Monster Rancher 1 & 2 DX

Monster Rancher 1 & 2 DX is a collection featuring refreshed versions of two classic RPGs from Koei Tecmo. The set includes remasters of the first installment of Monster Rancher, released in 1997, and the sequel launched two years later. Both of these games were originally released for the PlayStation console.

Plot

Remasters do not change the storylines of the originals. The two productions in the set allow you to play as a young hero who dreams of becoming a monster trainer. At the beginning of each adventure we are a rookie, just starting our career in this profession, and the stories end when our pupils defeat the local champions in a big tournament.

The scenarios of both games unfold slowly, and we only learn further parts of the story when we achieve certain goals, such as reaching a new rank or winning a specific tournament.

Game mechanics

In Monster Rancher 1 & 2 DX the basic gameplay mechanics have not changed. So we get a set of RPGs with complex strategic elements. Entire game revolves around the title monsters. The player must develop and train them, and then put them up to fight against other creatures of this type.

Battles take place in real time and play out mostly automatically. Our monsters themselves make decisions about which attacks to use. The player can, however, influence the course of battles, giving them advice before the clash, as well as giving them simple orders during the fights. However, whether our charges obey these commands depends on how much we have previously developed their loyalty stats.

Monster Rancher 1 & 2 DX offers hundreds of monsters to collect, each with a unique appearance and abilities. The development of these creatures takes place in the form of various training sessions. During them we can praise them for performing tasks correctly and punish them for mistakes, which ultimately shapes the character and talents of each creature.

The PlayStation original had an unusual monster generation system. Players could insert any music CD into the console, and the game would create new creatures based on that. In Monster Rancher 1 & 2 DX, this was simulated by a virtual database containing the tracks and popular artists.

Game modes

In Monster Rancher 1 & 2 DX you can play solo or challenge another player to a fight, thanks to the presence of local multiplayer mode. The game also has online features, allowing you to download monsters trained by other users and then put your charges into battle against them.

Technical aspects

Monster Rancher 1 & 2 DX offers numerous improvements over the PlayStation original. The graphics have been slightly refreshed and new music tracks have been introduced.

Game content has also been expanded. A new mode was added to speed up the passage of time, as well as an option to play in random battles. Also the maximum number of saves was doubled and a separate stats system for recording the development of monsters was implemented. In addition, there are additional monsters in the game.