Hidden Gems: Monster Hunter Tri

GamingUnion.net:

Now at first glance, you may be wondering why I would consider Monster Hunter as a hidden gem. It’s certainly a title that most gamers have heard of before. However, despite its big name, Monster Hunter continually gets passed over by the Western market even though the Japanese eat it up like candy! This is something that I’ve never truly understood; I know that it’s not a game for everyone, but with the outcry from gamers who want more strategy and challenge to their games, it would seem that MH would be right up their alley. What is it about MH Tri that makes it so much fun?

[anasurimbor]

How is a game from one of the most popular franchises *ever* a hidden gem?

[JDouglasGU]

in japan it's not a hidden gem... in the west it certainly is.

[tweex]

Exactly, the west has never picked up on this series the way the Japanese do.

[firefoxprime]

Different cultures. What do you expect??

East focuses on growth,spirituality,training,l oyalty, and friendship.

While the west is focused on a quick fix. Yup. I said it. Its why so many of our ppl are so fat. It takes "time,effort, and dedication" to have a fit body.

Just look at the games. Run and shoot. With Jap games, there is growth, a journey, challenges. Over here, everything is superficial. I always liked executing an amazing melee combo on an opponent, over just shooting them. I'll always take a sword over a gun.

[Trizard]

Let's see how that sword over a gun thing works for you in reality...

[Perjoss]

spent just under 400 hours with this one, was a lot of grinding but it was done in a clever way so it was actually good fun. Single player blew me away and then I tried online and it was even better.

I think what kept me playing this for so long was that the monsters have no patterns, you dont really know what they gonna do next. Add to this the different styles of play of other people and the fights really were very varied, even fighting the same monster over and over.

No agro system either so you might be just about to die and the monster would run after someone else instead of finishing you off, really never knew what to expect. I also loved it when a 2nd monster would show up, seriously chaotic.

[anasurimbor]

So how many people do you think came here having no idea what Monster Hunter was?

Exactly.

For the record, it sells well in the US, too. Yeah I know it's not the juggernaut that it is in Japan, but it's still not really a "hidden gem". Everyone knows about Monster Hunter. People just like to act like they're in on something that no one else is, and then do the whole "WELL, IN JAPAN" thing.

[Nitrowolf2]

did you bother to read this at all???
They clearly state why they consider it to be one and I agree, MH isn't that pop. in the USA.

[mephman]

Exactly, despite its huge fame, it still doesn't sell all that well anywhere other than Japan.

[anasurimbor]

Yeah, I read it. I wasn't trying to incite a riot.

A hiddem gem should be defined as a game that's lesser known even among it's target audience, not a game that's not immensely popular among everyone.

Shiren the Wanderer and Arc Rise Fantasia are hidden gem RPGs for the Wii. Monster Hunter Tri is one of the premiere RPGs for the Wii. That's all I was getting at.

[Hardedge]

It may be huge in Japan but the franchise is so glossed over in the West.

[Hardedge]

@Trizard: What the hell does that have to do with anything? =/

Anyway, I wouldn't say all Western games are a "quick fix," we've had some incredible epics with games like Mass Effect and whatnot.

[Hardedge]

This is so true, I was one that glossed over the MonHun series before, but after hitting up Freedom Unite with friends in the army, man I put so many ungodly hours into this game. The camaraderie was unlike any co-op game I'd played before.

[tweex]

I really have never fully understood why the western market has never gotten into this franchise more. I always get concerned that our lack of interest will cause Capcom to decide not to release on of the next installments over here; hell, I was mortified that we might never see Tri back when it was first announced.

[Hardedge]

Maybe because it requires too much skill to effectively enjoy the game? Eh, eh? Let's run with that.

[Myst]

I think Hardedge is right, not the typical Hack and Slash some people see it as. Saw some people doing that on release. Though to be fair this game was pretty much "entry" level and didn't offer the variety as it's PSP predecessors sad to say :(

[tweex]

I don't know, the ecology system was very unique in Tri and I never really found it all that big of a deal in MHFU. No to mention the new enemies (however, I do miss Fatalis :)).

However, assuming that that this was entry level, on some level, we could even make a case to say that there was even MORE incentive for people to get into it. Oh well.

I will cry the day that Capcom decides not to release these in the west anymore.

[Hardedge]

Indeed, I've had friends say exactly that, that it's not flexible or easy to get into like a hack-n-slasher, that the animations are too rigid and they can't pull off a quick combo or some nonsense like that, when the game actually requires precise timing and strategy.

[Myst]

tweex - Yeah I think ecology was okay, at some points though it had me screaming at the TV wondering why it was going after me instead of the things over there lol, apparently it gave my friends a good laugh.

To this day I'm still hoping for Frontier to make it's way over, but alas Capcom won't :( -- Fatalis was fun and a bit of a pain. Remember the first time fighting against him...White still looks the best to me, but caused the most pain lol.

Hardedge -

Yeah that's what I've heard, been hearing and or reading a lot. I guess it really takes some dedication for some people to get over that. Had to finally sit down with a friend and we [another friend and I] pretty much showed him the ropes for the time being. Just takes a bit of work

[VenomProject]

4 people per town...that really PISSED me OFF.

Go back to the standard 8 person town, Crapcom.

[Myst]

Better yet they should have up'd it so that it would allow the possibilities of 4 full teams to be allowed in the lobby. Would probably be a lot of strain on the servers or something, but nonetheless interesting. No more having to wait on somebody but rather grab someone else and go.

[Mahr]

"4 people per town...that really PISSED me OFF."

Supposedly, they did that to accomodate Wii Speak functionality, which would have been an alright trade-off if Wii Speak were not complete rubbish.

[Jaws007]

@firefoxprime
oh because Bioware, Valve, Besthsda etc. are terrible.

give me a break

[fozzness]

Never touched a Monster Hunter game before. This makes me really interested to see what it's all about!

[lil boy blue]

u should I pretty great and u can get the bundle cheap at amazon last time I checked or get the regular if u already got a CCP.

[browngamer4]

@firefoxprime
I think you meant "japanese" games.."jap" is kinda derogatory.

[Shok]

The hardcore Wii games are out there........you just gotta set aside your ignorance and fanboyism to see them.

[ThanatosDMC]

MHP3 is even better than Unite except the lack of quantity. But the G version of MHP3 should be even better. I hope it comes out for the NGP so they'll add the swimming part of hunting.

[mt]

i tried it on PSP i thought it is hard to have fully control while fighting... i hope they release it on ps3 with online support it will blow out.

[lil boy blue]

why dont fanboys ever gravite to these articles oh well. My favor game Im over 200+ hours in w/o touching the online that is amazing.