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Monster Rancher 4 Monster Roundup

We begin a series in which we take a look at some of the monsters in Tecmo's upcoming monster sim for the PlayStation 2.

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Monster Rancher 4 is the latest installment in Tecmo's popular monster-breeding series, which began on the original PlayStation. The series has always stood out from other monster-breeding sims because your monsters can be generated from any CD or DVD. The latest installment in the series features a ton of new monsters as well as some significant changes to the formula established by the previous entries in the series. Over the next few weeks we'll be offering a look at some of the monsters you'll find in Monster Rancher 4, and we'll give a bit of insight into their backgrounds.

Day 1: Golem and Zuum
Day 2: Tiger and Hare
Day 3: Mew and Beaklon
Day 4: Dragon and Ducken
Day 5: Baku and Pixie
Day 6: Durahan and Naga
Day 7: Joker and ColorPandora
Day 8: Plant and Henger
Day 9: Zan and Lesione
Day 10: Suzurin and Rhinoroller
Day 11: Pancho and Mogi
Day 12: Raiden and Gitan
Day 13: Ogyo and Antlan
Day 14: Garu and Madillo
Day 15: Ripper and Phoenix
Day 15: Suezo and Mocchi
Day 15: Jell and Diaboros

Golem

Golems are one of the tougher breeds of monsters in the game.
Golems are one of the tougher breeds of monsters in the game.

Monster Group: Artificial
Primary Skill: Slap
Secondary Skill: Megaton Kick
Likes: Energy Bar

Info:
Because of its rock skin, many are afraid of this monster, but it's really pretty gentle and doesn't even like violence. But don't get it mad, or rock fists will fly.

Zuum

Zuums are fast and easy to build up, making them an ideal monster for newcomers.
Zuums are fast and easy to build up, making them an ideal monster for newcomers.

Monster Group: Beast
Primary Skill: Tail Attack
Secondary Skill: Tackle
Likes: Beef

Info:
Strong, docile, and without bad habits, this monster is a breeder's dream. Hasn't everyone wanted to take a zuum over the prairies at least once in their lives?


Tiger

The tiger may seem friendly, but he's a ferocious monster when he has to be.
The tiger may seem friendly, but he's a ferocious monster when he has to be.

Monster Group: Beast
Primary Skill: Tiger Spike
Secondary Skill: Tiger Charge
Likes: Beef

Info:
A pure-white, snowy field looks great as a backdrop for the tiger, with his blue mane. As affable as the tiger is, it's hard to believe everybody used to be so afraid of it.

Hare

Hares are fast and powerful despite their small size.
Hares are fast and powerful despite their small size.

Monster Group: Beast
Primary Skill: Mini Punch
Secondary Skill: Uncho
Likes: Carrot

Info:
The hare is popular with the ladies, but despite its cute face, it can deliver a powerful punch. The monster association cautions against overfeeding it, though.

Mew

Mews are cute and easy to dismiss, until you lose to them.
Mews are cute and easy to dismiss, until you lose to them.

Monster Group: Artificial
Primary Skill: Kiddie Punch
Secondary Skill: Hawaiian
Likes: Squid

Info:
A much-loved stuffed cat wanted to show its gratitude so much that it just came alive one day. Once it starts singing, it forgets what it was going to do.

Beaklon

Beaklons are fast and powerful despite their small size.
Beaklons are fast and powerful despite their small size.

Monster Group: Beast
Primary Skill: Beabang
Secondary Skill: Horn Attack
Likes: Watermelon

Info:
Popular with young breeders, these giant insect monsters boast great power and stamina, though they're not very bright. Secret beaklon tournaments have been rumored.

Dragon

Dragons pack a serious punch in battle, although they can be a challenge to raise properly.
Dragons pack a serious punch in battle, although they can be a challenge to raise properly.

Monster Group: Spirit
Primary Skill: Dragon Tail
Secondary Skill: Fire
Likes: Beef

Info:
All breeders want the chance to raise the mighty dragon at least once in their careers. Its razor-sharp claws can rend steel, and it even has wings to fly!

Ducken

Duckens may look weird, but don't underestimate them in a battle.
Duckens may look weird, but don't underestimate them in a battle.

Monster Group: Beast
Primary Skill: Backflip
Secondary Skill: Backfist
Likes: Salmon

Info:
This moody monster used to be someone's toy long ago. It doesn't have a serious thought in its head, and it does whatever it wants, but it ended up learning a lot somehow.

Baku

Bakus are cute fuzzballs that can be a handful to raise.
Bakus are cute fuzzballs that can be a handful to raise.

Monster Group: Beast
Primary Skill: Licking
Secondary Skill: Sneeze
Likes: Potato

Info:
Wrapped in thick fur and layers of fat, this monster is lovable and greedy. It always looks sleepy, but it can really move. Its motto is "eat a lot, sleep a lot."

