25. Safi’jiiva (Iceborne)

If Xeno’jiiva was the somewhat awkward final boss for World, then Safi’jiiva is its revenge arc. As a Siege quest, it has the same requirements as Kulve Taroth – 16 Hunters in separate groups of four, battling and breaking its parts to slay it. The difference is its sheer power and range of attacks, especially the beams, which it can fire off at a moment’s notice. It also possesses a supernova attack that, like Behemoth’s Ecliptic Meteor, recovers by running behind cover to evade. While it becomes easier as you bring more suitable weapons for breaking its parts and taking advantage of the environment, soloing Safi’jiiva is another endeavor entirely.

Capcom’s Monster Hunter 4, the newest entry in its monster franchise, was a stupendous hit when it released in Japan last year, selling over 2 million copies. Western fans of the series eagerly awaited for news of the localization, but now it seems that Capcom is not interested in bringing Monster Hunter 4 to western shores at all.

Instead, they have something even better- Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, the expanded re-release of the game (known as Monster Hunter 4G in Japan) will be releasing worldwide for Nintendo 3DS- Japan gets it later this year, the west gets it sometime next year.

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate will not only have all the content of the vanilla Monster Hunter 4, it will also be adding oodles of content on top of that. With the changes to the series’ long standing mechanics, the addition of the online mode, and much more, it will probably be as substantial of a release as Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate was last year.

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate is due out exclusively for Nintendo 3DS as of right now; unlike Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, no Wii U version has yet been announced.

The titles in question are some of the hottest releases currently on the handheld which includes: Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, Fire Emblem: Awakening, Lego City Undercover: The Chase Begins!, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D and Animal Crossing: New Leaf.

You’ll need to register with the Nintendo Club by June 30th, and from there you’ll receive your free download code for the game of your choice. Download codes can only be requested from April 23rd, 15:00 CEST onwards and has to be completed before July 31st with the code itself expiring on December 31st. So if you recently bought a bevy of games already, tough luck.

Head here for all the terms and conditions on “So Many Games!”.

Well, it could be doing better than expected as Nintendo of Europe president Satoru Shibata recently tweeted, “I’d like to apologise for the current stock shortage due to high demand of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate at retail. New #MH3U stock will hopefully be available in shops next week for Wii U and mid April for Nintendo 3DS.

“Both versions of #MH3U are also available on Nintendo eShop. Again, I sincerely apologise for causing any inconvenience.”

Usually it happens when supply can’t keep up with demand. So that means the game is doing pretty well in Europe, right?

Nintendo had taken it upon themselves to distribute the game in Europe, as Capcom continues to publish the game. As it is, there are no official sales numbers available.

Source: Siliconera

Ultimate 3 falls in that latter category, being an expanded port of the 2010 breakout Wii game; what makes it harder to review, however, isn’t that, but the fact that Ultimate 3 also has a much more featured Wii U port as well, which has enhanced HD visuals, an online mode with full text and voice chat support, as well as an expandable control scheme that supports the Wii U Gamepad, Wii U Pro, Wii Classic Controller, Wii Classic Controller Pro, and even USB keyboards; none of these features are present in the 3DS game.

How, then, do you go about assessing Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate on the 3DS? Do you compare it with the Wii game? Do you compare it with the Wii U game? Do you assess it for what it is, or for what it isn’t?

One way to do it is to simply assess the 3DS game in isolation: view it independently of the Wii or Wii U game, and as just another addition to the 3DS library. That is what this review does, it attempts to, as much as is possible, evaluate the 3DS version of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate with as little comparisons to the Wii U or Wii games as possible. Before we proceed, however, in the interests of full disclosure, it is important that you know: if you have a Wii U as well, then get Monster Hunter on that instead, unless portability really matters a lot to you. The 3DS version, as we will see, is a highly accomplished port, but the extra features of the Wii U port, including online gameplay most of all, elevate it to an entirely different level.

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate follows pretty much the exact same setup as previous games in the series: you are a hunter who moves into a small village, and then take on jobs from the locals to take down gigantic monsters in the vicinity that are terrorizing the countryside. That is literally all the context that the game provides; storytelling is neither something the game is good at, nor is it really necessary.

Monster Hunter plays as an action RPG, but unlike other games in the genre, there are no levels or stats. Instead, all character progression is defined by the gear and equipment you have. You start with some really rather basic and rudimentary gear, which you upgrade as you hunt down monsters. Once they’re dead, you mine their carcasses, taking on bones, meat, fur, or whatever else might be necessary to craft new items for yourself, or to improve existing ones. Pretty soon, then, the entire game follows a circular path: you are killing monsters so you can have better gear. You need better gear so you can kill more monsters.

Monster Hunter is characterized, predictably, by its fights with monsters. These epic confrontations with the titanic beasts are insane, and pretty much each fight in Monster Hunter can be classified as a boss fight. Each fight can last for 30-45 minutes at a stretch, and the monsters are truly terrifying. Towering beasts, they attack aggressively, and when they are cornered, they run, they run across the entire field, and even flee into surrounding areas. There are no health meters in Monster Hunter for the enemies, so you have to rely entirely on observation to see if you are making any progress. A telltale sign like a limp, or a stagger, and you know your enemy is fatigued and close to death.

