Metacritic Games

Monster Rancher 3 (Playstation 2)

The latest installment in the series lets players breed, train and fight with the monsters they control. New monsters are bred by pairing two existing ones or spawned from music CDs, movie DVDs or game discs. Players train and care for their monsters, much like a virtual pet. Later, they enroll their monsters into tournaments, where they battle for prizes and fame. [Tecmo]

Tecmo
Strategy, Other
Players: 1
E (Everyone)
Developer: Tecmo
Released September 25, 2001

Overall Metascore

This is a weighted, normalized average of all individual scores given by critics, on a scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

77 / 100

Critic Reviews

93 Game Informer
Everything about this title makes the previous installments seem archaic in comparison. [Nov 2001, p.100]
88 Gamezilla!
Monster Rancher 3 rocks. That’s all that needs to be said. However, just to clarify, this game has really satisfying gameplay that should please even the most jaded gamer.
86 XGP Gaming
The strength of this game is in its replay value. You can lose hours upon hours of your life simply checking your CD/DVD collection for monsters to add to your encyclopedia.
84 GameSpot
An extremely solid game that takes the series in a promising direction.
83 Core Magazine
Whether you're new to the series, thoroughly sick of it, or can't wait to get back to raising monsters, this game has the capability to surprise, amaze and enthrall you.
80 Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
I can't stop playing the game. I'm hopelessly addicted. [Nov 2001, p.155]
79 IGN
Delivers where it counts, with the deep breeding simulation that fans of the series have grown to love.
70 All Game Guide
The fact that it sticks so closely to the formula of its predecessors is both its greatest strength and biggest weakness.
70 Electronic Gaming Monthly
The combat’s more fun and involving than anything in Pokemon Stadium. But the rest of the game hasn’t changed much. [Nov 2001, p.210]
67 Gaming Age
Any fan of Monster Rancher will be in absolute heaven with this new entry, and its more kid-friendly graphics are sure to attract more of the younger crowed to its decidedly simple, incredibly addictive gameplay.
60 Next Generation Magazine
Hews so closely to the now four-year-old formula, it’s disappointing. [Dec 2001, p.108]
60 PSX Nation
It's very beautiful and easy to control, but there's nothing much that's new or improved here.
60 Adrenaline Vault
Unfortunately, the sad truth is that Pokemon manages to provide more depth and complexity than Monster Rancher 3.

CLOSE THIS WINDOW

©2009 CNET Networks Inc. All rights reserved.