Anyone With A PSP Tried Monster Hunter?

[mistervader]

While the camera and controls can be mildly annoying, it is sooooo addicting! I love it, I love it, I love it.

[hoffmandu]

Negative, but it scored a whooping 5 (out of 10) in Game Informer, so I'd skip it.

[mistervader]

Negative, but it scored a whooping 5 (out of 10) in Game Informer, so I'd skip it.
Sorry, but those game reviewers don't know jack.

It's currently number one game in Japan and North America, and number one game discussed on GameFAQs.

I'd rather listen to the thousands of players who ACTUALLY played the game than those guys who just did a couple of missions before putting it down.

[mistervader]

Negative, but it scored a whooping 5 (out of 10) in Game Informer, so I'd skip it.
Sorry, but those game reviewers don't know jack.

It's currently the number one game in Japan and North America, and the number one game being discussed on GameFAQs.

I'd rather listen to the thousands of players who ACTUALLY played the game than those guys who just did a couple of missions before putting it down.

These people have also been wrong about their review of Fight Night Round 3 in the PSP, for reference. So no, I don't think their word is gold all the time.

That, and this game proves to be quite a challenge no matter how far you've gotten in the game, and by that, I don't mean that the AI cheats, ala Midway games.

[Young Avenger]

I have the original game on PS2. There are times I find it fun and addictive while other times extremely annoying (especially with those egg carrying quests). When I get a PSP I'd probably skip it that version of the game.

[mistervader]

I have the original game on PS2. There are times I find it fun and addictive while other times extremely annoying (especially with those egg carrying quests). When I get a PSP I'd probably skip it that version of the game.

I hate the egg quests, too, but you need to do some of 'em to unlock the further stars.

But the PSP version has some pluses they never had in the Monster Hunter PS2 game, mainly more missions, more armor, and the Treasure Hunt quests (Multiplayer only.). I just wish I knew more people I can multiplayer with, though.

[Young Avenger]

But the PSP version has some pluses they never had in the Monster Hunter PS2 game, mainly more missions, more armor, and the Treasure Hunt quests (Multiplayer only.). I just wish I knew more people I can multiplayer with, though.

It's pretty much Monster Hunter G on the go.

[mistervader]

It's pretty much Monster Hunter G on the go.
For the most part, yes. Although it has more content than even MHG.

That, and I never had a PS2, as I live in a dorm, so I wouldn't care much about that... :P

[hoffmandu]

Sorry, but those game reviewers don't know jack.

It's currently number one game in Japan and North America, and number one game discussed on GameFAQs.

I'd rather listen to the thousands of players who ACTUALLY played the game than those guys who just did a couple of missions before putting it down.

I disagree, GI knows their s***, always has. In fact, I wont even touch a title without 7.75 or better.

[mistervader]

I disagree, GI knows their s***, always has. In fact, I wont even touch a title without 7.75 or better.
Well, 200,000 owners of Monster Hunter disagree with Game Informer and Gamespot.

That counts a lot more to me than anything else.

That, and the confirmation that MHF2 for the PSP is coming out due to the unprecedented success of the game for Capcom.

They must be doing something right for a game they hardly even advertised compared to something like Street Fighter Alpha 3, which was NEVER number one in the PSP charts.

That, and GI doesn't have a review of the game on their site.

You're talking about the PS2 game. It's not the same thing, as differences have already been noted.

[hoffmandu]

Well, 200,000 owners of Monster Hunter disagree with Game Informer and Gamespot.

That counts a lot more to me than anything else.

That, and the confirmation that MHF2 for the PSP is coming out due to the unprecedented success of the game for Capcom.

They must be doing something right for a game they hardly even advertised compared to something like Street Fighter Alpha 3, which was NEVER number one in the PSP charts.

That, and GI doesn't have a review of the game on their site.

You're talking about the PS2 game. It's not the same thing, as differences have already been noted.

No, they have a detailed review in the last issue and it sounds like it sucks. And sales numbers really don't mean squat when one is inquiring about quality. I'm sure Cars-The Movie game sold a boatload too, but I wouldn't touch that with a 10 ft pole.

[Young Avenger]

Well, 200,000 owners of Monster Hunter disagree with Game Informer and Gamespot.

That counts a lot more to me than anything else.

That, and the confirmation that MHF2 for the PSP is coming out due to the unprecedented success of the game for Capcom.

They must be doing something right for a game they hardly even advertised compared to something like Street Fighter Alpha 3, which was NEVER number one in the PSP charts.

That, and GI doesn't have a review of the game on their site.

You're talking about the PS2 game. It's not the same thing, as differences have already been noted.

In Alpha 3 defense, the game is a port. Every major console since 98 had a version of Alpha 3. Even the GBA. So if Alpha 3 MAX is burning up the sales chart theres a good chance that the majority of gamers already own the game on some other system.

The 200,000 gamers you mentioned, is that the number of people who brought the PSP version of the game?

