Dark Samus (Hypermode) – Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

Dark Samus can be quite the annoyance when you’re trying to wrap up Samus’s latest adventure. However, play on Hypermode and it’s a whole other ball game. Her attacks can be difficult to dodge, she dishes them out frequently and you then have to deal with another boss right after. Suffice to say, you better know what you’re doing when fighting her.

Japanese retailer Tatsuya has revealed the list of the best selling games in Japan in 2016, and as you might have expected, Pokemon Sun/Moon took the top spots. The top 20 is actually largely dominated by 3DS games, with PS4 games taking the lion’s share of the rest of the chart.

Pokemon Sun/Moon, Final Fantasy 15, and Persona 5 appear to be the big winners of the year, with Yokai Watch 3, Monster Hunter, and Battlefield 1 all doing surprisingly well for themselves as well. You can see the list below (courtesy of Nintendo Today).

It’ll be highly interesting to see what the landscape of the Japanese games industry looks like at the end of 2017, especially with the impending Nintendo Switch launch.

[3DS] Pokémon Sun
[3DS] Pokémon Moon
[3DS] Dragon Quest Monsters Joker 3
[PS4] Final Fantasy XV
[3DS] Yo-kai Watch 3: Sushi
[3DS] Yo-kai Watch 3: Tempura
[3DS] Yo-kai Sangokushi
[PS4] Dark Souls III
[3DS] Kirby: Planet Robobot
[PSV] Dragon Quest Builders
[PS4] Dragon Quest Heroes II
[3DS] Monster Hunter Stories
[3DS] Monster Hunter Generations
[PS4] Persona 5
[3DS] Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice
[PS4] Tales of Berseria
[PSV] Dragon Quest Heroes II
[PSV] Minecraft
[PS4] Battlefield 1
[PS4] Dragon Quest Builders

Monster Hunter‘s growth and success in the west continues. The series, which has been famously dominant in Japan, usually did not use to sell a whole lot in Europe and North America- but that’s been changing of late.  After Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate ended up selling over a million units in the west last year, Monster Hunter Generations appears to be off to a flying start, too.

Nintendo is reporting that for the month of July, the just released Monster Hunter Generations was the highest selling game in North America- that’s right, it topped the NPD software charts for the month, selling an estimated 165,000 copies at retail (and of course, with more copies sold digitally). For a series that used to be highly niche, this is a major victory, and it all but guarantees that Monster Hunter shall continue to stick with Nintendo systems going forward.

The true victor in July, however, was another monster franchise- Nintendo’s 3DS Pokemon games saw, like in the rest of the world, increased sales on the back of Pokemon GO‘s massive success. Nintendo reports that Pokemon X/Y and OmegaRuby/AlphaSapphire all saw major growth- OmegaRuby/AlphaSapphire sold 80% more year on year, while X/Y sold a staggering 200% more than they did last year.

Overall, Nintendo saw some major inroads with their software this month: games playable on Nintendo systems claimed five of the top 11 spots on the July best-sellers list. These include Monster Hunter Generations from Capcom at No. 1, Minecraft: Wii U Edition from Microsoft at No. 6, Pokémon OmegaRuby at No. 8, Pokémon AlphaSapphire at No. 10, and Kirby: Planet Robobot at No. 11.

For Nintendo, with the impending launch of Pokemon Sun/Moon later this year, all of this can only be a good thing.

Monster Hunter Generations is the newest installment in Capcom’s long running action RPG series. The new entry takes the best from all the franchise’s previous games, and brings it all together in one package- while also adding some new spins and features of its own.

The game, much like previous games in the series, has a campaign, that sees you start out as a novice monster hunter, and take on quests to despatch increasingly dangerous monsters- and while the true appeal of the franchise lies in its multiplayer, the campaigns are almost always long, full featured, and more than worth playing- especially if you are a newcomer to the franchise.

