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This thread has been linked to the game 'Monster Hunter Tri'.
Whether you want to believe it or not it’s clear the Wii has a real lacklustre online system. One full of few titles, annoying friend codes and more often than not no real option to chat properly via a headset. Enter Monster Hunter Tri, a Japanese game finally brought over to Europe that promised to not only provide one of the best online experiences for the Wii, but also one that would rival that of the Playstation 3 and Xbox Live. Does it keep its promises though and more importantly was it worth bringing the new franchise outside of Japan?
So what is the Monster Hunter series all about? Right from the get go the game gives a strong Phantasy Star Online vibe. You have several environments to explore, a cast of enemies to attack and a fantastic four player co-operative experience all tied together in an extremely simple to navigate interface. Playing the role of a young hunter you are called in to help rebuild a small village while taking down increasingly ferocious monsters which range from small scorpion-like creatures to giant underwater dragons. There is no turn based gameplay here, everything is done in real time using either the classic control or the Wii remote and nunchuck combo (although I wouldn’t recommend it) and it definitely adds to the often tense and hectic nature of the game.
Battling is simple to learn but also extremely deep whether it be on land or underwater. Swords, lances and hammers are just some of the weapons you can wield and using them is done simply via using two buttons for two different types of moves. It may sound easy, but when you take into account the unpredictable nature of the monsters themselves, the amount of dodging and planning that needs to be done, a strict time limit on missions, plus managing your items (health, whetstones, power ups etc...) all mid-fight it may become too much for some gamers. But it feels so rewarding to finally take down a beast that on first glance made you think “Oh my God how am I ever going to defeat that?!”
The game is unusual for an RPG as you do not find yourself levelling up but rather upgrading weapons and armour the further you progress instead. Carving up defeated foes and collecting resources is the key to getting the best equipment possible and that’s basically what Monster Hunter Tri comes down to. Scavenging the best items and looking to better your equipment. Killed a Great Jaggi? Then use his scales for a nice set of leg armour. It’s a great system that makes you feel like you deserve the rewards you reap after killing monsters, especially some of the later ones.
As for the monsters you battle these range from small insects right up to freighter sized creatures. Each have their own traits and behaviours and it’s vital to learn how an enemy you’re battling will react. Battles can go on for up to forty minutes in some cases and it’s really the first game I’ve played where it does feel like you are in the wild hunting wild creatures.
The game is handily split into a single player mode (village) and an online one (city) which means really you’re getting two separate adventures in one game. Sure the missions are mostly the same, but with the added difficulty and online only items and tasks found in the city it makes it worth trying out both. Furthermore you can jump in and out of either with the same created character carrying over any weapons and armour.
In terms of single player, you always start off in your village where you can purchase items, forge weapons and armour, pimp out your house and tend to crops and fishing boats. It is then a matter of undertaking tasks which can range from collecting mushrooms to capturing or killing monsters all of which earn cash and bonus items as well as access to new areas. While things start a little too slow, the more exciting monsters are gradually introduced a couple of hours in and its then that things start to kick into gear. Overall the single player is nice and lengthy and a good introduction for those new to the series. However all is not done once you’ve completed the adventure as you can then...
...Take the fight online, and this is where the game truly excels. The amount of options is amazing. You can choose to go into rooms full of people at your skill level, choose to meet with friends or randomers, use voice chat and perhaps best of all friend codes are no more! You heard right! In terms of the adventure itself, the layout is pretty much the same as single player with a bigger city being your base camp instead. Here you can meet with others, go shopping and sort out inventory before deciding on a mission to attempt and venturing out into the dangerous unknown as a team. While Left 4 Dead on the Xbox 360 is a prime example of teamwork in a game, Monster Hunter Tri at times requires just as much planning and communication if you are to beat the time limits and crushing difficulty. This is clearly one of those games that can in theory last hundreds upon hundreds of hours if the online community continues to keep as it is. Overall what you have here is pretty much what you’d expect on Xbox Live and any Wii game in the future would be wise to copy Capcom’s move.
