Capcom has recently announced Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate to be released exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS in early 2015. In commemoration of this announcement, herein lies a recounting of our experiences with the game for over a year since its original North American release in March 19, 2013. In anticipation to PAX East 2013, I was convinced by Republic of Geek’s El Ray to purchase Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate to enjoy while at the convention. Understanding its concept of hunting giant monsters in battles of epic proportions sounded quite appealing, and so, I decided to give it a try.
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is certainly a difficult game to get started with and get into since the tutorial sections are quite unforgiving. Essential information you will need for future, more difficult hunts is provided to you but not explained very well. Such essentials include marking monsters with Paintball so you may track their location, mixing herbs to form stronger Potions, using traps to capture monsters for additional rewards, etc. It is a game that requires time and dedication – as well as quite a bit of research on your own – but rewards you for it once you put your new shiny new weapon and armor to good use and outlast giant monsters in an all-out battle. I imagine Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate will retain the same formula.
As you progress through the game you will be achieving Ranks in both single and multiplayer modes. Sadly, the meat of Monster Hunter lies in the multiplayer component which allows you to reach the elusive G Rank, even further than the maximum High Rank available in single player. For this purpose, El Ray and I have been gathering every week to hunt monsters and gather materials required for better equipment and increasing our Rank over the course of the past year. Hunts that use to involve chasing individual monsters in giant maps with multiple areas have now turned into fights against two, three, and even four monsters at once in a small area resembling an arena.
As we succeed in hunting G Rank monsters, our Rank will continue to grow indefinitely to hopefully prepare us for the challenges ahead in Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate next year. No doubt we will continue on our adventures until its official US release, bringing to us more monsters to hunt and brand new weapons to use in the form of the Charge Blade and the Insect Glaive. We wait with anxious anticipation for what Capcom has in store for us!