Monster Rancher (video game)

Monster Rancher, known in Japan as Monster Farm (モンスターファーム, Monsutā Fāmu), is a console game released in 1997 for the PlayStation system. It is the first game in Tecmo's Monster Rancher series, featuring the raising, fighting, and breeding of monsters.

Monster Rancher
Developer(s)Tecmo
Publisher(s)Tecmo
SeriesMonster Rancher
Platform(s)PlayStation
Release
  • JP: July 24, 1997
  • NA: November 30, 1997
Genre(s)Life simulation game
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

A remaster of the game was released in Japan for iOS and Android on November 28, 2019, and for Nintendo Switch on December 19, 2019.[1]

Gameplay

Although it is possible to acquire a monster in-game, the series is known for the ability to acquire new monsters using Compact Discs (CDs). Players can use any readable CD, and the game creates a monster using the CD's metadata.[2] Certain CDs would result in unique monsters: for example, some Christmas music albums will give the player a monster of type "Santa". Once the player has two or more monsters in reserve, they can be combined, creating a new monster with traits of both 'parents'. There are twelve basic types of monsters that can be combined, as well as eight special types players can receive as rewards by completing tasks or inserting a CD into the PlayStation.[3] The common types are Dinos, Golems, Suezos, Hares, Tigers, Galis, Monols, Worms, Nagas, Jells, Pixies, and Plants. The rare types are Dragons, Magics, Apes, Ghosts, Hengers, Doodles, Nyas, and Disks. Monsters can be combined to create a new monster with a main type and a sub-type which are determined randomly.

Once the player has a monster, it can then be raised to fight other monsters. There are six stats that determine how the monster does in battle: Power fuels physical attacks, Intelligence fuels and defends against energy attacks, Life determines monster's hit points, Skill affects accuracy, Speed helps evade opponents' attacks, and Defense reduces damage received from physical attacks. Monsters train either by doing chores nearby, or can be sent to be trained by experts, where they have the chance to gain new attack techniques. It is possible to increase some of the monster's stats with food or vitamins, but vitamins comes at a price of decreasing one stat as well as shorting the life span dramatically.

Currency can be used to purchase items in the game, earned by winning monster fighting tournaments. The game can end if the player runs out of currency to manage the monster.

The primary way to advance through the game is through monster fighting tournaments. While in battle, each monster has attacks available to it, some moves are only available at close range, others from a distance. Players cannot control the monster directly in a fight, but can call for their monster to stay away or close in, and attack with whichever move is available at the current range.

In Monster Rancher 2 and Monster Rancher Advance 2, Holly, the assistant from this game, cameos as a rancher from the group, AGIMA, for whom the player trains monsters.

Reception

The game received "favorable" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[4] Next Generation called it "an addictive yet time-consuming title that deserves to attract a whole new and greatful [sic] audience to the narrow niche of life sim gaming."[13] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 31 out of 40.[7]

The game was a hit in Japan, with domestic sales above 500,000 units by early December 1997. At the time, GameSpot reported that it was "enjoying brisk sales" in the United States as well.[15]

References
  1. Romano, Sal (November 8, 2019). "Monster Rancher port launches November 28 for smartphones, December 19 for Switch in Japan". Gematsu. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  2. "NG Alphas: Monster Rancher". Next Generation. No. 33. Imagine Media. September 1997. p. 115.
  3. Schlesinger, Hank (2014). Digimon Power: The Ultimate Guide to the Coolest New Monster Game!. St. Martin's Press. ISBN 978-1466875852.
  4. "Monster Rancher for PlayStation Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  5. House, Michael L. "Monster Rancher - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on December 11, 2014. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  6. "Monster Rancher". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Ziff Davis. 1998.
  7. "モンスターファーム [PS]". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  8. "Monster Rancher". Game Informer. No. 58. FuncoLand. February 1998. Archived from the original on September 30, 1999. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  9. Mylonas, Eric "ECM"; Cockburn, Andrew "The Enquirer"; Griffin, Mike "Glitch" (December 1997). "Monster Rancher". GameFan. Vol. 5 no. 12. Metropolis Media. p. 22. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  10. Bro Buzz (February 1998). "Monster Rancher [author mislabeled as "Air Hendrix"]". GamePro. No. 113. IDG Entertainment. p. 90. Archived from the original on January 12, 2005. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  11. Gerstmann, Jeff (January 27, 1998). "Monster Rancher Review". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  12. Douglas, Adam (November 19, 1997). "Monster Rancher". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  13. "Monster Rancher". Next Generation. No. 38. Imagine Media. February 1998. pp. 111–12. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  14. "Monster Rancher". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Ziff Davis. 1998.
  15. Johnston, Chris (December 3, 1997). "Half a Million Monsters". GameSpot. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on March 10, 2000.
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