Line #24 VideoGame/CrushCrumbleAndChomp


1	[[quoteright:299:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/crush_crumble_and_chomp.png]]
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3	''Crush, Crumble and Chomp!'' is a computer game from Creator/{{Epyx}}, published in 1981 for the Platform/Atari8BitComputers, Platform/AppleII, Platform/VIC20, Platform/Commodore64, and Platform/TRS80. Subtitled "The Movie Monster Game", it's a lighthearted simulation/strategy game where the player [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin controls a gigantic movie monster]] and attacks one of four major cities (UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity, UsefulNotes/SanFrancisco, UsefulNotes/WashingtonDC, and UsefulNotes/{{Tokyo}}).
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5	Generally speaking, the player is scored based on how long they manage to survive, how much damage they cause, and how many human forces they eliminate. Play proceeds with a [[RealTimeWithPause turn-based quasi-real-time system;]] the player's commands take a certain amount of time to execute, and longer commands may result in the human units making a move before the player. The monster must eat humans to stave off hunger and heal damage, though the player ''will'' eventually [[DeathOfAThousandCuts lose through attrition]].
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7	While the default game has six predefined monsters, the disc-based version has a "[[CharacterCustomization Grow your monster]]" option to let the player create their own critter.
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9	Epyx released a SpiritualSuccessor, ''Videogame/TheMovieMonsterGame'', in 1986, but only for the Platform/AppleII and Platform/Commodore64. This game had a similar "Monster vs. City" theme, and even featured an officially-licensed Franchise/{{Godzilla}} as a playable monster.
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11	Both games have gotten a modern SpiritualSuccessor in ''VideoGame/KaijuAGoGo''.
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14	!!This game provides examples of the following tropes:
15	* ActionCommands: Though ostensibly turn-based, the game will skip the player's current "turn" if they take too long to enter a command.
16	* AlliterativeTitle: '' '''C'''rush, '''C'''rumble, and '''C'''homp!'' Doubles as an AlliterativeList.
17	* AllThereInTheManual: The instruction manual for the game is a treasure trove of comic wit; not content to simply list the commands, Jon Freeman (who later went on to create the classic game ''VideoGame/{{Archon}}'') jams it full of [[SarcasmMode sarcastic]] [[TakeThat Take Thats]], overly melodramatic PurpleProse, and hilariously irrelevant backstories for the six stock monsters (Arachnis' city-destroying rampage could've been averted if the Knicks had better appreciated his basketball skills...).
18	* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: You're the 50-foot monster!
19	* BewareMyStingerTail: One of the available monster powers is a Tail attack, which strikes enemies directly behind the player.
20	* BigEater: This is a gameplay mechanic. Failure to eat regularly makes the monster hungry; if the monster becomes ravenous, the player loses control and the computer takes over. Some monsters get hungry at different rates, and mechanical monsters like Mechismo don't get hungry at all.
21	* BreathWeapon: One of the monster powers, usually for breathing fire.
22	* CaptainErsatz: The six stock monsters available are clearly inspired by famous cinema monsters. Some are obvious CaptainErsatz equivalents, while others are more general Expys:
23	** [[Franchise/{{Godzilla}} Goshilla]] is a giant amphibian reptile with a BreathWeapon. He leaves a corrosive trail of radioactive waste.
24	** [[GiantSquid The Kraken]] is a giant water-locked octopus/squid. Unlike the other monsters, he ''must'' stay in waterways; this makes it harder to get food, but easier to escape attackers.
25	** [[GiantSpider Arachnis]] is a giant spider who weaves webs to block roads and digs underground to escape.
26	** [[BlobMonster The Glob]] is a shapeless, gelatinous monster that absorbs obstacles. It also leaves a flammable slime trail in its wake.
27	** [[HumongousMecha Mechismo]], a giant robot walker with a DeathRay gun. Unlike the other monsters, it does not need to eat people to survive, but it also never heals any damage it sustains.
28	** [[Film/{{Rodan}} Mantra]], a giant flying dinosaur with fire breath.[[note]]Interestingly, Mantra predates the "Fire Rodan" concept in the Toho movies by 12 years.[[/note]]
29	* CharacterCustomization: The disc-based version of the game allows players to create their own character, picking from a larger selection of body types and then [[PointBuildSystem "buying" abilities with Monster Points]]. You won't look any different from the original "models", though (for example, the manual suggests using the "biped" model and omitting the "T (tail)" command to make a giant ape, but you'll still ''look'' like Goshilla, tail and all).
