Product Description Monster Rancher for the Nintendo DS. .com 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. .caption { font-family: Verdana, Helvetica neue, Arial, serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; } ul.indent { list-style: inside disc; text-indent: -15px; } table.callout { font-family: verdana; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1. 3em; } td.vgoverview { height: 125px; background: #9DC4D8 url(https://images-na.ssl-images-.com/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/callout-bg.png) repeat-x; border-left: 1px solid #999999; border-right: 1px solid #999999; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 250px; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px; } 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.
K**R
Good little 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!
M**K
Great Game!
Wonderful game for anyone who loves the Monster Rancher series! It is very similar to Monster Rancher 1, but improved with a better adventure system, better freezing and combining system, and multiple ways to generate monsters! My only peeves with this game are that there doesn't appear to be any Dino types, and beating the Naga coliseum is very difficult. Overall, a very nice game which is way better than Monster Rancher 2 and 3, but not quite as good as Monster Rancher 4.
A**E
I'm addicted!
I love this game!I've been playing Monster Rancher games since 2 was hot on the market, and this one is right up there with favorites. The concept of "drawing" your monster leads to hours of entertainment, and it's both easy and fun enough for kids and adults to understand.It may seem really easy, but you'll be playing this game for weeks trying to collect every sub-type and get them all up to S-class. Plus the sidequests, errantries, and drills have gotten a revamp to make this even more fun!I'd recommend this for any kid who likes the idea of monster raising :3
K**T
Love this game!!!
This game is still so much fun! Its exactly as described. It was just the cartridge and it worked perfectly! I love, love, love this game!!! It brought back good memories!!!
B**T
Nostalgic game.
It brings me right back to the good old days of playing this on my playstation. The way you obtain monsters has changed to fit the nature of the DS. But other than that, the game is virtually the same. In this case, that is a good thing.
A**E
I loved this game when I first had it
I loved this game when I first had it.. then I lost it and I am so happy to have found it again.
C**Y
Disappointed
I was excited about this game. When I was much younger, I liked the Monster Rancher games for the PS1. However, thinking back on it, my favorite part was raiding the house for CDs to scan and to try and make a new cool monster from. The monster creation part on the DS is not nearly as satisfying. The gameplay was more dull and repetitive than I remember. Perhaps my nostalgia had just made the game more exciting in my mind, I don't know. Either way, I was disappointed, and I feel like there are more games out there now that have similar mechanics and are more fun.
J**N
Widly Addictive
The Monster Rancher Saga paired with mobility is the best thing you could ask for from UFO. I've had so much fun trying to raise all the different monsters, and pairing them trying to see which ones would combine in the right ways. My only complaint is that I wish there were maybe one or two other options of stuff to do with your monster. Other than that, it's a great time to be had. It's a good place to start with the series, and easy to just jump into. Whether you've played all of the Monster Rancher games, or none of them, this is a great purchase.
