Monster Tamer Topic!

[IgneousCroc]

My good friends. My good dragon friends. They say dragons are collectors. Sometimes of gold. Sometimes of mugs. This stereotype, I say, is untrue for most dragons.

NOT ME THO!!! NHARK NHARK NHARK!

I LOVE COLLECTING! I LOVE LITTLE FANTASY CRITTERS! I LOVE THE CUTE, THE COOL, THE GOOFY, THE DOPEY!!!

I LOVE COLLECTING LITTLE FANTASY CRITTERS!

And what a joyous world it is, that we have so many monster tamer games that scratch that critter collecting itch!
(Which I'm fairly sure is mostly illegal in brickspace. ドンマイ！)

I look upon my 3ds... My switch... My pc... My psp... What do I see? Yokai watch 1, 2 and 3; SMT IV and... IV:A!; Fossil Fighters; Fossil Fighters Champions; Every Pokémon game!; Moco Moco Friends! I even have some Digimon games (on the switch, tho)! Monster Hunter Stories! Every Invizimal game! Demikids!

And I yearn... I yearn to tame 'em all!

Oh worry not, I know my collection is yet a drop in the ocean of every monster taming game out there! But I truly yearn to PLAY THEM ALL!!

Also, for those wondering what this nutso (me) is talking about, monster tamers are rpg games (at least the vast majority) where you tame/catch/befriend little fantasy creatures, collect them, train them, often battle. Think like Pokémon! They're my most favourite genre.

BUT HERE'S THE CONVERSATION STARTERS:

What about YOU, my fair dragony/otherwise netizens?
•What was your first monster tamer?
•What about your favourite? Currently, and when you just started playing!
•Your favourite catching mechanic? (I.e. The pokémon-style "weaken and catch", the yokai watch style "feed and pray to The RNG", the digimon style "defeat x number of the critter and reconstruct them", the Fossil fighters "rebuild from collected items", the SMT style "talk and pray to The RNG"... And others!)
•Your favourite fantasy critter of all time!
•Do you prefer collecting, or battling? Or maybe even something else!

Those are all the questions so far, but I'll want to update this with more later!!

[WyvereWings]

Ah, still remember my first ever video game, Pokemon Pearl…. That’ll always have a special place in my heart, especially my precious little Fifa…
I’ve played pretty much all the main series games since W2, and also I’m one of those people who unironically enjoys ScVi despite its faults.
I haven’t actually played too many monster tamers aside from Pokemon, honestly. I’ve played MHS2, which is pretty damn good, and also Monster Sanctuary, a monster tamer Metroidvania, a perfect combination if I say so myself!
Part of the reason I haven’t played many monster tamers is ease of access, my parents are kinda trying to limit how much I spend money so I wouldn’t be able to buy too many games, but also there’s a much more silly reason: I need to be able to make speculative biology headcanons about at least a vast majority of the monsters. I can’t make speculative biology headcanons about Digimon, I’m not gonna get myself invested in it!
I think my ideal monster tamer would be a Metroidvania where you ride monsters and actually get to control them in battle (my main complaint about MHS), and also the biology of the monsters is the main focus of the worldbuilding. But alas, I would have to wait for someone else to make that game, for I cannot code.
As for favorite monsters, Koraidon is my favorite from Pokemon, Lagiacrus is my favorite from Monster Hunter, and Dracomer is my favorite from Monster Sanctuary.

[IgneousCroc]

Ah, still remember my first ever video game, Pokemon Pearl…. That’ll always have a special place in my heart, especially my precious little Fifa…
I’ve played pretty much all the main series games since W2, and also I’m one of those people who unironically enjoys ScVi despite its faults.

Oh man, we have the same first pokémon game!! (My first actual game was Nintendogs but that's for another topic...) The Turtwig line is still a very near and dear one to me exactly because of Pokémon Pearl and my beloved Louie... And hey, I'm with you! Despite all the flaws I think there isn't a single pokémon game I haven't enjoyed. Scarvio included!

haven’t actually played too many monster tamers aside from Pokemon, honestly. I’ve played MHS2, which is pretty damn good, and also Monster Sanctuary, a monster tamer Metroidvania, a perfect combination if I say so myself!

I've been meaning to get MHS2 (I'm finishing MHS1 currently), and I've been intrigued about Monster Sanctuary! I didn't buy it right away because I don't believe I've ever played a Metroidvania before, so I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy it. Can you tell me more about your Personal Gaming Experience with the game?

Part of the reason I haven’t played many monster tamers is ease of access, my parents are kinda trying to limit how much I spend money so I wouldn’t be able to buy too many games, but also there’s a much more silly reason: I need to be able to make speculative biology headcanons about at least a vast majority of the monsters. I can’t make speculative biology headcanons about Digimon, I’m not gonna get myself invested in it!

