The Post-Pokémon Gold Rush

On this inaugural episode of Obscuriosities, we talk about mon games – games inspired to ride the coattails of Pokémon’s creature-collecting craze. But of course, unlike a Digimon or a Monster Rancher… these games didn’t make it big.

Kotobattle: Tengai no Moribito; lit. Kotobattle: Protectors of Heaven’s Outskirts

March 9th 2001; developed and published by Alphadream for the Game Boy Color.

“…I’m thinking of establishing a kingdom just for cats.”

The overworld.

A boss battle.

The battle interface – currently selected is a combo of the kanji “medicine” and “poison”.

Cards

Kanzume Monsters; lit. Monsters in a Can

Kanzume Monsters

Kanzume Monsters developed by KID and published by I’MAX for the Game Boy on March 27th, 1998.

Kanzume Monsters: Parfait developed by KID and published by Starfish Inc. for the Game Boy Color on June 24th, 1999.

For the original game, just imagine the rest of these screenshots were monochromatic.

Kanzume Monsters Parfait!

“Choose a can!”

“I’m Cool Joe, the humble janitor of this here circus…”

My darling Shumai battles an enemy Pocky.

Lil’ Monster; JP: Gem Gem Monsters

Published by KID on July 30th, 1999 in Japan, and by Agetec in August or September(?) 2000 in North America; developed by KID for the Game Boy Color.

That stands for “deck”.

Cool Joe is BACK!

Kaseki Sōsei Reborn; lit. Fossil Genesis Reborn

Kaseki Sōsei Reborn

July 17th 1998; developed by Freeqsoft and published by Starfish Inc. for the Game Boy.

“They’re creatures unlike anything we’ve ever seen.”

Could that be a turtle?

No! It’s a UNICORN SEA OTTER!

“Tomate attacks. Palm slap!”

The dungeon map uses sub-tile graphics – each square is 4×4 instead of 8×8 – which is quite rare on Game Boy!

“Crawls along the ground and is hard to spot. Usually timid, but is fearsome when angered. Its legs double as fins.”

Surrounded by three enemies who all do battle with you simultaneously – a bad situation to be in.

Kaseki Sōsei Reborn II: Monster Digger

February 12th, 1999; developed by Freeqsoft and published by Starfish Inc. for the Game Boy Color.

The character designs in Reborn II are a bit more kids’ show-like; a bit more “out there” in comparison to the sober faces of the original.

Music used in this episode

• Kotobattle: Tengai no Moribito – Dekakeyō (lit. “Let’s Go for a Walk”)
• Kanzume Monsters – Hoshi ni Nare! (lit. “Become a Star!”; idiomatically “pass away”)
• Kanzume Monsters – Sleep
• Lil’ Monster – Battle Kids
• Kaseki Sōsei Reborn – Opening theme
• Lil’ Monster – You got monster