30	* ControllableHelplessness: Occurs when the monster is ravenous with hunger, and the computer begins randomly entering commands. The player can sometimes get his own commands in, but it's usually a futile attempt to avert disaster.
31	* CutAndPasteEnvironments: Due to the limitations of personal computers at the time, the game heavily reuses standard icons for most spaces (residential home, skyscraper, bridge, etc.). Even with this limitation, the game ''loosely'' attempts to duplicate real-world locations with the setup -- for example, UsefulNotes/ThePentagon is a ring of five "skyscraper" tiles.
32	* DeathOfAThousandCuts: This is always the fate of the monster; no matter how well you play, eventually the human forces ''will'' overwhelm you with attacks faster than your ability to heal/recover, especially since you eventually will have no choice except to go after them for food.
33	* EndlessGame: Continues until you're inevitably defeated by human forces.
34	* EverythingBreaks: The whole ''point'' of the game, really.
35	* EyeBeams: One of the available monster powers, capable of zapping targets from far away.
36	* FailureIsTheOnlyOption: Your monster ''will'' be killed eventually.
37	* FastTunnelling: Some monsters have the power to quickly tunnel underground and emerge several spaces away.
38	* HelicopterFlyswatter: Can be done, though it's somewhat difficult. The helicopter units are fairly good at keeping their distance from the monster and evading the "grab" attack.
39	* InvisibleWall: Each city is four screens wide and four screens tall; any attempt to move outside that region results in the monster pushing against an Invisible Wall.
40	* {{Kaiju}}: All of the playable characters are giant monsters.
41	* MadScientist: One of the last human attackers, and arguably the deadliest; a single hit from the Mad Scientist will cause the monster to gradually slow down (lose turns), hastening his eventual defeat.
42	* MonumentalDamage: Although you need to consult the maps in the manual to know which generic-looking block of buildings is supposed to be what famous edifice.
43	* MultiMookMelee: That is, if you consider the amassed forces of humanity to be "mooks". Starts off with police cars, then later escalates to soldiers, tanks, artillery, and the MadScientist.
44	* MultiPlatform: Released on Atari 8-Bit Computers, Apple II, VIC-20, Commodore 64, and TRS-80.
45	* NoPlotNoProblem: Where did the giant monsters come from? Why are they attacking? Who cares?
46	* {{Notzilla}}: Goshilla, as one would expect.
47	* PointBuildSystem: Available in the disc-based version. The number of points available for building your monster, and the cost for each ability, varies based on the body form you choose.
48	* PublicDomainSoundtrack: The game uses Music/NightOnBaldMountain, especially when you are close to death.
49	* RealTimeWithPause: The game has an early version of this mechanic; though turn-based, the game only gave players a limited amount of time to press a command key, making it somewhat real-time. Also, longer commands may result in the human units making a move before the player does.
50	* ScratchDamage: Fully justified, since ''all'' of your opponents are weaker than you.
51	* ShoutOut: One of the more useful command sequences was to hit P (paralyze), then G (grab), then E (eat). The user's manual described this as "The Power of PG&E". PG&E (Pacific Gas & Electric) is the main power company for much of the Pacific Northwest.
52	** Arachnis is all but directly said to be the spider who gave Peter Parker his powers.
53	* TokyoIsTheCenterOfTheUniverse: Like anyone would make a Movie Monster Game and ''not'' feature Tokyo as a target...[[note]]All the other cities are US cities[[/note]]
54	* TopDownView: In terms of gameplay, anyway; the icons show things in side-view profile for easier identification.
55	* ToServeMan: Appropriately enough, the nourishment rewarded from eating humans varies according to the unit: soft, unprotected civilians are the best, while armored tanks and helicopter pilots provide only a minimal amount. To make matters worse, as the game progresses, civilians will become much more rare, and the military far more common, often leaving them as the only source of food.
56	* WalkingWasteland: Depending on the monster/powers selected, the player can leave flames or radioactive/destructive waste in his wake.
57	* WashingtonDCInvasion: One of the four cities in which you can rampage.

Context VideoGame / CrushCrumbleAndChomp