If that is you, and you have problems getting through anything in the campaign, then this video walkthrough below will help. Keep in mind, though, that it has spoilers for the full story- so if you would rather go into the game blind, you’re best off not watching it, or at least watching it very carefully.

To the newcomer, trying to figure out the systems of Monster Hunter can be the most daunting thing at the beginning- how do they figure out what weapon classes are, how do they understand the intricacies of combat, what is crafting and how does it work, and how are they supposed to know when the monster they are hunting is about to be taken down? This guide covers all of that, and more. Whether you’re a newcomer, or a Monster Hunter veteran, this guide will be your one stop guide to everything Monster Hunter Generations.

BEGINNER TIPS AND BASIC INFORMATION

There’s a lot going on in Monster Hunter, so much so that it is easy to get lost, and completely lose your bearings. That’s where this section of the guide comes in handy. For any newcomer to the franchise, these basic tips and suggestions will help you get a firm base to start from, so you don’t feel completely at sea as you start your career as a monster hunter.

Quests are divided by difficulty level, starting at 1 star, and going up from there. Generally speaking, start from the lower difficulty ones before you attempt the tougher ones.

The canteen is where you can eat a meal before you embark on a quest, after you have accepted it. Mixing together different ingredients results in different meals, which give you different buffs and bonuses. Be sure to always check in at the canteen before you set out on a quest, and be sure to keep track of what recipes work best for you.

Weapons are the closest thing Monster Hunter has to character classes- your play style is completely determined by the weapon you choose. That said, the decision is not binding- if you don’t feel as though the weapon you are using is working for you, you can always switch to a different one. In fact, you are best advised to experiment as much as you can with the full range of weapons the game has to offer.

Your quest map is divided into multiple zones, usually ten. These zones are different segments of the map, with one of them always being your base camp. Always make sure to familiarize yourself with all the zones of the map on your quest- the last thing you want is to be running from a very angry monster later on, stumbling into a zone you hadn’t gone to before, and then finding yourself confronted by some very angry smaller monsters, that only add to your worries.

Collect everything you see. There are a lot of collectibles in Monster Hunter– ore, bugs, herbs, honey, and more. In general, if something stands out on the map, it can be collected. Walk up to it and collect it. On that note…

Always be stocked up. Items in Monster Hunter are limited use- this applies to consumables, such as potions and rations, but also to other items like bug catching nets, fishing rods, and pickaxes, which you use to collect the items found around the map. You don’t want to be in a position where you’re being attacked, but can’t recover health right away, or where there’s a shiny node, but you can’t mine it, because you didn’t have enough of the items on hand.

Shinier is better. This is fairly basic- the nodes you mine in Monster Hunter come in varying degrees of luster. The shinier it is, the better loot it will yield.

The starting area of your quest is your base camp. Familiarize yourself with it. This has a bed for you to rest on and recover HP and stamina, a red delivery box for you to deposit any quest items in, and a blue supplies box, which has some basic supplies and rations to help you on your quest. There is also a transpurrter, which is a new box that you can drop off consumables in- for items that have a maximum number that you can carry, such as Honey, this box comes in handy, because any excess loot you come upon can be deposited into it, then delivered to your storage at your home.

Paintballs are essential. Use them! Once you find the monster you are supposed to be hunting, the first thing you should do is mark it with paintball. This is because once you attack the monster a lot, the monster will attempt to flee from you, and run to other zones of the map. A paintball marks the monster, so that it will always show up on your minimap, making it easy for you to tell which zone of the map it is fleeing to.

Pay attention to the monster. Monster Hunter has no HP bars for enemies- instead, it relies on your observation skills. You must pay attention to the monster you are hunting for certain tells- for instance, when it starts limping, or when it starts getting exhausted, or when it flees the zone you are in, you know you’ve weakened it, and you’re close to killing it. Keep at it. Conversely, you must also keep track of devastating special attacks the monster may launch- it has specific attack patterns that you should always be mindful of, so you know when to run, dodge, or step aside. Also keep track of the environment, and how the monster uses it.