The fights are difficult to begin with, because the monsters that you are hunting truly are formidable beasts, and also because of a lack of any assistance from the UI that you would expect in other games, but the fight with the monsters often degenerates into a fight with the controls. Now, Monster Hunter has always been known for having some rather, shall we say, eccentric, controls. The problem lies in the fact that Monster Hunter is almost always on a system with only one analog stick, meaning that camera control is delegated to some esoteric fixes, such as the D-pad. 3 Ultimate actually addresses that issue, better in the Wii U version, but to a noticeable degree in the 3DS game too; you can control the camera with either the D-pad (not recommended) or the touch screen (recommended), and there is even a pseudo lock on function that centers the camera on the monster you are battling.

While this setup is less than ideal, it mostly works very well. The problem occurs when you go underwater later on in the game. Controls then become absolutely maddening, and at that point, it is recommended that you play with a dual analog setup at all costs, either by transferring and continuing your save on the Wii U version, or by playing it on your 3DS with a Circle Pad Pro.

Other than the controls, there are other barriers to entry. The game has a complete lack of context, and just throws you into the world. The first ten hours or so are what ostensibly serve as tutorials, by gradually easing the player into the world’s mechanics. While these aren’t exactly boring, they aren’t a whole lot exciting either, and considering most modern games are shorter than ten hours, a lot of people might just have lost interest by then. It’s a shame, because after that, the game picks up, and it becomes so thoroughly engrossing as to literally consume your life. Hundreds upon hundreds of hours can be lost to Monster Hunter, and the new game is no exception.

Monster Hunter shines in multiplayer, and it is here that the 3DS version suffers most with respect to the Wii and Wii U games. The lack of an online mode, and the relative lack of popularity of both the franchise and the 3DS in the west mean that you will be hard pressed to find someone else with a 3DS who also likes Monster Hunter and has a copy. Assuming you do, though, you are in for a treat, as when playing with friends, Monster Hunter becomes a different beast entirely.

Ultimately, it is an incredible game, a great game, hindered, as always, by some rather baffling design decisions made by Capcom, that undoubtedly appeal to eastern sensibilities more than western sensibilities. However, quirks and eccentricities aside, it also has some poor design decisions, such as the controls and the camera.

And in spite of all of this, this is still a must play game. It is just absolutely sublime, and if you have any patience whatsoever, you are in for one of the most rewarding experiences you will ever have with Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate.

This game was reviewed on Nintendo 3DS.

The single player portion of the game sees you questing to save a small fishing village from its monster assailants. It’s an odd experience, mixing the thrill of constant customisation, upgrades and awesome monster hunts with the relatively calmer experience of the resource collection required to continually forge and upgrade your gear. What’s strange is how addictive the whole thing is as, whilst the world and its inhabitants are a pleasure to co-exist with, there isn’t much in the way of a story to keep you enthralled. Instead the game relies entirely on its customisation, upgrade paths and sense of exploration to keep you going. The surprising thing is that it actually does keep you playing.

The other ace up Monster Hunter’s sleeve is the big monster hunts. There’s a reason the game is named after them, as these fights are often something else. Later challenges last up to fifty minutes and become epic battles of patience and wit as you chase hunts across vast landscapes. This kind of gameplay suits the real time combat and, though the swordplay itself is fairly standard, the huge wealth of items and gear types keeps things fresh. Twelve main weapon types will be the mainstay of your arsenal and, even though each weapon set has hundreds of variants on the same formula, the twelve types totally change the dynamic of the combat as you sample each one. From the standard swords and bows to the more crazy switch axes and hulking gun lances, each weapon has its own distinctive place in the mix.

That said, it isn’t all quite smooth sailing with the base gameplay. You can tell this used to be a Wii title, as the controls can often feel a bit clunky. Something about them pulls away from the conventions of the genre, and not always in a good way. Having the sheathe weapon and item commands on the same button often had me overusing potions at inappropriate points and, as some buttons go entirely unused, this felt a bit backwards.

Still, the Wii U changes are notable and a big step forward. The Gamepad touch screen can be entirely customised with panels containing all sorts of information and ability shortcuts. It streamlines the menus endlessly and the position of the interface can also be set, perfect for if you find it easier to shift all the panels closer to your dormant right hand. That said, wielding the weighty Gamepad isn’t always ideal, so it’s commendable that Capcom have included support for the original Wii Classic Controller and the Wii U specific Pro variant.

Just as the controls are a mix of the archaic Wii game and the fantastic Wii U updates, so does the online portion of the game straddle the fence between progression and ineffective lobby systems. The setup is frustratingly similar to the Wii version of the title, with endless lobbies you have to manually choose and, should the connection somehow fail, you’re booted right back to the beginning of the online setup process. It’s not the end of the world having no quick match function, but getting booted back a few screens for a lost connection feels gratuitous, and is a major waste of time.

