Frankenstein's Monster
Stop the Monster from Coming Alive
In Frankenstein's Monster, you are not playing as the monster itself. Instead, your goal is to prevent him from being fully energized and coming to life. The game takes place in a spooky dungeon and tower setting where time is your biggest enemy. You must work quickly to gather materials and build a protective barricade around the monster before the clock runs out.
The gameplay focuses on platforming and resource management. You start by exploring the lower levels of the dungeon to find stones. These stones are the key to your survival. Once you have collected a stone, you must carry it up to the tower and place it on the growing wall. This process repeats until the barricade is complete. If you succeed in building the wall in time, the monster remains dormant, and you win the level.
The challenge comes from the obstacles scattered throughout the dungeon. You will need to jump over acid pits that can end your progress instantly. The environment is also filled with dangerous creatures. Poisonous spiders lurk in the corners, and vampire bats fly through the air. If you touch these enemies, you lose points from your score. This adds a layer of tension because you must balance speed with caution.
Time limits vary depending on the difficulty setting you choose. On the Beginner level, you have 8.5 minutes to complete the task. On the Advanced level, this time is cut down to just 5 minutes. This makes the game quite fast-paced and requires you to memorize the layout of the dungeon to move efficiently.
The game supports both single-player and two-player modes. In two-player mode, the players take turns alternating. One player attempts to build the barricade while the other waits. When their turn is over, the next player takes control. This makes the game great for sharing with a friend, as you can cheer each other on or compete to see who can finish faster.
The atmosphere is inspired by Mary Shelley's classic novel, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. While the graphics are simple and pixelated, the theme of racing against time to contain a powerful creature creates a unique sense of urgency. You are essentially trying to stop a creation from happening, which flips the typical horror trope on its head.
To play effectively, focus on collecting stones as quickly as possible without getting hit. Avoiding the spiders and bats is crucial because losing points can make it harder to reach high scores. If you find yourself struggling with the platforming or want to practice your stone-gathering skills, you might enjoy trying Frankenstein's Monster Trainer to hone your abilities.
The game was published by Data Age in 1983 and remains a memorable entry in the Atari 2600 library. It offers a straightforward but tense experience that tests your reflexes and memory. The simple controls make it easy to pick up, but the tight time limits keep you on your toes throughout every run.
Whether you are playing for nostalgia or just want to try a unique platformer, Frankenstein's Monster provides a fun challenge. The core loop of gathering stones, jumping pits, and avoiding enemies is engaging and replayable. Try to beat your best time and see how long you can keep the monster asleep. You can also try more Atari 2600 games from the same system.