Monster Rancher Advance

Monster Rancher Advance is a monster breeding simulation game in which players can raise and customize 440 monster types. These monsters can then be tested in in-game tournaments or compete against other players' monsters in two-player mode (via the GBA link cable). Monsters are created in the game's shrine by entering letters, numbers and punctuation marks. At the beginning, players can enter up to 4 characters to create monsters. When you reach a higher trainer rank, you can use up to 8 characters. Not only can different types of monsters be created using different words or character combinations, but each monster can also have different characteristics and traits that make it unique. Players train the monsters by choosing what food they eat, what exercises they do to improve their attributes, what training they are sent to in order to learn new attacks, and what items they are given. The game starts with a modest amount of money that can be used to buy food and items; more money is earned in tournaments. The game is about planning training sessions, learning new attacks, juggling your bank account and trying to win tournaments. As monsters get older, they can be added to a coaching staff to raise new monsters with better attributes, or they can be combined with other monsters to make stronger babies. Monsters do not die in this game, but they must reach a certain age. There is a storyline where some characters from older Monster Rancher games reappear and new characters are introduced. The game itself, like most other Monster Rancher games, is open-ended. In two-player mode, which requires the link cable and two copies of the game, players can pit the monsters they have raised against each other. Players can also trade items and cash, wager items or cash on tournaments, and trade raised monsters by bringing them into the other player's files.