Monster Tale is an engrossing single-player game with challenging side-scrolling gameplay (like Super Mario Bros.) that requires players to develop and strengthen a monster that accompanies and assists them on their quest.

Players take control of the main character, Ellie, who has been transported to a strange world.  She discovers an egg, which hatches, and the monster which emerges accompanies and assists her as she works to uncover where she is, and why these other monsters are attacking her.

Ellie moves along the top screen, with the action viewed from the side.  Pushing left or right on the control pad moves her in that direction, while she slowly learns the skills to jump, shoot, roll in a ball, jump downward and more.  The game doesn’t give players all these abilities at once, but rather incorporates them as skills that Ellie and her monster discover through gameplay.

While Ellie is on the top screen, the monster has a cave-like home on the bottom touch screen.  With a push of the “X” button, the monster will switch back and forth between screens.  As you collect items on the top screen, they get sent to the monster’s lair, where the monster can collect them to gain experience or learn new skills.  From time to time, you’ll need the monsters assistance on the top screen, as he’ll fly to attack other monster, or work to help spin a dial or push a button to help clear the way.

It’s worth noting that although the term “monster” may conjure up scary images, these monsters in Monster Tale are often very cute, and not at all scary.  There are dragon-like or more sinister “boss creatures” from time-to-time, but the game is definitely scary, despite the connotations of the Monster Tale name.

Much of the gameplay centers around going from point-to-point on a map, which can be viewed by pressing the Start the button.  The story unfolds through text-only scenes which must be read to be understood.

As you progress through the game, both Ellie and the monster will learn new skills and gain experience which will alter their appearance and their abilities.  By pressing the select button, you will need to assign these tasks to certain “slots” to enhance your monsters ability, or choose special abilities to be performed when you press the top “L” and “R” buttons on your DS.  Additionally, there is a place where you can “Evolve” your monster into different forms as well.  It’s this level of gameplay that makes the game more complex for inexperienced or younger gamers, but also helps make the game more engrossing for older and more experienced gamers.

There’s a lot to like about Monster Tale, but it’s definitely a game that packs just a little too much detail and complexity to appeal to casual and younger gamers.  For older kids and tweens looking for an engrossing single-player experience with some unique and entertaining gameplay elements, Monster Tale is a great choice.

INFORMATION FROM COMPANY FACT SHEET:
A group of nasty kids have snuck into a secret world inhabited by monsters and enslaved them as their pets. This ragtag pack of kids is using the monsters to do all sorts of selfish, destructive things that will ultimately result in the downfall of the Monster World. That is, until little Ellie discovers the Monster World and befriends a mysterious young monster named Chomp. This dynamic duo sets out on a fantastic adventure where our Monster Tale begins....

Features:
• Developer Pedigree: From the key leads of the critically acclaimed DS game Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure (IGN’s Platform Game of the Year).
• Genre Mash-Up: Platform adventure on the top screen mixed with a deep pet raising game on the Touch Screen.
• Raise & Evolve Chomp: Train your monster companion in the Touch Screen Pet Sanctuary. Give Chomp food, equipment and toys so that it grows, evolves and gains new abilities to assist Ellie’s adventure. Chomp has approximately 30 unique forms with different attributes and abilities including attacks, shields, bombs, and bounces, among others. Chomp’s abilities are directly related to how you raise him so nurture him with the utmost care.
• Chomp Will Do Your Bidding: Ellie can summon Chomp from the bottom screen to the top screen at any time. Use Chomp to help fight enemies and leverage his abilities to access new areas.  
• Explore Monstrous Worlds: Battle through 5 non-linear worlds and face off against a menacing kid-monster duo at the end of each. A Wicked Treehouse, Monster Nightclub, Ancient Ruins and even a Demon Express Train await you and your monster friend.
• Pamper Your Pet: Collect money throughout the game then use those earnings to shop for food, toys or equipment for your monster pet. How you use Chomp in battle and what items you give it--including weapons, pick-ups and power-ups--affect how it evolves. Defeated enemies may even drop items that Ellie can pick up to use for Chomp later on.
• Pump Ellie Up: Apply earnings toward new abilities or stat enhancements for Ellie to make her a more formidable fighter. 
• Epic Battles: Go head to head with giant boss monsters and their Kid King masters! String together devastating combos and throw down some super attacks to get the upper hand.
• Conquer Thy Enemy: A myriad of inspired enemies await defeat. They fly, burrow, rocket, jump, teleport, crush and much more in lots of devious and challenging ways.
• Acquire Runes: Defeat certain boss characters or discover hidden areas to earn runes as you play. Gain permanent upgrades to give Ellie additional abilities like dash, roll and wall jump to aid her on the adventure.