Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 2:25 pm Post subject: Monster Hunter Tri Preview!
This weekend I got to go to the game launch of Monster hunter Tri, Here's a quick preview and then a hands on first impression!
Monster Hunter, an action/adventure rpg Has seen several releases on the Psp and Ps2, It is a game based on a fight, loot, improve system. Rather than level up your character, you level up your equipment, to do this you need to get better materials to make your equipment out of. What is better materials you ask? Better materials is the scales, shells, talons, claws and other bodily arts of the biggest, nastiest creatures in the lands. Combined with mining ores, parts of plants and even acquiring rare fish through fishing!
Monster Hunter, for those that have not played it is known for intense, long, battles. Primarily a multi-player game, even after Capcom bungled and took its servers offline, its gaming community was so strong that it came back in servers made by the fans for the fans using various programs.
However it was generally hard to get into, as to get used to the game you had to learn its dynamics and go from particularly poor equipment to the better equipment to take on huge battles against massive Wyverns. In which you would have to dodge, learn its moves, set traps for it, throw and plant bombs for and at it, and possibly make more through combining your items on the fly in battle! It is as complicated as it sounds to do this all whilst in battle with a particularly angry and large dragon like creature. Therefore it is fair to point out that Monster Hunter is a gamers game, and not like the majority of Wii games in that it is not designed for Joe blog of the general public. If your gran can play this game. shes a better gamer than you.
In the newest addition to the series Monster hunter Tri should have a more easily accessible single player campaign to launch you into the game-play. Making it more widely accessible. According to Capcom.
Returning in this installment of monster hunter is the same weapon class system, how you move and attack, and therefore behave in battle depends entirely on your weapon type choice. Which can include:
Blade/shield, Dual blades, Great sword, Long sword, Lance and shield, Gunlance, Bowgun (now light, medium and heavy), Bow, Hammer, Hunting horn and the all new Switch Axe.
New features for the Game include Under Water combat, a more dynamic environment, and a new creature interaction system, they're own Monster ecology according to Capcom. And of course, New, Altogether terrifying Wyverns and Monsters!
Capcom has taken an interesting and open viewed approach to the underwater combat In which you loose none of your mobility, instead you gain three dimensional movement. In gaming this is a breath of fresh air, and the dynamic combat it creates proved both tense and interesting. Even underwater, as we battled some of the new creatures in the hands on the new environments are stunning, and when some of the larger beasts miss you and hit, say the underside of a huge island, its massive underwater stalactite breaks apart and falls to the murky bottom, an awe inspiring sight, even mid fight. And of course, on land when a Monster batters through a massive ancient pillar trying to get at you, it is a somewhat interesting experience in an open and dynamic game!
However, as the picture indicates, certain creatures Like the new Lagiacrus will have you beat on speed and agility underwater, and fighting one therefore will take you from sea to land again adding to the overall experience as you try to find and exploit it's weaknesses.
The new monster Ecology is a welcome addition to the game as well. Monsters will interact with each other, attacking, retreating to heal, and of course calling their pack mates to help. And by help, of course, It does mean to maul you and your fellow hunters. And naturally, there is a creature that will take advantage of this, mimicking calls the Qurupeco will call other other monsters into an area to aid it.
Besides new features there are seemingly small improvements to how the game works, which translate to huge improvements in game play. The new gathering hall includes a new meal table which you can all eat at, or even have one of your hunter colleagues pay for the overall meal! Also a whole new online village rather than just the gathering hall of four. In quest there are many small tweaks which are going to be well received by veteran monster hunters, some barely noticeable but still incredibly helpful. The camera locks on slightly, especially underwater, where it is easy to loose your sense of bearing after something swims right under you. The bowguns auto-aim is improved for on the fly shooting making the class far more easily accessible. Movements for each weapon is refined, dodging with your weapon out can now sidestep you rather than initiating an over the top diving roll (which should be saved for when you REALLY need to get out of there).
Graphically this game is stunning, rolling landscapes fall away before you and integrate to make you feel immersed in your environment, a staple of previous titles it has been refined in this edition to truly take your breath away.