Oh man, I feel you there. New games are always above 25 euros (my own personal limit, thank you Guybrush Threepwood from Treasure Island) and old games... Wwweeell, you know, there are ways... Cheaper ways... But if you try to buy them from a seller... I'm not paying 200 euros for a game that was 40! Games should get cheaper with age, not more expensive

And I get that on the digimon bit!! I'm a sucker for imagining the role of each critter in the Universe At Large... Digimon can have a bit of that, so to speak. Some digimon have descriptions about being born from different types of data, like certain ones being born from digital medical data and others from forums... Much like this one! (It'd have to be Dracomon, really...) though I guess if it is biology you're looking for, digimon is certainly lacking xD
(I may reccomend Viva Piñata, though. That is, surprisingly, a very Ecosystem and Trophic Levels oriented game. )

I think my ideal monster tamer would be a Metroidvania where you ride monsters and actually get to control them in battle (my main complaint about MHS), and also the biology of the monsters is the main focus of the worldbuilding. But alas, I would have to wait for someone else to make that game, for I cannot code.

I'd love to see a game like that!! Scarvio and MHS (and Demikids) got me hooked on the Monster Steed bit and I'd love to see more of that in games... Not to mention a focus on the ecosystem formed by the critters could be quite interesting as well!!

As for favorite monsters, Koraidon is my favorite from Pokemon, Lagiacrus is my favorite from Monster Hunter, and Dracomer is my favorite from Monster Sanctuary.

Ooooh these choices are so cool! They share a bit of a sleek and Spikey drake body that I think is Very In Vogue right now, very fashion forward.

[SapphireRaeburn]

•What was your first monster tamer?
- Pokemon Blue and Yellow (played them at the same time). Pokemon Crystal and Digimon World 1 was whenever I was comfortable enough to really leave behind advice from others and embrace trying things out as a young gamer, so I kinda think of those as when I really stretched my wings.

•What about your favourite? Currently, and when you just started playing!
- Oddly, my favorite is Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World (Knight of Ratatosk). It's a JRPG with a monster collecting and evolving element. I loved making 'pacts' with wild monsters through use of arcane magics and training them to be all my favorite variations. (Need to pull it back out and play it again. xD)
- My current game is Pokemon Violet. I just got the Mewtwo from the event and was trying to find a shiny Mareep in a mass outbreak, but got motion sick from all the running back and forth and gave up. (if anybody has one sitting lonely in their box, I'd happily take it off their hands. xD )

•Your favourite catching mechanic? (I.e. The pokémon-style "weaken and catch", the yokai watch style "feed and pray to The RNG", the digimon style "defeat x number of the critter and reconstruct them", the Fossil fighters "rebuild from collected items", the SMT style "talk and pray to The RNG"... And others!)
- Tales of Symphonia - weaken and catch with using Arcane magics to connect your heart to theirs and make a pact with them to fight together. But the Digimon style is my second favorite, but sometimes it gets really annoying when the mon you want is hard to find.

•Your favourite fantasy critter of all time!
- AH. Decisions! Umm......... I have absolutely tons of favorites. But I'll go with Mitamamon. It's listed as a God Beast digimon, but it always reminds me of a dragon that is an elemental master.

•Do you prefer collecting, or battling? Or maybe even something else!
- Collecting! Definitely collecting. Exploring to find all the different ones adds to the fun.

[IgneousCroc]

@SapphireRaeburn

Ooooh, I tried to play Digimon World 1 once! My pc didn't play nice with it XD... Also I get that about distancing yourself from other's advice and guides. I'm a big fan of guides but playing the game on one's own is it's own experience.

This is the first I've heard of Tales of Symphonia! I'll definitely have to check it out sometime! As for Violet, man I didn't get the chance to get Mewtwo... Forgot the Mew and then didn't stand a chance against the Big one.

Mitamamon looks so cool too!! Digimon dragons are the best

Also.... nice, collecting is the best too!!

[acetylcholine]

it wasn't my very first video game, but pokemon diamond was what got me into the series. favorite one is either black/white or heart gold/soul silver (the former for gameplay reasons, the latter for nostalgia) it's really the only monster catching series i've played actually. watched some of the digimon anime but never played any of the games.

i haven't played the newest pokemon games, and only dabbled in brilliant diamond (never finished it).

[SapphireRaeburn]

This is the first I've heard of Tales of Symphonia! I'll definitely have to check it out sometime! As for Violet, man I didn't get the chance to get Mewtwo... Forgot the Mew and then didn't stand a chance against the Big one.