Prepare! Each monster is different, each quest is different, and make sure you prepare accordingly. Eat the appropriate meal at the canteen, get the necessary supplies, equip the necessary gear, and make sure you are prepared to take on the monster you will be facing, along with all of its tells.

Don’t get too attached to your gear. You’ll be collecting a lot of loot from the monsters you slay- use it! Take it to the armory, and craft yourself better weapons and armor (or upgrade your current set). This can and will help you greatly as you attempt to slay more monsters. Crafting better weapons and armor with the material you get from hunting monsters is the core gameplay loop of Monster Hunter.

Craft better supplies. All the material you gather can be combined to craft some more useful material, such as potions. Experiment, and craft some supplies for yourself. Any recipe you discover is automatically saved.

Pay attention to the menus. Is there a certain game mechanic that eludes understanding? Are you lost in your quest, and you don’t know where you should be going, or what you should be doing? Open up your menu, and you’ll find answers. There are lots of tutorials, quests descriptions, and flavor text for you there- perusing it can help you find your footing as a measure of first resort.

MOUNTING MONSTERS

The signature new mechanic that Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate introduced, and which carries over into Monster Hunter Generations, is verticality, which specifically manifests itself in you being able to mount monsters. Mounting monsters has multiple benefits- you can hack away at them while you’re on them, dishing out damage, and if you successfully manage to knock them down, you stun them for long enough that you can dish out even more damage to them as they lie there defenseless.

There are three separate approaches to mount monsters:

• Leap off a higher ledge (or similar environmental advantage) onto the monster;
• Use the Aerial Style to chain jumps and mount the monster;
• Use your Insect Glaive to vault into the air and land on top of the monster

In all three cases, once you get on top of the monster, you must press down R to stay on it. A meter shows up on the screen- if the skull is green, press X and A rapidly, and start filling out the meter. If the skull flashes yellow, hold off on attacking it, because the monster may try to buck you off. If you manage to fill the full meter before the skull catches up to it, you knock the monster down, rendering it defenseless for a precious few seconds, giving you the chance to land more blows on it and weakening it even more.

HUNTING STYLES

Hunting Styles are the new mechanical addition in Monster Hunter Generations, and they are the closest the game gets to giving you classes for your hunter. Different Hunting Styles reflect different playing styles, and which Hunting Style you have also determines how many Hunting Arts (special moves) you will be able to equip.

There are four Hunting Styles:

Guild Style: This is basically the standard Monster Hunter style of play- if you are a veteran of the franchise, and would rather stick with what you know, the Guild Style is what you want to stick with. The Guild Style is the most balanced Hunting Style, and it is recommended that everyone start by choosing this, until they can determine just what their playstyle emphasizes.

Striker Style: This is for offensive players. You get to equip three Hunting Arts, you get to chain together multiple combos, and you even get bonuses upon getting hit. For newcomers most used to other action games, the Striker Style may be what they feel most at home with.

Aerial Style: If you emphasize verticality and jumping and mounting in your play style, then the Aerial Style is what you want to go for. It lets you jump at will, and chain jumps at that- to balance that out, however, you only get to equip one Hunting Art. This is a Style recommended for those players who are already comfortable with the basics of Monster Hunter, and who are ready to try out some sophisticated techniques.

Adept Style: As the name suggests, this Style is aimed squarely at franchise veterans. Of all the Styles, this one emphasizes defensive play and patience the most. It is all about dodging, countering, and pushing in with an attack as soon as you get an opening. Players who are familiar with the flow of Monster Hunter will love the Adept Style. This Style also lets you equip only one Hunting Art.

UPGRADING WEAPONS

As we already pointed out in the Basic Tips and Information section of the guide, finding better loot and crafting and upgrading your weapons and armor to hunt better monsters, to find better loot, is the core gameplay loop of Monster Hunter. If you’re not upgrading your gear, then you are simply not playing the game right.

