Play Frankenstein: The Monster Returns Online

Summary

Frankenstein: The Monster Returns plays like a classic side‑scrolling beat‑'em‑up, letting you punch, kick, and swing a grab‑bag of weapons—from swords and clubs to maces and even fire‑bomb projectiles. Defeating the oddball monsters that litter each stage drops items such as red balls, slings, hearts, and blue potions, letting you boost health, raise your max life, or add a ranged attack to your arsenal.

The game is divided into four distinct levels, each capped by a multi‑hit boss that demands a steady rhythm of strikes to bring down. After a boss falls you’re rewarded with bonuses like extra life or a stronger weapon, encouraging you to experiment with the various upgrades you’ve collected along the way.

Critics were split: Electronic Gaming Monthly gave it a lukewarm 6/10 average, calling it unremarkable among its peers, while VideoGame praised its challenging final showdown with a 7/10. Those scores reflect the game’s solid, if not groundbreaking, arcade feel.

Developed by the notoriously uncredited studio Tose, the title was showcased by Bandai America at the 1990 CES in Chicago alongside Dick Tracy and The Adventures of Gilligan’s Island, hinting at the company’s confidence in its monster‑bashing appeal.

Storyline

In Frankenstein: The Monster Returns, the once‑dormant creature lies in a cemetery until a bolt of lightning strikes its tombstone, reviving the monster. The resurrected beast immediately assaults the nearby village, sowing panic among the locals. It kidnaps Emily, the daughter of the village elder, and retreats to a hidden lair. Using dark magic, the monster summons a cadre of lesser monsters to guard him against any would‑be rescuers. The player’s mission is to battle through these foes, track down the monster’s hideout, and rescue Emily before it’s too late.