Visually the game is impressive. Sure it has its rougher edges when you look at objects up close, but when you take into the account the vast scope of some areas it shows that it’s not just the HD consoles that can provide breathtaking moments. Music too is brilliant with triumphant tunes playing during battles and key moments.
So does the game slip up anywhere? Firstly while there are five or six massive environments to explore, these are then split into ten to twelve smaller areas that require loading when you move from one to another. Not a major issue, but it can break from the idea that what you’re exploring is one seamless world. Furthermore while you can visit the first area whenever you like freely, the desert, ice and later stages can only be accessed when completing tasks. A weird choice and it would have been nice to be able to explore these areas in your own time and at your own pace. Also as mentioned before the game does take a couple of hours to get going but this is really just nitpicking at what really is an exceptional game.
If you like playing RPG adventures alone Monster Hunter Tri delivers. If you love playing online co-operatively with friends then Monster Hunter Tri delivers. If you enjoy both then you’re going to be spoiled. It’s hard to fault the game when it does so much more than pretty much any third party Wii title released. I’m very glad this series has made its way here and hopefully we’ll see more from the fierce monsters in the future.
So what is the Monster Hunter series all about? Right from the get go the game gives a strong Phantasy Star Online vibe. You have several environments to explore, a cast of enemies to attack and a fantastic four player co-operative experience all tied together in an extremely simple to navigate interface. Playing the role of a young hunter you are called in to help rebuild a small village while taking down increasingly ferocious monsters which range from small scorpion-like creatures to giant underwater dragons. There is no turn based gameplay here, everything is done in real time using either the classic control or the Wii remote and nunchuck combo (although I wouldn’t recommend it) and it definitely adds to the often tense and hectic nature of the game.
Battling is simple to learn but also extremely deep whether it be on land or underwater. Swords, lances and hammers are just some of the weapons you can wield and using them is done simply via using two buttons for two different types of moves. It may sound easy, but when you take into account the unpredictable nature of the monsters themselves, the amount of dodging and planning that needs to be done, a strict time limit on missions, plus managing your items (health, whetstones, power ups etc...) all mid-fight it may become too much for some gamers. But it feels so rewarding to finally take down a beast that on first glance made you think “Oh my God how am I ever going to defeat that?!”
The game is unusual for an RPG as you do not find yourself levelling up but rather upgrading weapons and armour the further you progress instead. Carving up defeated foes and collecting resources is the key to getting the best equipment possible and that’s basically what Monster Hunter Tri comes down to. Scavenging the best items and looking to better your equipment. Killed a Great Jaggi? Then use his scales for a nice set of leg armour. It’s a great system that makes you feel like you deserve the rewards you reap after killing monsters, especially some of the later ones.
As for the monsters you battle these range from small insects right up to freighter sized creatures. Each have their own traits and behaviours and it’s vital to learn how an enemy you’re battling will react. Battles can go on for up to forty minutes in some cases and it’s really the first game I’ve played where it does feel like you are in the wild hunting wild creatures.
The game is handily split into a single player mode (village) and an online one (city) which means really you’re getting two separate adventures in one game. Sure the missions are mostly the same, but with the added difficulty and online only items and tasks found in the city it makes it worth trying out both. Furthermore you can jump in and out of either with the same created character carrying over any weapons and armour.
In terms of single player, you always start off in your village where you can purchase items, forge weapons and armour, pimp out your house and tend to crops and fishing boats. It is then a matter of undertaking tasks which can range from collecting mushrooms to capturing or killing monsters all of which earn cash and bonus items as well as access to new areas. While things start a little too slow, the more exciting monsters are gradually introduced a couple of hours in and its then that things start to kick into gear. Overall the single player is nice and lengthy and a good introduction for those new to the series. However all is not done once you’ve completed the adventure as you can then...
