Monster Hunter (PS2) - Apocalypse Tribe HQ

Monster Hunter (PS2), similar to PSO?

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Mute

Feb 6 2004, 01:00 PM

Post #1

Sunbro

Group: Paragon Caste
Posts: 753
Joined: 16-April 03
From: 'Murica
Member No.: 25

From GameStop

QUOTE

Capcom's Monster Hunter has been on our radar since the game was first revealed at Capcom's pre-E3 event last year. The unique online game casts you in the role of a prospective monster hunter out trying to make a living. We got a brief look at the game in playable form at last year's Tokyo Game Show but have finally been able to get a solid feel for what to expect from it at Capcom's recent press event.

The promising game seems like a mix of slick, original ideas along with an evolution of many of the gameplay elements introduced in Sega's Phantasy Star Online. You'll create a character that you can use in either single-player or multiplayer mode, and you can customize it by tweaking a number of features. Aside from being able to personalize your character's name, gender, face, hair style, hair color, and voice, you'll have to decide which faction your character comes from. Monster Hunter will feature several different groups, which all have unique arsenals and fighting techniques. Once you've created your virtual avatar you can choose to hop into an offline or online mode.

The game's story appears to be fairly simple and serves as more of a gateway to get you into hunting than anything else. You'll play as a young monster hunter who is looking for some prestige. Your road to notoriety will be a long one, thanks to a deliberate design that ensures you don't plow through the game. You'll have to talk to different characters and look into expeditions that will send you out into the wild world. However, the development of individual characters doesn't hinge only on clearing levels but also on the strength of the weapons and protective gear you'll possess, which will influence action and battle tactics. Weapon shops located in the neighboring towns and villages let you buy, create, or strengthen powerful weapons and armor using items collected during combat and the skin or horns acquired from monsters you've killed. The effectiveness of items will vary depending on the materials used to produce them. Capcom is stating that the variety of armaments used or obtained is almost limitless.

The core gameplay online or offline is simply to get stuff by killing things--the tried-and-true method of other action RPGs. As you collect items and check in with the local guild in the town you reside in, new expeditions of varying difficulty will open up. The collection element in the game looks pretty cool--you can collect items and use them to power up your armor or weapon. As you'd expect, such items don't grow on trees and have to be used carefully to ensure maximum gain for all your hard work. However, no matter how solid the single-player game is, the online multiplayer mode is going to be the place to be. Fellow human players help you tackle the nasty creatures in the game, and you'll also be able to trade unwanted items with them.

Controlling your character is pretty easy, especially if you've played PSO and have had to deal with centering a camera behind you fairly often during combat. The interesting addition to the mix is using the right analog stick to attack, as opposed to a face button. Directional combinations of left and right or up and down will let you perform combos that can seriously hurt your quarry. You'll have one weapon whose firepower will vary depending on what you choose to use over the course of a hunt. You'll find quite the arsenal to choose from before heading out, but you'll have to be very comfortable with your choice, since you'll be stuck with it for a while. As usual, larger weapons are deadly but slow, while smaller weapons do less damage but afford you greater attack speed. In addition to using traditional weapons such as swords, you'll be able to use guns and set traps that will come in handy for taking down the larger creatures.

The online multiplayer game in Monster Hunter is pretty standard but looks to be fun and addictive. You can participate in group sessions with up to three other players. You can either compete to see who can be the first to achieve certain goals or work as a team to take down powerful monsters and accomplish tasks. For example, you can work collectively to create traps for unsuspecting monsters or distract a monster's attention so that a party member can escape from a dragon's nest. In addition, new quests and items will be slated to follow over the course of your time with the game.

The graphics in Monster Hunter are looking sharp and are certainly atmospheric. The lush prehistoric setting has allowed for the creation of some expansive and beautiful environments that are chock-full of monsters of all shapes and sizes. You'll encounter everything from mellow herbivores to much more aggressive velociraptor-like creatures. And the poster boys for pain in the adventure appear to be massive wyverns that come in a variety of strains that are all pretty deadly.

From what we played so far, Monster Hunter is looking very promising. We noticed a few hitches to the control system that could be smoothed out, such as the camera and use of the right analog stick for attacks, but the game has a good feel to it already. Monster Hunter is currently slated to ship this fall for the PlayStation 2. Look for more on the game in the coming months.

Screenshots

This game looks pretty darn sweet. Unfortunately the release date is still TBA so it's no telling when we'll see this game. Perhaps Capcom will reveal some more on this one at E3.

Also, check out the official trailer 2. It's intense.