[mistervader]

No, they have a detailed review in the last issue and it sounds like it sucks. And sales numbers really don't mean squat when one is inquiring about quality. I'm sure Cars-The Movie game sold a boatload too, but I wouldn't touch that with a 10 ft pole.

All right. Just so I don't come off as a blind rabid fanboy, I'll offer valid reasons to not get the game.

This game will yield hundreds of hours of gameplay, and has a high learning curve. However, once you get over the initial humps, you discover an amazing experience, one that goes unchallenged at this point among all the PSP games available in its genre.

Despite that, if you don't have the patience to wait for the good parts, then forget it. You really won't enjoy the game if you end up staying in the meat and gathering missions. You really have to give the game time, and the time it takes for the game to get better absolutely depends on your speed at picking up the learning curve.

By the way, do you mean THIS review?

How do you take huge weaponry, dragons, and co-op conquests, mix them together and make it not at all fun? I thought that this combination could only result in pure goodness, but Monster Hunter unequivocally proves me wrong.

The game fails in its basic premise. Players create characters that will improve in no discernable way during the course of the game; instead, they will buy better weapons and armor. How will they pay for these upgrades? By foraging out in the wilderness during contracts for exciting things like mushrooms, berries, and herbs. While the game offers rewards for completing contracts, it’s actually more efficient to pay the contract fee and spend your finite amount of time on collecting crap from the base of trees. And here I thought that I was supposed to hunt monsters…I was wrong.

Now, I have really big problems with the game outside of the mission structure (most of the contracts aren’t fun, by the way. Why am I tasked with cooking steaks for a festival that I will not be able to attend?). The control scheme is horrific and cannot be changed. To move the camera, use the d-pad; to move your character, use the left analog stick; to swing or fire your awkward and slow weapon, use the right analog stick. In the hours I spent playing, I never ever got comfortable with this scheme and that is very bad news for an action title.

During my more angry moments with Monster Hunter, I really wanted to give it the damning score of two, but the game does have some redeeming qualities that don’t make up for the mistakes, yet should be noted. The photographic backgrounds do create an interesting and unique environment (even though the zones are extremely small and you can’t go to the places you see), climbing to different elevations is a nice touch not often seen in online action titles, and the creativity allowed when doing four-player missions is really cool. Truth be told, I’m sad that this game is so un-fun. Dragons and swords don’t deserve this kind of disrespect.

Points of rebuttal, and this is considering I'd give this game no higher than a 9 on my yardstick:

1. This is a PS2 review. If this isn't the review, do point me to the review in question. I'm assuming this is the one you saw because it gives a 5.

2. She says foraging and searching is more efficient. WRONG. Killing monsters yields the best items.

3. She complains about the controls, particularly the dual analog issues. These don't exist in the PSP. There's only one analog nub.

4. Not all missions are about cooking RAW meat. In fact, I daresay she didn't get too far in the game to find out that it's not all about cooking RAW meat. The fact that she didn't is the reason why she, and most other reviewers, have given it low scores: they didn't wait until the good parts.

5. This is a review of Monster Hunter. Not Monster Hunter G, with vast improvements over Monster Hunter, AND is the game ported in Monster Hunter Freedom. Interestingly, MHF has even more missions than MHG. MHG was never released in U.S.

Well, reviews don't always paint an accurate picture. I've been burned by Gamespot reviews too many times for me to want to rely on them, for instance (Fight Night Round 3 comes to mind. They said it was bad, and I know for a fact it was great. The readers all thought so, too.), and there's an extremely robust MHF community that you wouldn't see in existence for just any crappy game. There's just so much to do, and hours upon hours of gameplay. "Sounds like it sucks" is just a hard line for me to swallow without offering an appropriate defense against the allegation..

I'm playing the game, and it's officially the best PSP game that we have right now in the action/adventure genre. I sadly can't recommend you to rent it, because if you did, you might not enjoy it since you won't have enough time to get to the meaty parts. It's a game that gets better as you go along, and not everyone has the patience to deal with it, but those who do are in for quite a treat.

I already mentioned its shortcomings, from camera, to loading in every area, but when you get down to it, more than enough people have been recommending it, and recall that unlike Cars, this game got nowhere near as much publicity for it when it was coming out.

That being said... what games ARE your cup of tea? This might not even be a genre you like at all (For instance, I know for sure nobody can ever expect me to enjoy RTS if it's not simplistic enough.).

In any case, this game is highly recommended. Gamespot's User Reviews vs. Site Reviews pretty much tells the story: 9.0 vs. 6.5.

This is far from a perfect game, but until Tekken comes along for the PSP, I would have to say this is the best game I have right now on the PSP, and I have 16 of 'em.

[mistervader]

In Alpha 3 defense, the game is a port. Every major console since 98 had a version of Alpha 3. Even the GBA. So if Alpha 3 MAX is burning up the sales chart theres a good chance that the majority of gamers already own the game on some other system.

The 200,000 gamers you mentioned, is that the number of people who brought the PSP version of the game?
Haha. Sorry if I touched a nerve with Alpha 3. But yeah, that's a GREAT game. It's just that as you mentioned, it's been on practically every system already.

