SDCC 2015: We Defend, (And Destroy) Tokyo With Our ‘Godzilla’ Hands-On!

It’s been over a decade since a new Godzilla game has been released. With the King of the Monsters taking such a long break from the gaming world, what better time to make your big re-debut than at the start of a new console generation? The idea of being able to tear through Tokyo while going toe to toe with some of the most iconic monsters from the film series’ history in full HD sounded like a no brainer, so I made sure to head down to Namco Bandai’s booth at Comic Con to see if the king still reigns supreme.

What was immediately noticeable was that watching Godzilla tear through buildings as he collects energy and brawls with foes looks amazing. Watching buildings explode all around him with every step, slash and tail swipe gave off a rewarding feeling of power, coming off as if the world was truly your playground. Considering how long these monsters have been away from the gaming scene, this universe definitely benefits from the visual upgrade that current consoles can provide.

Naturally, the only thing more rewarding than destroying the city by yourself is destroying the city by throwing monsters through it. Once Godzilla collected enough energy, the build up of chaos eventually attracted both Mecha King Ghidorah and Spacegodzilla. Fighting off two enemies at once was surprisingly easy thanks to the variety of attacks we had at our disposal. The energy blast Godzilla fires from his mouth makes it easy to keep them at a distance, while a quick tail swipe can knock them away if they get too close. If you prefer to make your fight more up close and personal, his vicious claws and crushing grabs could deal some huge damage. I don’t think the game offered a better sight than taking hold of your enemy, biting it a few times, and throwing him into a skyscraper. It’s pretty awesome stuff!

The only major complaint I had with the brief demo was the speed and controls. A reoccurring issue with most Godzilla games is that the monsters move far too slow, creating some plodding moments. Then again, this is the nature of trying to make a game based on this franchise, since it’s not like they can sprint across the city while still representing the feel of the films. This game felt like it moved faster than past games, especially since the city is tightly enclosed, but still took some time to get used to thanks to the somewhat awkward tank style controls. Using the shoulder buttons to turn while moving with the sticks takes some getting used to, but it’s nothing that can’t be figured out with time.

From what we’ve played, Godzilla feels like a solid re-introduction for the iconic character’s gaming comeback. With plenty of destruction, and a great roster so far, we’re hoping the main game continues this positive momentum. Welcome back, and hail to the king!

Godzilla is available now for the Playstation 3 and Playstation 4.