History VideoGame / MonsterRancherEVO

* BonusBoss: A bonus dungeon unlocked after you beat the game has you fight [[spoiler:a red version of Moo]].

''Monster Rancher EVO'' (''Monster Farm 5: Circus Caravan'' in Japanese) is a bit [[OddballInTheSeries different from older entries and later entries]] in that it retains 4's "raise five monsters at a time" mechanic, while being [[GenreShift more plot heavy and traditionally RPG-ish than any predecessor]]. You play as the aforementioned Julio, who, in the [beginning of the game is not confident in his Breeding skills as his only monster ran away. The game begins as your circus troop of you, [[BigBrotherMentor Albert]], Marlene, and [[GentleGiant Gaufre]] are joined by [[MagicalGirl Nayuta]], who quickly demonstrates a rather unique talent, unlocking monsters from Saucers.

* LoveTriangle: [[spoiler: Albert was caught up in one in his hometown that carried on for years due to a misunderstanding. It gets addressed and wrapped up over the course of the game.]]

* SaveBothWorlds

* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: Petty, Dotty's cohort, has blue hair.

-->''In our world, creating monsters from items called "Saucers" and then raising them is a part of everyday life. We call the places where monsters are raised "[[TitleDrop Monster Rancher]].''"

''Monster Rancher EVO'' (''Monster Farm 5: Circus Caravan'' in Japanese) is a bit [[OddballInTheSeries different from older etries and later entries]] in that it retains 4's raise-5-monsters-at-a-time mechanic, while being [[GenreShift more plot-heavy and traditionally RPG-ish than any predecessor]]. You play as the aforementioned Julio, who, in the [beginning of the game is not confident in his Breeding skills as his only monster ran away. The game begins as your circus troop of you, [[BigBrotherMentor Albert]], Marlene, and [[GentleGiant Gaufre]] are joined by [[MagicalGirl Nayuta]], who quickly demonstrates a rather unique talent: unlocking monsters from Saucers.

* {{Mon}}: 246 of 'em in all.

* CallASmeerpARabbit: Tigers, which are more like wolves, and Hares, which look like gigantic bunnies. Golems, Pixies, Plants and Dragons avert this trope, as do other species of monster.

* BonusBoss: A bonus dungeon unlocked after you beat the game has you fight [[spoiler:the Mocchi that supposedly ran away to die in the game's opening]].

* BonusBoss: A bonus dungeon unlocked after you beat the game has you fight [[spoiler:the Mocchi that ran away to die in the game's opening]].

* BonusBoss: A bonus dungeon unlocked after you beat the game has you fight [[spoiler:the Mocchi that died in the game's opening]].

* TheCameo: When your monster is performing tricks in the circus shows, sometimes the tricks involve old monsters such as Bakus and [[SpellMyNameWithAnS Color Pandoras]]. Just like with Bajarl, they're for show only, completely un-raisable.

* EvilCounterpart: [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain Dotty's Piroro/Gitan]] gives the impression of this, as it's a dark purple sub-breed of your purebred Piroro.

* GottaCatchEmAll: Even though there are only around 25 base breeds in this game out of the 70 or so in the whole series, you can have sub-breeds, main monsters with the characteristics of their sub. Bringing the grand total to 246 critters.
* GuideDangIt: The game itself is pretty easy to scratch the surface of. But getting deeper into the mechanics will require a [[http://www.monster-rancher.com/discus/index.html dedicated site.]]

* KilledOffForReal: A defining characteristic of Monster Rancher, also present here, is that monsters die from old age no matter how much you train and adore them.

* SealedEvilInACan: The BigBad of the game is trying to revive this even BiggerBad--Moo. Could be considered a staple of the main games at this point.
* TrainingBoss: Dotty. He's the very first person you fight in the whole game and gives you a rundown of how Monster Battles are fought, with Nayuta chiming in to elaborate.

Now, Monster Rancher as a series is quite different from [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} genre]] [[Franchise/{{Digimon}} staples]] in that it's a monster raising ''simulation'', and the series takes that title to heart. At times it can dip into [[NintendoHard unprecedented levels of difficulty]], but come on, who doesn't love a little challenge?

