Monster Kingdom Jewel Summoner review

Not quite a diamond in the rough, but good enough

GamesRadar+ Verdict

Pros

  • +

    Enjoyable characters and voice acting

  • +

    A fantastic art direction

  • +

    Great music

Cons

  • -

    Repeated dungeon backtracking

  • -

    Plot is a bit generic

  • -

    Story and gameplay aren't balanced

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If you're interested in this game, then you've done your homework. Monster Kingdom: Jewel Summoner isn't getting much hype or publicity, and it isn't quite a diamond in the rough, but Monster Kingdom is still a welcome morsel for the RPG-starved PSP.

Monster Kingdom obviously relies on Pokemon -style monster gathering and the battles that accompany the hobby everywhere in the universe. With a possible nine monsters in stack for each battle, there's enough opportunity to vary your elements and form tactics against bosses. Level-grinding isn't too bad here, actually, and the advantageous creatures are thankfully in the right spots at the right times. As is common with RPGs, battles pop up a tad too frequently, and the combat system is slightly unbalanced - once you form a good monster party, you can almost assure yourself victory.

More info

GenreRole Playing
DescriptionMonster Kingdom: Jewel Summoner has a mild case of style over substance - but what style it is. Thanks to a beautiful art direction, great score, and overall colorful characters, it's easier to ignore some of its gameplay hiccups.
Platform"PSP"
US censor rating"Teen"
UK censor rating""
Release date1 January 1970 (US), 1 January 1970 (UK)
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