...Take the fight online, and this is where the game truly excels. The amount of options is amazing. You can choose to go into rooms full of people at your skill level, choose to meet with friends or randomers, use voice chat and perhaps best of all friend codes are no more! You heard right! In terms of the adventure itself, the layout is pretty much the same as single player with a bigger city being your base camp instead. Here you can meet with others, go shopping and sort out inventory before deciding on a mission to attempt and venturing out into the dangerous unknown as a team. While Left 4 Dead on the Xbox 360 is a prime example of teamwork in a game, Monster Hunter Tri at times requires just as much planning and communication if you are to beat the time limits and crushing difficulty. This is clearly one of those games that can in theory last hundreds upon hundreds of hours if the online community continues to keep as it is. Overall what you have here is pretty much what you’d expect on Xbox Live and any Wii game in the future would be wise to copy Capcom’s move.
Visually the game is impressive. Sure it has its rougher edges when you look at objects up close, but when you take into the account the vast scope of some areas it shows that it’s not just the HD consoles that can provide breathtaking moments. Music too is brilliant with triumphant tunes playing during battles and key moments.
So does the game slip up anywhere? Firstly while there are five or six massive environments to explore, these are then split into ten to twelve smaller areas that require loading when you move from one to another. Not a major issue, but it can break from the idea that what you’re exploring is one seamless world. Furthermore while you can visit the first area whenever you like freely, the desert, ice and later stages can only be accessed when completing tasks. A weird choice and it would have been nice to be able to explore these areas in your own time and at your own pace. Also as mentioned before the game does take a couple of hours to get going but this is really just nitpicking at what really is an exceptional game.
If you like playing RPG adventures alone Monster Hunter Tri delivers. If you love playing online co-operatively with friends then Monster Hunter Tri delivers. If you enjoy both then you’re going to be spoiled. It’s hard to fault the game when it does so much more than pretty much any third party Wii title released. I’m very glad this series has made its way here and hopefully we’ll see more from the fierce monsters in the future.
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Whether you want to believe it or not it’s clear the Wii has a real lacklustre online system. One full of few titles, annoying friend codes and more often than not no real option to chat properly via a headset. Enter Monster Hunter Tri, a Japanese game finally brought over to Europe that promised to not only provide one of the best online experiences for the Wii, but also one that would rival that of the Playstation 3 and Xbox Live. Does it keep its promises though and more importantly was it worth bringing the new franchise outside of Japan?
So what is the Monster Hunter series all about? Right from the get go the game gives a strong Phantasy Star Online vibe. You have several environments to explore, a cast of enemies to attack and a fantastic four player co-operative experience all tied together in an extremely simple to navigate interface. Playing the role of a young hunter you are called in to help rebuild a small village while taking down increasingly ferocious monsters which range from small scorpion-like creatures to giant underwater dragons. There is no turn based gameplay here, everything is done in real time using either the classic control or the Wii remote and nunchuck combo (although I wouldn’t recommend it) and it definitely adds to the often tense and hectic nature of the game.
Battling is simple to learn but also extremely deep whether it be on land or underwater. Swords, lances and hammers are just some of the weapons you can wield and using them is done simply via using two buttons for two different types of moves. It may sound easy, but when you take into account the unpredictable nature of the monsters themselves, the amount of dodging and planning that needs to be done, a strict time limit on missions, plus managing your items (health, whetstones, power ups etc...) all mid-fight it may become too much for some gamers. But it feels so rewarding to finally take down a beast that on first glance made you think “Oh my God how am I ever going to defeat that?!”
The game is unusual for an RPG as you do not find yourself levelling up but rather upgrading weapons and armour the further you progress instead. Carving up defeated foes and collecting resources is the key to getting the best equipment possible and that’s basically what Monster Hunter Tri comes down to. Scavenging the best items and looking to better your equipment. Killed a Great Jaggi? Then use his scales for a nice set of leg armour. It’s a great system that makes you feel like you deserve the rewards you reap after killing monsters, especially some of the later ones.
