Monsters vs. Aliens

A giant alien robot, a runaway slime creature, and a fish-man brawler turn a familiar movie tie-in premise into a colorful co-op action platformer. Based on DreamWorks’ animated film, Monsters vs. Aliens follows Ginormica, B.O.B., and The Missing Link as they fend off extraterrestrial threats across military bases, city streets, and other oversized disaster zones. The tone stays light and cartoonish, with broad jokes, exaggerated destruction, and a pace aimed at players who want uncomplicated arcade-style fun. It is a licensed adventure first and foremost, but its monster cast gives it more personality than many games of its era.

Each hero approaches combat differently, encouraging players to swap between characters as missions demand. Ginormica uses her enormous size to smash obstacles and enemies, B.O.B. relies on elastic movement and smaller-scale traversal, while The Missing Link brings quick melee attacks and agility to the party. Levels combine straightforward platforming, enemy encounters, environmental destruction, collectible hunting, and occasional character-specific puzzles rather than deep exploration or demanding precision challenges. Local drop-in/drop-out cooperative play lets a second player join without interrupting the action, making it an easy choice for couch sessions with younger players or fans of the film.

Its biggest strength is the way it translates the movie’s central joke—classic monsters becoming unlikely heroes—into distinct playable abilities instead of treating every character alike. The original film cast, including Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogen, Will Arnett, and Rainn Wilson, returns to provide familiar voices and preserve the movie’s playful rhythm. Visuals are dated by modern standards, and the campaign is relatively direct, but the simple controls and frequent character changes keep it moving. Fans of family-friendly platformers such as Ice Age or Madagascar will find a similarly accessible adventure here, while experienced players should treat it as a breezy nostalgic co-op diversion rather than a serious challenge.