Technical Information

Developer: moi rai games
Publisher: Team17
Release Date: December 8, 2020

Monster Sanctuary is a game that blends elements of metroidvania with turn-based RPG combat.
In a universe where monsters live together with humans, you’ll be able to train them and explore the world to become the best Monster Guardian.

Final Considerations – Analyzing the Work as a Whole

Graphics and UI

The artwork is exquisite. From the very first minutes of gameplay, it’s noticeable how each pixel was crafted with great attention and care.
The color choices for each biome, as well as the overall composition, showcase a wealth of elements that make playing the game very enjoyable.

As you progress through the game, you can unlock skins for the main character. This detail may seem trivial, but it adds immersion and helps you feel part of the universe.

Soundtrack and Sound Effects

I found the soundtrack very well made and quite memorable. There are some songs that I will never forget, they are very beautiful, and even after hours of playing, they don’t become tiresome.

The sound effects are well integrated, bringing dynamism and naturalness to battles and interactions with the environment.

Gameplay

I came looking for copper and found gold! GOLD! I can’t find the words to express how much Monster Sanctuary impressed me.
It’s an excellent game, whether you’re considering it as a turn-based RPG or a metroidvania. In this regard, it’s very similar to Child of Light.

If you like Pokémon, I believe there’s a great chance you’ll enjoy this game.
The map is full of biomes, there are many monsters to face (and recruit to your team), and the most important thing: level isn’t everything. That’s right—near the end of the game, it won’t matter how strong your monsters are if you don’t have a good strategy.

That’s exactly why it took me so long to complete the game (63 hours, to be exact). It was really challenging for me to defeat the final boss. I had to test various team combinations.

The complexity of the map made me get stuck at times, requiring a guide, but that was easy to work around. If you don’t have the patience to keep playing until you figure things out, use a guide without hesitation, or you might lose interest in the game.

You can skip all cutscenes. This is an important detail because they appear before important battles, and after many failed attempts, they would certainly become a nuisance.

The localization in Brazilian Portuguese is awesome! Even the monster names were adapted to the language. It was very creative and charismatic (Pata Valente and Lasquinha were my favorite names). I’m sure it will captivate anyone who speaks Brazilian Portuguese.

The game features four save slots, allowing you to start a new adventure without restarting an existing save (or letting someone else play on your account without affecting your progress).

Replayability and Game Retention

In addition to the main story, you can hunt for all monster eggs (to complete the Monsterpedia), face challenges against various champions in the magma region, and play an online multiplayer mode. Believe me, there’s a lot of content.
You can easily spend 100 hours in the game without running out of things to do.
Retention and replay value are extremely high! The best part is that you can start a new save with a different starting monster and experiment with different team combinations.