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Tutorial introducing new users to Mobage features - Fixes a problem that could cause players on T-Mobile or Verizon to be unable to connect - Minor bug fixes and enhancements. What you should know about My Monster Rancher app. It's a fun way to pass the time some times the battles seem like slots”. This is an amazing.
Rating: :: NOT QUITE THE SAME
![App App](/uploads/1/2/3/3/123345902/170045817.jpg)
It's most definitely not the equivalent of a console Monster Rancher on the go, but My Monster Rancher is pretty cool for what it is.
Developer: Mobage
Price: FREE
Version: 1.0
App Reviewed on: iPhone 3GS
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I’ve been something of a rabid Monster Rancher fan for years. Even before getting my hands on the original game I was salivating over magazine ads, desperate to see what might be hidden inside my admittedly lame music collection. My interest waned with the third game and it’s severely simplified everything, but the fourth was able to rekindle my love by bringing back some old favorites and incorporating honest to goodness new ideas into the formula. Then the whole thing turned into a big circus (literally) and I gave up. I still love me the second and fourth games, though. So naturally I jumped at the chance to check out My Monster Rancher. Turns out it’s not what I was expecting, but it also turns out that I’m okay with that. Price: FREE
Version: 1.0
App Reviewed on: iPhone 3GS
Graphics / Sound Rating:
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Imagine adapting most of the series’ core elements (monster creation, adventuring, training, etc) into a mobile freemium structure and that’s My Monster Rancher in a nutshell. Most everything is simpler than it is in any console counterpart, and many actions are governed by real time countdown clocks that can be sped up via special items or real world money. This time around creatures are created through player profiles and other social means, so it’s very important to make “neighbors” and go around petting strangers’ monsters. I know, it sounded creepy when I read it in the description, too.
As a slobbering fanboy, I have to admit it’s pretty cool to be able to get back into ranching on my phone. Especially as a number of my favorites - aside from the more popular critters - have made a comeback (Yay, Monol!). And despite the intense simplicity of all the training, adventuring, breeding, and so on it can still keep me up much later than I’d have expected. Though the “freemium simplification” can indeed be viewed as a turn off for even the most forgiving fans, the real problems with My Monster Rancher can all be found in the interface. Important information such as neighbor invites don’t display unless the player actively checks their history, and even then I’ve yet to be able to do anything about the invites I’ve received. Buttons also don’t always register on the first or even second press. Some menus are also unnecessarily cluttered with all manner of categories that could’ve easily been combined.
It might feel like it’s intentionally trying to kill the fun, but thankfully My Monster Rancher largely fails in that regard. It could be that my eyes are somewhat clouded by nostalgia and “Oooh! I remember that monster!” but I still think it’s a very viable source of free social entertainment. Now be my neighbor so’s I can build an army (RobsteinOne).
iPhone Screenshots
(click to enlarge)
Genki is the Champ of Playstation's 'Monster Rancher' but finds the game more challanging when he's sucked inside of it. It seems the world within his game is in some serious trouble. The evil Moo has been unlocked from his disk and is slowly taking over their world. The only monster with the power to turn the bad monsters ('Baddies') back to 'Goodies' is the legendary Phoenix, and Holly, with her power to control the magic stone points the way for Genki and their monster friends Tiger (a wolf out to save his brother), Moochi (a brave little guy), Golem (the giant rock monster afraid of water), Suezo (the eyeball who goes where Holly goes) and Hare (a tricky rabbit out to steal their golds.) But in order to unlock the Phoenix, Genki and his team will have to battle against Moo's Big Bad Four, black dino squads, the jells, and harsh land. Can they do it, and restore peace to the land.?
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