ButMonster Rancherhas held a very special place in my heart for almost 25 years.

Its a fun series with fantastic creature designs and mechanics that are as accessible as they are unexpectedly deep.

I preferMonster Rancherprecisely because its not most of those things.

Opening screen screenshot from ‘Monster Rancher’ & ‘Monster Rancher 2.'

You pick out what to feed them (hopefully something they like!)

and figure out when to let them rest or push them a little harder.

However, barely any of that comes through when youre actually playing the game.

A screenshot from Pokemon Brilliant Diamond.

Conversely,Monster Ranchermakes me care about my monsters because theyremymonsters.

I raised them from a baby.

I trained them over the course of years.

A screenshot from the Monster Rancher games.

I fed them, kept them healthy and happy.

I watched them grow up, and they, in turn, learned to trust me.

And in some cases, sadly, I watched them pass on as the years caught up to them.

I dont get that fromPokemon, no matter how attached I may get to my Vespiquen or Empoleon.

They helped me win fights, sure, but I didnt really know them.

I didnt glean a personality from them.

I didnt get to watch them grow up.

WhenPokemon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearlcome out this November, Im going to be thrilled.

Im going to play at least one of them, and quite possibly several times over.