Monster Hunter

This article is about the video game series. For the first video game in the series, see Monster Hunter (video game). For the book series, see Larry Correia. For the 2014 thriller film starring Kevin Durand, see Dark Was the Night (film).
Monster Hunter

Genres Action role-playing
Developers Capcom
Publishers Capcom
Platforms PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita, Windows, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360, Nintendo 3DS, iOS, N-Gage
Promotion of Monster Hunter at the Tokyo Game Show 2010

The Monster Hunter (モンスターハンター Monsutā Hantā) franchise is a series of fantasy-themed action role-playing video games that started with the game Monster Hunter for PlayStation 2. The series is developed and published by Capcom. As the title suggests, the player takes the role of a hunter in a fantasy environment and completes quests by hunting out specific kinds of monsters to kill or capture. The series has branched out into PlayStation Portable games and a massively multiplayer online game. In Japan, the Monster Hunter series is immensely popular, and it has gained a cult following in the west, with the port Monster Hunter Freedom (known in Japan as Monster Hunter Portable) and its sequels, Monster Hunter Freedom 2 / Monster Hunter Portable 2nd, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite / Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G, Monster Hunter Portable 3rd and an online game called Monster Hunter Frontier Online selling millions of copies, and Monster Hunter Tri becoming the highest-selling third-party Wii game in Japan.[1] Since the series debuted, it has sold 28 million units as of March 31, 2014.[2] As of February 17, 2015, the series has sold 32 million units.[3] There is also an anime based on the spin-off game Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airou Village and a book called Monster Hunter EPISODE (モンスターハンター　EPISODE~).[4]

Gameplay

Gameplay in the Monster Hunter series consists of players embarking on various quests whose goals vary from gathering certain materials to hunting or capturing specific monsters. Players are able to choose from a wide variety of weapons, each catering to a specific style of combat. For example, a Great Sword is a slow but powerful weapon, requiring deliberate and calculated strikes in combat. Dual Blades, on the other hand, allow speedy strikes at the cost of lower damage per hit.

The primary goal of the game is to complete quests by successfully hunting or capturing powerful monsters, retrieving their parts through carving or receiving them as rewards, and using them as materials to craft or upgrade armors and weapons. Additionally, players may also gather insects, minerals, plant life, or fish to improve their arsenal.

Unlike most traditional RPGs, players do not "level up" and must instead rely on obtaining better equipment for improving their characters. Players are also not restricted by job/class systems commonly found in other RPGs. Instead, they are able to freely switch between different weapons, each offering a different playing experience. There is also no way to "complete" the game per se; players are essentially able to replay quests repeatedly.

Originally designed to be played as an online game, the earlier games in the series featured distinct online (cooperative) and offline (solo) modes, with many monsters, items, and quests being only accessible in online play. The more recent entries in the series have bucked this trend, and the focus has shifted to offering fully featured single-player experiences first, before layering on a rich but optional online multi-player component. In online mode, the game allows for up to four players to connect in cooperative play.

Games

Below is a list of games in the Monster Hunter main series. Each generation has a number of entries that are derivative of the original release.

Main series

First generation

Title Details
Monster Hunter

Original release date(s):
  • JP March 11, 2004
  • NA September 21, 2004
  • EU May 27, 2005
  • AUS June 1, 2005
 Release years by system:
2004 – PlayStation 2
Notes:
  • First game in the Monster Hunter series
Monster Hunter G

Original release date(s):
PlayStation 2
  • JP January 20, 2005
  • KOR January 20, 2005
Wii
  • JP April 23, 2009
 Release years by system:
2005 – PlayStation 2
2009 – Wii
Notes:
  • Released only in Japan (both versions) while in Korea was released for the PlayStation 2 only.
  • An expansion of the original title
Monster Hunter Freedom

Original release date(s):
  • JP December 1, 2005
  • EU May 12, 2006
  • NA May 23, 2006
  • AUS May 26, 2006
  • KO September 21, 2006
 Release years by system:
2005 – PlayStation Portable
Notes:
  • Released in Japan as Monster Hunter Portable
  • First game in the series to appear on a Handheld Console
  • Based on Monster Hunter G

Second generation

Title Details
Monster Hunter 2

Original release date(s):
  • JP February 16, 2006
 Release years by system:
2006 – PlayStation 2
Notes:
  • Released only in Japan
  • First game in the series to add the use of gems.
Monster Hunter Freedom 2

