Monster Rancher 2 Switch version details 50 differences from original PlayStation release

Monster Rancher 2 for Switch is more than just a port of the PlayStation original. Koei Tecmo revisited the game and actually implemented a massive amount of changes.

RPG Site has translated all of the details shared about how the Switch version differs from the original. There are subtle things like fixes, but major additions like the ability to download a friend’s monster data for your own monster to fight against, auto-saves, and more.

Here’s the full list:

1. Swim Training affinity fix
   The Swim training is supposed to give a major raise on Defense and a minor raise on Life. However, there was an infamous bug that reversed the stat affinity check between the two stats. As a result, monsters with high Life base stat like Plant could benefit from easy Defense raise, while monsters that are supposedly Defense-oriented like Monol suffered from this bug.
2. Reduced lifespan reduction for doing Errantries, making it more enticing to have a monster learn new techniques without worrying too much about its lifespan.
3. Fairy Hare’s Guts speed fix
   The Hare X Pixie breed had an unusually quick Guts recovery speed, making it overpoweredly broken in the original release.
4. Wracky’s name change
   Wracky used to be known as Chucky in the original Japanese PS1 release, but the new Japanese port changes its name to Wracky as well.
5. Gali becomes able to learn Heavy Blow
6. Wracky becomes able to learn Air Shot
7. Bajarl becomes able to learn multiple techniques it couldn’t due to bugs
8. An evil-natured Phoenix becomes able to learn Flame Cannon
9. King Ape’s encounter fix
   A glitch in the original release caused the errantry boss King Ape to have a limited timeframe to encounter.
10. Bajarl’s body fix
11. Addition of Proto Messiah
    A Henger X Gali breed that was available in Monster Rancher 1; known in the English release as Proto. Although it was also slated to appear in MR2, its data was not actually included so it couldn’t be produced in the original release.
12. Hall of Fame bug fix
    If all 3 Hall of Fame slots were already filled, trying to get a new monster into the list would freeze the game.
13. Year 1625 bug fix
    An event check glitch caused playing from the 30,001st week (2nd week of April 1625) to be very problematic. The worst case from this bug was reducing a monster’s lifespan by a week whenever one loads a save data made in the Ranch.
14. Mysterious Seeds event fix
    The original release had a bug that prevented you from obtaining Mysterious Seeds if you proceeded so late that all items were already lined up at the shop.
15. Desire Self-Denial fix
    A monster may occasionally have a desire which, if rejected or unfulfilled, will result in its stress going up. There was an infamous bug in the original Japanese release where a monster occasionally gain stress on its own due to the desire event kicking in but automatically ended with a refusal without any dialogues.
16. Colt’s advice changes
    In the original release, Colt would only inform you of the first monster’s peak period or end of lifespan. With this port, she will continue to offer the same advice on all subsequent monsters.
17. Jelly item effect fix
    Eating a Jelly item will now actually change the monster’s nature as well.
18. Gemini Pot item effect fix
    Although the item description hinted at relieving stress, it didn’t have any stress-reduction effects applied in the original version. With this fix, having the item(s) in the inventory will now properly reduce stress.
19. Strong Glue will become purchasable in the Shop
20. Magic Banana effect change
    In the original release, the Magic Banana used to have lifespan addition as one of its possible effects. This is getting replaced with reduction of fatigue or stress.
21. Auto Battle AI adjustment
    Your monster will now fight more proactively even when you opt to not control it in battles.
22. CPU status change fix
    Opponent monsters used to be unable to activate status like Power and Anger; they will be able to do so now.
23. Ease status effect fix
    This status has a drawback of doubling damage taken, which wasn’t properly implemented in the original release.
24. Unity status effect fix
    Color Pandora breeds will recover Guts faster when this status is activated.
25. Enables purchases of multiple items at once
26. Monster body size change
    Some monsters will actually become fat or skinny depending on their weight. However, not all monsters will have this effect.
27. Becomes able to raise Boss Monsters fought at Errantries, such as the Blue Phoenix
28. Becomes able to raise White Suezo and White Mocchi, which used to only appear as opponents in the Legend Cup.
29. Monster stat fix
    Alters statistics not visible to the player, such as the monster’s full lifespan.
30. Parameter fix for FIMBA monsters appearing at the IMa-FIMBA Meet
31. Lucky’s stat fix
    The Elder’s Cup, which is available on the 2nd week of June for monsters that are at least 6y & 3m old, had a monster named Lucky that had unusual stats; it has now been implemented as its official stats.
32. Improved quality for message fonts and images including tournament logos
33. Monster movements are also fixed so that they shouldn’t do any weird movements
34. Graphical bug fixes
35. Stat values are now subdivided when calculating damage, so even a small gap in stats will mean a lot in battles now.
36. Display total stat amount, accumulated from all six stats
37. Added option to speed up monster-raising scenes
38. Sound data remastered
    BGMs and sound effects are re-recorded, and the menu will also actually have a title BGM
39. Auto-save feature implemented
40. Save & Load speed improved
41. Guide Button added
    You can now go back directly to title screen through the Menu button.
42. Online Versus feature addition
    You can download a friend’s monster data for your own monster to fight against.
43. Random Versus feature addition
    Monsters you’ve uploaded can be matched against other breeders’ monsters with roughly the same strength levels.
44. ID carryover feature (on the mobile version)
    If you’re getting a new mobile phone, this feature will be essential for you to not lose the game’s save data.
45. SNS linkage feature (on the mobile version)
    You can take a screenshot from the game and share it right away on the social media of your choice.
46. Part-Time Job implemented in-game
    The mini-game used to be accessible in the Japanese PS1 release by using the PocketStation.
47. Generate Monsters using the Music Database
    This is the alternative used to generate monsters from CDs, as neither the Switch or mobile phones have disc drives.
48. Digital Manual is available
49. The My Page webpage is available to check the latest news about the game, as well as results of random battles and tournaments.
50. Tournament Mode implemented
    Players can enter their frozen monsters to be placed on online tournament brackets.