In many ways, Monster Rancher 2 is a different game, but the addiction it inspires is just the same.

As a sequel to one of the most widely overlooked PlayStation titles on the market, Monster Rancher 2 shows true signs of growth, and once again delivers a unique gaming experience that sets the standard for all virtual pets to follow. With Pokemania sweeping the nation, and the new Monster Rancher cartoon airing on BKN Kids Network, there’s a chance that Monster Rancher 2 may actually become a mainstream title rather than a sleeper hit.

For a game that could have been an update, Tecmo went back to the drawing board and redesigned this product. One of the big complaints with the original was the overabundance of loading. Every little action, like heading to the shop or placing a monster in a training exercise, was bogged down with obnoxious loading delays. In Monster Rancher 2, this problem has been not only addressed, but eliminated. To accomplish this feat, Tecmo was forced to trash most of the 2D artwork and replace it with streaming polygons. The traditionalists out there may not like it, but the 3D aspect actually works quite well. You really can’t whine about the increased speed, and the incorporation of new camera angles certainly doesn’t hurt the play either.

Considering its strange demands of additional games and CDs, it seemed likely that Tecmo would change the way that players receive new monsters. But alas, this is not the case. To get the rare beasts, you’ll still need to track down specific music CDs and games. Tecmo has also made save game files from the first game compatible, and a handful of monsters can also be bought at the shop. Many of the creatures that battled in the first game are back and, of course, are joined by a slew of new species.

Other than developing a parental link to your monster, which you come to love like a child, the sole purpose of this game is to train your critter to become the ultimate fighter. The life span of these beloved monsters is once again short, lasting roughly four to five years. In this time, you’ll need to power-up your monster’s attributes through several different training exercises. Since all of the training was 2D in the original, it has been overhauled with a 3D appearance that is lightning quick and loaded to the hilt with different animation sequences, one for success, failure, cheating, truancy, and greatness. Another way to power-up your beast is to send it on expeditions. As expected, these missions are quite different than those in the first game and are now constructed as hilarious real-time movies. The only part of this sequel that has not been reworked or partially tweaked is the combat. Sure, there are new moves and attacks, but the fighting dynamics are unchanged.

In many ways, Monster Rancher 2 is a different game, but the addiction it inspires is just the same.