In which we force adorable creatures to fight for our amusement- Let's Play Monster Rancher 2!

It'd probably become a war of attrition. He's got solid life and defense considering it's only been a month and the tourney is E-rank, but he'd have to whittle down his opponent and that would take a while. Especially if he commits foolery.

I accept no tomfoolery! Mayhaps another month of training would help? Considering his attacks depend on power and all.

Ahh, damn. Was hoping he'd have a Speed-based move or something.... never been much of a Color Pandora user myself.

In that case, I second Kaimeanogo. Henry will have his day in the tournament... but that day is not today.

I prefer breeds of Golems, Durahans and Pixies (don't look at me like that, Pixies can be untouchable if trained right) so I'm not all that sure on what he'll eventually develop. It looks like more training is preferred, though.

Heh... I'm similar in my breed picks myself... I've successfully trained Tigers, Durahans, Pixies, Dragons, a couple Golems, Rippers (from 4 and EVO), and the Maya from EVO (EDIT: I also had a Zuum and a Raiden at one point). I like Speed and Intelligence monsters, for the most part... though I'll admit that when I was younger, my choices were at least somewhat dependent on "Oooh, that monster looks cool!"

You know, all this talk about Monster Rancher really makes me wish that Tecmo (now Tecmo-Koei) would release a new Monster Rancher game.

In the interest of not having Henry Blobber smashed to pulpy bits, we decided to hold off on the tournament and have him smash dominoes with his puny body instead.

On the way to the field, however, Colt turned to me with glassy eyes. She said...



and then returned to normal, smiling obliviously. What was that?

Henry continued to make that face in the background, almost as if he was laughing at something. Or someone. Before we continued on, I'm pretty certain I saw Colt swipe a potato from my bag and hand it to Henry. What is going on on this ranch?







Despite doing that, Henry failed the drill. Dammit, Henry! It's almost like you don't want the power to punch out the sun.

Are you sure about that, Colt? Because I have my doubts.

This is a horror movie in the making. The moment a group of horny college kids try to stay at your ranch for the night, run.

I am constantly veering back and forth between finding Henry Blobber utterly adorable and utterly terrifying.

You are definitely not alone in this.

I always find Henry Blobber adorable. I have no idea what's wrong with me.

Are

you

sure?

I think part of the creepy factor's due to the fact Henry's part Jell... in most of the Monster Rancher titles, Jells (and their crossbreeds) are kinda creepy. The notable exception being 3, where Jells are quite possibly the cutest thing ever.

I actually like Jells, the way they move is cool. Color Pandoras have weird faces as a breed, though, and the low polycount and poor quality textures of the PS1 don't help with that.

Well, that too.

It's funny... I've been looking up all of the monsters from MR2... there are a lot of monsters that never showed up in later games. It's a shame, too... I like the ideas behind some of them. Like the Kato... gotta love a chain-smoking, sake-guzzling feline. Pity they censored the crap out of 'im for the US release (he now drinks olive oil, for example).

Yup. He's so derpy!

I like Henry. Even if now I'm pretty sure he's going to kill you. He's disappointed.

Did... Henry just possess Colt?

I'm not sure if I should be worried about this or not.

Apparently, the game considers my raising style to be "strict." I foresee stress-induced murder attempts in Henry's potential future.

All Henry Blobber wanted was love. All he received was pain. Henry Blobber didn't like pain. Henry thought, why should I be the only one in pain? Why won't my masters love me? Fine. If I can't win their love, I'll just make them love me.

^The hundredth post of this thread, everybody! Fitting, isn't it?

I am impressed you are actually attempting to raise one of those. I've tried in the past, but normally just sold them on the market after a short while.

In MR2 I believe I normally raised Tigers, Nagas, Worms, and Hares. My favorite combo always seemed to be a Cabalos the Tiger/Naga combo.
Gaboo's were also a fun monster to use from time to time.

In the interest of getting to the next tournament, Colt and I have prepared a short summary of our training results over the next month.

