My brothers and I have always been fans of monster  media: Pokemom, Digimon, Monster Rancher, Card Captors, ext. He recently sent me a text talking about how cool it is to see Digimon making a comeback in game and anime form. Then he asked if Monster Rancher would get the same treatmentand my answer was, "why?". Monster Rancher has some pretty generic design for its monsters and on top of that... there is no evolution! Then it became a topic of how important a evolution mechanic is in a monster game. My brother says just cool monster design is enough for him. Changing form is popular because it is the easiet way to convey to the reader/player that something has gotten stronger. It also shows how much work one has done to get there and I will use Digimon as an example:

Pokemon has always had the better games, but Iif Digimon has done anything better than Pokeomon, its the "raising" part of the equation. Pokemon has always been very simplified about it: Charmander evolves to Charmeleon at 16, then to Charizard at 36. The end. Nothing else goes into determining when Charmander evolves. Digimon on the other had is more complex thus at the end of the journey more fullfiling.

Example: Digimon World 1

In order for Agumon to Digivolve to Greymon Agumon most have":

- at least 100 defense

- at least 100 offense

- at least 100 speed

- at least 100 brains

- no more than 1 care mistake

- at least 25 pounds but no higher thnan 35

- 90 in discipline gauge

This must all be accomplished within 3 days of Koromon becoming an Agumon. Just messing up once wether it be too high or low can net you and entirely different Digimon. 

Another off example is SaGA Frontier: Has a monster class in which a base monster changes shape depending the enemy skills it has acquired. Each skill has secret type labeled like Head, leg,wing,breath, ext and depending on the combination of those moves influences the shape it will take. The battle here is getting the monster and skills you want while limiting any unwanted transformation. The difference between a RedDragon and a Hellhound is soo minute, its hirlariously frustrating.

Now when you accomplish what you wanted, its immensly more satisying. When you go through all that hard work you want something to show for it and a evolved form is just that! buuuuuut on the flip side I have played monster games without an evolution mechanic and got enjoyment out of them like FF13-2 . No evolving but I still poured hours into that section of the game. 

How do you guys feel about a evolution mechanic in monster games?

Is it needed to enjoy this sub genre of rpg ?

Regradless if the game has it or not would you prefer it? 13-2 doesnt have a evolution mechanic and I lived without it, but if given the choice I would say put it in.

I only play Pokemon, so I don't really care about the mechanic in other "monster raising" games. However, I absolutely refute the argument that a more convoluted method of evolution is in any way superior or more fulfilling. Sounds like a pain in the ass to me.

Not really the point of the thread, though getting Omnimon in DW2 was a pain and that doesn't include tech planning.

Thank you for making me remember Azure Dreams. I loved that shit and evolving monsters were a great thing to strive for. Also just straight up breeding different species.

Holy fucking shit, I can't belive I'm not the only human being that played that game! That game was amazing!! Too bad I never got too far in the game, I heard there was some dating sim elements, I could have improved my dating skills with it.

But I don't really care about the "evolving" mechanic. I rather have the other approach, the "fusion" mechanic present in the megaten games. It's more hardcore-y.

Also fuck Digimon 1, when I was a kid I would always get the one that was shaped like a piece of shit.

But were you hardcore enough to play it on Gameboy?

Numemon. Lolololololol. Very discouraging and off putting to get him. He means you met no requirements to get anybody else. Once you get your tamer rank high enough you see less of him.

I completely forgot about Azure Dreams. That game bothered me because you go back to level 1 everytime you leave dungeon. 

Of course. I tried both versions of the game but the GB one was too much for my sensitive eyes and ears.

Agreed. If Pokemon lacked evolution then nobody would keep using Mudkips :(

Man, I sucked hard at the game. I used to get that one a lot, I did fuck up big time once and got the one that really looks like shit, "Sukamon". It was kinda disgutisting to see him eat his own shit.

I think you can keep the equipment if I remember correctly.