It’s strange to think that Capcom’s marquee monster-slaying series is almost a decade old. Launching way back in March 2004, no one could have predicted just how huge the franchise would grow. In Japan, it’s easily one of the most popular handheld series around with each instalment soaring straight to the top of the charts. Monster Hunter wasn’t always associated with the PlayStation Portable and Nintendo 3DS, though. In fact its first appearance was on the PS2, a debut that hardly stirred overseas critics and gamers.
You see, even now, Monster Hunter will come across as flawed and menial to new players. With no narrative driving the experience, you simply roam a handful of maps, hunting an array of quirky and dangerous beasts which you then recycle into gear and equipment. I still remember how, after getting really excited for Monster Hunter, I put the game down after twenty minutes, moaning to myself about the obscure design.
I returned, however, and was thankful for it. Monster Hunter wasn’t a bad game, it was just completely different to the action role-playing games I had been used to in the past. In games like Kingdom Hearts and Champions of Norrath, you slay your opponents to progress to the next checkpoint or cut-scene. Monster Hunter, on the other hand, affords a sense of liberty; you kill what you choose to kill, the only gain being more money and components to improve your equipment.
Best Bit
The best thing about the series is that it’s so different. Given how openly structured the progression system, players will find themselves scouring the web for guides and tips on which gear to craft out of the myriad of different combinations. When playing Monster Hunter games you set yourself a personal goal and, whether that be a new sword, helmet, or boots, there will always be that sense of reward.
The series’ level of challenge is also another thing that some may dislike but others will find refreshing. It’s not the “Demon’s Souls” brand of difficulty where everyone and everything can and will mutilate you if you step in a certain radius. No, I would say it’s a more strategic breed of difficulty. When you find one of the game’s larger monsters, you don’t simply slash away for five minutes and give yourself a pat on the back, the encounters can last upwards of thirty minutes, as you track and kill your prey.
Another thing Monster Hunter has done differently is multiplayer. Since the series debut, it has always followed the same, four-player system in which hunters meet in the local tavern, choose a contract, and run off into the wild. When the PS2 game originally came to the UK in 2005, it was my first experience of online co-operative play and I remember it fondly. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there’s something magical about charging into battle with three, often random, players at your side.
I suppose, unlike MMOs in which parties kill hundreds of NPCs during a single quest, you’re only gunning for one monster.
Worst Bit
In terms of the games themselves, there is little to moan about. Sure, it would be nice to have some form of narrative and it’s true that most of the content in previous games is recycled. However, Monster Hunter is an even better example than Call of Duty when discussing series fatigue. Capcom could release a new iteration, throw in a few costumes and millions would still guzzle it up. Perhaps its design really is just timeless.
The thing that grinds my gears when it comes to Monster Hunter is how Capcom seems to have forgotten the series’ roots. The first generation of titles – the ones that marked MH’s breakthrough success – all launched on PlayStation platforms. The PS2 original may not have set the world alight but its soon-to-follow PSP port did. Many times over.
Why then, did Capcom jump ship to develop exclusively for Nintendo platforms? When the announcement was made that a PS3 Monster Hunter had been scrapped for a Wii version, it seemed like a bad joke. After all, as Capcom has admitted time and time again, it wasn’t about the fans at all, it was about trying to reach out to the biggest playerbase. In other words, chasing the money.
This makes it even more confusing, then, when you consider how slow Capcom has been to notice what’s happening in the industry today. The Wii U, for all its merits, is flagging as the PS4, XBO and last-gen platforms populate an increasing number of living rooms. Sure, the 3DS is steaming ahead but that doesn’t explain why Capcom doesn’t just make the series multiplatform. There must be a solid reason, otherwise the once-savvy publisher has lost its marbles.
It’s a shame that the only bad thing I have to say about the series is how it’s being handled by its publisher. Before I start rambling again though I will say this: Monster Hunter, for me, was an absolute landmark even if I didn’t know it at the time. I can only hope that, somewhere down the line, Capcom will wise up and I can return to the series after missing out for what feels like an eternity.
Germanos
Great article. I completely agree with the ‘worst bit’ key point, which is the lack of support for PlayStation devices. Really a shame, that there is no MH for the PS3 or PSV.
On the other hand, we have Soul Sacrifice and incoming Toukiden (which so far looks great), so we shouldn’t cry to much about the lack of co-op based “hunter” games.
Sweetums
I have my fingers crossed that Capcom will announce a monster hunter for PS4 at some point in the not-to-distant future as that would be enough reason for me to finally get on!
Jim Hargreaves
Would just like to say that anyone bummed by the lack of MH on Vita should keep an eye on KOEI’s Toukiden. It’s essentially the same game (with a few unique additions) and has been great fun from what I have played.
Dominic Leighton
of my all time favourite series, and as you say there must be some underlying reason why it isn’t multiplatform as it really doesn’t make any sense otherwise. A Vita or PS4 version would be amazing, and will surely become a reality at some point if they’re going to have a home version that interacts with a portable one. It might be a while though!
hazelam
i’ve only really played the PSP and PS2 versions, and they’ve shared a couple of problems.
first, the lack of any real story.
not a big issue admittedly, but i like a story.
much worse was the controls, specifically the lack of camera control.
that’s understandable on the PSP version, but on the PS2 they put the attacks on the right stick and just gave a shoulder button to centre the camera behind you.
a real pain in the arse.
i would like it if you could level your character up instead of everything being based on the gear you’re equipped with, but that’s just me, i’m a big RPG fan.
it does seem kind of strange the lack of support for playstation platforms though.
aren’t they making a Monster Hunter for one of the Playstation platforms but only for japan?
Yorozuya
I don’t really care if they’ll never appear onto a Playstation console. tbh. The 3DS and Wii U already have better quality of analog sticks and buttons which Vita lacks so the exclusively portable wise is fine for me. PS4 and Xbox is fine, they’d definitely do Monster Hunter 5 on it because I can’t see there being another 3DS game. Unless Nintendo introduces a handheld that kills of the PS Vita.