With the release of Monster Rancher 3, the well-known Tecmo series debuted on the PlayStation 2. They ushered in the 128-bit age with its monstrously fun combination of monster breeding and competitive slaying. Although many characters and locations are recognizable from earlier installments in the series, the monsters in this game are presented in a cel-shaded cartoon style, comparable to that of the Dreamcast game Jet Grind Radio or the recent PlayStation 2 release Yanya Caballista featuring Gawoo.
As a result of the game being ported to the more powerful PS2 platform, the game will now have enhanced graphics and several new features. Most of the game’s rules and the procedures for producing monsters established in past games have been carried over into this version. Monsters advance based on the training and care they receive, and players are encouraged to explore the game world to discover new chances for teaching them. The game allows players to produce monsters using different forms of media, such as music CDs and movie DVDs, and then build creatures based on the data from those sources. Even though some parts of creation are determined by chance, some albums and movies can potentially develop animals directly tied to the aesthetic substance on the disk.
