War of the Monsters pits kaiju and giants in a 3D arena. Destructible buildings, turbo action and a Japanese Z-movie mood. Instant fun with friends.
Your verdict
Category
Fighting4 players12+
Co-op
Split screen
Description
An Incognito Entertainment and SCEA fighter released in 2003, a King Kong/Godzilla-style giant monster combat game. The player takes on 10 playable monsters (Togera dragon, Congar gorilla, Ultra V robot) clashing in large-scale destructible urban arenas (Tokyo, San Francisco, Las Vegas). Giant monster combat with environment destruction, kaiju and fifties cinema homage. Original and fun fighting niche.
War of the Monsters review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
The art direction gathers a bestiary of giant monsters straight out of 1950s horror cinema. A colossal ape, a steel robot, a plant creature, a mutant insect and a saucer alien replay the archetypes of the atomic B-movie, saturated palette and creature-feature grain in tow. Each titan is an affectionate nod to the great black-and-white screens.
The music pastiches the orchestra of old monster films. A whining theremin, uneasy strings and sudden brass stabs revive the score typical of yesteryear's science fiction, between spatial shiver and end-of-the-world grandiloquence. This retro garb, more atmospheric than combat percussion, sets the sonic scene of a Saturday night at a 1950s neighbourhood cinema.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Embodying a giant monster and smashing everything to bits in urban arenas where you rip up buildings to throw at each other: the concept breathes gleeful chaos. The constant destruction and titanic grapples deliver an instant release. With four players, the mayhem hits its peak. Brutal, funny and spectacular, an irresistible kaiju versus.
A giant-monster brawler from Incognito, War of the Monsters pits kaiju and robots in destructible city arenas, a playful homage to monster movies. Still common in the West, its interest lies in this singular concept and its small multiplayer cult status rather than scarcity. A piece prized by fans of convivial, offbeat versus.
An underrated gem
A gleeful homage to 1950s giant-monster movies, this brawler turns whole cities into demolition grounds between rival kaiju. Overshadowed by the big fighting licences, it faded from view. Its instant fun and destructive two-player mayhem make it one of the console's best local-multiplayer outlets.
Better with friends
A giant-monster brawl where you tear into each other in the heart of whole cities, ripping up buildings and hurling cars in each other's faces. The two-player competition is total catharsis: chasing each other across the scenery, exploiting the urban furniture and toppling with a crash brings childlike glee. Spectacular and accessible, it turns every duel into an interactive kaiju movie where laughter accompanies the demolition.
Is War of the Monsters still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 2003 on PS2, Incognito's project pays a jubilant homage to giant monster films with a fighting game where titanic creatures clash while levelling entire cities. The destructible arenas, where you rip out beams and signs to use as weapons, and the readable combat system deliver a spectacular catharsis. The retro art direction, inspired by fifties B movies, gives off an irresistible charm. Repetition over the long haul and a somewhat thin content make themselves felt. A cult and fun gem, recommended for fans of brawling and of kaiju cinema in couch play.
