Monster's Fair

About

Monster's Fair is a side-scrolling adventure where you control Mothra as she battles rival kaiju like Godzilla. You navigate a grid-based world, using web attacks to stun enemies and collect hidden items. Movement is directional but limited, once you move past the screen’s edge, you can’t return. Survival is tight: three lives and low health mean every misstep counts. Scoring points unlocks extra lives, while secret power-ups hide in plain sight, waiting to be triggered by careful web shots. Released in 1986 on MSX, this title leans into retro platforming with a monster-movie twist. Its strict movement mechanics and scarce resources create a tense, calculated playstyle, contrasting with more action-focused kaiju games. Niche appeal is high for Toho fans, though the hardware limitations and challenging difficulty make it a curiosity rather than a classic. The web-shooting mechanic remains a quirky standout, blending simplicity with strategic depth.

Storyline

The game starts with the Shobijin being taken away by an UFO, and saying "HELP, MOTHRA!" The game starts with Mothra Larva hatching from an egg. She can shoot webs to stun any monster (except Godzilla and Hedorah). Mothra can walk north, south, west and east, but the screen locks after going up so Mothra cannot go to places that went offscreen. Mothra can only survive 5 hits of minimal damage, and there are only three lives. However, there are hidden power-ups that restore health that need to be shot with web to be revealed and become obtainable. It is possible to get extra lives by scoring 30,000 points.