Monster Rancher DS

by Tommo

Product Features

• Favorites such as Monolith, Gali, Mocchi, and Suezo rejoin the cast of monsters in what can be called a Monster Rancher series compilation.
• Say any word into the DS mic and see what monster is created, draw a silly picture and see what monster appears, and unlock a secret method of creating monsters as you play through the game. You can even combine your favorite monsters.
• Find the best strategy to raise your monster?too much rest or too much of the same training can be ineffective. Then take on rival breeders in weekly tournaments in single player action.
• Battle your friends locally or online. Friends can also combine their monsters to create exciting new types through a local connection.
• Choose attacks used in the short, medium, and long ranges and execute them when there are enough points in the guts meter. If no technique is selected for a range, it becomes a defense panel and evasion skills are improved at that range.

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00320JDW6
• Product Dimensions: 0.6 x 5.4 x 4.9 inches ; 4 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: August 3, 2010
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,189 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Monster Rancher DS is a strategic action game for DS in which players are tasked with raising, training and fighting monsters in order to become the preeminent monster rancher in the land. The first Monster Rancher game developed for the DS, Monster Rancher DS features the ability to create monsters both by sketching them, as well as calling them to life via the DS' built-in microphone, strategic combat using various attacks and combos and multiplayer wireless support locally and via a Wi-Fi connection. Monster Rancher Comes to DS Raise, train and battle your monsters in Monster Rancher DS, the newest addition to the beloved monster breeding series. Filled with nostalgia from past games, fans of the series will recognize popular characters and monsters such as Mocchi, and Suezo, plus a selection of all-new new monsters to discover. Generate monsters by drawing pictures in the "Magic Field," or by speaking into the DS/DSi/DSi XL microphone in "Incantation" Mode. Use your best strategy to raise, train and battle your monsters, as you struggle to become a legendary master breeder. In addition, players new to the Monster Rancher world will be helped along the way to become the ultimate power in the monster business with the addition of the character Cleo, who will serve as your guide to all things Monster Ranching. Raise, train and fight monsters with a little help from Cleo. View larger. Gameplay Monster Rancher DS is an adventure monster combat game, with light strategic, animal simulation and RPG elements tossed in. The goal of the player is to become the ultimate monster rancher by raising, training and fighting your monsters within tournaments. Players are aided in all this with the onscreen help of the character Cleo, as well as other characters to a lesser extent. Action starts with the creation of monsters. This can be done either by sketching within the 16x16 space grid of "Magic Field" mode, prompting the creation of a monster in the upper screen of the DS, or within "Incantation" mode players can simply speak into the DS' microphone to call up monsters programmed to appear off specific audio cues. Once created, monsters need to be trained, with skills in specific areas that will be important in battle according to the player's whim. Players can also watch, care for and feed their monsters on the ranch. Combat consists of one-on-one battles that take place in limited rectangular grids, with monsters using different attacks which allow them to move forward and back. The strategic element in this resides in using the limited number of spaces to your advantage, for example, staying out of the range of an opponent's presumed attack or conversely crowding him in a section of the grid where an attack can not be avoided. Along with the single player mode players can engage in local and Wi-Fi two-player action where they can pit monsters against each other or combine monsters to create a new breed. Key Game Features Use Your Imagination - Recite your favorite word and see what monster is created, or, if it's too loud to speak, draw a silly picture and see what monster appears. Unlock a secret method of creating monsters as you play through the game. You can even combine your favorite monsters to create a new, more powerful monster. Train to Become a Master Breeder - Find the best strategy to raise your monster on a weekly basis—too much rest or too much of the same training can be ineffective. Bring Out the Rivalry - Not only was the training and management portion of monster breeding brushed up, but there are also many instances to fight rival breeders in the game as well. Play with Friends - Battle your friends locally or online. Friends can also combine their monsters to create exciting new types through a local connection. Battle Rounds - Choose attack techniques to be placed in the short, medium, and long ranges and execute them when there are enough points in the guts meter. If no technique is selected for a range, it becomes a defense panel and evasion skills are improved at that range. Nostalgia - Favorites such as Monolith, Gali, Mocchi, and Suezo rejoin the cast of monsters in what can be called a Monster Rancher series compilation. Additional Screenshots: Sketch your monsters. View larger. Or use magic words. View larger. Train and level your beasties. View larger. Then put then to the test. View larger.

Product Description

Monster Rancher for the Nintendo DS.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Good Times Are Here Again, August 5, 2010

By 

C. Fugate (Tennessee, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Monster Rancher DS (Video Game)

Monster Rancher has gotten a bad name in recent years due to the substandard games that have been produced in the series. Ask virtually any fan which was their favorite game, and the most common answer you would get would be "Monster Rancher 2". Well, the good news is that Monster Rancher DS plays very much like Monster Rancher 2, and this is a very good thing.