Once you get in a game though, it’s clean sailing. The online connections are mostly secure and lag-free, and the ability to use the Wii U Gamepad microphone for chat makes teamwork much easier than with the gesture and text chat systems. The game was clearly meant to be played online, with the massive monster hunts attaining an even greater sense of scale with three fellow adventurers in tow. You can also play locally with three friends playing the game on 3DS systems. You can imagine that this is the way the game was meant to be played, though we weren’t able to test local multiplayer during our time with Monster Hunter Ultimate 3.

What with the Wii U being Nintendo’s first foray into the world of HD resolutions, you’d assume a Wii U port of Monster Hunter Tri would capitalise on this and deliver beautiful HD graphics. It isn’t what you’d expect though as, whilst the monsters look more polished than ever, the rest of the game isn’t quite as tuned up. The textures appear bland and grainy at a higher resolution, and the NPC models have seen no touch up whatsoever. It’s a shame the touch ups are so minimal, but that’s not to say the presentation is entirely disappointing. The music and sound effects are still emphatic and uplifting, and the visual upgrades to the larger monsters further improves the big hunts.

As would be expected of the series, lifespan is definitely not an issue. The sheer amount of content is baffling, and trying to forge and upgrade all the equipment will throw the hour count up enormously. It would be even better if you could go free exploring for resources online, as the grind becomes an inevitable chore after the first ten or twenty hours, but sadly the network mode is largely reserved for specific quests. Regardless, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is easily worth the price, and it gets even better if you can convince some 3DS owning comrades to join up with you.

Overall, despite featuring a mixed bag of upgrades and improvements, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate does what it says on the tin. It’s the ultimate edition of, what is arguably, the best game in the Monster Hunter series, and it’s a must for any fan of the franchise as a result. The Wii U version’s online stability, Gamepad controls and new hunts make it a joy for series fans, though the graphical let downs and lack of obvious changes may not make it a sensible upgrade for those who already rinsed Monster Hunter Tri back in 2010.

This game was reviewed on the Wii U.

The final installment in the third numbered entry in the Monster Hunter series has finally made its way to North America, after being available in Japan for over a year. The game is available for the WiiU and 3DS, and can be puchased online from Nintendo’s eShop.

The expansion includes 38 new monsters, new quests to tackles, new areas to explore, and a slew of new powerful equipment to find. Up to four players can team up to form hunting parties, either locally or online.

Those who own both the WiiU and 3DS version of the game can transfer their saves to the 3DS and pick up the game on the move wherever they left off.  To do so, you’ll need to download the “Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Data Transfer Program” for the 3DS and the “Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Packet Relay Tools for Nintendo 3DS” for the WiiU.

A free update will be available in April and will being with it  cross region functionality and the ability to play the game solely on the WiiU’s gamepad. In the meantime, Capcom has released a launch trailer to make it easier for you to decide on a purchase. Have a look.

Capcom has just released the opening cinematic for their soon to be released expansion for Monster Hunter 3. Have a look for yourself.

The Monster Hunter series is undeniably one of Capcom’s most prominent IPs this generation, especially in Japan where the game has achieved cult status. So it’s no surprise that the publisher is ready to invest massive sums of money in the franchise, as evident in the stupendous CG showcased in the trailer. Earlier this week, the publisher stated that they are doing their best to push the series to a mass audience in the west.

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate will be hitting the WiiU and 3DS on March 19th in the US, and on the 22nd in Europe. The WiiU version will be the first entry in the series to run at HD resolution, which goes all the way up to 1080p Let us know what you think of the trailer below.

There’s no denying the popularity of the Monster Hunter franchise in Japan. It’s vast and gorgeous fantasy world, blended with RPG and Action Adventure elements have allowed the game to single-handedly push Nintendo consoles on to the top of the sales charts. However, the franchise hasn’t enjoyed the same degree of success in the west, but Capcom wants to change all that.

In an interview with Joystiq, product manager Laili Bosma had this to say:

“Capcom is very dedicated to the brand, obviously in Japan being as huge as it is. But, the team is also dedicated to trying to make it work here in the US,” she said.

“It’s not magical, it’s not going to happen overnight. My goal here is to try to get as many people to experience it first-hand, and for us to answer those questions.”

“We have a full on booth – a Monster Hunter dedicated booth – at PAX, we have a Monster Hunter dedicated booth at Wondercon, we’re also going to be attending C2E2 in Chicago, we have events that we’re planning on doing at Capcom’s offices in the near future,”

The latest release in the series, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate has yet to arrive on our shores, despite being out for the 3DS for over a year in Japan. The final release in the third installment of the franchise will be arriving in North America on March 19th and Europe on March 22nd for the WiiU and 3DS.

The game looks pretty decent as you can see from the video below and comes out later this year on the Wii U and 3DS.

In Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, players take on the role of hunters, setting out to explore the land in this rich universe. Earn equipment upgrades and skill improvements by slaying monsters. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is the most expansive of all the games to date with many challenging monsters and over 200 quests.

Check out the trailer below.