BERLIN: When does a new game concept become its own genre? Arguably, it happens once other games expand upon the formula and apply it to different environments. And Monsters Are Coming! Rock & Road certainly does this to a huge degree.
The game is heavily influenced by the 2022 hit Vampire Survivors. The player controls a hero character who automatically attacks approaching enemies.
Enemies lose experience points, which the player can then collect. Players also find crates containing new equipment or other upgrades.
However, Monsters Are Coming expands on this principle by adding a city that continuously rolls along a predetermined path towards a final shelter called the Ark while being pursued by hordes of monsters.
The hero must protect the city by gathering resources like wood, stone and gold and bringing them back along with experience points.
Stone repairs the city, wood improves its combat strength and with experience points players can add buildings to the city such as a fire-breathing dragon tower or a mortar, both of which provide further protection.
Essentially, the game amounts to Vampire Survivors combined with tower defence. If the city falls or reaches the Ark, new content such as additional towers or new city layouts is unlocked based on the distance the city has travelled. It is a game that should suit players who enjoy challenging gameplay.
Monsters Are Coming! Rock & Road costs just under €10/US$10 (RM40) and is available for PCs and the Xbox Series X/S. The age rating is 12 years and up. – dpa/Tribune News Service
