tohokingdom.com/images/vg/project-g/simon-podcast_2.4.mp3
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Godzilla: Save the Earth for Xbox". GameRankings. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Godzilla: Save the Earth for PlayStation 2". GameRankings. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Godzilla: Save the Earth for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Godzilla: Save the Earth for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Butler, Tim (December 2, 2004). "Godzilla: Save the Earth". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
- ↑ EGM staff (December 2004). "Godzilla: Save the Earth". Electronic Gaming Monthly (186): 106.
- ↑ Zoss, Jeremy (December 2004). "Godzilla: Save the Earth". Game Informer (140): 165. Archived from the original on May 28, 2007. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
- ↑ Kasavin, Greg (November 5, 2004). "Godzilla: Save the Earth Review". GameSpot. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
- ↑ Baker, Chris (November 11, 2004). "GameSpy: Godzilla: Save the Earth (PS2)". GameSpy. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
- ↑ Baker, Chris (December 7, 2004). "GameSpy: Godzilla: Save the Earth (Xbox)". GameSpy. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
- ↑ Lewis, Ed (November 2, 2004). "Godzilla: Save the Earth (PS2)". IGN. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
- ↑ Lewis, Ed (November 15, 2004). "Godzilla: Save the Earth (Xbox)". IGN. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
- ↑ "Godzilla: Save the Earth". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. January 2005.
- ↑ "Godzilla: Save the Earth". Official Xbox Magazine: 68. December 2004.
- ↑ Fisher, Matthew (November 23, 2004). "Godzilla: Save the Earth Review (Xbox)". TeamXbox. Archived from the original on March 11, 2012. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
- ↑ Speer, Justin (November 30, 2004). "Godzilla: Save the Earth Review". X-Play. Archived from the original on December 10, 2004. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
- ↑ Huschka, Ryan (January 9, 2005). "'Godzilla: Save the Earth' (Xbox)". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on January 19, 2005. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
External links
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