Monster Hunter

Monster Hunter
Logo for Monster Hunter
Genres	Action
Developers	Capcom
Publishers	Capcom
Platforms	PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita, Windows, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360, Nintendo 3DS, iOS, N-Gage

Promotion of Monster Hunter at the Tokyo Game Show 2010

The Monster Hunter (モンスターハンター, Monsutā Hantā) franchise is a series of fantasy-themed action role-playing video games that started with the game Monster Hunter for PlayStation 2. The series is developed and published by Capcom. As the title suggests, the player takes the role of a hunter in a fantasy environment and completes quests by hunting out specific kinds of monsters to kill or capture. The series has branched out into PlayStation Portable games and a massively multiplayer online game. In Japan, the Monster Hunter series is immensely popular, and it has gained a cult following in the west, with the port Monster Hunter Freedom (known in Japan as Monster Hunter Portable) and its sequels, Monster Hunter Freedom 2 / Monster Hunter Portable 2nd, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite / Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G, Monster Hunter Portable 3rd and an online game called Monster Hunter Frontier Online selling millions of copies, and Monster Hunter Tri becoming the highest-selling third-party Wii game in Japan.^[1] Since the series debuted, it has sold 28 million units as of March 31, 2014.^[2] As of February 17, 2015, the series has sold 32 million units.^[3] There is also an anime based on the spin-off game Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airou Village and a book called Monster Hunter EPISODE (モンスターハンター　EPISODE~).^[4]

Gameplay

Gameplay in the Monster Hunter series consists of players embarking on various quests whose goals vary from gathering certain materials to hunting or capturing specific monsters. Players are able to choose from a wide variety of weapons, each catering to a specific style of combat. For example, a Great Sword is a slow but powerful weapon, requiring deliberate and calculated strikes in combat. Dual Blades, on the other hand, allow speedy strikes at the cost of lower damage per hit.

The primary goal of the game is to complete quests by successfully hunting or capturing powerful monsters, retrieving their parts through carving or receiving them as rewards, and using them as materials to craft or upgrade armors and weapons. Additionally, players may also gather insects, minerals, plant life, or fish to improve their arsenal.

Unlike most traditional RPGs, players do not "level up" and must instead rely on obtaining better equipment for improving their characters. Players are also not restricted by job/class systems commonly found in other RPGs. Instead, they are able to freely switch between different weapons, each offering a different playing experience. There is also no way to "complete" the game per se; players are essentially able to replay quests repeatedly.

Originally designed to be played as an online game, the earlier games in the series featured distinct online (cooperative) and offline (solo) modes, with many monsters, items, and quests being only accessible in online play. The more recent entries in the series have bucked this trend, and the focus has shifted to offering fully featured single-player experiences first, before layering on a rich but optional online multi-player component. In online mode, the game allows for up to four players to connect in cooperative play.

Games

Below is a list of games in the Monster Hunter main series. Each generation has a number of entries that are derivative of the original release.

Main series

First generation

Second generation

Third generation

Fourth generation

Spin-offs

Other media

Anime

A series of anime shorts titled MonHun Nikki Girigiri Airū-mura Airū Kiki Ippatsu (ja:モンハン日記 ぎりぎりアイルー村) was broadcast beginning August 10, 2010. A sequel, MonHun Nikki Girigiri Airū-mura G, was produced.^[11] An anime series based on the franchise is planned to premiere in 2016.

Manga

A manga titled Monster Hunter Orage was published jointly by Kodansha and Capcom in April 2008. The author of the manga is Hiro Mashima. There are four volumes total with the last volume published on May 4, 2009. An English release of Monster Hunter Orage first took place on June 28, 2011.

Card game

A trading card game titled Monster Hunter Hunting Card was released in October 2008 with periodic updates planned.^[12]

Comics

Elements from Monster Hunter were later included in the Worlds Unite comic crossover from Archie Comics, which featured several other Capcom and Sega franchises making guest appearances in the previously running Sonic the Hedgehog and Mega Man comic lines.^[13]

Film

In 2012, it was reported that Resident Evil director Paul W. S. Anderson might direct a film adaptation of Monster Hunter.^[14]

See also

• List of Japanese role-playing game franchises

References

External links

• Monster Hunter official website for North America
• MonHun Nikki Girigiri Airū-mura Airū Kiki Ippatsu (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia