Monster Rancher was launched in 1997 (one year after Pokemon) and it also innovated the history of games with the possibility of obtaining different monsters through CDs placed in the PlayStation.
Monster Rancher was launched in 1997 (one year after Pokemon) and it also innovated the history of games with the possibility of obtaining different monsters through CDs placed in the PlayStation.
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Although it is possible to acquire a monster in-game, the series is known for the ability to acquire new monsters using [Compact Discs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_Disc) (CDs). Players can use any readable CD, and the game creates a monster using the CD’s metadata.[^([6])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monster_Rancher_(video_game)#cite_note-6) Certain CDs would result in unique monsters: for example, [*Tecmo’s Deception*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tecmo%27s_Deception) gives the player Ardebaran, a villain from that game,[^([7])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monster_Rancher_(video_game)#cite_note-7) and some [Christmas music](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_music) albums will give the player a monster of type “[Santa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus)”. The Windows, Switch, and Android/iOS versions retain the basic gameplay and content of the original, but do not support CD playback; the monsters-from-CD feature is emulated by allowing players to look up CDs from a custom database
I also loved the cartoon
The early 2000s had such inspired gaming mechanics. The Metal Gear series also had some cool gimmicks that required real world solutions.
My FIL had a collection of cds in the 100’s, I spent fucking forever generating monsters!
I really hope they get to making a new one while consoles have disc trays, otherwise this will be a series that can no longer exist!
That was so cool. My friends and I spent a lot of time going through everyone’s house to collect all the CDs we could to see what we would get.
I picked up the Matrix soundtrack cause of this game for an S class monster, great soundtrack though too.
Back when I was a kid I tried dozens of other CDs, but all of them resulted in the same monster.
I was never sure if it was due to them being pirate games, of it it was a bug, or if it worked only with very specific CDs.
I remember buying cheap cds and games at yard sales to get monsters in Monster rancher 2 and 3. Such a fun gimmick.
The idea of cds was crazy and super cool
This post brings back so many good memories of playing this with my brother, trying for hours and hours to find CDs we hadn’t tested to get monsters we hadn’t seen. We’d even rent games to test those discs (when we had some spare allowance money).
Anyone remember Dragon Seed? What an unfortunate name for a great game
The Monster Rancher x Ultraman game on the Switch that came out last year was tons of dumb fun.
Love this game. I picked up MR 1 and 2 as a PC port a few months ago. You can’t use actual CDs, but they allow you to type in the names and artists at the shrine for the same effect. Still fun!
This is one game I’ll never forget.
I eyed it for so long as a kid in a PC store in the village my grandma lived in. And then finally one day my mom bought it for me.
My mom and stephdad had a giant CD collection of music back in those days. You can imagine they weren’t happy that young me was just taking all their cd’s and carelessly putting them in the ps1 and swapping around all the disks.
Still such an original concept and am still amazed at the gimmick itself.
You can get MR1+2 on [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1716120/Monster_Rancher_1__2_DX/) and even use the CD function, but obviously the CD fuction has changed somewhat in the re-release.
I have that game on steam. How does the CD thing work there?
The show sucked. However, this was the game that made me want a PS1.
I loved this game, and would love a viable nostalgia hit someday from an emulator.
I remember this never played it.
Does anyone remember the name of and system the other one was on that would scan barcodes to unlock monsters?
My friend had this growing up and never beat it nor did he despite us trying all summer back and forth.
I got the iPhone app one day and beat it on a single 12 hour flight.