Monster Hunter Freedom

"Hunt Like A Real Man"

Monster Hunter Freedom is basically a port of the underrated PS2 game sharing the same surname, Monster Hunter. Essentially the same game, Monster Hunter Freedom adds in several very welcome additions and most importantly, it's portable. The first game I bought for the PSP and I can say I'm very glad of my purchase.

Story: N/A
Monster Hunter has no real story, the main goal per se is to become a good hunter. Simple, but it has much more depth than you would think. If you really do need a story in this game, each quest you undertake has a small back story behind it, like a spoiled princess wanting a giant wyvern for a pet. The game works well without a plot though so I excluded this from my review.

Graphics: 9/10
For a PSP game, the graphics are very well done. While not as smooth as the PS2 version, it has a more jagged look to it, but it still looks great. The backgrounds are very well done, on some levels you can see picturesque landscapes and the individual graphics for armor, weapons and people are superb. Where the graphics shine are in the monsters. Every monster, from the Felynes to the Laos wyvern, looks very creative and professionally done. Not the best graphics in the world, but good nonetheless.

Gameplay: 10/10
Simply put, this game rocks. Those who play fighting games by mashing buttons or those who cheat their way through this game will have a hard time getting ahead, this game requires you to learn to play properly to get ahead. The monsters, each one with their own personalities and attack patterns, need to be observed and a proper attack and defense strategy needs to be worked out. The weapons your hunter uses, from the sword and shield to the great sword, has its own engine in the game and thus are all different. The sword and shield is quick and perfect for someone who values maneuverability while the great sword is a hulking giant for those who love to dish out damage. Using bowguns is fun as well, the many different kinds of ammunition in the game allow for some interesting strategies and learning how to properly handle the bows is amusing. Concerning the weapons and armor, there's just so many. There's a set of armor for nearly every monster in the game and if you would want a set, you don't buy it. Instead, you hunt the monster of that armor and from their quests and by carving up their corpses, you get the items needed for your gear. While it may seem brutish, it's a fun part of the game and without it, this game would be far too easy and far to mundane.

Play Time and Replayability: 10/10
This game will take you a very long time to finish. I myself have been playing for about thirty hours and I'm still only on the level four quests. If you rush through the game, you'll rob yourself of a great gaming experience and it'll still take a long while. Even after you finish all of the quests, undoubtedly you'll want to hunt for the items needed to create the armors and weapons you so desire. To find the necessary supplies for the set you're planning on making, it could take hours if the armor is an exceptionally good set. Then, if you want to do more, you could put the time in to master more than one set of weapons. I've played over thirty hours and I've gone through the entire game with only sword and shields. It'd take me a long time to learn to use the crossbow or the hammer properly. And the developers of this game gave us much to do aside from the quests. You can play online with your friends with ad hoc mode (4 people at the max) and take on harder, online quests. There is a special hunter's school in the village you start in while challenging quests requiring you to slay prominent wyverns in the game with a pre-set weapon, set of armor and items. You could figure out different combinations for the Felyne kitchen, a place where you hire chefs to prepare food for your hunter. You could try to renovate the Kokoto Farm, a place where you can gather resources your hunter could use between missions.

Bottom Line: Rent or borrow before buying

I'll say it now. I love this game, but others will not. This is not the game for everyone and I highly suggest borrowing it from a friend or finding someplace you can rent it from before buying. It's just not some peoples' cup of tea, but for those who truly enjoy playing this gem, it's nigh virtuoso.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 04/02/07

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 04/02/07, Updated 04/03/07