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Cute and Fuzzy Seizure Monsters is a supplement I'd never have expected purchasing a year ago, or even more than six months ago. But my fascination with the high quality and wonderfully imagined BESM game led me to peruse this unique book.

At it's core CFSM is a satire of the pet-monster genre which has flooded videogame, cardgame, and cartoon markets as of late. As a satire it is succussful as it brings up issues with the whole bloodsport nature of monster fighting, as well as the potential questions that should be asked of the genre as a whole. Such questions as : Are children responsible enough for pets?, Can they feed and care for them -especially- when they are potentially dangerous and even lethal monsters? Although the game supplement itself doesn't answer the questions it can be used to ask those questions of Role-players who play the game.

It might appear at first glance that this game supplement is meant more for younger players those with a fascination with the whole pet monster genre, or a part of it..(such as Pokemon and/or Digimon)and while the book can be used to run serious (or not so serious) Pet Monster games it is a fun read for us older and far more jaded gamers. A few guffaws or giggles never hurt anyone.

CFSM and it's more eyebrow raising titled twin Cute and Fuzzy 'Cockfighting' Seizure Monsters" (different covers same contents) are fun reads, with an easy on the eye layout that is pretty common for Goo books. There are only some problems that occur when they use Title/headers for a one line entry, and of course the page of special attributes that are appropriate for "critters" would have been best served with some bold or italic use making it easier to seperate out the entries. But otherwise it works well. Although admitttedly I miss the full color splendour that is found in BESM2E it's an acceptable loss to keep the price managable on there smaller books.

The rules are of course supplemental a few attributes added that are genre appropriate, and notes on how BESM is to be used best for the genre (The suggestion to not use the Skills at all, and the like)

I must commend GOO for their artistic strength, as always--Although the genre isn't one of the ones in which art is the biggest strength, GOO shines in doing the best with what they have to work with. CFSM has a better cover than CFCSM BTW

There isn't much one can say for a satire of a genre, or even a serious take on a not to serious genre in the first place--GOO's book is by far the definitive Pet-Monster RPG supplement. It does it's job admirably and with grace. It even has me pulling out my notes on a serious fantasy setting centered around wizards and their familiars.....

Cute and Fuzzy Seizure Monsters
Cute and Fuzzy Seizure Monsters Capsule Review by Tim Kirk on 17/04/01 Style: 5 (Excellent!) Substance: 5 (Excellent!) A satire of the genre, bu8t a damn fine game book anyway. Product: Cute and Fuzzy Seizure Monsters Author: Emily K. Dresner-Thornber Category: RPG Company/Publisher: Guardians of Order Line: BESM Cost: 15.95US Page count: 109 Year published: 2000 ISBN: 1894525175 SKU: 02-105 Capsule Review by Tim Kirk on 17/04/01 Genre tags: Comedy Anime	Cute and Fuzzy Seizure Monsters is a supplement I'd never have expected purchasing a year ago, or even more than six months ago. But my fascination with the high quality and wonderfully imagined BESM game led me to peruse this unique book. At it's core CFSM is a satire of the pet-monster genre which has flooded videogame, cardgame, and cartoon markets as of late. As a satire it is succussful as it brings up issues with the whole bloodsport nature of monster fighting, as well as the potential questions that should be asked of the genre as a whole. Such questions as : Are children responsible enough for pets?, Can they feed and care for them -especially- when they are potentially dangerous and even lethal monsters? Although the game supplement itself doesn't answer the questions it can be used to ask those questions of Role-players who play the game. It might appear at first glance that this game supplement is meant more for younger players those with a fascination with the whole pet monster genre, or a part of it..(such as Pokemon and/or Digimon)and while the book can be used to run serious (or not so serious) Pet Monster games it is a fun read for us older and far more jaded gamers. A few guffaws or giggles never hurt anyone. CFSM and it's more eyebrow raising titled twin Cute and Fuzzy 'Cockfighting' Seizure Monsters" (different covers same contents) are fun reads, with an easy on the eye layout that is pretty common for Goo books. There are only some problems that occur when they use Title/headers for a one line entry, and of course the page of special attributes that are appropriate for "critters" would have been best served with some bold or italic use making it easier to seperate out the entries. But otherwise it works well. Although admitttedly I miss the full color splendour that is found in BESM2E it's an acceptable loss to keep the price managable on there smaller books. The rules are of course supplemental a few attributes added that are genre appropriate, and notes on how BESM is to be used best for the genre (The suggestion to not use the Skills at all, and the like) I must commend GOO for their artistic strength, as always--Although the genre isn't one of the ones in which art is the biggest strength, GOO shines in doing the best with what they have to work with. CFSM has a better cover than CFCSM BTW There isn't much one can say for a satire of a genre, or even a serious take on a not to serious genre in the first place--GOO's book is by far the definitive Pet-Monster RPG supplement. It does it's job admirably and with grace. It even has me pulling out my notes on a serious fantasy setting centered around wizards and their familiars.....