Article first published on my personal blog at HIVE. (Spanish Original)
When I was a child, I spent hours playing on my SNES, and I have very fond memories of it. It was very difficult to get new games, so buying one on the black market, trading them, or receiving them as gifts was a great joy. Well, all except for one specific game. Receiving the cartridge of "Aaahh!!! Real Monsters" for the SNES was an experience that, in retrospect, could be described as going from joy to a mix of horror and sadness. This game, with its ghastly graphics and hellish gameplay, became a pixelated nightmare that still haunts me.
Graphics That Were Scary (But Not in a Good Way)
The graphics of "Aaahh!!! Real Monsters" were so ugly that they looked like they were taken from a low-budget horror movie. The monsters weren't scary because of their design, but because of how poorly made they were. Every time I turned on the SNES, I wondered if the game had been designed by someone with a personal aversion to art and good taste.
Gameplay: A Challenge for the Brave (or the Masochists)
The gameplay was so difficult that it made me question my skills as a player. Despite considering myself quite good at video games, I never managed to get past the second stage. The controls were so clumsy that it seemed like the characters moved in jerks and kicks. Trying to get through a level was like trying to run a marathon with your shoes tied together.
Sound: A Torture for the Ears
The sound of "Aaahh!!! Real Monsters" was a cacophony of noises that seemed to come from a nightmare. The sound effects were so bad that I preferred to play with the volume at a minimum. Every time a sound effect played, the noise it made was so irritating that it made me want to turn off the game.
Incomprehensible Scenarios
The game's scenarios were a maze of confusion. I never knew if I was moving forward or backward. The backgrounds were so chaotic that it seemed like the designers had decided to mix all the colors and shapes possible without any sense of coherence. A mix of pixels without sense or form, incomprehensible, I think even for the creator himself.
The Sadness of an Unwanted Cartridge
Receiving this cartridge was such a big disappointment that I tried to get rid of it by trading it with other kids. However, no one wanted "Aaahh!!! Real Monsters." It was as if the game had a curse that everyone knew about except me.
A Second Chance (Equally Horrible)
Recently, I decided to give the game another chance, thinking that maybe my perception had changed over the years. But no, "Aaahh!!! Real Monsters" was still just as horrible. The graphics were still ugly, the gameplay was still frustrating, and the sound was still torture.
I sincerely want to thank you for taking the time to read this article. Your support means a lot to me and motivates me to continue sharing content that can be useful and interesting for you. If you found this article useful or enjoyed reading it, I would greatly appreciate your comments. Best wishes.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
I apologize if there are any grammatical errors, English is not my native language, I have tried to be as careful as possible.
All assets, illustrations and banners have been created by me and are original content, unless otherwise specified.
The screenshots used in this article were taken by me during my gameplay of “Aaahh!!! Real Monsters”. They are used under the principles of fair use for the purposes of criticism and commentary. The images are the property of their respective copyright holders.