''Monster Rancher EVO'' (''Monster Farm 5: Circus Caravan'' in Japanese) is a bit [[OddballInTheSeries different from older entries and later entries]] in that it retains 4's raise-5-monsters-at-a-time mechanic, while being [[GenreShift more plot-heavy and traditionally RPG-ish than any predecessor]]. You play as the aforementioned Julio, who, in the [[CharacterDevelopment beginning of the game]] is not confident in his Breeding skills. The game begins as your circus troop of you, [[BigBrotherMentor Albert]], Marlene, and [[GentleGiant Gaufre]] are joined by [[MagicalGirl Nayuta]], who quickly demonstrates a rather unique talent: unlocking monsters from Saucers.

Armed with this ability, and Julio's [[PlotCouponThatDoesSomething Anima Recorder]], you and the Orcoro Circus set out on a continent-spanning adventure, fighting [[TheHeartless stray monsters with darkened anima]], unraveling each character's past, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking putting on circus shows]].

* AnimeHair: Pretty much everybody up there. Spikes and huge, naturally gravity-defying hair is front and center among the main cast.

* BlindIdiotTranslation: Most ''definitely'' dips into this at some points. The translation is equivalent to an extremely good scanlation at most times, but when the lack of contractions and plurals rears its ugly head, you ''will'' notice. It doesn't hurt that this doesn't hinder the game in the least.

* CherryTapping: The quickest way to win a boss fight? Raising a monster's Speed and Power/Intelligence to ridiculous heights and pounding away with low-Guts moves.
* ComMons: The only monster that gives this feeling off is if you get one too many Hares unlocking discs.
* ContinuingIsPainful: Mercifully averted in the case of losing to the dungeon bosses. If all three of your monsters get knocked out, you'll simply get a scene where Nayuta and Julio resolve to come back stronger. Cue Next Week.
* CoolHelmet: Who else but Gaufre? You got to admit, the guy makes steel and bull horns look natural. There ''is'' a reason for it though, [[spoiler: in his village, it's customary to only show your face to family members.]]
* CompetitiveBalance: Any monster can beat any other monster if you [[EarnYourFun put enough time and effort into raising it]].
* DungeonCrawling: Very present. A few monster races are ride-able however, making moving through the dungeons much quicker.
* [[ExpositionFairy Exposition Genie]]: Bajarl, a monster which was only raise-able in the second game, returns to explain things to you as you traverse the various dungeons.

* GenreShift: Mainly, more of a half-and-half RPG/Simulation than its earlier Monster Rancher entries.
* [[TheGimmick Gimmick]]: A positive example. "Do you remember how you thought there were monsters hiding around your house? [[ParanoiaFuel There are]]! Unlock the monsters inside of your [=CDs=] and [=DVDs=] to raise and battle!" You'll be scrambling around your house to find out if you can get an awesome monster from that [[OldShame Hannah Montana DVD]] you hid in your sock drawer.
* GoldfishPoopGang: The Violet Cats, a duo of [[ThoseTwoGuys by-the-(cliched)-book]] villains who are out to annoy you at every turn.
* GottaCatchEmAll: It wouldn't be a mons game without this! Even though there are only around 25 base breeds in this game out of the 70 or so in the whole series, you can have sub-breeds, main monsters with the characteristics of their sub. Bringing the grand total to 246 collectable, raisable, fightable critters.

* HopeBringer: Your party.

* LoveTriangle: [[spoiler: Albert was caught up in one in his hometown that carried on for years due to a misunderstanding. It gets addressed and wrapped up over the course of the game, though.]]
* MagikarpPower: EVERY monster in the game has the power to beat the final boss single-handedly. Think about that.

* {{Minigame}}: The bread and butter of your circus performances is doing well in minigames, which are tied to specific tricks that increase specific parameters for a single monster. That 30-second time limit gets shorter and shorter feeling as you get more monsters and harder minigames to complete.
* {{Mascot}}: Piroro for Monster Rancher EVO specifically. Mocchi and [[PopularityPower Suezo]] for the series as a whole.
* {{Mon}}: 246 of 'em!

* MythologyGag: [[spoiler:Moo was the main antagonist and a world-destorying force in the [[Anime/MonsterRancher anime]]]].

