Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee, originally released for the GameCube in 2002 and for the original Xbox a year later, has been remastered for modern formats by original developer Pipeworks, now a subsidiary of Virtuos. The game, published by Atari, is described by GameCentral as the best Godzilla game ever made, a notable claim given that most Godzilla tie-ins have been poorly received.
A Unique Fighting Game
Unlike a Super Smash Bros. clone, this game is closer to a slower-paced version of Power Stone, with up to four kaiju battling in cities, throwing cargo ships and knocking each other through buildings. The original was a modest hit and received two sequels, each of which made things a little worse, until the series seemingly ended with Godzilla: Unleashed on Wii.
The game features 12 playable monsters, including Gigan, Rodan, Anguirus, Destoroyah, two versions of Godzilla, two of King Ghidorah, and Mechagodzilla 3. The remaster now includes the 70s OG Mechagodzilla instead of Mechagodzilla 2. Mothra is not playable but can be brought in as an assist character, while Hedorah can slow down energy regeneration.
Gameplay and Presentation
This is a straightforward remaster, playing almost identically to the GameCube version. Graphics have been nicely updated for the monsters, but the maps remain basic looking. The animation and physics are simplistic, with attacks often only vaguely connecting yet still sending characters flying.
The game is described as possibly the least technical fighting game ever, yet still enjoyable when playing with other people. It is an absolute bore in single-player modes, but four-player local co-op, requiring only two Switch 2s, is a very enjoyable way to spend time. An online mode, which the original lacked, is also included, though it is less fun without seeing the person you are fighting.
Frustrating Unlock System
Only four of the monsters are unlocked at the start, and players must grind through single-player modes to unlock the rest. This involves earning experience points, research points, and investigating rumours, which are achievement-like objectives. New maps and additional single-player modes must also be unlocked in the same manner, taking a long time.
There is a way around the problem by toggling on the Tournament Mode option in the Settings menu, but the game does not tell players about it. Even then, it only works offline, and online play still requires unlocking things the hard way. The unlock system is described as potentially the worst ever in a video game.
Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Remastered is a decent remaster of a flawed but enjoyable fighting game, scoring 6/10. It is available for Nintendo Switch 2 (reviewed), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, priced at £26.75, with a release date of 3rd November 2026 and an age rating of 12.