She suggested that listening to this would enhance the experience:




As a drugged-up old man once said to his assistant in a fit of frenzy, "We're going to need more power!"

After allowing Henry Blobber to take a brief rest in an effort to allay any stress-related murders...



Henry, even when you succeed you still somehow fail.



I just don't get it. Why are your gains so low? It's almost like you're...



Dammit, Henry, you dirty little whore! No one cheats on this ranch and gets away with it!

After consulting with the spirits of Those Ranchers That Came Before, I have decided that the only appropriate thing is to put Henry Blobber into a "box."



You disobedient little shit.

Is the box filled with scorpions?

I approve of using the box. I'm sorry Henry but cheating gets you nowhere.

Oh God, we're already losing control. Abort! Abort!

The Miss Trunchbull approach to teaching is clearly the best one possible.

We've got to bring our problem child in line, but before that...





Getting a good old-fashioned beating might teach Henry a lesson, but it might also push him further into the arms of delinquency. I don't like making decisions. What should I do?

His stats are pretty much the same as last time, with +5 to power and +2 to life.

Give that boy a good ol' fashion whippin'!

I vote against. He's likely going to get the shit kicked out of him, and then he'll have a legitimate reason to want to murder us.

Henry Blobber continues to disappoint me. I want to love you Henry, but you make it so damn hard. I say enter him. Maybe if he sees how weak he is he'll shape up.

If you enter and win that's nice. If you enter and lose you shorten his lifespan. He may even run away.

It's true, I do. The internet has spoken.

Colt assured me that Henry Blobber seems healthy and strong, and that he would do well. Henry rubbed his elastic body against her side in a grotesque display of affection.



Let's do this.

I think that might actually be a good thing at this point.

Hm yes fair enough. Either outcome you win.

Before we headed to the tournament, I took the opportunity to remind Henry that I will sell him to the Jello corporation if he so much as thinks of committing foolery.



Ah... finally, here we are! Smell that air, Henry! That is the air breathed by champions.



Colt and I exchanged glances nervously as the announcer took another swig from the flask he was holding. "Well," she murmured into my ear, "as long as everything is so professional..."

It's our first tournament, so this is a big event for us! This is our entrance onto the world stage. If you mess this up for us, Henry Bartholomew Blobber, I swear I will put you on a diet of fear and pain.



Here's how things stand at the moment. There are 36 total matches, only six of which involve us. A monster doesn't have to win all six of their matches, but they do have to win more than the other contestants. A tie is settled with a tiebreaker match.

We can withdraw against an opponent if we don't think we can win. This can actually be a viable strategy in a tourney like this, if you have confidence you can beat the other competitors.



We can also choose whether or not to scream at Henry Blobber about why he's a useless tub of lard during the match, but I think that may perhaps be counterproductive. Besides, Henry made this bed. Time to let him lie in it.



Our first battle is against the Trix rabbit. Here are how our stats compare. Trix beats us in speed and power, but has the life of a gnat. Crush him, Henry!



The rabbit started off by punching Henry straight in the face. Little bits of jelly flew off and Colt cringed.



Foolery?! In MY arena?

Colt held me back as I attempted to throw my high heel at his thick head.



Apparently Henry sensed the threat of stiletto-induced injury anyway, though, and he flung himself at the rabbit in a desperate attempt to flatten its silly little head.

He bashed his face against the rabbit's again and again, sending ripples down his body from the impact. The rabbit punched him away, but he came back every time.



As time wound down, Colt buried her face in my shoulder. The tension was thick in the arena, almost as thick as the stench of monster sweat.

It was too close to call. The judges were called in, and as they deliberated I found I couldn't breathe.

Eventually, the results were declared...




Yes! YES! Did you see that, Colt? We actually won a match! Henry, guess what? You might get to eat tonight if you keep this up!

One down, five to go.

I foresee this heading down the Swoon School of Ranching very soon... Which is a good thing with this monster.

c'mon Henry!

All work and no play makes Henry a dull boy.

Not for the monster, though.

He's a freaking Blobber; how does a Blobber dull, exactly?