Monster Hunter Freedom

"Dragons, Wyverns, and Monsters oh my!"

Monster Hunter Freedom is the best-selling action/adventure game for the PSP. It features some of the best audio, graphics, and gameplay of any PSP game to date. Throughout you'll find yourself searching for mushrooms, killing raptor-like creatures, and even face to face with dragons! Despite the generally low review score it got, it's defientnly a must-have for the PSP.

The game revolves around killing dragon-like creatures known as wyverns. There are more than 10, and each one has it's own attacks and weaknesses, as well as different difficulty levels (known as Hunter Ranks - more on this later) to fight them on. In addition, there are also several smaller monsters to fight, many of which look strangely like dinosaurs, though two of them are clearly cats.

The game is set to be played with or without friends, though the former is certainly the high point of the game. The game is laid out with three different overall classes of difficulty levels: Village, Hard, and G-Ranked. Though most monsters appear in all of them, some have different color variations (which generally have more health and are harder).

The gameplay is one of the most diverse I've ever seen, mostly because of the seven different weapon types in the game (Short Sword, Great Sword, Duel Swords, Lance, Hammer, Light Bowgun, Heavy Bowgun). Each one has it's own pros, cons, and attacks, and each one is just as useful as another if used correctly. Its partly the large amount of weapons that makes this game so fun.

The game relies heavily on customization. There are more than 25 monsters (including color variations), and each one has at least two different armor sets (many of them as much as 4-5). In addition, the seven different weapon types each have several weapon lines which can go on for quite a few upgrades and changes. All of this means there's more than 200 different weapons and armor sets in the game.

The graphics are superb for a PSP game, maybe even the best for the PSP so far. From the moment you enter you can tell the PSP is being pushed to it's limit to make the game look this realistic. The characters look amazingly life-life, and the wyverns look scaly and rough. Looking out at the vistas in some levels is amazing, and the details in the swamp and jungle are equally so.

The audio is also amazing. There are more than 15 different voice options for the game, and though they're admittedly only grunts, the diversity is still quite impressive. The metal-based armor sets click when you roll or run, and the weapon types each have a distinct noise as well (including several weapons that have their own unique noise). In addition, the wyverns have several noises they make, and someone with even a small amount of experience can pick each wyvern out by the noise it makes.

The controls, though admittedly complicated, are laid-out well and work as they should. The "A" button rolls or crouches depending on whether or not you're moving, the square button either sheathes your weapon or uses an item. The Triangle and Circle buttons attack, the "R" button runs, blocks, and does special attacks (the latter two change depending on the weapon). The "L" button resets the camera and opens the inventory menu if held down.

This game has the single best replayibility I have ever seen in a game. There are literally hundreds of quests, many of them taking more than 30 minutes to accomplish. Also, to get several of the weapons and armor you'll need, you'll want to repeat some quests. If you have a friend (or three) who has this game, you can play local multiplayer with up to three friends (for a maximum four people per quest).

All in all this is an amazing game that I think every PSP owner should have. Though it can be hard and frustrating at times, it truly is a gem of a game, and the pinnacle of my gaming experience thus far. I highly reccomend it whether you're a hard-core gamer (see: no life), or a casual one. There's no doubt about it, Monster Hunter Freedom is one helluva game!

Gameplay - 9/10
Graphics - 9/10
Audio - 9/10
Controls - 8/10
Replayibility - 10/10
Overall - 10/10

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 09/04/07

Game Release: Monster Hunter Freedom (US, 05/23/06)