Tales of Symphonia (both 1 and 2) are fun! The storyline in 1 (Tales of Symphonia) is much better than the story in 2 (Dawn of the New World / Knight of Ratatosk), but I still prefer 2 because of the monster collecting and I like the main character. xD He appears as a whimpy kid, but as you get into it -things get interesting. xD

Oh no about missing the Mew!! D: I'm sorry! Yeah, Mewtwo is hard to take without it. ;_;

[Gwenymoo]

Vibrates in monster taming games n media (no I don't have all 5 digimon colors running at the same time I don't know what you are implying XD)

•What was your first monster tamer?

Well for me it was a tie between Digimon and Pokemon, being a 90's kid. I've always had a soft spot for pokemon but digimon over the years has adapted to apeal more to old n new fans and done far more interesting things imo.


•What about your favourite? Currently, and when you just started playing!

Hngh I can't really say I have one.

Digimon world ps1 - yes its janky but I spent so much of my summer as a kid drawing my digimon i'd get not understanding the stupidily complex mechanics of how evolution worked in that game. And still do runs now for fun.

Folklore ps3 - A obscure rpg / monster game taking its monsters from celtic faery folklore, letting you depending on the protag summon them or do attack actions with em. The designs and vibes are just yummy and you can upgrade the creatures via items or certain actions...its not that deep but its a fun world to explore.

Lost Kingdoms 1/2 gc - A monster collecting card battler by FROMSOFT pre darksouls, with many monsters from myths, dnd and scifi apear. Where you can catch them in cards, evolve them into branching chains or fuse them.

Pokemon HG/SS, bnw 1/2 Ds - Just chef kiss

Spectrobes ds - They joy of getting lightheaded puffing at the ds mic to bblow away dust from the lil critters u excavated and the embaresment of having to shout to wake em up.

SMT as a franchise noms

Fossil Fighters ds (burns that 3ds mess) - DINOSAURS! (thers a similar game called Fossil League where you catch dinos via a time machine n feed them food)

•Your favourite catching mechanic? (I.e. The pokémon-style "weaken and catch", the yokai watch style "feed and pray to The RNG", the digimon style "defeat x number of the critter and reconstruct them", the Fossil fighters "rebuild from collected items", the SMT style "talk and pray to The RNG"... And others!)

As much as I enjoy n hate the Rng of the SMT barter system I do enjoy digging things up to make the critter...blame me wanting to be a palaeontologist.

•Your favourite fantasy critter of all time!


Hnghhhh theres so many... ok some of my digimon favs XD

Tyranomon x


Dio...cough I mean Lucemon X


Wingdramon


•Do you prefer collecting, or battling? Or maybe even something else!

I've definitely settled into being a collector...Glances at living form pokedex and shiny form dex


Now some fun lil recommendations

Dragon Spirits on Steam - Beautiful dragon raising / catching rpg

Cassette Beasts on most platforms - Fun n funky openworld tamer gamer with lovecraftian twinges, shinys are bootlegs and change the monsters elemental type...including the hilarious glitter type

Paleo Pines on most platforms - Cozy simply farm sim where you catch n ranch dinos to help you, has rare pride coloured dinos

Digimon World Next order on most platforms - Spiritual sequal to the first digimon world with lots of mon and hours of content if your a completionist.

Creatures 1-3 on steam / gog - Experience the 90s Artificial life sim with deep genetics, mutations, mods, ecosystems and a still thriving fanbase. More a sim than monster catching

Nexomon steam / switch / mobile - pokemon but for meta aware adults XD

Coromon steam / switch - cool retro style open world mon tamer with options to have nuzlock runs, dificulty n more.

[IgneousCroc]

Ive vanished from my own topic for like 5 weeks its fine... WHAT MATTERS IS SO MANY GOOD RECCOMENDATIONS!! @Gwenymoo And I'm so glad to meet another monster tamer aficionado YES YES i gotta play all these games IMMEDIATELY

AS FOR NEWS... Dragonquest monsters, Prince of Darkness is coming out soon!!! I've played the demo through and messed about with the synthesis system (only to be a tad disappointed a lot of monsters aren't accessible in the demo... Soon you'll be mine, rank E dragons), and I am loving the design of the new monsters AND the qol improvements over games like Terry DQM. I forget the name. Gomen.
The rank battles used to be no-heal boss rushes! I always ended them on one Monster and a prayer!! they were bad for my heart!

[Gwenymoo]

@IgneousCroc Yaaaaaaaaassss I'm so excited for DQM, I have both the Joker games on Ds and I adore the dumpy dragons.