Monster Rancher PS2 details, release date

[01.26.01] » Tecmo's monsters invade your DVD collection.

   Further details have emerged on Tecmo's update to Monster Rancher for the PlayStation 2. While the previous two games on the PlayStation have centered around one small town, the newest game will give players the chance to rear their creatures in a variety of locations. Monsters will even evolve differently depending on where they have been raised.

   But the more interesting revelation is that Monster Rancher PS2 will indeed support the use of DVDs, in addition to CDs, for random monster creation. The previous games used audio and data CDs, including games, as "Disc Stones" to generate new monsters - certain specific titles even resulted in a unique one-of-a-kind. Presumably, this feature will be applied to movies, as well, so expect to search through your entire DVD collection to find that one special monster. The GIA suggests trying out Pokémon: The First Movie the first chance you get.

   The Japanese release date for Monster Rancher PS2 has been set for the ever-popular month of March, on the 14th. An exact U.S. date has yet to be announced, but IGN reports that the game will arrive in America this summer.