Godzilla: Unleashed (PlayStation 2)

100 point score based on reviews from various critics.
5 point score based on user ratings.

User Reviews

He may be King of the Monsters, but for this game he's nothing but a slimy lizard! Big John WV (25293) 0.57 Stars0.57 Stars0.57 Stars0.57 Stars0.57 Stars

Our Users Say

Category Description MobyScore
Overall MobyScore (2 votes) 1.9

The Press Says

Game Vortex
Godzilla Unleashed isn't the best fighter out there, though I believe it is the best one with the Godzilla license attached to it. If you enjoy the characters from the game or like the War of the Monsters gameplay style, then this is worth renting at least. Who knows, you might want to buy it afterwards.
Armchair Empire, The
I'm positive that some of my enjoyment is the direct result an immense amount of nostalgia; Godzilla is one of my favorite things. At some points it feels really good to be controlling Jet Jaguar and thumping Destroyah into submission or hurling a building at a "turtling" enemy. There are moments like this, but it's offset by the frustration I often felt as the titans smashed each other seemingly through molasses and having the camera flip around to create a brief moment of "Where the hell am I?" Sometimes nostalgia isn't enough.
Realm of Gaming
If you're going to have a few buddies over and you want a game you can throw in the PS2 and smack talk over, Godzilla Unleashed is the game for you (or at least one of them). The single-player campaign is interesting and segmented by impressive graphic novel style cut-scenes, however, it does seem to get a little repetitive in its confront-kill-move on pattern. I would like to have seen more done with character controls and special moves, giving each monster a little more diversity and also a little more interactivity with the environment. However, with the strength of the multiplayer battle, I almost excuse the single-player campaign as a training mode to help you raise your skills for when your friends come back over for another beatdown.
If you can be bothered to play through the game you will open up other characters to play as and you can also invite friends over for a 4 player battle, either in teams or as individuals. This is slightly more fun than the story mode, though it does help if everyone playing are fans of the genre as they will be able to overlook the games flaws, but the enjoyment is short-lived and there are much better multiplayer games out there.
En dépit du respect de l'esprit des films originaux et le fun procuré par les affrontements en mode multijoueur, ce Godzilla Unleashed déçoit en raison de son manque flagrant de nouveautés et de la médiocrité de sa réalisation. Le jeu est à réserver aux fans du monstre japonais qui ne connaissaient pas les précédents opus.
Cheat Code Central
Godzilla Unleashed is not the best fighting game available by far. Its sole redeeming quality is the incredible number of monsters that are available in the game. Fans of Godzilla may find that to be a refreshing tribute to the icon, but they must decide for themselves if that is reason enough to purchase the game. There is a Wii version that will be available shortly, however, which may prove superior to the PlayStation 2 version. Fans eager to get their hands on this game may want to hold out for the Wii version, which we will be reviewing shortly. Hopefully the Wii, which is more powerful than the aging PS2, will be able to improve upon the visuals and present a better control scheme. However, if you aren't a fan of Godzilla and can't tell the difference between Ghidorah and Mothra, you'd probably do better to stay away.
Game Chronicles
Bearing that in mind let me reiterate: Godzilla: Unleashed is not a good game. It's certainly not a good value at its retail price. And the Wii version, by all accounts, is superior. But it is charming, nonetheless, and I like it despite myself. For me, and other fans like me, even bad Godzilla can sometimes be good. This is one of those times (though again, not at full price). Godzilla: Unleashed, like the movies that inspired it, is far from perfect. That's not always a bad thing.
Console Obsession
It should be good to be controlling a giant monster, but there are times when the control feels clumsy, particularly in the middle of a four-way brawl. The repetitive nature of the fights does not help. The feeling you are left with is that the game is badly dated and has not evolved beyond previous Godzilla titles.
It is almost impossible to recommend Godzilla: Unleashed, especially when Save the Earth can be purchased for half the price in your local bargain bin. Those who cannot live without the minor upgrades (and a few downgrades) will likely rush out to play as their favorite monsters, but everyone else will likely want to give this near-replica a pass.
That said, my four-year-old nephews have a blast with it. While most of us will be put to sleep by the repetitive gameplay and clunky controls, the young usually don't know any better.
PSX Extreme
In no way is Godzilla Unleashed a good game, which means it's really not worth your attention. We suppose if you have some kids who just need an hour to unwind and don't care about all the technical hang-ups, perhaps they'll have some fun with this one. But there are so many other quality titles out there, even for the younger gaming generation. This is hardly one of them. Like we said at the start, there just doesn't seem to be any real effort involved in this production, and if that's the case, we probably shouldn't be rewarding poor performance. That's just the logical consumer talking.
Godzilla: Unleashed is a step back for a series which was already below average. The feature Save the Earth's hardcore fans loved most was removed, and the rest of the game just isn't as fun as it should be. Not once did I feel like I was controlling a giant monster and laying waste to a city. Remember how a random toddler who's never played a game in his life can always go head to head against a fighting game fanatic and still win the occasional match? Godzilla: Unleashed does. Quite fondly.
Da Gameboyz
Simply put, Godzilla Unleashed is a stinker. The visuals are sub-par, the audio is forgettable, and the single player campaign is not engaging by any stretch. There are simply far superior fighter games on the market. Bottomline, there isn’t even enough here to recommend this one as a rental, even for the most diehard Godzilla fan.
