Monster Hunter: Most Underrated Game of 2004
Pros:
Original--especially in a day of look-alike rehashes of the same ol' same ol'.
Cons:
Original--as many may label it as awkward due to it's originality.
The Bottom Line:
Tired of playing games that seem like a rehash of old spin-offs of yesteryear? Monster Hunter's that breath of fresh air. However, it's not for the gamer faint at heart.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
Gameplay: A bit awkward at first due to it's originality.
Graphics: Beautiful and stunning comes to mind; however, lag online can be at times annoying, but yet not frustrating.
Audio: Quaint; no extreme fanfare here, but unique.
Playability: Once you get the hang of it, it's very addictive.
The main thing that killed Monster Hunter here in America was the terrible reviews given by the mainstream internet gaming community. I was shocked to see 5.4 out of 10, when readers gave it an 8.0! Why the discrepancy? The "official" reviewers thought the first five levels were the game! Instead, the first missions were in actuality the tutorial. Don't be fooled. It's extremely popular in Japan, especially when Monster Hunter Dos is coming out late this year!
The second thing that killed Monster Hunter was perhaps its strongest point: originality. It can be seen as somewhat a third-person shoot-em-up with a mixture of Paleontology mixed in with Fantasy: dinosaur-like creatures abound along side wyverns and dragons. Typically, you are using various weapon classes such as gunner, lance, hammer, Great Sword, dual swords, and sword and shield according to assigned various missions: either gathering, capturing, or killing. After killing an animal, you can carve items from it. These items can be used to create or improve armor and weapons, and create special concoctions that aid you in battle. I enjoyed even the single player mode, but knowing that there are two major dragons only available online, kind of takes the wind out of the single player mode. Online is a whole new "beast" in itself: the comradery online is phenomenal. Many, although not all, players online are very courteous and helpful.
Just a side note that may add more insight: there are players who play video games to just burn through them with as many cheat codes under their belts as possible. Then, there are those who I call REAL gamers, who need no cheats, and are just playing games for the complete experience. Because of Monster Hunter's originality and lack of cheat codes, many "gamers" are turned off. I recently bought a friend a copy of Monster Hunter as he showed interest. I called him later to see how he liked it. He says that he won't play it because he can't find any cheats for it. I'm afraid this is becoming typical of today's gamer.
Monster Hunter takes time: time to build your armory, weaponry, and materials. And every once in a while, stop and use the camera to look at the breath-taking views around you, before you track down the next wyvern.
GameQuest Direct. com
