King of the Monsters

n/a

NTSC-U/PAL
NTSC-J

King of the Monsters

System(s): Sega Mega Drive

Publisher: Sega (Japan, Europe), Takara (US)

Developer: SPS

Supporting companies: T's Music^[1] (audio)

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
JP	1993-11-26^[3]	¥6,8006,800	G-4104
US	1993-03^[4]		T-103026
EU	1993		1086-50
EU (Classic)	1994-08-19^[9]		1086-50
PT	199x		MDJ1086
UK	1993-06^[5]^[6]^[7]	£39.9939.99^[5]^[8]	1086-50
AU	199x		FKIN14SMC
KR	199x		GM93024JT
AS	1993		1086-40

Non-Sega versions
Arcade Neo Geo Super NES

ESRA

This short article is in need of work. You can help Sega Retro by adding to it.

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.

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

Pushing or 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

	Geon

	Beetle Mania

	Rocky

	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^[10]

Magazine articles

Main article: King of the Monsters/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #43: "February 1993" (199x-xx-xx)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1993-11: "November 1993" (1993-10-08)

Print advert in Game Champ (KR) #1993-11: "xxxx" (199x-xx-xx)
also published in:

Game Champ (KR) #1993-12: "xxxx" (199x-xx-xx)^[11]

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)

40

^[13]

Beep! MegaDrive (JP)

NTSC-J

60

^[14]

Consoles + (FR)

89

^[15]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

53

^[5]

Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)

55

^[16]

Game Players (US)

NTSC-U

50

^[17]

Gamers (DE)

33

^[18]

Hippon Super (JP)

NTSC-J

40

^[19]

Joypad (FR)

41

^[20]

Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)

PAL

68

^[21]

Mega Drive Fan (JP)

NTSC-J

61

^[22]

Mega (UK)

PAL

10

^[23]

Mega Action (UK)

NTSC-U

40

^[24]

Mega Force (FR)

65

^[25]

Mega Fun (DE)

NTSC-U

39

^[26]

MegaTech (UK)

PAL

40

^[27]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

PAL

55

^[28]

Player One (FR)

80

^[29]

Power Up! (UK)

48

^[30]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

44

^[8]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

57

^[31]

Sega Zone (UK)

PAL

45

^[32]

Sega Force (UK)

PAL

65

^[33]

Sega Saturn Magazine (JP)

NTSC-J

58

^[34]

Supersonic (FR)

67

^[35]

Tricks 16 bit (RU)

50

^[36]

Video Games (DE)

PAL

63

^[37]

	52
Based on 27 reviews

King of the Monsters

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU (Mega Drive)
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, PT
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, AU
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, KR
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, Asia
Cover
Cart

Technical information

Main article: King of the Monsters/Technical information.

References

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

King of the Monsters
	Main page \| Comparisons \| Hidden content \| Magazine articles \| Reception \| Region coding \| Technical information No results

[https:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20230909200721.2Fhttps:.2F.2Fwww.tsmusic.co.jp.2F.25E3.2582.25AD.25E3.2583.25B3.25E3.2582.25B0.25E3.2582.25AA.25E3.2583.2596.25E3.2582.25B6.25E3.2583.25A2.25E3.2583.25B3.25E3.2582.25B9.25E3.2582.25BF.25E3.2583.25BC.2F-1] ttps://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)

[:File:KotM_MD_JP_Box.jpg_p-2] File:KotM MD JP Box.jpg

[https:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20200720095133.2Fhttps:.2F.2Fsega.jp.2Fhistory.2Fhard.2Fmegadrive.2Fsoftware.html-3] 3.0 ^3.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-20 09:51)

[:File:SegaVisions_US_11.pdf_p100-4] Sega Visions, "February/March 1993" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 100

[:File:CVG_UK_139.pdf_p74-5] 5.0 ^5.1 ^5.2 Computer & Video Games, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-15), page 74

[:File:MDAG_UK_10.pdf_p69-6] Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-04-29), page 69

[:File:SegaPro_UK_21.pdf_p18-7] Sega Pro, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-10), page 18

[:File:SegaPower_UK_45.pdf_p46-8] 8.0 ^8.1 Sega Power, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-01), page 46

[9] Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1994-08-15), page 10

[:File:King_of_the_Monsters_MD_credits.pdf_p-10] File:King of the Monsters MD credits.pdf

[:File:GameChamp_KR_1993-12.pdf_p10-11] 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

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1993-12.pdf_p25-14] Beep! MegaDrive, "December 1993" (JP; 1993-11-08), page 25

[:File:ConsolesPlus_FR_021.pdf_p132-15] Consoles +, "Juin 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 132

[:File:MeanMachinesEssentialSegaGuide_Book_UK.pdf_p64-16] Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 64

[:File:GamePlayers_US_0612.pdf_p186-17] Game Players, "Vol. 6 No. 12 December 1993" (US; 1993-1x-xx), page 186

[:File:Gamers_DE_1993-05.pdf_p66-18] Gamers, "August/September 1993" (DE; 1993-07-23), page 66

[19] Hippon Super, "November 1993" (JP; 1993-10-02), page 42

[:File:Joypad_FR_022.pdf_p145-20] Joypad, "Juillet/Août 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 145

[:File:MDAG_UK_10.pdf_p68-21] Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-04-29), page 68

[:File:Mdfan_JP_1994-02.pdf_p67-22] Mega Drive Fan, "February 1994" (JP; 1994-01-08), page 67

[:File:Mega_UK_10.pdf_p61-23] Mega, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-17), page 61

[:File:MegaAction_UK_02.pdf_p25-24] Mega Action, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-17), page 25

[:File:MegaForce_FR_19.pdf_p116-25] Mega Force, "Ete 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 116

[:File:MegaFun_DE_1993-07.pdf_p80-26] Mega Fun, "07/93" (DE; 1993-06-23), page 80

[:File:MegaTech_UK_17.pdf_p50-27] MegaTech, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-04-23), page 50

[:File:MeanMachinesSega08UK.pdf_p60-28] Mean Machines Sega, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-04-24), page 60

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_033.pdf_p64-29] Player One, "Juillet/Août 1993" (FR; 1993-07-10), page 64

[30] Power Up!, "Saturday, September 04, 1993" (UK; 1993-09-04), page 1

[:File:SegaPro_UK_20.pdf_p63-31] Sega Pro, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-13), page 63

[:File:SegaZone_UK_09.pdf_p62-32] Sega Zone, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-xx), page 62

[:File:SegaForce_UK_19.pdf_p62-33] Sega Force, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-05-27), page 62

[:File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf_p87-34] Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87

[:File:Supersonic_FR_12.pdf_p28-35] 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

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1993-10.pdf_p98-37] Video Games, "10/93" (DE; 1993-09-29), page 98

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King of the Monsters

From Sega Retro

Contents

Gameplay

Playable characters

Versions

Production credits

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Physical scans

Technical information

References