As for the monsters you battle these range from small insects right up to freighter sized creatures. Each have their own traits and behaviours and it’s vital to learn how an enemy you’re battling will react. Battles can go on for up to forty minutes in some cases and it’s really the first game I’ve played where it does feel like you are in the wild hunting wild creatures.
The game is handily split into a single player mode (village) and an online one (city) which means really you’re getting two separate adventures in one game. Sure the missions are mostly the same, but with the added difficulty and online only items and tasks found in the city it makes it worth trying out both. Furthermore you can jump in and out of either with the same created character carrying over any weapons and armour.
In terms of single player, you always start off in your village where you can purchase items, forge weapons and armour, pimp out your house and tend to crops and fishing boats. It is then a matter of undertaking tasks which can range from collecting mushrooms to capturing or killing monsters all of which earn cash and bonus items as well as access to new areas. While things start a little too slow, the more exciting monsters are gradually introduced a couple of hours in and its then that things start to kick into gear. Overall the single player is nice and lengthy and a good introduction for those new to the series. However all is not done once you’ve completed the adventure as you can then...
...Take the fight online, and this is where the game truly excels. The amount of options is amazing. You can choose to go into rooms full of people at your skill level, choose to meet with friends or randomers, use voice chat and perhaps best of all friend codes are no more! You heard right! In terms of the adventure itself, the layout is pretty much the same as single player with a bigger city being your base camp instead. Here you can meet with others, go shopping and sort out inventory before deciding on a mission to attempt and venturing out into the dangerous unknown as a team. While Left 4 Dead on the Xbox 360 is a prime example of teamwork in a game, Monster Hunter Tri at times requires just as much planning and communication if you are to beat the time limits and crushing difficulty. This is clearly one of those games that can in theory last hundreds upon hundreds of hours if the online community continues to keep as it is. Overall what you have here is pretty much what you’d expect on Xbox Live and any Wii game in the future would be wise to copy Capcom’s move.
Visually the game is impressive. Sure it has its rougher edges when you look at objects up close, but when you take into the account the vast scope of some areas it shows that it’s not just the HD consoles that can provide breathtaking moments. Music too is brilliant with triumphant tunes playing during battles and key moments.
So does the game slip up anywhere? Firstly while there are five or six massive environments to explore, these are then split into ten to twelve smaller areas that require loading when you move from one to another. Not a major issue, but it can break from the idea that what you’re exploring is one seamless world. Furthermore while you can visit the first area whenever you like freely, the desert, ice and later stages can only be accessed when completing tasks. A weird choice and it would have been nice to be able to explore these areas in your own time and at your own pace. Also as mentioned before the game does take a couple of hours to get going but this is really just nitpicking at what really is an exceptional game.
If you like playing RPG adventures alone Monster Hunter Tri delivers. If you love playing online co-operatively with friends then Monster Hunter Tri delivers. If you enjoy both then you’re going to be spoiled. It’s hard to fault the game when it does so much more than pretty much any third party Wii title released. I’m very glad this series has made its way here and hopefully we’ll see more from the fierce monsters in the future.
So what is the Monster Hunter series all about? Right from the get go the game gives a strong Phantasy Star Online vibe. You have several environments to explore, a cast of enemies to attack and a fantastic four player co-operative experience all tied together in an extremely simple to navigate interface. Playing the role of a young hunter you are called in to help rebuild a small village while taking down increasingly ferocious monsters which range from small scorpion-like creatures to giant underwater dragons. There is no turn based gameplay here, everything is done in real time using either the classic control or the Wii remote and nunchuck combo (although I wouldn’t recommend it) and it definitely adds to the often tense and hectic nature of the game.
