Monster Madness patch aims to fix flaws
by Richard Mitchell 
{ Nov 30th 2007 at 5:30PM }
Way back in April, we tried out the Monster Madness demo and walked away less than impressed. What was present in the game wasn't bad, but it definitely had issues. Particularly, the game had serious camera and control issues, which made the demo much more difficult than it had to be. It looks like the developers have taken many of the game's criticisms (we weren't the only ones who made them) and addressed them in a title update available now on Xbox Live. SouthPeak informs us that the update includes several tweaks to the gameplay but the biggest change is definitely a revamped control scheme and camera. You may recall (but probably don't) our major gripe with the demo: "the directional aiming is constant. In other words, if your character is facing left, he keeps facing left until you adjust the right stick. It works fine for ranged weapons, but it's a pain to have to manually aim a melee weapon." The new control scheme makes it so the camera and character point in the same direction as the left stick, which is definitely a step in the right direction. Find a complete list of the other changes after the break.
Those out there with the game, let us know what you think of the changes.
GENERAL REVISIONS
- Additional camera options and speeds have been added.
- Top down Camera zoom is gradual; not as fast.
- The players turn speed has been increased globally.
- The frame rate issues have been fixed for render targets and in-game menus.
- A transparent Health Bar has been added to all enemies with health greater than 300 hit points.
- Stun attack effect on players has been shortened.
- Zombie Bikers amount of health has been decreased significantly
- Camera and character turn together with left stick.
- The A button is for Jump, while the B button is for Dodge. Or you can click the analog sticks as in the original controls.
- The controller vibrations have been toned down.
- All Level One Weapons will be slightly more powerful.
- A new "random" weapons option has been added to Multi-player gameplay.
- Golden Zombie Achievement has been fixed.
- Dojo Achievements are easier to accomplish.
- Highest grade will be updated in achievements.
- The Auto-target option has been added to arena battles.
- Frames Per Second is improved with up to 4 players.
- Cooperative Dojo waves have been re-balanced.
- Werewolf attacks will not cripple the player completely.
- Several multiplayer game options have been added.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Cameron @ Nov 30th 2007 6:02PM
is that? is that a mustard gun?
Grendel Pr1me @ Nov 30th 2007 6:27PM
Isn't this one of those "Too little, too late" kind of moments?
After all, gamers tend to have the attention span of Paris Hilton in a silver polishing factory, so how many hours of work went into patching a game, that a lot of the community has most likely left for dead?
Cameron @ Nov 30th 2007 10:18PM
Paris Hilton was in jail and like cookies.
ZeroCorpse @ Nov 30th 2007 8:13PM
I liked this game MUCH, MUCH better when it was called "Zombies Ate My Neighbors."
This version is a pale imitation that doesn't hold a candle to the LucasArts creation. It's a noble effort, but it lacks the feel and sound of the original.
LucasArts should just let us download ZAMN on XBox Live Arcade.
EMaster @ Dec 2nd 2007 1:57AM
I too like the game better when it was made by Konami as well. This version just sucks donkey balls. Did the patch fix anything like oh I dunno the fact that the game sucks?
todd @ Nov 30th 2007 8:30PM
Hm might make me try to pick it up cheap. I had the game on preorder but canceled after the lousy demo.
colin @ Dec 1st 2007 1:54AM
i spy a camel's toe
Tony @ Dec 1st 2007 2:09AM
I'd love to have ZAMN on XBLA, but this is really more like titles like Hunter: The Reckoning or Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance in many ways. Still the comparisons are there in a lot of ways.
This might make me re-rent it. I guess it doesn't fix how atrocious the voice acting is.
"A transparent Health Bar has been added to all enemies with health greater than 300 hit points."
That one in particular is a big deal. There are times when you're fighting a boss and you're not even sure you're doing even a tiny bit of damage to him.
The vibration thing is good too. It ran constantly. The game seriously made my hands numb.
Peter @ Dec 2nd 2007 8:39AM
Does the update allow you to go through the story mode in online co-op now? I am hoping this fits under "Several multiplayer game options have been added." Does anyone know? Please advise.