Monster Maker II: Uru no Hiken

About

Monster Maker II: Uru no Hiken is a retro RPG where you play a princess battling card-based monsters on a top-down world map. Each area is a grid of facedown cards you flip to reveal terrain, enemies, or items. Battles pop up when you encounter monsters, switching to a first-person menu for attacks and strategy. You manage a trio of characters, a princess, her pet, and a guard, upgrading gear with gold from defeated foes. The Game Boy’s limitations keep things simple but strategic, with a three-monster limit per screen forcing quick decisions as fresh enemies replace fallen ones. The card-themed visuals and straightforward RPG loops give it a charmingly old-school feel. While it shares DNA with early Dragon Quest, the focus on purchasing equipment upfront adds a layer of planning. Nostalgic players appreciate the quirky art style and tight encounters, though the 1993 release date means it lacks modern conveniences. A brief but brisk adventure for those who miss early handheld RPGs.

Storyline

Meteors fall down from the sky changing the land into dungeons and making monsters appear. A villain named Zeo appears to command the monsters and send them across the land. Players control the Princess who along with her pet and her royal guard, go out on an adventure to save the land. The game is very similar to the first Monster Maker but with a greater emphasis on story and characters. Players must first purchase equipment for their character. The player controls a top-down perspective where they "flip over" facedown cards representing the unexplored sections of that area. Occasionally monsters will be shown on the map and encountering them opens up a first person RPG battle menu. Defeating them will earn gold and experience points. There is a limit of 3 monster cards on the screen at any one time, however encounters can include more monsters who will take the place of a defeated monster.