Pixie

Pixies are some of the fastest monsters in the game.
Pixies are some of the fastest monsters in the game.

Monster Group: Sprite
Primary Skill: Ray Cast
Secondary Skill: Starlight
Likes: Honey Toast

Info:
The pixie is popular despite its selfish and mischievous ways. It's really only looking for someone to discipline it properly, so go ahead and scold it!

Durahan

Knights are some of the best powerhouses in the game thanks to their loyalty.
Knights are some of the best powerhouses in the game thanks to their loyalty.

Monster Group: Artificial
Primary Skill: Kick
Secondary Skill: Snowslide
Likes: Vitamin

Info:
This monster houses the soul of a proud, ancient knight. It's loyal to its master and fights on the side of justice, rescuing the weak and crushing the strong.

Naga

The naga's poison shower can be extremely useful in a fight.
The naga's poison shower can be extremely useful in a fight.

Monster Group: Fanciful
Primary Skill: Heavy Punch
Secondary Skill: Poison Shower
Likes: Beef

Info:
The feisty blood that runs through its veins is always looking for a battle, and the naga will do absolutely anything to win. It looks like a battle cyborg.

Joker

Jokers are a little scary but extremely powerful.
Jokers are a little scary but extremely powerful.

Monster Group: Spirit
Primary Skill: Upper
Secondary Skill: Slash
Likes: Vitamin

Info:
Some breeders think this creature is too brutal to be categorized as an ordinary monster. It looks like the god of death, and its scythe seeks out blood.

ColorPandora

ColorPandoras rank pretty high on the weird scale.
ColorPandoras rank pretty high on the weird scale.

Monster Group: Fanciful
Primary Skill: Beanball
Secondary Skill: Swing
Likes: Pork

Info:
Nobody knows who named the ColorPandora or even much about its habits. Some people think it's just a phantom and only exists in people's minds.

Plant

Plants can be very deadly when used properly.
Plants can be very deadly when used properly.

Monster Group: Sprite
Primary Skill: Pecking
Secondary Skill: Nose Dance
Likes: Vitamin

Info:
The plant loves basking in the sun. When the weather is good, you can even hear it singing in its cute little voice. On rainy days, it loses a little of its pep.

Henger

Hengers are veritable terminators as they get older.
Hengers are veritable terminators as they get older.

Monster Group: Artificial
Primary Skill: Drill Punch
Secondary Skill: Megablade
Likes: Canned Fuel

Info:
The henger is a mysterious monster jam-packed with lost technology from an ancient civilization. Current science has no idea how it moves or what it's made out of.

Zan

There's nothing like having your own personal battle machine created by ancient science.
There's nothing like having your own personal battle machine created by ancient science.

Monster Group: Artificial
Primary Skill: Single Shot
Secondary Skill: Sonic Knife
Likes: Vitamin

Info:
The zan is a merciless battle machine created by ancient science. They say it's even more intelligent than humans are. Don't let your guard down! It's dangerous.

Lesione

Could this be the Loch Ness monster's cousin?
Could this be the Loch Ness monster's cousin?

Monster Group: Sprite
Primary Skill: Fin Slap
Secondary Skill: Lesihorn
Likes: Togle Salmon

Info:
This monster is popular with everybody, from little kids to mothers. Loving at times, it has a keen battle sense. It puts it opponents to shame in acrobatic battles.

Suzurin

You wouldn't think that anything this cute and bell-shaped could kick ass, but there you go.
You wouldn't think that anything this cute and bell-shaped could kick ass, but there you go.

Monster Group: Sprite
Primary Skill: Pokorin
Secondary Skill: Aim Hit
Likes: Honey Drops

Info:
The gentle, spring-breeze sound of its bell is an expression of its pure heart. Its charm makes up for how needy and easily frightened it is!

Rhinoroller

Hell hath no fury like a rhino on a roller.
Hell hath no fury like a rhino on a roller.

Monster Group: Fanciful
Primary Skill: Charge
Secondary Skill: Bang Drum
Likes: Banana

Info:
How the rhinoroller's body works is a mystery. Scientists have discussed it but have never come up with an explanation. All they know is that it loves napping and driving.

Pancho

Respect the pumpkin or know defeat!
Respect the pumpkin or know defeat!

Monster Group: Sprite
Primary Skill: Attack
Secondary Skill: Magic Hand
Likes: Chocoloate

Info:
Pancho is a monster that once possessed a gigantic pumpkin, settling inside it and borrowing its strength to live. Now the monster feels pretty indebted to that pumpkin and lives inside of it.

Mogi

Mogis are hams, but they can back it up with fighting skills.
Mogis are hams, but they can back it up with fighting skills.

