My 12 y/o just got this for his birthday tonight. The Wii was a family xmas gift and Monster Lab a bday add-on. He was a bit skeptical at first (being in the midst of a hot Lego Star Wars battle.) but after a few minutes he and his uncle seem to be really having a blast with building monsters and naming them - Frankentater for one. Since they've only been using the game for about 30 mins I don't feel qualified to give it 5 starts just yet, but it really looks as tho that's where its heading.

Even tho it's rated for 10+, I think my 6 y/o granddaughter will really like this game, too.

The first review I read about this game said that it reminded the reviewer of the Monster Rancher set of games, but with a better combat system. I was always a fan of that series, and so I decided to go ahead and purchase this game. I am certainly glad I did. The concept of building your own monster and doing battle with it has been a favorite concept of video game design for a long time. From Mail Order Monsters on the Commodore 64, to the Monster Rancher series on the PS1 and PS2, Monster Lab takes the genre and runs with it. In this game you play an apprentice "mad scientist" who is conscripted into service by three other mad scientists. They teach you their trade and from that experience you can build parts to assemble your very own monsters. Monster parts come in three flavors: mechanical, biological, and alchemical, with each one having power over another (sort of like rock, paper, scissors). Building parts is done by acquiring various items in the world by doing mini-game challenges and fighting other monsters. You then create those parts via other mini-games. There are twelve combinations (of body parts) total that can be built (arms, legs, heads, torsos & alchemical, biological, mechanical), but when you throw in the 150 monster spare parts, and 300 items that can be collected, the game boasts that there are over a 100 million possible end results to your tinkerings. Your proficiency in the mini-game will determine how well the part will function, how strong it will be, and if there are any bonuses or defects in the item. Certain combination's of spare parts will also bestow different attributes to your part as well. Between trial and error, and finding recipes, you will be able to constantly upgrade and build new monsters. The combat system is very well done. It is turn based, and each part is designed to target different parts. You win by either destroying your opponents torso (the part that can take the most damage) or remove all limbs. Once combat is done, you can "field repair" your monster and regenerate lost limbs, or fix general damage to your creation. An additional component to this game is the ability for you to build a monster and then take it online to play against other mad scientists. For me, this game has already provided endless hours of amusement. It is done in the mold of a cheesy "mad scientist" B-movie, so the character acting is over the top, as it was meant to be. It's a great game, and should play to all ages. The best part is the price, which comes in under $20. It is well worth the purchase!

this game is very fun its basicaly a bunch of minni games mixed with rpg style fights.you play the minni games to create parts or get ingrideants to make monster part to create a monster that just goes on tasks in diffrent areas to unlike new parts and defeat the evil barons monster