Digital Monster COLOR Monster Hunter 20th Edition Review – Where Virtual Pets Meet Monster Hunting

As Monster Hunter celebrates its 20th anniversary, Bandai has released a unique collaboration that bridges the gap between virtual pet gaming and the beloved monster-hunting franchise. The Digital Monster COLOR Monster Hunter 20th Edition brings the thrill of raising and battling iconic Monster Hunter creatures into a pocket-sized device. 

In this review, we’ll explore the device’s features, monster-raising mechanics, and how it compares to traditional Digimon virtual pets, helping you decide if this commemorative gadget deserves a spot in your collection.

Core Features

The device packs impressive functionality into its compact frame, offering a comprehensive monster-raising experience. The device allows storing two monsters with the ability to swap between them, letting you alternate which monster you’re actively raising while keeping the other in storage. With 36 possible monsters to raise, the game offers substantial replay value and collection goals.

 Key features include:

• A straightforward training mode that uses Version 2 training system, requiring only proper timing instead of relying on RNG
• A feeding system for monster care and maintenance
• A battle system supporting both AI challenges through stage progression and player-versus-player combat
• A convenient monster freeze function for temporary storage when life gets busy
• Load function to continue raising monsters from where you left off similar to an automatic save functionality
• A health management system for treating injuries and illnesses that might affect your monsters

Monster Raising System

Unlike traditional Digimon virtual pets that typically require a week to reach final forms, this device streamlines the evolution process significantly. Monsters evolve from eggs to base forms in under 30 minutes, with subsequent evolutions taking one and two days respectively. This accelerated progression keeps the experience engaging while maintaining a sense of achievement with each evolution.

In traditional Digimon devices, evolution follows an intricate web where monsters progress through multiple stages (Stage 1 through Stage 6 and beyond), with some paths being shared between different monsters – for example, both Agumon and Betamon can evolve into Meramon. However, the Monster Hunter COLOR system is much more streamlined and logical – Khezu won’t evolve into Rajang, for instance.

The evolution paths are notably different from Digimon’s complex web where different rookie Digimon could evolve into the same champion form. Instead, Monster Hunter COLOR features straightforward linear progressions from base monster to a rare species or deviant type. 

Notable evolution examples include:

• Tigrex (Young) → Tigrex or Brute Tigrex → Grimclaw Tigrex or Molten Tigrex
• Zinogre (Young) → Zinogre or Stygian Zinogre → Thunderlord Zinogre
• Rajang (Young) → Rajang (with dynamic fur color changes during attacks) → Furious Rajang
• Khezu (Young) → Khezu or  Red Khezu 

According to the official promotional trailer, some monsters might have multiple evolution paths, though the specific conditions for these different paths haven’t been fully discovered yet.

Unlike traditional Digimon virtual pets that require variable conditions, the Monster Hunter 20th Edition features a more structured evolution timeline. Progression occurs at set intervals based on when the previous evolution took place:

• Egg → Stage I: 8 seconds
• Stage I → Stage II: 2 minutes
• Stage II → Stage III: 20 minutes
• Stage III → Stage IV: 24 hours
• Stage IV → Stage V: 36 hours (with battle requirements)
• Stage V → Stage VI: 48 hours (with battle requirements)
• Stage VI: Final form

The evolution timer continues counting even during sleep mode, as long as your monster isn’t frozen or in backup. This makes reaching Stage IV practically guaranteed with basic care. However, reaching Stages V and VI requires meeting specific battle performance metrics.

To evolve past Stage IV, owners must maintain strategic battle engagement:

• Battle Win Percentage: A minimum 40% win ratio is required for Stages V and VI evolution, though 80% guarantees progression (subject to care mistake thresholds)
• Timing Window: Battles must be completed within the 36-hour window for Stage V and 48-hour window for Stage VI
• Stat Reset: Upon evolution, the device resets care mistakes, trainings, overdoses, injuries, and battle counts, while win ratio persists

When Stage V or higher monsters die, there’s a 30% chance of producing a “Traited Egg,” visible behind the monster’s grave. Monsters hatched from these special eggs receive power bonuses, adding a generational improvement mechanic that rewards successful long-term monster raising.