Talk about a monstrosity. Godzilla: Unleashed should be a better game, one on the level of Atari's previous releases. Unfortunately, its below average presentation and weak gameplay force it back into the ocean from whence it came. Save your money and buy Incog's War of the Monsters instead.
Worth Playing
Critical opinion is unanimous on this one. Any promise shown in the preview we saw before went out they window by the time the final product was delivered. The hardest of die-hard Godzilla fans may insist on spending a little time with Unleashed just to marvel at the vast cast of monsters from the movies over the years, though most of the 17 in attendance have to be unlocked by actually playing it. However, much like any Uwe Boll movie, an impressive cast can't change the fact that the settings are unremarkable, the monsters control and fight lamely; without a decent fighting engine or satisfying destruction element, it fails on all fronts. This has all been done better elsewhere years ago. Rent first, if even that.
Game Shark
Godzilla Unleashed lacks the vibrant, larger-than-life, destructive mayhem of other Godzilla titles, and there really aren't enough redeeming qualities otherwise to warrant a purchase…or even a rental.
Godzilla Unleashed is a latter-generation PS2 title arriving just in time for Christmas - it doesn't play well, it doesn't look good and it doesn't offer anything new. I understand that fans of the series are looking for something that's just playable, but I can't say that this is something that even they will enjoy. The original two entries in the series had pretty much the same monsters and, presumably, played similarly to this entry. There's nothing here worth playing for even the most ardent Godzilla fan. Rent if you must, otherwise avoid it just like you'd avoid Godzilla rampaging through the streets!
GameCell UK
We’ve seen even within the last year or so that the PS2, whilst definitely in its twilight years, can produce some impressive and pleasing visuals. Sadly Godzilla Unleashed’s developers Pipeworks seem unaware of this fact, and even worse, seem unaware of the core gameplay requirements that make a good smashing ‘n’ fighting game.
A deep brawler such as Super Smash Bros. Melee works because it offers fast, diverse gameplay and levels that are fun and inventive. There are also tons of adjustable elements. None of these things happened to find their way into Unleashed. At least they could have tried to rip-off the best. Aside from the nostalgia factor, Godzilla: Unleashed doesn’t have much else going for it. After only a few minutes playing with friends, we were eager to switch to something else. Even the most hardcore Godzilla fans should stick to the movies, and look to better fighters to get their fill.
We aren't sure why you'd try to inflict this disaster on multiple players, though that's an option. Rather than provide you with the feeling that you're a giant monster wrecking civilization and destroying monster adversaries, you feel as if you're a guy in a rubber suit, fighting against other dudes in suits, on a set full of cardboard cutouts and toy tanks. In other words, this game captures everything that was janky and lame about Godzilla, but nothing that was cool or exciting. You should definitely let this sleeping dragon lie.
TotalVideoGames (TVG)
Something to avoid like nuclear waste, Godzilla: Unleashed suffers from hideous gameplay, Neolithic graphics, no depth whatsoever, and shoddy design all-round. If you want to torture somebody then buy them this for their birthday.
The Review Busters
Unless you're, like, the biggest Godzilla fan ever, don't buy this game. If you're dying for a Godzilla game on the PS2, look for Godzilla: Save the Earth. I'm sure a used copy will be pretty cheap at this point. This one might be better for the Wii, but I really doubt that. There is a PS2 exclusive monster, but you really shouldn't care, because the game sucks. The only thing preventing this game from getting 0 out of 10 is that the gameplay isn't the issue and the sound is actually really good. Everything else though is really the perfect storm of annoying, so I'll go with 2 out of 10.
Video Game Talk
For the most extreme Godzilla fan, perhaps a rental is in order, just to see the new monsters that Toho designed specifically for this game; however, this game is best left to retail shelves to collect dust and shame. Please… skip this one. In fact, read this review once and then forget that Godzilla Unleashed exists-- and maybe track down a copy of War of the Monsters for the PS2 to get your monster fix.
Godzilla: Unleashed is not a game I can see myself purposefully playing again. The only saving grace for this title may be in the fact that it is (as per the ESRB rating) suitable for younger gamers who normally won’t mind the button-mashing confusion. For a more mature gamer such as myself, I’d prefer to read a book (shudder) than soil my PS2 consoles with such garbage. Not even worth a look.
Thunderbolt Games
And this is what it ultimately all comes down to; there is nothing here for anyone - not even the most ardent of Godzilla fans. It’s like if someone took your favourite ever franchise, made a half-arsed game out of it then spat in your face asking for money. Godzilla Unleashed is a mistake of apocalyptic proportions that should be kept in a room surrounded by 5 metre thick lead walls, from any living creature that's unfortunate enough to come within touching distance of it.
Godzilla Unleashed is an obvious cash grab hoping to rake in some holiday profits on name recognition alone. Even the most ardent of Godzilla fans will tire of the shallow mechanics, plodding pace, and dated graphics. There are better fighters out there, and you should play one of them instead of Godzilla Unleashed.
Gaming Nexus
Godzilla Unleashed has all the makings of a good monster fighting game and none of the content. Most of the monsters handle the same—sluggishly—and the solo campaign is brief, monotonous and unattractive. The multiplayer is about the same. Unleashed does better as a “guys in rubber suits” simulator than a true kaiju brawler.