PSP version, yes. I'm basing this on GameFAQs stats. 200k people bought the game, mostly from Japan.

And as I said, I guess it's fair enough warning that if you have no patience with the game, you won't like it. I consider myself a fast learner, and it took a few days for the game to grow on me.

EDIT: I stand corrected. IGN states 400,000 copies sold of the game IN JAPAN ALONE. Whoa.

[hoffmandu]

Hundreds of hours of game play........and you expect one to wait for the good parts? Yeesh. Like I said, they scored it 5. If they are wrong, than it's not by much, so consider it a 6.5, which is still less than adequate.

[mistervader]

Gak. Double post. Sorry.

[mistervader]

Hundreds of hours of game play........and you expect one to wait for the good parts? Yeesh. Like I said, they scored it 5. If they are wrong, than it's not by much, so consider it a 6.5, which is still less than adequate.
Hundreds of hours of game play........and you expect one to wait for the good parts? Yeesh. Like I said, they scored it 5. If they are wrong, than it's not by much, so consider it a 6.5, which is still less than adequate.

And did I mention ANYWHERE that the "Good Parts" come into play hundreds of hours later?

There are six levels of missions from the Elder alone.

By the second level, you should already be getting into the "good parts".

The other part of the game are the guild missions, both online and offline. So Elder mission is merely a third of the entire game.

That's one-sixth of one-third of the game. 1/18th of the game. That's not so bad at all.

I am always of the belief that if you think something sucks, you better be sure it's for the right reasons. That's the only reason I'm contending with this, because dismissing a game without finding out what makes it tick is precisely thinking something sucks without good enough reason.

[hoffmandu]

And did I mention ANYWHERE that the "Good Parts" come into play hundreds of hours later?

There are six levels of missions from the Elder alone.

By the second level, you should already be getting into the "good parts".

The other part of the game are the guild missions, both online and offline. So Elder mission is merely a third of the entire game.

That's one-sixth of one-third of the game. 1/18th of the game. That's not so bad at all.

I am always of the belief that if you think something sucks, you better be sure it's for the right reasons. That's the only reason I'm contending with this, because dismissing a game without finding out what makes it tick is precisely thinking something sucks without good enough reason.


Point taken, but what I thinkl you're missing is my complete faith in the GI (game infomrer) review. They don't mess around.

[mistervader]

Point taken, but what I thinkl you're missing is my complete faith in the GI (game infomrer) review. They don't mess around.
I'm not missing that. What I am saying is that they were reviewing a DIFFERENT game.

For all intents and purposes, Monster Hunter Freedom is NOT Monster Hunter for the PS2. There are marked differences.

But seeing as you are swearing by GI's reviews, then I will want to check out what they have to say about other games in the future. Nonetheless, I would like to reiterate that they didn't review MHF. They reviewed the original MH, which was strictly inferior to the PSP version.

[hoffmandu]

I'm not missing that. What I am saying is that they were reviewing a DIFFERENT game.

For all intents and purposes, Monster Hunter Freedom is NOT Monster Hunter for the PS2. There are marked differences.

But seeing as you are swearing by GI's reviews, then I will want to check out what they have to say about other games in the future. Nonetheless, I would like to reiterate that they didn't review MHF. They reviewed the original MH, which was strictly inferior to the PSP version.

I think the only way to solve this is HTH combat. Today, 3 o'clock, Smokers Corner!

[mistervader]

I think the only way to solve this is HTH combat. Today, 3 o'clock, Smokers Corner!
Oh, heck no.

I challenge you to a Danceoff! :p

[madevil]

I'm playing the PS2 version right now and I quite like it. Its a bit too tedious when you solo and finding a party to do the things you need online can be frusterating. When you find 3 people working together for mutaul benefit, its a great game though.

It DOES sound like the reviewer didn't get very far though, before giving it a 5. There are initial quests in the beginning, like the meat quest, that prep you for surviving while on a hunt.

Have you seen any movies for MH2 yet? New weapons, lots of new monsters..., looks great.

[mistervader]

I'm playing the PS2 version right now and I quite like it. Its a bit too tedious when you solo and finding a party to do the things you need online can be frusterating. When you find 3 people working together for mutaul benefit, its a great game though.

It DOES sound like the reviewer didn't get very far though, before giving it a 5. There are initial quests in the beginning, like the meat quest, that prep you for surviving while on a hunt.

Have you seen any movies for MH2 yet? New weapons, lots of new monsters..., looks great.
Yep. And they're gonna do MH2 for the PSP as well. Yeah!

My only worry is if they didn't fix the camera, because while I'm used to it now, it still sometimes gets me killed when the camera decides to go 1st-person on me while a monster is trying to peck me to death.

Although right now, with Tekken: Dark Resurrection on the PSP, I think I can safely say MHF has been surpassed as "Best PSP Game" already. Tekken now holds that claim.

[hoffmandu]

I can no longer comment for I cannot dance.........*concedes defeat.