Play Monster Party Online

Monster Party came out on the NES in 1989 from Bandai, and it always stood out from the other platformers of that time. It wasn't trying to be another Mario or Castlevania; it had this strange, almost homemade quality to its horror theme that felt genuinely odd. The game had a way of making you feel like you'd stumbled into something you weren't supposed to see, which was a unique feeling on a console known for more straightforward adventures.

You control a boy named Mark who is armed with a baseball bat, and you're joined by a flying eyeball monster named Bert. Your goal is to fight through eight worlds to defeat the evil king and save the planet. The gameplay involves moving screen by screen, whacking monsters with your bat, and finding hidden doors that lead to necessary items or alternate paths. Some enemies drop power-ups that transform you into different creatures, each with a unique attack, which is crucial for dealing with certain bosses. The pacing is uneven, with some areas being brutally difficult due to cheap enemy placements and limited continues, while other sections are surprisingly short. It feels like a chaotic, unpredictable trip through a child's nightmare.