Battling is simple to learn but also extremely deep whether it be on land or underwater. Swords, lances and hammers are just some of the weapons you can wield and using them is done simply via using two buttons for two different types of moves. It may sound easy, but when you take into account the unpredictable nature of the monsters themselves, the amount of dodging and planning that needs to be done, a strict time limit on missions, plus managing your items (health, whetstones, power ups etc...) all mid-fight it may become too much for some gamers. But it feels so rewarding to finally take down a beast that on first glance made you think “Oh my God how am I ever going to defeat that?!”
The game is unusual for an RPG as you do not find yourself levelling up but rather upgrading weapons and armour the further you progress instead. Carving up defeated foes and collecting resources is the key to getting the best equipment possible and that’s basically what Monster Hunter Tri comes down to. Scavenging the best items and looking to better your equipment. Killed a Great Jaggi? Then use his scales for a nice set of leg armour. It’s a great system that makes you feel like you deserve the rewards you reap after killing monsters, especially some of the later ones.
As for the monsters you battle these range from small insects right up to freighter sized creatures. Each have their own traits and behaviours and it’s vital to learn how an enemy you’re battling will react. Battles can go on for up to forty minutes in some cases and it’s really the first game I’ve played where it does feel like you are in the wild hunting wild creatures.
The game is handily split into a single player mode (village) and an online one (city) which means really you’re getting two separate adventures in one game. Sure the missions are mostly the same, but with the added difficulty and online only items and tasks found in the city it makes it worth trying out both. Furthermore you can jump in and out of either with the same created character carrying over any weapons and armour.
In terms of single player, you always start off in your village where you can purchase items, forge weapons and armour, pimp out your house and tend to crops and fishing boats. It is then a matter of undertaking tasks which can range from collecting mushrooms to capturing or killing monsters all of which earn cash and bonus items as well as access to new areas. While things start a little too slow, the more exciting monsters are gradually introduced a couple of hours in and its then that things start to kick into gear. Overall the single player is nice and lengthy and a good introduction for those new to the series. However all is not done once you’ve completed the adventure as you can then...
...Take the fight online, and this is where the game truly excels. The amount of options is amazing. You can choose to go into rooms full of people at your skill level, choose to meet with friends or randomers, use voice chat and perhaps best of all friend codes are no more! You heard right! In terms of the adventure itself, the layout is pretty much the same as single player with a bigger city being your base camp instead. Here you can meet with others, go shopping and sort out inventory before deciding on a mission to attempt and venturing out into the dangerous unknown as a team. While Left 4 Dead on the Xbox 360 is a prime example of teamwork in a game, Monster Hunter Tri at times requires just as much planning and communication if you are to beat the time limits and crushing difficulty. This is clearly one of those games that can in theory last hundreds upon hundreds of hours if the online community continues to keep as it is. Overall what you have here is pretty much what you’d expect on Xbox Live and any Wii game in the future would be wise to copy Capcom’s move.
Visually the game is impressive. Sure it has its rougher edges when you look at objects up close, but when you take into the account the vast scope of some areas it shows that it’s not just the HD consoles that can provide breathtaking moments. Music too is brilliant with triumphant tunes playing during battles and key moments.
So does the game slip up anywhere? Firstly while there are five or six massive environments to explore, these are then split into ten to twelve smaller areas that require loading when you move from one to another. Not a major issue, but it can break from the idea that what you’re exploring is one seamless world. Furthermore while you can visit the first area whenever you like freely, the desert, ice and later stages can only be accessed when completing tasks. A weird choice and it would have been nice to be able to explore these areas in your own time and at your own pace. Also as mentioned before the game does take a couple of hours to get going but this is really just nitpicking at what really is an exceptional game.
If you like playing RPG adventures alone Monster Hunter Tri delivers. If you love playing online co-operatively with friends then Monster Hunter Tri delivers. If you enjoy both then you’re going to be spoiled. It’s hard to fault the game when it does so much more than pretty much any third party Wii title released. I’m very glad this series has made its way here and hopefully we’ll see more from the fierce monsters in the future.