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Replies (60 - 74)

Riel View Member Profile	Sep 22 2004, 08:39 PM Post #61
Guardian Armor Group: Paragon Caste Posts: 689 Joined: 8-January 03 Member No.: 14	Finally played a few games online and yeah we definetly need to hook up together,having a good group will help a lot for the fun factor in this game.I'm still a little lost with the controls although i'm getting better...i only have a small weapon for now anyway...a few things i don't like: the lag was pretty bad on a few occasions,we got a lot of the "seeing a partner hitting air" a few times and teleports all over the place. you can actually hit a teamate,which is kind of dumb,i can't believe they left that in,you don't receive any damage from the hits but you can be sent flying on your back. there's no way that i have seen so far that you can heal or support your teamates,it just seems like everyone slashing away at monsters,hopefully this will change with levels as things you equip makes your class in a way. Good points: Lots of action,nice interface with all the emotes you find in this type of game but a keyboard is a must again. Towns are cool,tavern is well done and the game is easy to pick up. Seems to have a lot of quests and the monsters look great. I suggest we use the Sincere World and the Blue World to meet up and set things up from there.Once everyone has most people on their friend list,it will be easier. The game has potential,i can see having fun with this for a while,maybe be not PSO while but if the mid level quest get more interesting then the "noob" fetch quest,it should be fun. -------------------- ============================

DarkEpyon View Member Profile	Sep 22 2004, 09:32 PM Post #62
Revolution to the Destruction Group: Paragon Caste Posts: 2007 Joined: 14-March 03 From: The Black Spiral Member No.: 21	A nice little surprise. I got this game in the mail today. So far I'm loving this game and have opened up the 2-star quests. A few things I've found useful so far. Fishing is your friend. Fish go for about 30-60z a pop. A goldenfish will net you about 900z! First thing you should buy is the BBQ spit. Like almost any game, watch the enemy's attacks so you have a good idea how to avoid them. Item combining is also a good thing to practice on. Hopefully this helps some of you. -------------------- "Computers are incredibly fast, accurate and stupid. Human beings are incredibly slow, inaccurate and brilliant. Together they are powerful beyond imagination." -Albert Einstein

Dive

Sep 23 2004, 05:58 AM

Post #63

Antarctica Traffic Control

Group: Dark Templar
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QUOTE (Riel @ Sep 22 2004, 09:39 PM)

I suggest we use the Sincere World and the Blue World to meet up and set things up from there.Once everyone has most people on their friend list,it will be easier.

Sounds like a plan Riel. I got my game last night and only had time to complete the one star quests so far, but I am liking it a lot. My characters name is Dive, so let's all try and meet up for a game tonight.

The attacks being mapped to the right analog stick take some getting used to, but after playing that way for a while, it feels completely natural and I wonder how I got by without this control scheme in other action games.

Monster Hunters want to meet up on AIM this evening to organize a game?

Riel View Member Profile	Sep 23 2004, 06:12 AM Post #64
Guardian Armor Group: Paragon Caste Posts: 689 Joined: 8-January 03 Member No.: 14	Yeah we could do that although the main Land once you are there in the game is basically a chat area,hopefully lots of peeps get this because i sense a very fun game...things i'm not sure yet but hopefully it's in the game: Trading between players. If someone dies can you revive him? Classes and skills. -------------------- ============================

Guest_Zio_*

Sep 23 2004, 06:33 AM

Post #65

Guests

QUOTE (Riel @ Sep 22 2004, 08:39 PM)

you can actually hit a teamate,which is kind of dumb,i can't believe they left that in,you don't receive any damage from the hits but you can be sent flying on your back.

there's no way that i have seen so far that you can heal or support your teamates,it just seems like everyone slashing away at monsters,hopefully this will change with levels as things you equip makes your class in a way.

I thought I heard something along the lines that archers can use like healing arrows or something but Im not sure who else can heal. Also hitting teammates is kinda dumb. Kinda reminds me if you go into an area in battle mode on PSO.

DarkEpyon

Sep 23 2004, 06:45 AM

Post #66

Revolution to the Destruction

Group: Paragon Caste
Posts: 2007
Joined: 14-March 03
From: The Black Spiral
Member No.: 21

QUOTE (Riel @ Sep 23 2004, 08:12 AM)

Yeah we could do that although the main Land once you are there in the game is basically a chat area,hopefully lots of peeps get this because i sense a very fun game...things i'm not sure yet but hopefully it's in the game:

Trading between players.

If someone dies can you revive him?

Classes and skills.

You can't trade any weapons/armor. Not sure about the dead teammate thing. Only 2 "classes" in the game, and skills are acquired from equipment.

As far as online goes, my BB unit is on its way here, and I should be online next week.

EDIT: I had that damn BBQ spit song in my head all morning!!!

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"Computers are incredibly fast, accurate and stupid. Human beings are incredibly slow, inaccurate and brilliant. Together they are powerful beyond imagination."
-Albert Einstein

Dive

Sep 23 2004, 03:01 PM

Post #67

Antarctica Traffic Control

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QUOTE (DarkEpyon @ Sep 23 2004, 07:45 AM)

You can't trade any weapons/armor. Not sure about the dead teammate thing. Only 2 "classes" in the game, and skills are acquired from equipment.

I remember reading something somewhere about trading items in the lobby? Maybe I was mistaken, but I will try and dig up some info on it.