This inheritance system provides additional incentive for raising monsters to advanced stages, creating a progression loop that encourages repeated play and strategic monster development.

The system notably simplifies some traditional virtual pet mechanics by removing weight management and type advantages, focusing instead on pure monster development and combat. This streamlining makes the device more accessible while maintaining depth through monster variety and training options.

Secret Evolution Paths

The Monster Hunter 20th Edition features exclusive “fusion” forms that combine Monster Hunter creatures with classic Digimon designs, representing the pinnacle of evolution in this collaboration device. These special forms require extensive gameplay to unlock:

Rathalos Greymon

This rare evolution combines Rathalos with the iconic Digimon Greymon, creating a hybrid monster with distinctive traits from both franchises. To unlock Rathalos Greymon, players must:

• Complete all Rathalos evolution paths first (making it particularly challenging due to the numerous Rathalos variants)
• Evolve from either:
  • Dreadking Rathalos: Maintain 0-2 care mistakes, complete 15+ battles with 80%+ win ratio
  • Silver Rathalos: Maintain stricter 0-1 care mistakes, complete 15+ battles with 80%+ win ratio

Zino Garurumon

This special form merges Zinogre with the wolf-like Digimon Garurumon. To unlock Zino Garurumon, players must:

• Complete all Zinogre evolution paths first
• Evolve from Thunderlord Zinogre: Maintain 0-2 care mistakes, complete 15+ battles with 80%+ win ratio

Battle System

The battle mechanics differ significantly from traditional Digimon devices by removing the type advantage system (Vaccine > Virus > Data > Vaccine). Despite this simplification, battles are still engaging with a 3HP system. In PvP battles, the final round of projectiles determines the winner, with the winning side launching double projectiles. For quest battles, both sides can only reduce one HP at a time, giving a different experience.

Visual Presentation and Cross-Compatibility

The monster sprites represent a significant upgrade in visual detail, fully utilizing the color screen’s capabilities. While both this device and Digimon Color share the same technology, Monster Hunter sprites were designed from scratch and maximizes the potential to have better details of the monster sprites. Characters are rendered with higher pixel counts and displayed at a 45-degree angle, creating more dynamic and detailed presentations that add a sense of depth to the visuals.

The device also features unlockable nostalgic backgrounds from various Monster Hunter titles, including Sunbreak and previous installments. These backgrounds become available as rewards for successfully raising monsters and clearing missions, adding an extra layer of collectible content and visual variety to the experience.

An interesting feature is the device’s ability to battle with Digimon Pendulum Colour and Digimon Colour devices, creating an unexpected bridge between franchises. This cross-compatibility adds significant value for collectors who own multiple virtual pet devices, allowing for unique battle experiences as different visual styles and attack animations interact between devices. The integration of projectile animations between different device types showcases the attention to detail in this collaborative effort.

Final Thoughts

The Digital Monster COLOR Monster Hunter 20th Edition successfully combines Monster Hunter’s creature collection with virtual pet gameplay mechanics. The streamlined evolution system, dual monster raising capability, and unlockable nostalgic backgrounds make it an attractive purchase for both Monster Hunter and virtual pet enthusiasts. The improved visual presentation and cross-compatibility with Digimon devices add significant value to the package.

The current system relies purely on RNG for battle outcomes, which might feel less involved for players who enjoy more active participation in their virtual pet battles.

As the only Monster Hunter raising toy currently available, it offers a unique gaming experience that honors both franchises while creating something distinctly its own. For fans of either Monster Hunter or Digimon virtual pets, this commemorative device offers a unique gaming experience that honors both franchises while creating something distinctly its own.

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