Original release date(s):
  • JP February 22, 2007
  • NA August 28, 2007
  • KO August 28, 2007
  • EU September 7, 2007
  • AUS September 12, 2007
 Release years by system:
2007 – PlayStation Portable
Notes:
  • Released in Japan as Monster Hunter Portable 2nd
  • Based on Monster Hunter 2
  • New weapon classes include Long Sword, Gunlance, Hunting Horn, and Bow
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite

Original release date(s):
PlayStation Portable
  • JP March 27, 2008
  • KO March 29, 2008
  • NA June 22, 2009
  • AUS June 25, 2009
  • EU June 26, 2009
iOS
  • JP May 8, 2014
  • NA July 2, 2014
 Release years by system:
2008 – PlayStation Portable
2014 – iOS
Notes:
  • Released in Japan as Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G
  • Released in Japan for iOS as Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G for iOS
  • An expansion of Monster Hunter Freedom 2
  • Available in the PlayStation Vita Store, with enhanced graphics and second stick support for control the camera
  • iOS version features addition of intuitive touch controls, virtual camera, automatic tracking, MFi licensing program support, and more

Third generation

Title Details
Monster Hunter Tri

Original release date(s):
  • JP August 1, 2009
  • NA April 20, 2010
  • EU April 23, 2010
  • AUS April 29, 2010
 Release years by system:
2009 – Wii
Notes:
  • Released in Japan as Monster Hunter 3 (tri-)
  • First game in the series to include underwater exploration and combat
  • New weapon classes include Switch Axe and Medium Bowgun
  • Weapon classes Dual Swords, Gunlance, Bow and Hunting Horn were not included
Monster Hunter Portable 3rd

Original release date(s):
  • JP December 1, 2010
 Release years by system:
2010 – PlayStation Portable
2011 – PlayStation 3
Notes:
  • Has an overall more eastern setting compared to previous games in the series
  • Not a port or expansion of Monster Hunter Tri but a completely separate game
  • Released only in Japan
  • Missing weapon classes returns (Dual Swords, Gunlance, Bow, Hunting Horn)
  • Does not have underwater exploration and combat
  • PS3 Edition is high definition remastering of PSP Edition
  • Cross-platform play between both versions
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate

Original release date(s):
  • JP December 10, 2011 (3DS)
  • JP December 8, 2012 (Wii U)
  • NA March 19, 2013
  • EU March 22, 2013
  • AUS March 23, 2013
  • KO April 24, 2013 (3DS)
 Release years by system:
2011 – Nintendo 3DS
2012 – Wii U
Notes:
  • Released in Japan as Monster Hunter 3 (tri-) G
  • An expansion of Monster Hunter Tri
  • Features new monsters and locations
  • Weapons brought back in Portable 3rd remain
  • Has underwater exploration and combat
  • Wii U Edition is high definition remastering of 3DS Edition
  • 3DS edition has 3D graphics
  • Cross-platform play between both versions
  • Online mode it's only available in the Wii U version.

Fourth generation

Title Details
Monster Hunter 4

Original release date(s):
  • JP September 14, 2013
 Release years by system:
2013 - Nintendo 3DS
Notes:
  • Announced on "Nintendo 3DS Conference 2011" (September 2011)
  • Released only in Japan.
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate

Original release date(s):
  • JP October 11, 2014
  • NA February 13, 2015
  • EU February 13, 2015
  • AUS February 14, 2015
 Release years by system:
2014 - Nintendo 3DS
Notes:
  • Announced on "Monster Hunter Festa 13" (January 2014)[5]
Monster Hunter Generations

Original release date(s):[6]
  • JP November 28, 2015
  • NA Q2/Q3 2016
  • EU Q2/Q3 2016
 Release years by system:
2015 - Nintendo 3DS
Notes:
  • Announced in a Nintendo Direct presentation on May 31, 2015

Spin-offs

Title Details
Monster Hunter Frontier Online

Original release date(s):
  • JP June 21, 2007
 Release years by system:
2007 – Microsoft Windows
2010 – Xbox 360
Notes:
  • Differs from other games in the series by being a full-fledged Multi-player Online Game.
  • Released only in Japan
Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airou Village

Original release date(s):
  • JP August 26, 2010
 Release years by system:
2010 – PlayStation Portable
Notes:
  • Released only in Japan.
Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airou Village G

Original release date(s):
  • JP August 10, 2011
 Release years by system:
2011 – PlayStation Portable
Notes:
  • Based on and expanded from Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airu Village
Monster Hunter Dynamic Hunting