The video below walks you through how to upgrade your weapons:

UPGRADING ARMOR

Upgrading your weapons is only half the story- the best offense is a good defense, and your defense is directly tied to your armor. Crafting better armor, and upgrading the armor you have, is essential to success in Monster Hunter Generations.

The video below walks you through how to upgrade your armor:

CRAFTING

Crafting is flat out one of the most important and integral parts of Monster Hunter. All the material that you find on the field – spider-webs, honey, mushrooms – can be joined together to create more useful items and supplies for your inventory. Everything from bug catching nets to potions can be crafted with the stuff that you find.

Unfortunately, Monster Hunter doesn’t tell you how to craft any of this stuff, and you must stumble upon it through sheer trial and error. Once you do discover a recipe, it’s saved so you can look it up later- but finding it in the first place is the hard part.

Happily enough, you have us. Below are some of the absolutely essential recipes that every hunter worth their salt should have at the tips of their fingers:

Hot Drink: Hot Pepper + Bitterbug

Cool Drink: Ice Crystal + Bitterbug

Pitfall Trap: Trap Tool + Net

Shock Trap: Trap Tool + Thunderbug

Potion: Herb + Blue Mushroom

Mega Potion: Potion + Honey

Mega Nutrients: Nutrients + Honey

Antidote: Blue Mushroom + Antidote Herb

Mega Pickaxe: Mystery Bone + Machalite Ore

Mega Bug Net: Ivy + Monster Bone M

Energy Drink: Nitroshroom + Honey

PALICOES

Palicoes are hunting companions that accompany you on your hunts in single player mode (and can be played as in Prowler Mode). You can scout Palicoes for yourself by going to the Palico Ranch in Bherna and talking to the Meowstress. She gives you your first Palico, which is a Charisma focused one, but then lets you scout and recruit up to two more.

In general, you should try to have a Healing focused Palico (to get you out of a pinch) and a Fighting Palico (to dish out some extra attacks on monsters you fight). Do not make the mistake of only recruiting Fighting Palicoes, not at first- that might sound tempting, but especially for new players, having all the defensive support that they can get is necessary. Over time, you will probably learn enough about your playstyle that you can decide just what kinds of Palicoes you want to accompany you.

Also remember, once you have recruited Palicoes, you manage them from the Palico Board.

The video below is a quick primer on how to get armor for your Palicoes:

THE BEST ARMOR

Monster Hunter is all about finding the best loot- and there are definitely sets that are better than other sets, but there are usually a lot of them that are evenly matched, and most armor is well balanced. For a newcomer, trying to figure out what armor they should try to aim for can be absolutely daunting- and the act of hunting down the monsters necessary to obtain the parts needed to craft that armor, even more so.

The videos below walk you through some of the notable armor sets you should maybe try to get early on. It is expected that you will experiment and end up crafting better, higher ranked armor as you play more and learn the ropes:

SHIELDS AND WEAPONS

If you’re playing with Shields and Swords, then the video below will show you some of the weapons you should aim at getting for yourself. Do remember, though, that there is a staggering variety of weapons in the game, even within any given weapon class- the list below is in no way definitive, and you should not be afraid to experiment with something not listed here:

LONGSWORDS

If you decide to play with Longswords, the video below will serve as a good introduction to some of the ones you should look at getting for yourself. Remember, though, there are so many weapons in this game, and this list is in no way definitive. Don’t be afraid to experiment with something not included in this video:

INSECT GLAIVES

Arguably the most versatile weapon in the game, Insect Glaives nonetheless require the player to have some level of familiarity with the game and its systems. They emphasize sophisticated combos, as well as techniques such as vaulting and mounting monsters, not to mention using your insects to collect ‘essences’ and gain temporary boosts. If you decide that you want to play with an Insect Glaive, then the video below can help you figure out which one is the best one for you- but as always, don’t be afraid to experiment:

