I have to admit, I’m torn. I’ve had 2 Munsters machines (I had an early LE, then a color premium), and it’s not a machine I’d be happy with as a better-than-average player in a single machine home. I *love* it as a compliment to my other machines (BM66, GNRLE, MBRLE), and enjoy it quite frequently. The geometry of the upper play field is seriously impressive, and Munsters is the most “flowy” shooter in the collection. It’s also frustratingly missing the charm, depth, and overall polish of even BM66 (and it’s not even close). It presents and plays like a tamed down version of Monster Bash (honestly, you *really* have to consider it an homage to MB, as the rules are so similar), yet Monster Bash feels much more polished and complete.
However, I do love most things about the game. I absolutely adore the artwork, the topper is amazing, and it’s such a meditative shooter with the lower playfield off that I find myself playing it almost as a mindfulness exercise.
At the end of the day, the best overall feeling I have about this project: it’s a shame that it is not being given the chance to live up to its potential, and it wouldn’t take much to get it there (only code), but every time I hear anyone involved with the project being interviewed, it’s almost like there’s an implicit shrug and a “we’ve moved on” when asked about the future of the game.
I often think that this quote from poet John Greenleaf Whittier sums up my overall feeling about the game:
“ For all sad words of tongue and pen, The saddest are these, 'It might have been'.”
But seriously, if you love it, listen to your gut!