Really well done stuff! It's great to see someone giving love to the first game of the franchise. Many are inclined to jump straight to 2, especially as this game didn't get a PAL-region release (the game they got as Monster Rancher was actually MR2) and because there was only a 2 year gap between titles. The only critique I know of is I think FIMBA was supposed to be the "First International Monster Breeder Association". I don't think it's fraternal, as there are, in-canon, female ranchers as well. Nitpick, I know, but that's testament to the video's quality. Monster Rancher is such a mechanically dense game that explaining it to newcomers is quite a challenge, but you did a great job summarizing the game's mechanics and quirks, so masterful approach there. Absolutely love it. I appreciate the shout-out at the tail end there, too! Keep up the good work.
Thanks, Snek, it's been a hell of a ride. I appreciate your commendation. I don't blame people for jumping to 2, it's definitely an even more dense and complex game compared to 1. Doublechecked the FIMBA meaning, the MR Wiki lists it as "Fraternal" but I couldn't find a primary source listed, nor anything about it mentioned in my original MR1 manual. It honestly could be either, and I am extremely fallible But yeah, regardless, I'm glad you in particular saw this video.
@TheHipsterSnek @TamerHadal FIMBA was the first, but the F didn't stand for "First". It should stand for Federation International de Monster Battle Association, per the only printed document that I could find. I reached out to the Japanese community and was shown this: The following is a DeepL translation (of a screenshot provided by Ag-Yanma) of page 292 of the Breeder's Encyclopedia (Originally in Japanese) "It was here that the discus stone was first discovered, and it was the high culture of this city that made it possible to solve its mysteries. It was only natural that the world's first monster battle association, FIMBA (Federation International de Monster Battle Association), was founded in Lune."
As HipsterSnek already said, MR1 doesn't get a lot of attention, and you've brought a lot of insight into all of the game's features and presentation. Even being a veteran of the game and intimately familiar with it all, it was still a pleasure to see it through someone else's interpretation that addresses the strengths and weaknesses. This was such a good unboxing of MR1 that I'm very much looking forward to when you dive into MR2 or other games in the series. Also, As the owner of LegendCup, I greatly appreciate the positive shout-outs and showcasing features of the site that helped
Good video. I didn't grow up with MR franchise but recently bought the first and second games on Stream. Unique, somewhat challenging monster manager. Played mostly MR2 but 1 has a lot of soul and can be fun too.
I was just wondering if you were ever going to upload again after your Disc Creatures review! Another excellent video. Your musings on the wider lore and history of a world and its culture, beneath the surface of what's shown in-game, is definitely something that makes your videos enjoyable (I also stole some of your ideas for my homebrew Disc Creatures tabletop game lel). Anyway, back to Monster Rancher: my defining memory of this game is being sat on my best friend's basement floor, having smuggled a whole CD-wallet full of CDs I'd stolen from my parents to try and generate something cool. I think I ended up getting a pretty kickass Worm monster, if memory serves. I'm looking forward to your Siralim review. I bought the mobile version. It reminds me a great deal of Dragon Warrior Monsters (1 and 2) which I'd love to see you cover someday, too. Anyway, all the best for the future, and with fatherhood! Let us know if you do open up a Patreon or something.
Thank you for your kind words, fellow Worm-appreciatior :,) A Disc Creatures themes TTG sounds rad as hell. And yes, I am interested in the DQM series at some point.
That Jell monster is effed up tho. Its creepy af. Awesome video!!! Cant wait for MR2! Hopefully u can also do the card game in the ps1 in the future!!!
Never played this as a kid but I loved the show. Ever since I found out about the game, due to the remake, I've had a weird interest in it. Great video man! Might have to finally get the version chilling in my steam cart lol
Amazing video! Well laid out and informative. I’ve been playing the games since they came out on switch and still don’t know all of this. Thanks for making this! I’ll be more than excited to watch the Siralim Ultimate video whenever it’s ready. As a husband and father of two, full time worker, and someone who often picks up side job$, I totally understand life’s demands. I can’t even get all the way through most games anymore. Hoping for the best for you and your fam!
I will never not suggest this and 2 to people i grew up with this game and stull to this day love it main difference being my monsters now adays live much longer
This is such a FANTASTIC video, super well done and interesting. Monster Rancher was so much more influential to me than Pokemon. I saw they made a new Monster Rancher game recently and it really disappoints me to see that it has NONE of the vibes of the originals. Maybe some day we can have a proper revival to the series but for now I will simply reminisce the countless hours I spent putting my dad's CD collection into the PS1 and labeling which monsters were in which CD's.
Two things 1. I'm surprised you didn't talk about Magic's unfortunate design and how it was recolored for the DX version 2. Holly is so beloved by the fandom because she's in the anime... There's actually a theory that Holly left the MR1 protagonist after he unleashed Moo, resulting in the events of the anime, with MR2 taking place after that concludes
No those are not Pow or Int training courses. Those are Hit, Withering, Heavy and Special Courses. They just happen to train those stats. Same as MR2, you only have 2 attacking stats Pow and Int and multiple courses. So you can't expect all pow and all int moves to go to courses that train those. Heavy will always train pow and Withering will always train Int, regardless of the moves you can get from there.
You forgot to mention that intelligence also is the defense stat for intelligence based attacks, the higher it is the less damage you take from special attacks that you mentioned before.