Monster Group: Beast
Primary Skill: Head Bang
Secondary Skill: Scratch
Likes: Energy Bar

Info:
A cool and stylish monster, it warms up with a hot dance and then gets cheers and applause when it dives underground. The battle arena is the mogi's stage!

Raiden

Anything named raiden can usually kick butt in a video game.
Anything named raiden can usually kick butt in a video game.

Monster Group: Beast
Primary Skill: Heel Drop
Secondary Skill: Plow Kick
Likes: Salmon

Info:
A passionate martial artist, it is well versed in every type of fighting skill. Its fluid, speedy blows are filled with a great destructive power.

Gitan

There's nothing like trying to be evil and having people like you for it.
There's nothing like trying to be evil and having people like you for it.

Monster Group: Fanciful
Primary Skill: Stab
Secondary Skill: Thunder
Likes: Chocolate

Info:
Wanting to be a real demon, the gitan tries to do all kinds of mischief. But this usually backfires, and people wind up being grateful to it. It's very troubled by this.

Ogyo

Ogyos are graceful fighters that look like anorexic koi fish.
Ogyos are graceful fighters that look like anorexic koi fish.

Monster Group: Sprite
Primary Skill: Whip
Secondary Skill: Attack Sonar
Likes: Peach

Info:
Because of her beautiful appearance and elegant battle style, she has been nicknamed the "Noblewoman of the Stadium." She's so popular that her fans flock to cheer her on.

Antlan

Antlans are slick-looking fighters with cool horns, and they look somewhat like ninjas.
Antlans are slick-looking fighters with cool horns, and they look somewhat like ninjas.

Monster Group: Sprite
Primary Skill: Shadow Spark
Secondary Skill: Scissors Attack
Likes: Beef

Info:
Always a fair fighter, the antlan inspires many kids with love and courage. The perfect hero of justice, it has cool-looking horns, which it is very proud of.

Garu

Garus are cute and are the de facto stars of Monster Rancher 4.
Garus are cute and are the de facto stars of Monster Rancher 4.

Monster Group: Sprite
Primary Skill: Wild Slash
Secondary Skill: Tail Typhoon
Likes: Beef

Info:
Always energetic and full of curiosity, the garu is also a bit of a coward. But in a pinch, it comes running and gets into the action! That's what makes it so popular.

Madillo

Madillos are the strong silent types.
Madillos are the strong silent types.

Monster Group: Beast
Primary Skill: Back Blow
Secondary Skill: Flying Bomb
Likes: Potato

Info:
A monster of very few words, it trains hard in silence. It would like to do something better with its life, but it doesn't know how. It trains hard in silence day after day.

Ripper

Rippers are like Cuisinarts with feet.
Rippers are like Cuisinarts with feet.

Monster Group: Beast
Primary Skill: Tail Claw
Secondary Skill: Mate Cutter
Likes: Carrots

Info:
The ripper is a speedy monster that can control wind and ice at will. The sharp sickles it has on its elbows can slice whole rocks in two.

Phoenix

Phoenixes are extremely tough opponents.
Phoenixes are extremely tough opponents.

Monster Group: Spirit
Primary Skill: Beak
Secondary Skill: Fire Attack
Likes: Pork

Info:
The legendary phoenix is a bird of courage and intelligence. The temperature of the flames that engulf its body change according to what kind of person is near it.

Suezo

Suezos are the bad boys of Monster Rancher 4.
Suezos are the bad boys of Monster Rancher 4.

Monster Group: Fanciful
Primary Skill: Kissing
Secondary Skill: Licking
Likes: Beef

Info:
Suezos are famous for their selfishness, but just as many breeders as ever raise them. There's some kind of mysterious charm about suezos that makes them hard to hate.

Mocchi

You'd be hard-pressed to find a cuter critter than the mocchi.
You'd be hard-pressed to find a cuter critter than the mocchi.

Monster Group: Fanciful
Primary Skill: Slap
Secondary Skill: Hip Attack
Likes: Peaches

Info:
The secret of the mocchi's popularity isn't just its cute mannerisms and adorable eyes; it also has an irresistibly spongy body and soft, smooth skin.

Jell

Jells are versatile fighters.
Jells are versatile fighters.

Monster Group: Unknown
Primary Skill: Unknown
Secondary Skill: Unknown
Likes: Unknown

Info:
A strange monster that can transform into anything it wants, the jell is laid-back and loves islands. A scientist stole the idea for the helicopter from its Jellcopter.

Diaboros

Diaboros aren't the friendliest of monsters.
Diaboros aren't the friendliest of monsters.

Monster Group: Spirit
Primary Skill: Dragon Tail
Secondary Skill: Hip Wing Storm
Likes: Vitamin

Info:
The "King of Dragons," this monster was let loose from its sleep by evil sorcery. Now that sorcerer is no more, and so it wanders alone, seeking blood.

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