Summary
Video games usually see players kill monsters, but several have instead opted for taming the beasts. This has led to a rise in monster-tamer titles. Usually inspired byPokemonandDigimon, these games are mostly traditional fantasy fare. Some have alternate origins, though.
Many monster-taming titles have unique methods of rearing their beasts. They may use a bizarre piece of in-universe logic to explain the monsters' allegiances to players, or maybe the weirdness lies in the methodology itself. Fans could jump through bizarre hoops to bring the creatures under their control. However they function, monster-taming games force players to utilize different skills than what they’re used to.
Most monsters inKingdom Heartsemerge from people’s inner darkness.Dream Eatersbuck this trend in that they can go either way. InDream Drop Distance, Sora and Riku can fight alongside benevolent Spirit Dream Eaters to fight the Nightmare variety. Sadly, they can’t recruit these cutesy helpers.
Instead, the process is akin toitem and equipment synthesis. Players collect recipes and use materials to create the corresponding creature. They then assign them as party members to fight the evil hordes. The benefits don’t stop at battle, though.
The Dream Eaters can actually improve the heroes. This comes about through bonding. Fans strengthen these bonds by petting, playing, or giving treats. This yields Link Points for stat boosts, abilities, and items. At the risk of sounding self-indulgent, the system works like a dream.
5The Dragon Quest Series
With Akira Toriyama’s art style,Dragon Questhas some of the most iconic monsters in gaming. Certain entries, likeDragon Quest 5, see them join the party, but this mechanic didn’t become a focal point untilDragon Quest Monsters.
In this spin-off series,players don’t even fight. Rather, they rely solely on the monsters they’ve captured, and even that’s not as simple as it sounds. These are wild animals; one can only go so far in domesticating them. Fans don’t command them but offer suggestions for their behavior: attack, support, etc. The monsters are more likely to obey depending on their personalities and how wild they are. Thankfully, players don’t have to settle for rabid killers found in forests.
Dragon Quest Monstersalso offers breeding. Joining different monsters can yield creatures not attainable otherwise. This system, along with the game’s other elements, invites a level of experimentation one couldn’t achieve with regular party members.
AsDragon Quest’s longstanding rival,Final Fantasyalso hasits share of recognizable enemies. That said, they’ve never been as vital as in the crossover adventure,World of Final Fantasy. Here, siblings Lann and Raine descend into an amalgamation of severalFFtitles, capturing monsters (or “Mirages”) to aid them in combat. As these newfound allies level up, they unlock active and passive skills on a chart. The system is similar toDream Drop Distanceon the surface, but it has an unorthodox twist.
The gameplay hinges on stacking. The kids and their monsters literally stack on top of each other during battle. Their respective skills combine to form one stronger entity. It looks silly, but one can’t argue with the results. Fans just have to be careful not to topple over. That’s not exactly a problem they’d expect to deal with in a monster-taming game, butWorld of Final Fantasyis full of surprises.
3The Lufia Series
The monster taming inLufiaevolves with the series, going from a one-note bonus to a full-fledged system.Rise of the Sinistralshas capsule monsters hidden around the world. Fans who find them essentially get a fifth party member, albeit a computer-controlled one. They can feed items to the monster to strengthen it, but they can’t issue direct commands.
Lufia: The Legend Returnsreprises the mechanic in the form of Mousse. This capsule monster is one of the main protagonists this time around. Unfortunately, players still can’t control him in combat, which defeats the purpose of his doglike appearance. The developers clearly thought so, too.
InLufia: Ruins of Lore, the heroes can capture any monster on specialized discs. These creatures then fight with the party and level up alongside them. Players can also teach them new skills by feeding them other monsters in their lineup. Once the master and minion are strong enough, they can fuse and gain invincibility for three turns. Pet owners obviously want to be close to their animals, but that’s a bit excessive.
2The Shin Megami Tensei Series
Centering on a computer program calling demons from another realm,Shin Megami Tenseiis practically built onthe concept of monster taming. It’s been an integral part of the franchises since the beginning. In the originalDigital Devil Story: Megami Tensei, players recruit demons to their party. They don’t accomplish this through catching, though. Instead, they fall back on bribery–forking over cash, items, or materials. Gifting these to monsters makes them available to summon in battle, but it doesn’t guarantee a win.
The demons' effectiveness hinges on several factors. Players must account for their minions' behavior. Various aspects factor into this, from the phase of the moon to how the heroes align in their morals. In addition, the demons don’t level up traditionally. Fans must visit specific locations to fuse their monsters,creating a more powerful whole. The series fine-tunes these elements with each entry, but the core foundation remains consistent.
1Unchained Blades
Tamed monsters usually act as party members in RPGs. In place of humanoid or speaking allies, friendly creatures aid the player. Because of that, fans miss out on potential character development.Unchained Bladeshas its cake and eats it, too.
This portable titlehas regular alliesandmonster taming, and both factor into battle. Players can assign their monsters to follow any party member. The creature then becomes that member’s personal sidekick, compensating for any weaknesses and amplifying the strengths. Monsters may take hits intended for their masters. Alternatively, they might combine attacks for double the damage. With Man and Beast working in tandem, players have a veritable army on their hands.
