Tecmo takes a different route with virtual pets when it comes to Monster Farm. In an innovative approach to generating creatures and monsters, the game will ask you to insert a music CD into the Playstation where it will then make a custom monster for you from a database of 200 beasts. I think the monster creation may be a random process but I used Depeche Mode's Music for the Masses and got a creature that looked like an big eye covered with yellow flesh. I know that a monster of this type isn't the most attractive of beasties but it was mine and I had to love it just the same. I was tempted to see what a Marilyn Manson CD would procreate but time limitations and general fear prevented me from doing that. Maybe another time.
Monster genesis from CDs

		When you begin with your virtual monster, you''ll raise it on a farm with the run of the mill assortment of farm-style buildings, pastures and shacks serving as backdrop. The unique thing about the monsters is that they all possess feelings and respond in kind to your treatment. If you mother them, they will be happy and learn skills and tasks faster. If you work them too long during a day, they'll learn less and stress out from your tyrannical rule.
Love and care returns a little heart				Overwork results in huff and puff

As an owner and 'operator' of the monsters, you unfortunately have an ulterior motive for all of your care and hard work. The aim of the game has you entering your grown monster into fighting arenas where your beast battles it out with other monsters. If your charge wins a bout, you'll take the contest and move on to higher levels of competition and sport. I would liken it to a variant of virtual cock fighting.

Monster Farm is an engaging game but I can't help but feel empathy for the monsters that you raise only to put them into arenas where they will experience bodily harm and even death. A virtual pet should be cared for from birth to death with no questions asked. Monster Farm exploits this de-facto understanding and makes the virtual pet experience into something that is almost unholy. The sacred trust between virtual pet and human owner is rendered asunder with this new release. That said, the fighting is still a lot of fun to watch.

This document is © National Console Support

Monster Farm

© Tecmo