Original release date(s):
  • JP June 1, 2011
  • NA June 1, 2011
  • PAL June 1, 2011
 Release years by system:
2011 - iOS
Notes:
  • First game in the series to be on the iOS system
Monster Hunter Online

Original release date(s):
  • CN August 18, 2013
 Release years by system:
2013 - PC
Notes:
  • Second Monster Hunter, Multi-player Online Game as a collaboration between Tencent and Capcom
  • Uses Crytek's CryEngine 3
  • Free-to-play business model
  • Beta in Cancini began on July 6, 2013
  • Planned to be released only for Windows
Monster Hunter: Frontier G

Original release date(s):
  • JP April 17, 2013
 Release years by system:
2013 - Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U
2014 - PlayStation Vita[7]
Notes:
  • Not released outside of Japan.
Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airou Village DX

Original release date(s):
  • JP September 10, 2015
 Release years by system:
2015 – Nintendo 3DS
Notes:
  • Based on Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airu Village
Monster Hunter Explore

Original release date(s):
  • JP September 3, 2015
 Release years by system:
2015 - iOS
2015 - Android[8]
Notes:
  • Name was changed from Monster Hunter Smart
Monster Hunter Stories

Original release date(s):
 Release years by system:
2016 - Nintendo 3DS[9]
Notes:
  • Not yet announced to be released outside Japan.

Other media

Monster Hunter
Anime television series
Studio David Production
Network Fuji TV
Original run 2016 – scheduled
Episodes 48[10]

Anime

A series of anime shorts titled MonHun Nikki Girigiri Airū-mura Airū Kiki Ippatsu (ja:モンハン日記 ぎりぎりアイルー村) was broadcast beginning August 10, 2010. A sequel, MonHun Nikki Girigiri Airū-mura G, was produced.[11] An anime series based on the franchise is planned to premiere in 2016.

Manga

A manga titled Monster Hunter Orage was published jointly by Kodansha and Capcom in April 2008. The author of the manga is Hiro Mashima. There are four volumes total with the last volume published on May 4, 2009. An English release of Monster Hunter Orage first took place on June 28, 2011.

Card game

A trading card game titled Monster Hunter Hunting Card was released in October 2008 with periodic updates planned.[12]

Comics

Elements from Monster Hunter were later included in the Worlds Unite comic crossover from Archie Comics, which featured several other Capcom and Sega franchises making guest appearances in the previously running Sonic the Hedgehog and Mega Man comic lines.[13]

Film

In 2012, it was reported that Resident Evil director Paul W. S. Anderson might direct a film adaptation of Monster Hunter.[14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Fletcher, J.C. (2009-08-13). "Monster Hunter 3 is Japan's best-selling third-party Wii game". Joystiq. Retrieved 2009-08-13.
  2. ↑ Yin-Poole, Wesley (8 May 2014). "Dead Rising 3 sales rise to 1.2m as Capcom enjoys profit boost". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  3. ↑ Matulef, Jeffrey (February 17, 2015). "Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate has shipped over 3m copies worldwide". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  4. ↑ "MONSTER HUNTER｜モンスターハンター 公式ポータルサイト" (in Japanese). Capcom(Japan). Retrieved 2011-07-06.
  5. ↑ 2014-01-26, Monster Hunter 4G Announced for Nintendo 3DS, Siliconera
  6. ↑ Maiberg, Emanuel (May 31, 2015). "Monster Hunter X Announced for 3DS, Watch the Trailer". GameSpot. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  7. ↑ 2013-09-18, TGS: Monster Hunter: Frontier G Announced for Vita, IGN
  8. ↑ http://www.mh-xr.jp/pc/
  9. ↑ http://www.siliconera.com/2015/04/11/monster-hunter-stories-announced-nintendo-3ds/
  10. ↑ "Monster Hunter Stories RIDE ON Anime Listed at 48 Episodes". Anime News Network. 2015-12-14. Retrieved 2015-12-31.
  11. ↑ "Monster Hunter Nikki Anime Shorts Get Sequel". Anime News Network. 2011-04-07. Retrieved 2011-06-04.
  12. ↑ "Monster Hunter becomes a card game". andriasang. August 22, 2008. Retrieved December 10, 2010.
  13. ↑ http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/02/23/capcom-and-sega-join-forces-for-worlds-unite-comic-book-crossover
  14. ↑ Paul W. S. Anderson to direct Capcom's 'Monster Hunter'?

External links

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