History YMMV / MonsterRancher

** Pixie's torturing of Mickey in the uncut episode 10 clashed with the Searchers forgiving her so quickly and with her later characterization. While the uncut version gave Genki a more justified reason to punch her, punching her just for breaking a promise was believable given his childish nature, as well as his later statement that it was wrong to hit her over it.

** Tiger's defeat of Captain Dino implies that he slit the latter's throat or chest open. While the English version removed any blood associated with it, they ''kept the choking noises as he dies''.

* VisualEffectsOfAwesome: It is ''very'' well-animated. If it's raining, for instance, the characters get a soft, fuzzy outline. Ditto with effects for fire and energy beams.

** Gali proves to be NotSoStoic when he whips up a hurricane of sand to kill the Searchers, all because Mocchi cracked his mask.

** Joker ensnares the heroes in illusions so he call kill them easily. Tiger sees Moo and attacks him, Golem is led to believe he's drowning, Suezo is distracted by female monsters, and Genki and Mocchi are chained up...and Holly's has ''daggers falling from the sky'' at her.

* VisualEffectsOfAwesome: It is ''very'' well-animated. If it's raining, for instance, the characters get a soft, fuzzy outline.

** Joker ensnares the heroes in illusions. Holly's has daggers falling from the sky at her.

** The gang finding remains of the Astros' space ship turned prison camp, including shattered lost discs, scrap metal that suspiciously looks like Astros, and broken prison chains.

** The gang finding remains of the Astro's space ship turned prison camp, including shattered lost discs, scrap metal that suspiciously looks like Astros, and broken prison chains.

* CompleteMonster: Moo. Created to be a SuperSoldier to end the last war, he feeds off of hatred and lives to bring it forth in others. To that end he corrupted countless monsters, destroyed many villages, and killed countless people--and possessed Holly's father, using his connection to her to further his own goals. As Tiger aptly put it, Moo is ''pure evil''.
** And Lilim. In her first real appearance, she ''kidnapped a baby'' to make Jagged Hound fight Tiger ''to the death''. She only shows loyalty to those who are strongest, meaning she eagerly backstabs Durahan for Moo, and killed the general's men. She also holds the distinction of being KilledOffForReal.

* CompleteMonster: Moo.
** And Lilim. In her first real appearance, she ''kidnapped a baby'' to make Jagged Hound fight Tiger ''to the death''.

* CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming: After hearing Holly's [[TearJerker tear-jerking]] story about her past, Genki and the others sing a silly song to try and make her laugh.
** Although the really heartwarming bit from that sequence is Golem gently picking Holly up, whereupon she stands up on his palm, throws her head back, eyes closed and a big happy smile on her face, and pronounces simply, "From now on, the rain will make me happy."
** In the second episode, they unlocked a Spot Dino, and gave it to an elderly couple they'd befriended earlier who wished for a Monster to love.
*** In return, the couple gave Genki shoes to use alongside his rollerblades, and a cloak. These were worn throughout the series, and it all started here.
** Also in the second episode, Mocchi ran away because he thought Genki didn't love him. Genki went out to look for him and soon got lost. When bad guys cornered Genki and asked him where Mocchi was, Genki wouldn't tell. Mocchi then realized how much Genki loved him and ran out to save him.
** The entirety of "Holly's Happy Birthday", where Holly gets a surprise birthday party from Genki, Mocchi, Golem, Suezo, Tiger and Hare.

* ExcusePlot: Except in ''4''.

** "From now on...the rain will make me happy." Just.......YES.

* TearJerker: The episode that introduced Golem, and the episode "Eternal Worm".
** The king of all {{Tear Jerker}}s, though, has to be the second season's BittersweetEnding[=/=]DownerEnding.
** The aptly named "[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Tears]]", which leads directly into said season finale.
** Tiger of the Wind being reunited with Grey Wolf [[spoiler: and having to kill him]] counts, too. To top it off, there's a {{flashback}} after the deed is done.
--->'''Grey Wolf:''' "I wish we could just go back to when we were pups..."
** And the episode "After the Rain", where we learn how Holly and Suezo got started on their quest.
** "Goodbye, Baku". That is ALL. Basically, Genki and company found a Baku, a monster who's like a big friendly dog. It latched onto Genki immediately, protecting him from harm. As it turns out, the Baku's owner had been killed by Moo's forces. And his owner looked like Genki. As a puppy, he tried to fight them off, but failed.
*** And it gets sadder. The Centaur monster that destroyed the village Baku lived in came back to attack the heroes. [[spoiler: Baku defeated him, but was mortally wounded in the fight. So he went back to the house and curled up in front of a picture of his owner before dying.]] The last image we see in that episode is a flashback of him and his owner, happily playing...
** After watching the last episode, the ending theme can cause one to tear up.
** "Tiger Meets His Match" is a pretty big tearjerker thanks to Jagged Hound's {{Backstory}} and [[spoiler: the others being led to think Tiger was killed]].

* CrowningMomentOfAwesome: The episode "Battle With the Big Bad Four", where Genki and Holly [[StormingTheCastle storm Naga's castle]].
** This is made even more awesome by the YouShallNotPass moments Pixie, Big Blue, Golem, Hare, and Tiger get to make sure Genki, Holly, Suezo, and Mocchi reach Naga.
*** Then Holly, who's generally a [[NonActionGuy Non Action Girl]], ''pulls a dagger on the monster'', even in the dub. And this whole StormingTheCastle thing? It was [[ButtMonkey Suezo's]] idea. And his original plan was to attack the castle ''by himself''.
** Genki ''punching Pixie in the face''. Even in the dub, where the actual hit was edited out with a HitFlash, we still see Pixie clutching her face in shock.
*** Pixie's response to that was pretty awesome, too. She grabbed Genki and Mocchi and threw them off a cliff.
** Tiger running as fast as he can to save Holly from a Black Worm's poison. Even after he was poisoned himself.
*** Genki gets one in that same episode when he opts to fight some Black Worms chasing them to allow Tiger to go on ahead. When Tiger comes back, he finds all the Worms beaten (not to the point of turning to Lost Disks but still pretty wounded) and Genki bruised but still kicking.
** Tiger's rematch with Captain Dino in "Tiger of the Wind". Despite being injured from their last encounter, Tiger takes him down with one strike.

* ExcusePlot

** But it returned. In Monster Farm DS 2(Monster Rancher DS), the death of a monster is quite similar to Monster Rancher 2. It's happens a lot less; and it's not nearly as sad since it lacks [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome MR2's music]], and because your assistant doesn't seem to care much.

* ViewerGenderConfusion: ''[=MR4=]'''s Talt, and Yu to a lesser degree.

!!The game