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[Moogie]

I've had the itch lately to play some sort of monster breeding/ranching game, or some variation thereof. Could someone suggest any recommendations? I'll also try to make this post somewhat informative for other people looking for similar games, so here's my list so far.

The games in this genre I've heard of/checked out (Key: Farming, Racing, Battling, Breeding)

FB Harvest Moon series (SNES, GB, GBA, PSX, PS2, PS3, PSP, N64, DS, Wii)
BB Monster Rancher series (PSX, PS2, GBC, GBA, DS, PC)
FBB Shepherd's Crossing (PSX, PS2, PSP)
FB Viva Pinata (360, PC, DS)
BB Pokemon series (duh) (Gameboy, GBC, GBA, DS, N64, GC, Wii)
RB Chocobo Stallion (PSX)
B Creatures series (PC, Mac, PSX)
BB Dragon Quest Monsters (DS)
BB Dragon Warrior Monsters (GBA)
BB Jade Cocoon series (PSX, PS2)
BB Dragon Seeds (PSX)
RB Gallop Racer series (PSX, PS2, PC)
RB G1 Jockey 4 (PS2, PS3, Wii)
B Azure Dreams (PSX, GBC)
BB Shin Megami Tensei: Demikids (GBC)


Honourable mentions:

B Black & White series (PC, Mac)
Princess Maker series (SNES, Dreamcast, PSX, PS2, PC)
RBB Dark Cloud 2 (PS2)
RBB Sonic Adventure series (Dreamcast)


...I think what I'm looking for is mostly along the lines of Monster Rancher or Shepherd's Crossing. Chocobo Stallion is also excellent.

I'll go through my list and tell you what I think about each; please comment and make any suggestions for what I should try out!
This list is actually growing kinda big now, and what with all the new additions that I haven't personally experienced myself, it wouldn't be much use to comment about them. So I've eliminated this section for now, but I might add it back later, and just give a short synopsis of each game listed, for quick reference.


Thoughts/suggestions? Anything new I'll add to the list. Thanks in advance!

[Tellemurius]

Harvest Moon is endless man, the time stuff is for events, you can still continue (well this is for most of the series)

[Ivefan]

* Harvest Moon is great, but I've always been bugged by time limits. To my knowledge, this series always gives you a set numbers of years in which to 'win' the game. It puts me off playing, because I don't know if it will punish me for taking my time. Does any HM game have an 'endless mode'?

Included Runefactory games in that? Its basically HM in a fantasy theme with an adventure mode. Though its mostly farming rather than ranching and I always skipped the animal aspect.

[Hugehead]

The Sonic Adventure games have Chao raising, and from the description of Chocobo Stallion you gave, it sounds very similar. However, you have to actually play the main game to get into them.

There's also Elona, which has monster ranches you can setup and do stuff with, but I'm not sure how in depth it is, and it would take a quite a bit of playing the main game to get enough money for a ranch.

[Moogie]

The Sonic Adventure games have Chao raising, and from the description of Chocobo Stallion you gave, it sounds very similar. However, you have to actually play the main game to get into them.

There's also Elona, which has monster ranches you can setup and do stuff with, but I'm not sure how in depth it is, and it would take a quite a bit of playing the main game to get enough money for a ranch.

Ah yes, Chaos! Knew I had forgotten something. Thanks, I'll add it to the list. I always wanted to play those games just for the Chaos, but in the end it wouldn't be worth it, hehe (not that Sonic Adventure was all that bad).

Also, I'm glad to hear about the HM games being (mostly?) endless. That's awesome and very encouraging. I've actually played the original SNES game quite a lot and really enjoyed it. Any opinions on newer titles that people consider to be the best of the bunch?

[Neonivek]

For Monster Rancher let me save you some time and give you the best Monster Rancher games

The best Monster Ranchers are 2 and 4... however I suggest Monster Rancher 4 if you don't want to destroy your home looking for CDs everytime you need to regenerate a monster (In fact you don't even have to do that for 4, you can a reasonable monster base with extra in game discs.)

Do not raise more then 3 monsters at one if you don't want the insanity.

The worst part about Monster Rancher 4 compared to the rest of the series is how slooooooooooow it is.

[freeformschooler]

I always got sorta frustrated in this aspect, too, in that there are not more games like this. I think I understand what sort of games you're looking for because I enjoy them too. Of note is the breeding/"synthesis" system used in most Shin Megami Tensei games that have demons for you to capture as the core of the gameplay. The rest of the game is very JRPG-y, but that was always a un aspect.

We need more games like this :| I've seen some MMOs like it but I tend to stay away from MMOs.

[Neonivek]

Ohh I am going to offer: Princess Maker

It is odd but it is right in these styles of games (In fact given the time of release... Monster Rancher may very well have copied Princess maker... or Gallop Master)

[Moogie]

Persona is neat. I have P3P. Not sure I'll include it on the list though, it does have a form of combining/fusion of the Personas, but they are used more like magic spells for the main characters.

Princess Maker... I think I know which one that is. Technically it ticks a lot of boxes, but I'm not sure it appeals to me... but, it does deserve to go on the list, I think. Thanks for mentioning it.

[BigD145]

Appropriate image in my head:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Inbreeding for the LOL's WARK's.

[diamok]

How bout the Creatures series?
http://www.gamewaredevelopment.co.uk/creatures_index.php

Take care,

[freeformschooler]

Somehow I think the Creatures series would only partially be to the creator's liking, though it is unique in many ways (full genetic simulation of the creatures, for example).

[Moogie]

Haha, oh man, you know what's funny? Creatures specifically put this whole idea in my head, I think. I've been hyped about the whole Grandroids thing lately.

They certainly fit the list (and will be added; thanks, diamok!) but schooler's right, they aren't the exact sorta thing I'm looking for in this case.

[breadbocks]

MMO version: Monster Ranch Online.

Quite possibly the best multiplayer implementation of Pokemon, and I'm still newish at it, but I think it has some neat breeding stuff too.

Also, how can you not have Dragon Quest Monsters on there? For the GBC and DS. I LOVE them.

[Akura]

Harvest Moon is endless man, the time stuff is for events, you can still continue (well this is for most of the series)

I don't believe the original let's you free-play it afterwards, though other games in the series do. Haven't actually finished it, though .