Merge Monster 3D is a free beat 'em up with a heavy emphasis on character creation. Before you start the fight, you will not so much choose a character as assemble one from various components. Winning battles will get you more options.

With its basic fighting mechanics, the game has similarities to certain boxing games like Real Boxing and Real Boxing 2. However, it adds a new twist in the option to create weird monsters as fighters and go into battle against similarly offbeat mutants.

Choose the creatures to merge

Merge Monster 3D is a game made up of two components. The first takes place in a laboratory, where you must create a monster by merging various creatures together. You can choose multiple species from a list that includes animals, humans, and weird fantasy creatures. Click "merge," and then your mutant fighter will be born.

Fight a rival mutant

Once you have made your fighter, you will enter the game's second component. This is a simple beat 'em up in which your mutant fights a rival atop an ice floe, a rooftop or a similarly precarious location. By using some basic controls (left, right, hit), you must knock your opponent off the end to win the match.

Both parts are basic

The merging mechanism turns out to be more limited than it might appear. In practice, each fighter has only two components: basic body shape and costume. You can apply multiple costumes to a character, but only one costume will actually show. The fights are similarly basic: all fighters are very similar, and it's easy to win with just two punches.

Designed for kids

Given its simplicity, Merge Monster 3D seems to have been designed for children. Aside from some fairly skimpy outfits on the female characters, there's nothing inappropriate for this audience. Older players might find it limited.