History VideoGame / MonsterRancher

* BlindIdiotTranslation: Various games across the series have had translation quirks, but the standout is probably ''Battle Card'' for the UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor--the whole thing is a mess of pea-souper Engrish.

* UpdatedRerelease: ''Monster Rancher 1 + 2 DX'' for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch and smartphones. In addition to being a direct port of the original first two games, it features a new "CD Database" (due to the lack of CD drives on the platforms the game is on) to create monsters with, brand-new monsters, online functionality with a Tournament Mode, as well as new AntiFrustrationFeatures such as auto-save and additional save slots.

** Plants originally had three flower heads, with a much different, 3-petaled design, as well as a barely-visible mouth. Later Plants had just one, giant flower, with five petals and a prominent CatSmile.

* BonusBoss: Lots. There are monsters that come from bonus tournaments after becoming Master rank, secret matches, post credit battles, unlocked monsters, and more.
** The second game has the enemy class monsters from errantry (Rank A and S) and Legend Cup (Most and Poritoka). The IMA vs FIMBA match also has a rare chance of spawning special S-class monsters, who are among the strongest in the game.
** ''3'' has Ragnarox, who appears after you've won all 5 Great 5 tournaments.
** ''EVO'' has a red version of Moo found in a bonus dungeon.
** Advance 2 has Ragnaroks. It's only accessible by raising a specific monster, but is necessary to unlock a few Dragon types.

** In the first ''Monster Rancher Advance'' game, you can get a White Mocchi by using the password "Most"--the name of the infamous White Mocchi BonusBoss in ''2.'' Same case with "Pabs", from the name of Most's owner.
** The code "Tesla" produces White Suezo as a nod to Poritoka, the BonusBoss in 2.

** Just from the original game you had Gallop from Patti Smith's ''Music/{{Horses}}'', Tank from Music/TheClash's ''Combat Rock'' and Gooaall! from Music/{{INXS}}' ''Music/{{Kick}}'', all playing off the album titles. Other monsters play off of the album covers, such as Karaoke (a singing baby) from Music/{{Nirvana}}'s ''Music/{{Nevermind}}'' (specifically copies with "Endless, Nameless"), Geisha from Music/{{Bjork}}'s ''Music/{{Homogenic}}'' (which depicts a geisha on its cover), and Gamer (a spiky metal mask) from Music/QuietRiot's ''Mental Health''.

** ''[[VideoGame/MonsterRancherEvo EVO]]'s'' ExpositionFairy is Bajarl--a monster who hasn't been seen since ''[=MR2=]'' on the original UsefulNotes/PlayStation.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* HiddenMechanic: The hidden stress gauge, which is incredibly important when raising a monster as too much stress can drastically shorten its lifespan. The only hint about its existence is the Mint Leaf item, which relieves some stress, but new players are likely to conflate it with being tired and not make the connection that it's different.

* GameGourmet: Most games in this franchise are about raising the eponymous Monsters on a farm for various purposes such as battling. This in turn includes negotiating what kinds of food to raise them on, depending on what you'd like to bolster and are willing to retard. The first game alone features things like potatoes, apple cake, mangoes, meat, peaches, plant eggs, and taffy.
** ''Ultra Kaiju'' expands on food as a mechanic a lot. Though there aren't as many individual food types as in ''4'', each Kaiju now has listed likes and dislikes for ''flavor'', feeding them food with flavors they like lowers their anger, and least favorites vice versa. You can also collect spices while on adventures that can add extra flavors to foods. Robotic Kaiju even have their own selection of oils they eat. And on top of all that, ''your Kaiju can even make their own meals!''

* NonStandardGameOver: This happens if you run out of money in ''2''. Colt will tell you that you're broke, and the game goes to the title screen.

* UpdatedRerelease: ''Monster Rancher'' for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch and smartphones. In addition to being a direct port of the original first game, it features a new "CD Database" (due to the lack of CD drives on the platforms the game is on) to create monsters with, brand-new monsters, online functionality with a Tournament Mode, as well as new AntiFrustrationFeatures such as auto-save and additional save slots.

** The Zuums replaced the Dinos in every non-spinoff game since the first. Spinoffs still used them, but as of Monster Rancher 4, Dino are a rare subtype of Zuum.

* NeverSayDie: In contrast with previous games, the Kaiju in ''Ultra Kaiju'' don't die once their time is up, they simply lose the will to keep fighting and are sent to do other work by the association. Justified in that most of the Kaiju have shown incredible life spans in the ''Ultraman'' series, and as a bonus this lets you fuse them after they retire!

* CallASmeerpARabbit:

* TheComputerIsACheatingBastard: "That move only had a 25% chance of hitting! How'd he pull it off ''three times in a row?!''"
** Similarly, "My move has 90% chance of hitting! How come it misses?"

* CrutchCharacter: Parodied with the man-made clone Sueki Suezo in 2. It has maxed out life and defense, one speed point, and other stats that are awesome for a monster straight from the disk. It dies in a week.
** Also played straight as it can still battle within that week and will not need food if it's the first one. (unless it's the very first monster you ever raise) This means if you find yourself running low in funds, you can freeze your current monster and summon Sueki Suezo, then take it to a D rank tourney for a free win and get some quick cash for the early game.