Intro to Monster Hunter

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate hits the US today!

 As much as I try to quell my excitement I have to stop and wonder why I was bitten by the Monster Hunter bug while everyone else in the west has pretty have never heard of the series. Capcom's series is a juggernaut in Japan, selling millions of copies and moving hardware.  I've been an incredible fan since listening back to the Monster Hunter specific episode of 8-4 play, and i wondered why such a big game in japan would be unknown here. After hearing how great it was I got the Tri without hesitation. I had no idea what I was getting into, but have never looked back since.

The game that started it all for me.

Explaining the game to friends has been tricky to describe, because of the depth and amount of time required to get the game rolling- about ten hours. There are some guides around the Internet about the series, multiple wikis and videos, but I wanted to take the time to prepare (or warn!) folks should they decide to try Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate. There's a danger with some people that tend to generalize the game without even playing it, or dismissing the game as another Japanese thing.

It definitely has quirks, but what the heck is Monster Hunter?

• An action game.
• An rpg of sorts.
• An intimidating crafting style game.

You prepare, set out, and hunt. You accept quests from a central hub location and try to complete those quests. Most involve killing a certain type of monster. Along the way you are encouraged to collect all sorts of stuff by mining, skinning dead monsters, collecting herbs and bones, and pretty much filling your inventory with all kinds of stuff. All that stuff comes in handy because you use it to build better gear: weapons, armor, traps, and potions. This is a loot crafting game. Your stats improve based on the weapons and armor you make, and you get better at the game the more you play. 

As you kill monsters you will eventually craft the items you need to take on harder monsters.

The game plays differently based on the weapons you use. Some weapons, like the Great Sword or Hammer require timed and preemptive commitment as a trade off for incredible damage. Other weapons like the Lance or Gunlance require you to get really close to the monster and dodge and dance around them based on your observations. Bows and Guns allow you to attack from a distance. Trying each of these weapons can make a complicated fight easier or harder based on your experience.

Japanese Box art

The big monsters are where the game takes a completely different set of difficulty. You have to learn and time attacks against them and discover how they move and attack to anticipate your reaction. As you wear down a big monster, they will start to show telltale signs: staggering, limping, broken horns and tails, and fleeing from you. There's no life gauge, you have to watch and learn the signs, and that only comes from experience. 

There's nothing like killing off a monster that has been particularly troublesome. What an accomplishment! As a player you become better, anticipating what to do next, and planning how to take down these huge monsters. Those reflexes only come from repeated practice, and repetitive observation. Some of those important items only come from breaking specific pieces off a monster, and even then it isn't necessarily guaranteed. So repeating quests happens. There's multi-player! The only way you'll take down some of these huge monsters is with a friend or two.

US box Art

What stops people from liking this game? It is a little OCD. If you like collecting stuff, completing sets of things, and challenging enemies, then this game could be for you. If you demand a complicated story or deep roleplayering experience, then this game is not for you. If you were a fan of Phantasy Star Online, or similar action-RPGs, then Monster Hunter could work for you. I don't think there is a specific kind of person that does or doesn't like the game.

It really does take about ten hours to finally get used to the game, what it is, and how to manage the controls. I honestly think that new players that are uninitiated to the series should play with a friend or have someone to keep them from rage quitting early on. The game doesn't explain itself very well. But if you can get through that, and see the game for what it is, Monster Hunter has become one of the most rewarding gaming experiences I've ever had.

If you don't have a 3DS or a Wii U, can I suggest Monster Hunter Freedom Unite for the PSP? Monster Hunter Portable 3rd has been successfully fan-translated and that is also an option for those with a PSP. Give Monster Hunter Tri a chance on the Wii. Even your Grandma has a Wii. 

Hunt them here: Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Nintendo 3DS XL Monster Hunter Portable 3rd [Japan Import] Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Nintendo Wii U Console - 32GB Black Deluxe Set