For those new to the franchise, Monster Rancher can be thought of as a cross between Pokemon and a virtual pet. Through various methods, you generate a monster and take it to your ranch where you have to carefully choose how to train it, what to feed it, and when to let it rest. In return, you can battle the monster in tournaments for money, fame, rare items, and the ability to unlock newer, more powerful monsters.

One thing lacking from previous games in the franchise was combining monsters to get a hybrid that combined the appearance of both base monsters. Lately, these monsters were simple recolorings of the base monster (as seen in the Monster Rancher Advance games), or where removed entirely (Monster Rancher 3). Combining makes a triumphant return in Monster Rancher DS, with not only different skins for the hybrid monsters, but new models as well.

All of the tournament styles we've come to know and love are included, from elimination to round robin, as are the more difficult training options that increase/decrease multiple stats at once. A new method of learning moves, called "Drills" creates an interactive board-game like experience instead of simply watching your monster succeed/fail in successive stages of errantry.

The monster list is a mixed bag, however. While we see the return of some "forgotten favorites" such as Monol and Centaur, others like Dino/Zuum are nowhere to be seen. Why the series insists on never having a "complete" monster list in a single game is perplexing, as the Pokemon games now have hundreds upon hundreds of monsters that can all be obtained in every game.

The lack of some classic monsters and more popular newer monsters, along with the somewhat random nature of what Main/Subtype combinations are allowed is the only thing that holds me back from a full 5 star review. Don't get me wrong, there are over 270 different monster combinations in this game, but it doesn't quite live up to Monster Rancher 2's "Everything combines with everything else" mantra, even if it does get almost everything else that made MR 2 great.

Its one of the best Monster Rancher games in the franchise, beaten out only by Monster Rancher 2. A must have for any Monster Rancher fan, and an excellent place to get into the series for new players.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Faithful Blast from the Past, August 9, 2010

By 

BlindTyldak (South Dakota) - See all my reviews

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Monster Rancher DS (Video Game)

The Monster Rancher series has translated very well over to the DS system, bringing back many fond memories of the early titles. While it does not quite live up to Monster Rancher 2, and certain elements that were "improved upon" should have been left alone (the new exploring format doesn't quite work as well as in earlier games, for example), there is no doubt that anyone looking to relive the classic Monster Rancher experience will find it here. The new monster creation techniques are very fun to play with, the monsters have retained their capability for individual "personalities" - I have one monster that is a spoiled brat no matter what, just like in the old games - , and the battle system works very well. Unlike some port-type games (Kingdom Hearts comes to mind) everything on the screen is easy to read and the controls are not too cramped on the touchpad.

I would have preferred to give this four and a half stars for minor things, such as some of the smaller monsters looking very pixelated in battle scenes and how occasionally battles seem to drag on with nothing happening if both sides only have high-energy attacks. Some of the sound ballancing is very poor with monsters being VERY loud for the soundtrack, and it is occasionally frustrating to draw very different things in the generator and get the same monster. I would not say that any of these things take away from a very good game, however, and as a parent who played the originals for years I am happy I got to introduce my child to the series with this title.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good little game, August 31, 2010

By 

Nice (NEWARK, DE, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Monster Rancher DS (Video Game)

I never played the PlayStation versions, only Monster Rancher Advance and Monster Rancher Advance 2. I think this is a good next step from those versions, while preserving the feel of the franchise. The graphics are improved, and the fact that the models are other than just a change in color is a real plus, although a few of the models are quite ugly. I do not like the -ish monsters; they are useful for combining, but I wouldn't play them because they don't have faces! I was disappointed that they removed the Zuums, as they were one of my favorites to play.

I like the drills, which are a change from MRA trials. With good luck, you can raise your monster parameters pretty high in just one drill. I think the the errantry is a little bit of an improvement over the exploration, although tapping on the screen can be frustrating when he won't seem to listen. I found a lot of items when I was looking for the unlockable monsters, and they are good to sell if you don't want to use them.

To begin with, you get two ways of generating monsters, and I used both to get a good base of monsters. Later you get a third method of generating monsters. My favorite way to fill out the encyclopedia was by combining monsters. It is such an fun interface, and there is an improvement of how many monsters you can freeze at a time, so I could regenerate and combine to my heart's content.

Unlike the other versions, getting enough money to upgrade was not a problem. Some people might find that this lowers the challenge. I liked it because I was able to accommodate the bigger monsters much quicker.

This is an enjoyable little game with lots of neat-looking monsters to play. If you liked the Monster Rancher Advance games, this has a number of improvements. I am glad that I bought it!