Software:Monster Rancher 2

From HandWiki
Short description: 1999 video game
Monster Rancher 2
Developer(s)Tecmo
Koei Tecmo (1+2)
Publisher(s)
Koei Tecmo (1+2)
SeriesMonster Rancher
Platform(s)
Release
Genre(s)Life simulation game
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Monster Rancher 2, known in Japan as Monster Farm 2 (モンスターファーム２, Monsutā Fāmu Tsū), is a life simulation role-playing video game developed and published by Tecmo for the PlayStation. It is the second installment in the Monster Rancher series. It is the first game in the franchise to be released in Europe and PAL region, where it was published in October 2000 under the name Monster Rancher.[3]

A port for Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android was released by Tecmo's successor Koei Tecmo in Japan on September 17, 2020.[4][5][6] An updated version for iOS, Nintendo Switch and Microsoft Windows via Steam was released worldwide on December 9, 2021 as part of the compilation titled Monster Rancher 1 & 2 DX along with Monster Rancher.[7]

Gameplay

This game involves raising, fighting, and breeding monsters. The main character is never seen on screen and never talks to anyone directly. Instead, all of the dialog and action is done by the trainer's assistant Colt and her toucan Joy. The player chooses their actions and choices through menu options.

Tournaments, from which money, items, and fame can be earned, are held throughout the year. However, only by winning an IMa Official Cup, four of which are held each year, can breeders and monsters earn higher ranks. As a monster's rank increases, it gains access to higher-level tournaments.

Monsters begin life knowing a small number of moves that can be used in battle, with more learned through training. To perform a move, a monster must expend some "guts", which regenerate constantly during battle. Each move can only be performed while within a particular range of an opponent, and from close range monsters can knock opponents back.

Besides the monster types the player can unlock from the beginning, there are many more which the player can raise. There are three different ways in which to unlock new monster types for raising: plot events, expedition, and errantry. The most common way these new monsters are given to the player is by the gain of an item, which when used to combine monsters, will produce this new type. After that happens, CDs will now be allowed to produce monsters of that type.

Story

The story of Monster Rancher 2 is largely non-linear with story events happening only after certain requirements are met (winning a battle, reaching a certain rank, etc.). The story begins with the main character going to register to become a trainer, it is there when Colt appears as the trainer's new official assistant. The "end" of the game is when a monster is able to beat the Big Four (the four highest-ranked battles in the game); when this happens, a video about the history of the monsters is shown. A monster who has beaten all four of the S class tournaments can then go on to compete in a special match for champion monsters like itself.

It is important to note that Monster Rancher 2 happens in close time proximity to Monster Rancher 1, but on a different continent (MR2 being set in the IMa area, and MR1 set in the FIMBA area). As a result of this there is a special battle between the player and the assistant from the first game, Holly. This event takes place every four years, much like the Summer Olympics, and the player's monster has to be of certain rank to gain entry to. The event is called the IMa vs. FIMBA meet and always takes place in the last week of August. The player must win the preceding entry tournament first, which always takes place in the last week of July, respectively.

Defeating the Major 4 tournaments and the Legend Cup does not unlock all of the monsters in the game. There are different steps to take to unlock each main breed monster.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic83/100[8]
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGameStarStarStarStarHalf star[9]
EGM6.67/10[10]
Famitsu32/40[11]
Game Informer8.5/10[14]
GameFan95%[12]
(M.V.S.) 92%[13]
GameRevolutionB[15]
GameSpot8.7/10[16]
IGN8.8/10[17]
OPM (US)StarStarStarStar[18]
PSMStarStarStarStar[19]

The game received "generally favorable reviews", albeit slightly less than the original game, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[8] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 32 out of 40.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Sony PlayStation Available Software sorted by Release Date @ www.vidgames.com". 2000-08-15. http://www.vidgames.com/ps/software/release.html. 
  2. ↑ "Monster Rancher (PAL)" (in en). https://psxdatacenter.com/games/P/M/SCES-02872.html. 
  3. ↑ "Monster Rancher - Walkthrough/FAQ" (in en). https://www.ign.com/faqs/2003/monster-rancher-walkthroughfaq-421430. 
  4. ↑ "Monster Rancher 2 Gets Port for Switch, Smartphones This Fall" (in en). https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-07-07/monster-rancher-2-gets-port-for-switch-smartphones-this-fall/.161548. 
  5. ↑ "Monster Rancher 2 for Switch, iOS, and Android launches September 17 in Japan" (in en). 26 August 2020. https://www.gematsu.com/2020/08/monster-rancher-2-for-switch-ios-and-android-launches-september-17-in-japan. 
  6. ↑ "Japanese Nintendo Eshop". https://store-jp.nintendo.com/list/software/70010000032155.html. 
  7. ↑ Mateo, Alex (August 26, 2021). "Monster Rancher 1 & 2 DX Launches on Switch, PC, iOS on December 9 in the West". https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-08-26/monster-rancher-1-and-2-dx-launches-on-switch-pc-ios-on-december-9-in-the-west/.176687. Retrieved November 3, 2021. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Monster Rancher 2 for PlayStation Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/monster-rancher-2/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation. Retrieved June 2, 2016. 
  9. ↑ Miller, Skyler. "Monster Rancher 2 - Review". All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141115120130/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=19221&tab=review. Retrieved June 2, 2016. 
  10. ↑ EGM staff (December 1999). "Monster Rancher 2". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (125). 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "プレイステーション - モンスターファーム2" (in Japanese). Famitsu (Enterbrain) 915: 6. June 30, 2006. 
  12. ↑ Mylonas, Eric "ECM"; Chau, Anthony "Dangohead"; Higgins, Geoff "The Judge" (October 1999). "Monster Rancher 2". GameFan (Shinno Media) 7 (10): 16. https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_7_Issue_10/page/n17/mode/2up. Retrieved September 3, 2020. 
  13. ↑ Van Stone, Matt "Kodomo" (October 6, 1999). "REVIEW for Monster Rancher 2". GameFan (Shinno Media). Archived from the original on June 15, 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20000615040652/http://gamefan.com/repre.asp?g=1393&t=r. Retrieved June 2, 2016. 
  14. ↑ Fitzloff, Jay; Anderson, Paul; Reiner, Andrew (October 1999). "Monster Rancher 2". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (78). https://www.gameinformer.com/reviews/review_detail.cfm?ITEM_ID=3232. Retrieved June 2, 2016. 
  15. ↑ Clint (January 2000). "Monster Rancher 2 Review". CraveOnline. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150909221319/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/monster-rancher-2. Retrieved June 17, 2020. 
  16. ↑ Stahl, Ben (September 27, 1999). "Monster Rancher 2 Review". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/monster-rancher-2-review/1900-2546013/. Retrieved June 2, 2016. 
  17. ↑ Loro, Robin; Perry, Douglass C. (October 7, 1999). "Monster Rancher 2". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/10/08/monster-rancher-2. Retrieved June 2, 2016. 
  18. ↑ Maruyama, Wataru (November 1999). "Monster Rancher 2". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis) 3 (2): 141. https://archive.org/details/Official_US_PlayStation_Magazine_Volume_3_Issue_2_1999-11_Ziff_Davis_US/page/n139/mode/2up. Retrieved June 17, 2020. 
  19. ↑ "Review: Monster Rancher 2". PSM (Imagine Media). November 1999. 
  • Monster Farm 2 at tecmo.co.jp (Japanese)
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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