Dokapon Monster Hunter (Nintendo Game Boy Advance, 2001)

Following in the footsteps carved by popular franchises like Digimon and Pokémon, Dokapon: Monster Hunter takes players to Dokkano Island, breeding ground for more than 150 monsters. Using a combat system based on rock-paper-scissors, the game offers 120 weapons and 50 shields (each with attack and speed ratings), which can be combined to create an even more powerful arsenal. Players can partner-up with any captured monster and take up to four with them on the adventure, keeping others at the "ranch" for future battles. Headquartered in the town of Poponga, the hero has access to Mayor Louie (advice), shopping (buying and selling weapons and shields), healing (church), a café, and more.

The island has eight stages with randomized maps for good replay value. While exploring, the hero discovers treasure chests, traps, stairs to different levels, and items such as antidotes, curse removers, Fizzade (recovery from fatigue), warps to home, and more. Traps include poison, curses, nitrous oxide, morphs, blackouts, fatigue, and land mines, all of which have possible remedies. With 29 weapon skills, 11 shield skills, and a half dozen unique tricks (e.g., TakeBack, Double D(efense)) to help build RPG stats in experience, attack, defense, speed, and hit points, gameplay is ever-changing.

Two players can compete via link cable in Dokapon: Monster Hunter using either Optimistic or Serious Modes. In the former, any property lost during battle to an opponent is returned before the end of the match, while the latter results in forfeiting lost material to the victor. In single-player games, saves occur automatically after losing battles or picking up items, though manual saves can be invoked at any time (except during battle). Up to 16 monsters can be corralled at the "ranch" at any given time, in addition to the four in the hero's party.