King of the Monsters

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  • NTSC-J

KotM Title.png

KotM MD JP Title.png

King of the Monsters
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Sega (Japan, Europe), Takara (US)
Developer:
Supporting companies:
Distributor: Ecofilmes (PT), Samsung (KR)
Licensor: SNK
Original system(s): Neo Geo
Developer(s) of original games: SNK
Sound driver: SMPS Z80
Genre: Action[2][3]

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP 		¥6,8006,800 G-4104
Sega Mega Drive
US 		T-103026
Sega Mega Drive
EU 		1086-50
Sega Mega Drive
EU
(Classic) 		1086-50
Sega Mega Drive
PT 		MDJ1086
Sega Mega Drive
UK 		£39.9939.99[5][8] 1086-50
Sega Mega Drive
AU 		FKIN14SMC
Sega Mega Drive
KR 		GM93024JT
Sega Mega Drive
AS 		1086-40
Non-Sega versions

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King of the Monsters (キング・オブ・ザ・モンスターズ) is a fighting game developed by SNK for their Neo Geo MVS arcade and AES home console platforms. It was subsequently ported to rival systems including the Sega Mega Drive in 1993. The game has the player battle with giant monsters across various cities.

Bizarrely it also includes another version of the TradeMark Security System screen built into the game.

The game's sequel King of the Monsters 2 also made it to the Sega Mega Drive in 1994.

Gameplay

The game does not work with six button control pads, forcing the user to use the older three button pad.

A is for punches, B is for kicks, C or double tapping a direction is for running. Holding down A+B charges a projectile attack. Holding A close to the enemy initiates a grappling maneuver, following this with A performs a simple throw, A + Up/ Down or A+B leads to stronger throws and player reveices a P-item. Collecting enough of these increase the strength of the projectile attack.

Pushing A or B while running performs a character specific move, all of them resulting in a knock down. A downed opponent can be further attacked or pinned. Getting a threecount on a downed opponent wins the match. Player controlled characters will always lose after the third pin.

CPU controlled characters are constantly reading inputs and later fights require the player to avoid grappling manouvers whenever possible as there is no reliable way to avoid being thrown by the CPU.

There is no name entry screen after beating the game and the score counter is reset. However, losing a match lets the player enter his initials (this is likely a design oversight). The ending can only be seen when beating the game on the highest difficulty level.

Playable characters

KingoftheMonsters MD Portraits.png
 Geon
KingoftheMonsters MD Portraits.png
 Beetle Mania
KingoftheMonsters MD Portraits.png
 Rocky
KingoftheMonsters MD Portraits.png
 Astro Guy

Powered up, recolored versions appear later in single player mode. Each Monster has to be defeated twice to clear the game.

Versions

  • Like all Neo Geo to Mega Drive ports, the Mega Drive version of King of the Monsters takes a huge hit in the graphic and sound departments. Two characters were removed for the Mega Drive version: Poison Ghost and Woo. Much bigger ROMs were released in 1993, so reasons for the removal remain unclear.
  • The Japanese version features more options, like an easy difficulty level and the ability to increase continues.
  • Compared to other Takara releases, gameplay remained mainly intact.

Production credits

  • Director: T.Hocho, T.Konno
  • Developed by: S P S Co.,Ltd.
  • Programmer: Detti
  • Graphic Designer: Modtan, Pirorin
  • Sound: Detti, Jyuusin
  • Special Thanks to: SNK Co.,Ltd., All Staffs
Source:
In-game credits
King of the Monsters MD credits.pdf
[10]


Magazine articles

Main article: King of the Monsters/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in (US) #43: "February 1993" (199x-xx-xx)
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Print advert in (JP) #1993-11: "November 1993" (1993-10-08)
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Print advert in (KR) #1993-11: "xxxx" (199x-xx-xx)
also published in:
  • (KR) #1993-12: "xxxx" (199x-xx-xx)[11]
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
48 [12]
Sega Mega Drive
 48
Based on
1 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
(RU)
40
[13]
(JP) NTSC-J
60
[14]
(FR)
89
[15]
(UK)
53
[5]
(UK)
55
[16]
(US) NTSC-U
50
[17]
(DE)
33
[18]
(JP) NTSC-J
40
[19]
(FR)
41
[20]
(UK) PAL
68
[21]
(JP) NTSC-J
61
[22]
(UK) PAL
10
[23]
(UK) NTSC-U
40
[24]
(FR)
65
[25]
(DE) NTSC-U
39
[26]
(UK) PAL
40
[27]
(UK) PAL
55
[28]
(FR)
80
[29]
(UK)
48
[30]
(UK) PAL
44
[8]
(UK) PAL
57
[31]
(UK) PAL
45
[32]
(UK) PAL
65
[33]
(JP) NTSC-J
58
[34]
(FR)
67
[35]
(RU)
50
[36]
(DE) PAL
63
[37]
Sega Mega Drive
 52
Based on
27 reviews

