Monster Bash
A shareware platformer about rescuing a dog from the underworld.
Monster Bash (called Graveyard during development) is a side-scrolling platform game developed and published by Apogee Software for DOS. It features 16-color EGA graphics and IMF AdLib compatible music, and was developed by Frank Maddin and Gerald Lindsly. The game was not the first shareware title from Apogee to take up a megabyte of disk space; earlier titles like 'Duke Nukem II' and 'Rise of the Triad' also exceeded one megabyte. A cut-down version was created for users with slower modems, but it was not officially titled 'Monster Bash Lite'; there is no confirmed canon evidence for that name.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Monster Bash
- Developer
- Apogee Software
- Engine
- F.A.S.T. Game System
- Designer
- Frank Maddin
- Released
- April 9, 1993
- Genre
- Platform
- Modes
- Single-player
- Platforms
- DOS
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The player controls Johnny Dash, whose pet dog Tex was captured by the main villain Count Chuck. Aided by the friendly Bed Monster and Frank Lloyd Rat, Johnny enters the Underworld armed with a slingshot and an infinite supply of rocks to rescue Tex and other captured pets. The game is divided into three episodes, with the first available as shareware and the remaining two requiring purchase. The registered version removes advertisements and enables cheat code functionality.
Reader's Guide
Monster Bash is notable as Apogee's first shareware game to occupy a full megabyte of disk space, reflecting the growing complexity of shareware titles in the early 1990s. Its 28 horror-themed levels, three difficulty modes, and variety of powerups (including larger rocks, missiles, and fireballs) offered engaging gameplay for the era. The game's 1993 review in Dragon #200 by Sandy Petersen gave it 3 out of 5 stars. Its legacy includes a 2014 re-release on GOG.com with modern OS support and a 2021 remaster, 'Monster Bash HD', developed by Emberheart Games. The game's shareware model and subsequent re-releases demonstrate its enduring appeal in the retro gaming community.
Did You Know?
- Monster Bash was called 'Graveyard' during development.
- The game was reviewed in Dragon #199 (November 1993) by Sandy Petersen with a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Monster Bash?
Monster Bash is a DOS side-scrolling platformer published by Apogee Software in which the player journeys through the underworld to rescue a dog. It renders in 16-color EGA and plays IMF AdLib-compatible music.
Who created Monster Bash?
Frank Maddin and Gerald Lindsly built the game, with Apogee Software serving as both the development studio and the publisher.
What was Monster Bash called before release?
During its production phase the project carried the working title "Graveyard" before the team settled on the final name Monster Bash.
What is the player's goal in Monster Bash?
The core objective is to save a dog that has been trapped in the underworld, navigating a series of side-scrolling levels to pull it back to safety.
Did Apogee ever release a "Monster Bash Lite" version?
A trimmed-down build was made so players on slower modems could download it, but it was never officially branded "Monster Bash Lite"; that label has no confirmed basis in the game's canon.
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