GUNLANCES

One of the tougher weapons to get a hang of is the Gunlance, which comes with a whole range of special moves that the player can utilize to get an advantage, if they are good enough, but suffers in terms of regular, close up attacks. Veterans looking for a challenge will go with a Gunlance, but if you’re a relative newcomer who wants to try out the weapon class, the video below is your friend. But remember- don’t be afraid to experiment:

HUNTING HORNS

Hunting Horns net out devastating damage, especially if you can time your notes right- this is definitely not a weapon that newcomers want to try out with, because, and this cannot be stressed enough, it is highly unusual in how it plays, and assumes familiarity with the game’s systems on some level. As a result, they are some of the lesser used weapons, given how long it can take for a player to master them fully.

That said, if you’re going to be playing with a Hunting Horn, the below video will show you some of the best ones you might want to look at getting:

GREATSWORDS

Great Sword users make trade offs- great damage, but at a hefty sacrifice of speed. For players favoring damage above all else, Great Swords are the way to go. Once you master their various techniques, these can be arguably the most devastating weapons in the game.

The video below shows some of the best Great Swords you can find:

LANCES

Lances are among the least used weapons in the Monster Hunter community- but if you decide to play with them, the video below will serve as a good introduction to some of the ones you should look at getting for yourself. Remember, though, there are so many weapons in this game, and this list is in no way definitive. Don’t be afraid to experiment with something not included in this video:

So it’s basically good news that Monster Hunter Generations, the newest entry in the franchise that has just launched on the Nintendo 3DS, takes 4 Ultimate as its base, and then builds upon it. All of 4 Ultimate‘s additions, from its new weapons (and their associated playstyles) to abilities like jumping and vertical attacks, are retained in Generations– and to build upon them, Capcom throws in a couple of new mechanics into the mix, too.

Chief among those are the Hunting Styles and Hunting Arts. Hunting Styles are what I suppose is the closest the franchise has come to giving your character a ‘class’ yet- you choose one of many different styles, and each style gives you different benefits (mostly in the form of how many Hunting Styles you can equip). Different Hunting Styles can emphasize traditional combo-style combat, a preference for more Hunting Arts over traditional combat, defensive play, and more. The good news here is that there is a Style for those of you who don’t want much of a change in how you play the game- but for others, the addition of the Styles definitely mixes things up. As for Hunter Arts, these are specific attacks and buffs that are activated when their meter fills up, and they can be anything from automatic combos dealing in massive damage to stamina boosts. The number of Arts you can have active at any given time depends on what Hunter Style you have chosen.

"It’s basically good news that Monster Hunter Generations, the newest entry in the franchise that has just launched on the Nintendo 3DS, takes 4 Ultimate as its base, and then builds upon it."

Together, Hunter Styles and Hunter Arts really mix up the moment to moment gameplay and flow of the series, giving players more options and allowing them to approach encounters in more varied ways. Monster Hunter has always emphasized individual encounters with monsters, and the variability that accompanies each, owing to the monster in question’s behavior and attack patterns, the environment you are in, and your own weapon and fighting style- and now there’s still more thrown into the mix.

Monster Hunter Generations also makes the most major and dramatic concession the series has made to newcomers yet- no, there still aren’t proper dedicated tutorials (there are reams of text and optional tutorial missions you could participate in, though), but you can play as a Prowler now, which changes things substantially. Prowlers aren’t allowed to use items, but they can mine, fish, and harvest resources without needing to use consumable resources, unlike regular hunters. They also get nine attempts at taking out a monster instead of the standard three (meaning you get more chances to figure out just what the hell it is you should be doing), as well as a whole host of abilities which they gain by leveling up.

All put together, they are an easy way for newcomers to get into the game and get an idea of its flow and systems- and for advanced players, they also provide an entirely different style of play than what they might be accustomed to, or even than what they might get from the game’s Hunter Styles and Combos.

