"Good MH game, but not the best"

I am a very big Monster Hunter fan. I have been with the series since its debut on PS2 and have had extensive play time with almost every game release. Therefore, I am approaching this review as a fan and I am able to see what's good about this particular MH game in comparison to the others.

Monster Hunter always starts out a little bit slow, but becomes very addicting. The combination of skill based action during combat and RPG elements in weapon and armor creation make it a unique experience. It can be enjoyed playing solo but a lot of the fun in MH is teaming up with others to take down different types of creatures in pursuit of the better weapons and armor. Armors come with skills that will assist you in various ways and it's up to you to decided what you like best and what suits your play style. For instance, the Earplugs skill will allow you to negate a monster's angry roar which would otherwise freeze you for a few moments if you happen to be close enough to be effected by it. Not every skill is equal in its usefulness, but it's fun to experiment and have options.

Another fun aspect is the weapons. There are several different types of weapons that control and play entirely different. A Great Sword is slow but powerful, a Lance specializes in quick strikes and defense, the Long Sword sacrifices defense for a completely offensive move set. Monster Hunter Tri introduced only one new weapon called the Switch Axe, which is a bit disappointing because Capcom decided to remove more weapons than they added. Where's the GunLance? The Bow and Arrow? Really there is no reason these weapons shouldn't have been included, so Monster Hunter Tri is a step back in this area, but the Switch Axe and being able to customize your Bowgun more than ever are nice additions as is the much improved weapon control over previous MH games.

Some new monsters were introduced as were some new areas. None of the previous areas from any MH game make an appearance here, which is also a bit disappointing. The only returning monsters from previous MH games are Rathian, Rathalos and Diablos. My question is again, why not include more? Where is Tigrex? Shogun Centaur? Gravios? Khezu? My understanding is that Monster Hunter Tri was supposed to be a fresh experience by limiting the inclusion of older monsters and areas, but in the end it leaves the game missing tons of extra content that could have added to the overall enjoyment and variety. The only major addition here is new underwater combat which works out pretty well but often times you will be frustrated by it as well.

Overall, Monster Tri is a good game with great graphics and the weapons control is much improved, but it lacks the vast amount of content available in other MH titles. A highly recommended game regardless of its shortcomings.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10 | Originally Posted: 06/25/12

Game Release: Monster Hunter Tri (Classic Controller Pro Pack) (US, 04/20/10)

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