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- Monster Rancher Evo
Monster Rancher Evo
- February 08, 2006 14:16 PM PST
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Monster Rancher Evo is not just another addition to Tecmo's lineage of cute monster breeding madness; it's an intriguing improvement.
Coming from a long line of cute monster-raising ancestors, Monster Rancher Evo takes on an entirely new look, from its art style to its gameplay, while maintaining some of its classical features.Come One Come All
Monster Rancher Evo is set in a circus environment. You play as Julio, who has just lost a monster he'd grown very attached to. While your circus comrades try to cheer you up, a mysterious girl appears and introduces herself as Nayuta, a monster breeder who gives Julio a new monster and a new chance at circus performance.
The gameplay itself incorporates RPG elements in an adventurous environment. Your schedule is planned out on a month-to-month, week-to-week basis. It can include training, circus shows, and adventures. Performances are a source of income, and they are also useful in boosting your monsters' stats and motivation. In order to control the monster, Julio plays a magical accordian. For circus performances, players must complete mini-games successfully for the monster to do the trick well. Gradually, your monster will also be able to earn anima points that can be spent in new skills and traits.
Monsters Have Feelings Too, You Know
Nayuta breeds her monsters not only from Saucers, but from other CDs and DVDs, a technology that carries on from Monster Rancher 4. The game will translate the unique serial code found on the CD into a monster. So far I was able to retrieve a fluffy hare and a blob thing of a monster from using other game discs. She can also breed monsters by combining different types of monsters to make an entirely new one. And of course, if you don't like your monster, you can always "donate" it, a sad but appropriate euphemism.
Each town has a mystery or storyline for Julio to play, giving your monsters a chance to battle and gain Anima Points that can be spent on new skills and traits. Skills and traits consume regenerating Guts, which are comparable to mana in other RPGs. Another source of income is doing side missions, which are also available at each town's guild.
In between training you and your monster for circus performances, doing the town quest and side missions, beautiful graphics and cut scenes, and finding all of the 250 monsters available, Monster Rancher Evo has more than enough to keep you occupied. The battles can be a bit slow if your monsters aren't trained hard enough, but otherwise Monster Rancher Evo is looking to be a fine game.