* PrettyButterflies: Monsters' 'souls' are represented as rainbow-colored butterflies.
* [[ThePsychoRangers The Psycho Ranger]]: [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain Dotty's Piroro/Gitan]] gives the impression of this, as it's a dark purple sub-breed of your purebred Piroro.

* [[SirNotAppearingInThisTrailer Sir Not Appearing In This Game]]: When your monster is performing tricks in the circus shows, sometimes the tricks involve old monsters such as Bakus and [[SpellMyNameWithAnS Color Pandoras]]. Just like with Bajarl, they're for show only, completely un-raisable.
* TrainingBoss: Dotty. He's the very first person you fight in the whole game and gives you a [[BlindIdiotTranslation (rather Engrishy)]] rundown of how Monster Battles are fought, with Nayuta chiming in to elaborate.

* UnexpectedGameplayChange: A criticism oft laid on this game. It ''does'' depart from the usual Tournaments and only-one-monster of most previous game, and is a lot lighter on the simulation aspect of Monster Rancher, but it's a solid entry in the series nonetheless.
* AWizardDidIt: Well, ''God'' did it, actually: The origin of all Monsters (as explained in earlier game, [=MR2=]) is that {{God}} created monsters to make it easier on humanity. But [[UnwantedAssistance that created a slew of new problems]], so God taketh awa--er, seal in Saucer stones to be resurrected when humans could be trusted.
* [[YouGottaHaveBlueHair You Gotta Have Green Hair]]: Albert, just look at that crazy do! Petty, Dotty's cohort, is a straight example.
* YouLoseAtZeroTrust: As in, you lose your monster. If it hates you because, well, [[DisproportionateRetribution you were unnecessarily hard on it]] it'll run away.

And so begins the tale of [[HelloInsertNameHere Julio]], your average 15-year-old Monster Breeder, and our hero in Monster Rancher EVO.

Monster Rancher EVO ("Monster Farm 5: Circus Caravan" in Japanese) is a bit [[OddballInTheSeries different from older entries and later entries]] in that it retains 4's raise-5-monsters-at-a-time mechanic, while being [[GenreShift more plot-heavy and traditionally RPG-ish than any predecessor]]. You play as the aforementioned Julio, who, in the [[CharacterDevelopment beginning of the game]] is not confident in his Breeding skills. The game begins as your circus troop of you, [[BigBrotherMentor Albert]], Marlene, and [[GentleGiant Gaufre]] are joined by [[MagicalGirl Nayuta]], who quickly demonstrates a rather unique talent: unlocking monsters from Saucers.

* [[AWizardDidIt God Did It]]: The origin of all Monsters (as explained in earlier game, MR2) is that {{God}} created monsters to make it easier on humanity. But [[StopHelpingMe that created a slew of new problems]], so God taketh awa--er, seal in Saucer stones to be resurrected when humans could be trusted.

* LetsPlay: [=BlueThe Prairiedog=] has one [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR7-A8hJV7o&feature=related up and ready.]]

Now, Monster Rancher as a series is quite different from [[{{Pokemon}} genre]] [[Franchise/{{Digimon}} staples]] in that it's a monster raising ''simulation'', and the series takes that title to heart. At times it can dip into [[NintendoHard unprecedented levels of difficulty]], but come on, who doesn't love a little challenge?

Now, MonsterRancher as a series is quite different from [[{{Pokemon}} genre]] [[Franchise/{{Digimon}} staples]] in that it's a monster raising ''simulation'', and the series takes that title to heart. At times it can dip into [[NintendoHard unprecedented levels of difficulty]], but come on, who doesn't love a little challenge?

* GenreShift: Mainly, more of a half-and-half RPG/Simulation than it's earlier MonsterRancher entries.

* KilledOffForReal: A defining characteristic of MonsterRancher, also present here, is that monsters die from old age no matter how much you train and adore them.

* UnexpectedGameplayChange: A criticism oft laid on this game. It ''does'' depart from the usual Tournaments and only-one-monster of most previous game, and is a lot lighter on the simulation aspect of MonsterRancher, but it's a solid entry in the series nonetheless.

* RebelliousPrincess: [[spoiler:Marlene]]

* MonsterClown: [[IncrediblyLamePun Albert]].