Monster Hunter has been a huge hit for Capcom ever since it first appeared in Japan all those years ago. Since then it's managed to sell more than 10 million copies as a franchise, and it doesn't look like this craze will stop any time soon.
Monster Hunter Tri was released a few months ago exclusively on the Nintendo Wii in Japan, and it's actually going to be the first console version of the franchise to see the light of day in the West. At this year's TGS, Gaming Union was fortunate enough to get their hands on the game, as well as testing out the new Classic Controller Pro.
Monster Hunter is all about the collective experience, so it was fitting that a full party was on hand to enjoy the experience. All of the classic weapon types are available to choose, but there are two new ones available in this version of the game. It's also possible to fight underwater, an experience that took some time getting used to.
Players of the Monster Hunter franchise will remember that there are some bosses who dwell in the water, and killing them can sometimes be an arduous process. This has now been rectified by the ability to fight underwater, and it's a positive move for the franchise. Players can use exactly the same commands that they would use on ground, except they are obviously slightly different due to the new environment. It was great to be able to follow the monster to different locations, as the entire fight didn't take place in the subterranean land.
During the land combat, the game just seemed extremely reminiscent to the most recent version on the PlayStation Portable. It doesn't really seem as though much has changed at all. Graphically they are comparable, and none of the core gameplay elements have been changed. The only real modification comes with the camera, but this is only due to the usage of the Classic Controller Pro. It enables the camera to be controller by the second analogue stick, instead of the d-plad/left shoulder button. It was just disappointing to see that very little had been done to improve other aspects, even the weapons had identical move sets.
Obviously there are loads of different locations to play through, and there have been some changes with regards to the home town. The player now has access to a farming map, for example, which means they no longer have to go on gathering quests. There are numerous small tweaks that have been adopted, and for hardcore Monster Hunter fans, this is probably all that's required. It just seems a bit underwhelming from an innovation perspective.
Having said that, it was still extremely fun to play, and definitely as challenging as ever. Teaming up with three other players was a great experience, and that's what Monster Hunter is all about, having a fun experience with some friends.
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