Mute View Member Profile	Sep 23 2004, 05:31 PM Post #68
Sunbro Group: Paragon Caste Posts: 753 Joined: 16-April 03 From: 'Murica Member No.: 25	I think you can exchange components such as hides and pelts, however, I'm almost 100% certain that you CAN'T exchange weapons/armor that is of a certain Rarity level (4-5 maybe?). I need to get my ass online for some verification. <_< -------------------- PSN ID: USF_Tailgater Xbox Live: USF Tailgater

Riel View Member Profile	Sep 23 2004, 05:59 PM Post #69
Guardian Armor Group: Paragon Caste Posts: 689 Joined: 8-January 03 Member No.: 14	I'm on now..Sincere World,Blue Land,waiting in the first chat area. -------------------- ============================

Mute

Sep 23 2004, 06:02 PM

Post #70

Sunbro

Group: Paragon Caste
Posts: 753
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From: 'Murica
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QUOTE (Riel @ Sep 23 2004, 06:59 PM)

I'm on now..Sincere World,Blue Land,waiting in the first chat area.

I'm at work at the moment so I won't be able to meet you online. More than likely, I won't be online tonight until late since I'm heading to a bartending competition that a friend of mine is in after work. I'll eventually get on there and meet up with ya Riel. ^^;

EDIT: Wow GameSpot's review is horrid....... It left me pretty sour in many ways. Here is my response from a seperate forum.

QUOTE

I find the review pretty lackluster, and I'm sure you beta testers will whole-heartedly agree. Sure, the graphics aren't exactly spectacular, but I think the game looks pretty darn good, even if it's more jagged than smooth. Constantly comparing the game to Phantasy Star Online doesn't make for much of a review, in my opinion. Just because the game has a similar 4 person per game structure doesn't mean it's the same as PSO. I was a long time PSO player and I must say, I find Monster Hunter very intriuging. Sure, the fighting system and lack of lock on to enemies can feel frustrating. But that is part of the overall feel of the game. It feels like more of a "survival" than a simple Action RPG. I find it comical that almost every aspect of the game was viewed in a strictly negative manner. It's almost as if Ryan was peeved about having to put up with 3 seperate "connection phases" (omg horrible!!111 ) just to get online. And from that standpoint, he took the game apart piece by piece (I mean he was chewing on the various "monsters" represented in the game... thats just weak). I can respect the score he gave it, since that is his opinion. However, I STRONGLY feel his review is based off of short hours of gameplay. For one, the discrepancy in the review score and the <b>community</b> score should speak for itself. If this game has caught your interest in any way, I HIGHLY suggest checking it out for yourself. Give the game a good trial then evaluate it against Ryan Davis's review.

I know, I know. Preaching to the choir. ^^;

This post has been edited by Mute: Sep 24 2004, 02:18 AM

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PSN ID: USF_Tailgater
Xbox Live: USF Tailgater

Dive View Member Profile	Sep 23 2004, 06:06 PM Post #71
Antarctica Traffic Control Group: Dark Templar Posts: 1823 Joined: 10-December 02 Member No.: 1	Alright Riel, I should be on in the next half hour or so. Anyone else who's got the game online, feel free to meet us. Edit~ I'll be on AIM as well, if you want to meet up. This post has been edited by Dive: Sep 23 2004, 06:11 PM

DarkEpyon View Member Profile	Sep 23 2004, 09:51 PM Post #72
Revolution to the Destruction Group: Paragon Caste Posts: 2007 Joined: 14-March 03 From: The Black Spiral Member No.: 21	Maaaan! I wish I could join you guys, but this means I have an excuse to accomplish whatever I can offline. -------------------- "Computers are incredibly fast, accurate and stupid. Human beings are incredibly slow, inaccurate and brilliant. Together they are powerful beyond imagination." -Albert Einstein

Guest_Zio_*	Sep 24 2004, 06:41 AM Post #73
Guests	Tonight my friend should be taking me down to EB or Game Crazy to pick this up. Also is there any official place to meet or do you guys just kinda float around and play anywhere?

Dive

Sep 24 2004, 09:43 AM

Post #74

Antarctica Traffic Control

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QUOTE (Zio @ Sep 24 2004, 07:41 AM)

Also is there any official place to meet or do you guys just kinda float around and play anywhere?

I think we have decided to hang out in Sincere Land, in the Blue World.

Had a fun game last night with Riel, Dorian, Astrid, and SaitoH. Remember now that the town itself will hold 8 players, but an actual zone and quest will only hold up to 4 players. What will happen if we get more than 4 people in town is two seperate quests going on at the same time. A bit limiting yes, but a nice upgrade from the PSO team structure.

Riel View Member Profile	Sep 24 2004, 01:50 PM Post #75
Guardian Armor Group: Paragon Caste Posts: 689 Joined: 8-January 03 Member No.: 14	Yeah it was fun but the game can get really hard if you meet those huge Boss like monsters hehe...we where just fooling around so we failed 2 out of 3 quests.Now that i know how it works,i guess we will need to prepare a little better...no use heading into a mining Ore quest with no Pick Axe's anyway i'll be on again this evening,hope to see some of you guys again. Sincere World and then Blue Land for the chat room. -------------------- ============================

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