The Monster Hunter Experience

Well, after a long week, the waves of E3 2014 are finally settling and through the murky, dark waters that were the beginning of a new console era we're finally beginning to see a silhouette of better things to come.  A full year since the announcement of the PS4 and Xbox One and at last there is a meaty list of games bubbling their way to the surface.  Unfortunately, most of these titles won't even arrive until next year, so overall the entire convention felt more like a preview for E3 2015 than a promise of anything tangible gamers can plan on sinking their teeth into any time soon.

I won't say that E3 was a disappointment; we got everything I pretty much expected.  But that's just the problem; everything announced was expected.  The only real surprises I felt we got were on Nintendo's end in the form of Splatoon, Mario Maker, and Project STEAM.  But otherwise, it felt as though each press conference was just going through the motions, dangling short CG trailers in front of us, hoping the internet hype will blind us from the fact that there still aren't many reasons to plop down cash for their console.

But if there was anything that really got me excited, it was the showcase of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate for the 3DS.  Monster Hunter 4 has been out in Japan since September 2013, but it was only a few months ago that a western release for early 2015 was announced, and not just a straight up translation, but an explosive Ultimate edition, jam packed with more features, armor, weapons, and of course, monsters.  The footage shown last week was enough for me to blissfully reminisce on the days when I used to play the Monster Hunter games (sadly, I hadn't touched one since Freedom Unite around 6 years ago during the PSP days) and the anticipation forced me into a MH3 Ultimate impulse buy on my Wii U's e-Shop a few nights ago.

Youtuber Pro Jared gives an incredibly enthusiastic first impression of MH4U in this video here.  Now, if you're like me, you probably watched it, nodding along with clenched fists and wide eyes, murmuring "I have no idea what half these words are, but dammit it sounds amazing!"  Props to Pro Jared for paving the way for the hype train; he obviously knows his Monster Hunter and hearing him speak very highly of the upcoming release means the wait for next year is only going to be that much longer.

But, as I mentioned above, the other day I picked up Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate for the Wii U and though you can basically treat the first two and a half hours of the game as a lengthy tutorial, the action-packed, beast slaying gameplay has honestly never been better.  Every button press matters during combat and virtues such as patience, situational awareness, and persistence are rewarded.

There is so much more, though, that makes up the entire Monster Hunter experience, and it truly is one of the most unique series out on the market.  Conquering the world, which basically becomes a string of boss battles, each bigger and tougher than the last, is as rewarding as it is challenging. Though you'll feel an endless sense of growing stronger, wiser, and faster, the monsters only grow larger and more ferocious.  This is difficulty scaling truly at its finest; a steady climb uphill that is just doable enough to give you hope while still turning your legs to noodles and making you suffer.

And we need something different like Monster Hunter.  The market needs to see some creativity, even if its in the form of a series that's been around for 10 years.  You fight monsters, you use their bones, scales, hides, and horns to make badass armor and weapons, which you use to fight bigger monsters, which give you the materials for even stronger weapons.  It's a cycle of progression that keeps you engaged and is supported by deep, satisfying combat that tests your reflexes and patience.

Three of my most cherished games of the past generation were Demon's Souls, Dark Souls, and Dark Souls II, all which challenge the player with tight and punishing combat.  And after going back to MH3U, it wouldn't surprise me if these under appreciated Capcom titles were a source of inspiration for the Souls games.  Both offer fighting mechanics that are careful and deliberate, hailing the player that bides their time and learns from their enemy rather than swings wildly into the fray.

While a Wii U release for MH4U would be incredible, having a fully online capable Monster Hunter experience on the go is always welcome.  And since the total package is looking to be one massive improvement for the series, I'm more than ready to upgrade my old 3DS to a 3DS XL.  And to anyone reading, asking themselves, "What the hell are these games?" I do hope you find out soon and give in to the addiction (though, I prefer the term "lifestyle choice") that is Monster Hunter.