King of the Monsters

Mega Drive, JP
KotM MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
KingoftheMonsters MD JP CartTop.jpg
KingoftheMonsters MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
KotM MD JP Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, US
KotM MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Kotm md us cart.jpg
Cart
KotM MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
KotM MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
KotM MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
King Of The Monsters MD EU Manual.jpg
Manual
Mega Drive, EU (Mega Drive)
KotM MD EU Box Classic.jpg
Cover
KotM MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
King Of The Monsters MD EU Manual.jpg
Manual
Mega Drive, PT
KotM MD PT Box.jpg
Cover
KotM MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, AU
KotM MD AU back.jpgNospine.pngKotM MD AU cover.jpg
Cover
KotM MD AU cartback.jpgKotM MD AU cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, KR
KingoftheMonsters MD KR cover.jpg
Cover
KingoftheMonsters MD KR carttop.jpg
KingoftheMonsters MD KR cartback.jpgKingoftheMonsters MD KR cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, Asia
KotM MD AS Box.jpg
Cover
KotM MD AS Cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

Main article: King of the Monsters/Technical information.

References

  1. ↑ https://www.tsmusic.co.jp/%E3%82%AD%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B0%E3%82%AA%E3%83%96%E3%82%B6%E3%83%A2%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B9%E3%82%BF%E3%83%BC/ (Wayback Machine: 2023-09-09 20:07)
  2. ↑ File:KotM MD JP Box.jpg
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-20 09:51)
  4. ↑ Sega Visions, "February/March 1993" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 100
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Computer & Video Games, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-15), page 74
  6. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-04-29), page 69
  7. ↑ Sega Pro, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-10), page 18
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Sega Power, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-01), page 46
  9. ↑ Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1994-08-15), page 10
  10. ↑ File:King of the Monsters MD credits.pdf
  11. ↑ Game Champ, "xxxx" (KR; 199x-xx-xx), page 10
  12. ↑ GamesMaster, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-17), page 81
  13. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 156
  14. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "December 1993" (JP; 1993-11-08), page 25
  15. ↑ Consoles +, "Juin 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 132
  16. ↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 64
  17. ↑ Game Players, "Vol. 6 No. 12 December 1993" (US; 1993-1x-xx), page 186
  18. ↑ Gamers, "August/September 1993" (DE; 1993-07-23), page 66
  19. ↑ Hippon Super, "November 1993" (JP; 1993-10-02), page 42
  20. ↑ Joypad, "Juillet/Août 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 145
  21. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-04-29), page 68
  22. ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "February 1994" (JP; 1994-01-08), page 67
  23. ↑ Mega, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-17), page 61
  24. ↑ Mega Action, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-17), page 25
  25. ↑ Mega Force, "Ete 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 116
  26. ↑ Mega Fun, "07/93" (DE; 1993-06-23), page 80
  27. ↑ MegaTech, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-04-23), page 50
  28. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-04-24), page 60
  29. ↑ Player One, "Juillet/Août 1993" (FR; 1993-07-10), page 64
  30. ↑ Power Up!, "Saturday, September 04, 1993" (UK; 1993-09-04), page 1
  31. ↑ Sega Pro, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-13), page 63
  32. ↑ Sega Zone, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-xx), page 62
  33. ↑ Sega Force, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-05-27), page 62
  34. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
  35. ↑ Supersonic, "Juillet/Août 1993" (FR; 1993-xx-xx), page 28
  36. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 17
  37. ↑ Video Games, "10/93" (DE; 1993-09-29), page 98
King of the Monsters

KotM Title.png

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