But these concessions to newcomers don’t make Monster Hunter Generations simplified or streamlined in any way, and the series’ famous, almost frustratingly obtuse difficulty remains in this game unscathed. Unlike just about any other RPG or action adventure game in the market, Monster Hunter demands patience, resilience, observation, and learning through trial and error from the player. There are no HP bars over enemies, no obvious weak spots- the player has to understand the environment, understand the monster they will be facing, its attack patterns and nature, prepare themselves with the proper equipment, and then take it on with great patience, never rushing into it, never getting greedy. Frame perfect timing and animations all come into play, giving the moment to moment gameplay of Monster Hunter a flow not unlike Dark Souls‘.

Where Generations takes so many cues from 4 Ultimate, the one area where it is a definite regression from that game is in the narrative focus- Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate‘s story was never going to win any awards, but it provided the campaign a nice cohesion and focus, and provided some context to the player’s fights with the gigantic monsters they were facing. Monster Hunter Generations is, on the whole, more narratively challenged than 4 Ultimate was, and more along the lines of older Monster Hunter games, to the extent that it makes all the contextual window dressing, like the various villages and NPCs you encounter, rather pointless. Happily enough, the UI and structure of the game is fine tuned so well that the player can sidestep all of that, and get to the meat and bones gameplay straight up, should they wish to.

"Monster Hunter Generations is easily recommended."

This includes the online mode- Monster Hunter Generations inherits the excellent online modes and functionality of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, with the full range and suite of features that that game had available to players. Online connections are extremely stable, with no latency and lag, and no disconnections, and in spite of the lack of voice chat functionality, the implementation of online play in the game leaves little to be desired.

Monster Hunter Generations is also a good looking, great sounding game- at least on New 3DS systems. Much like Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, Generations is playable on standard 3DS systems, but suffers in terms of the control scheme (the lack of a second analog stick rankles), as well as graphics (textures, and oftentimes framerates, definitely suffer on normal 3DS systems). On the New 3DS, though, Monster Hunter Generations definitely shines.

All said and done, Generations is easily recommended, and far more than any previous title in the franchise, it can be picked up even by unsuspecting laymen with ease, and without anything in the way of warnings or qualifiers attached to any recommendations. Franchise veterans, meanwhile, will find another meaty and in depth experience to sink their teeth into. As difficult as the series is famously known to be, but still the most accessible title in the franchise, Monster Hunter Generations makes a compelling case for being the best game in the series, and one of the very best on the 3DS.

This game was reviewed on a New Nintendo 3DS.

For the third week in a row, TT Games’ LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the number one selling game in the UK across all platforms according to Gfk Chart-Track.

Interestingly, Overwatch fell from its spot last week to fourth place this week while Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End moved up to second. Monster Hunter Generations debuted in second place for the Nintendo 3DS and given the popularity of the franchise, it’s pretty expected.

Grand Theft Auto 5 simply refuses to leave the charts at this point almost three years later and it’s in fifth place. DOOM is in sixth followed by FIFA 16, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 and Rocket League. Fallout 4 is a rather interesting surprise at 10th place especially since it moved up from 20th place.

What are your thoughts on the previous week’s best sellers especially since there aren’t any major titles till August? Let us know in the comments below.

Ghostbusters

We know what you’re thinking. “Ghostbusters? The game based on the remake? Are you serious?” Well, the good news is that FireForge Games action title, which supports co-op, will feature a brand new cast of characters. In fact, they seem to be high school students. We can sense your enthusiasm waning but hey, Extreme Ghostbusters had high school students and it was a pretty good show. Yes? No? July 12th is the date so yeah. Get hyped.

Furi

Unfamiliar with The Game Bakers’ Furi? It’s every bit as trippy as it is compelling. This third person hack and slash title is comprised of nothing but boss fights, one-on-one duels that rely entirely on skill and your reflexes as you battle for freedom. If that weren’t enough, Afro Samurai creator Takashi Okazaki is in charge of character designs, lending even more flair in the visuals and combat. Keep an eye out on July 5th for its PC and PS4 release.