Alright! I've babled on enough about the game features, that is of course only a quick introduction to the new features and game mechanics for those that are completely new to the title. To finish I'll give you a quick rundown of a typical fight in the demo we were privy too at the game launch.
Myself and a friend (a better monster hunter than I) Took our places amongst the rows of consoles, and set into a Qurupeco hunt to start off. being veterans of the psp titles we were glad to see the controls on the Wii controller were identical, making it pick up and play to old hands. As we set off the familiar sight of the base camp and blue chest of supply items greeted us, in this quest we also noticed that the main monster (the Qurupeco) was marked on map for the sake of speed. Normally it should be noted this is not the case you have to find the beast, and if it runs away to heal you have to chase it or risk its escaping and coming back for more.
After a small fight it went down, several times it called for support from random creatures on the map, turning the area into a battleground. However far more concerning than this was when A Rathian (a powerful Wyvern from previous titles) raided the area. It was at this point that exploiting the Qurupeco's weaknesses became paramount. In our briefing from the Capcom representative we were given the clue that dung bombs would make it flee the area, so avoiding the attacks from both creatures we pelted it with **** a few times, it quickly took flight and we followed. The fight whilst being eventful wasn't too hard and was over after only a few more area shifts and chases.
Spirits high we jumped into the available competition too quickly and killed it in 6 odd minutes, the time to beat for the day was about 5 Min's, and the overall record for the games launch in Britain was 4 Min's 3 seconds! So, a flawed approach on that one.
So, in penance, Myself and my fellow three hunters, decided that we should take on the hardest available creature in the demos. The Lagiacrus! And this turned out to be a good choice.
Starting out much the same as before we noticed that this particular critter was underwater, in an area that was entirely water, So we dived in and swam. its size was impressive and its speed and sudden charges in the water proved an interesting challenge. And when it missed it was well beyond reach and you would have to swim to get it back within the range of your attacks again, making it a mobile three dimensional fight. Also seeing the underside of the island shatter as it barreled into it was an epic moment in the fight for me.
Once we had annoyed it enough it took to the land an area back, and so the fight took to the beach. In this Demo we had several weapon sets available and each had their own items for use, we after a few tries had noticed that the long sword had shock traps. A handy item that would temporarily paralyse our large opponent. So planting it and hiding behind it (requiring teamwork to pull off) we drew it into the trap. And when it fell into it we were on it, several blades slashed all around it and bowgun munitions flew through the air striking our foe in a furious crossfire! From previous experience and hints on the beast we noticed it had a thick yet slightly too long for its own good tail. Perfect target! Whilst it was still stunned we went for it, and right when it was away to break out of our trap it fell forward, its tail flying through the air to land behind it!
At this point we had drawn the attention of one or two of the Capcom representatives who told us its chest plate was its next weak point, information we accepted gladly. And after a barrage of attacks and potions to keep ourselves alive after its still deadly attacks we were rewarded with it lifting its head and roaring it's fury at us, its chest with several large gashes in it. On land the beast was deadly, its shoulder barges and tail whipping attacks in particular were quick and could easily catch you off guard. And our experience in monster hunter led us to see the small "tells" of when such attacks were coming. After a battering experience of it beating us up and us beating it up it took back to the water, too which we gave chase only to find its electric attacks were more furiously in use now, as we charged, dodged and rained strikes at the beast we could smell victory looming, and as it battered us away and we swung and chopped our way back it seemed inevitable. Right up until we hit our fifteen minute time limit!
After several tries and similar fails later our team of two veterans and two amateurs was definitely getting sharper and we tried several strategies, and even a secret shortcut saving precious seconds. Coming tantalisingly close to slaying the beast. But it was not enough. We had drawn a crowd by the end of it, and were the last ones left playing when our groups game teaser ended, using three shock traps and injuring it early we gave them something to watch. But no trophy for us unfortunately. If we had killed it, apparently we would have been the four ht group in the UK to have done it, making it slightly more gutting that we came so close.
Personally I am no real fan of the Wii, I know it is fun, but in the age of next gen graphics, it just never help much water to me. However, even I may need to eat my words and get my hands on one for this title.
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