Necropolis

Harebrained Schemes’ next big game…isn’t a Shadowrun title. That’s cause for attention but Necropolis is more than a deviation from the norm. It’s a third person action RPG set in a labyrinth full of treasure and danger. Not only will the environments be constantly changing but you’ll even encounter other dead adventurers as enemies. If that weren’t enough, up to four players can traverse into the labyrinth together, hopefully holding hands as they die.

Song of the Deep

Insomniac Games’ Song of the Deep isn’t quite what you’d expect from the developer behind Sunset Overdrive and Ratchet & Clank. As its first game with GameTrust, GameStop’s publishing initiative, Song of the Deep sees players as Merryn heading under the sea to rescue her father. With a rudimentary submarine, Merryn will encounter various phenomenon in what’s essentially a Metroidvania-esque adventure. Song of the Deep will be out on PS4, PC and Xbox One on July 12th.

I Am Setsuna

An RPG on the theme of sadness may not necessarily tickle your fancy but I Am Setsuna – which is out on July 19th for PS4, PC and PS Vita – will channel the golden age of RPGs as per Square Enix. How will that translate to the West? Regardless, it’s an old-school RPG from Square Enix’s new Tokyo RPG Factory. That’s reason enough to check it out.

Obduction

If you’re a fan of the Miller brothers and their Myst series, then Obduction is a return of sorts. Cyan Worlds’ first person adventure title sees the player kidnapped by aliens and exploring several foreign worlds in an attempt to return home. Along with the traditional puzzle solving that we love (and loathe) Myst for, Obduction is set to feature the same visually arresting locales and laid-back exploration that its predecessor is known for. Time will how well this plays out in 2016 but you can play Obduction yourself on July 26th to find out.

Monster Hunter Generations

Released in Japan under the name Monster Hunter X, Monster Hunter Generations will be heading to North America and Europe on July 15th for the 3DS. Along with the trademark combat that the series is known for, Monster Hunter Generations will feature different hunting styles for weapons, new Hunting Arts (which essentially act as special moves that have to be charged up every once in a while). And really, it’s a Monster Hunter title. If you love those games, you’ll love this.

10 Second Ninja X

10 Second Ninja X is a fast paced sidescroller in which you need to complete each level in 10 seconds. Don’t expect any hand holding and checkpoints – what does this look like, a walk in the park? The game has 100 levels with 40 levels remastered from the original game to essentially create a brand new experience.

A brand new video for the upcoming Monster Hunter Generations, the follow up to last year’s excellent Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, teaches newcomers to the series – of which there should be quite a few, in spite of 4 Ultimate‘s surprising success in the west – the basics of the hunt.

The new video basically goes through some items that are indispensable essentials for any hunter who decides to go out and hunt some monsters. In an excellent touch, these items are replicated in the real world, rather than being shown in game- leading to the interesting question of just how Capcom managed to recreate some of this stuff in real life, a question I would rather not have answered.

Monster Hunter Generations is going to launch on July 15, 2016 in North America, Europe, and Australia (it already launched in Japan late last year). A demo for the game is now out- if you’re not a member of My Nintendo, you’ll be able to grab it off the eShop on June 30.

Last year, Monster Hunter finally had its breakout moment in the west, when Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate launched on the Nintendo 3DS and proceeded to sell over a million in Europe and North America alone. It looks like this success was enough to get Capcom to commit to more frequent localizations of the series, because Monster Hunter X will be launching in the west this summer as Monster Hunter Generations.

Monster Hunter Generations is a faster paced take on the traditional franchise formula, so every one of you who has had an issue with the relatively slower, more plodding pace of the games so far will probably find this new one more appealing.

Nintendo also announced special bonuses for people who have save data from Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, meaning all those hundreds of hours you spent playing that? They won’t go to waste, guys!

Monster Hunter Generations launches exclusively on Nintendo 3DS systems in Summer.