Tri Hunter

Life sized monsters? Heck yes!

2011-06-22T10:21:00.000-07:00

BY ARCHON

From Capcom:

Capcom Japan has revealed today more information regarding their collaboration with Universal Studios Japan. The collaboration will aim to create the locations and monsters from the game in real life including a 1:1 full scaled model of the Rathalos Rare Species, commonly known as the Silver Rathalos. It is said to be over 20 meters long.

MH3 on IGN top 25 wii games!

2011-04-10T16:57:00.000-07:00

By ARCHON

Wow....has it really been that long? November since our last post? That can't be right! Ah but it is...ZANZIBAR and I have been sleeping on the job! Napping like a couple of felynes we were.

Honestly this has fallen low on our list of priorities but hopefully we'll step up our efforts and provide some much needed new content to this blog, even if not at a blistering pace. According to our visitor stats, our weapons guides are the most looked-at part of the site, and while these are certainly useful they need some serious updating since we wrote them using the demo, before the game was officially released. Now with some real-game practice under our hunter-belts there are some more ins and outs you all should know about hammer thwacking and axe swinging.

To kick off the refreshment of the blog, take a look at this short description of MH3 as it appears on IGN's top 25 wii games! Number 23 on the list, Monster Hunter Tri has obtained a well earned space on this "best of the best" list. Even if the reviews of other games might have been higher, for sheer fun-factor and the amount of genuinely fun time that can be spent playing this game, Monster Hunter Tri cannot be beat.

From IGN:
Monster Hunter is an absolute phenomenon in Japan. Really, it's a system-seller. And so when Capcom announced a Wii-only entry in the celebrated series, it was viewed as nothing short of a major coup for Nintendo.

See the rest of the list of top 25 wii games here.

Amazing MH3 Speed drawing

2010-11-19T13:09:00.000-08:00

By ARCHON

Check this out. A speed drawing in soft pastels of a lagicrus. Pretty nice.

Monster Hunter Tri Dethrones Brawl

2010-10-05T22:13:00.000-07:00

By ARCHON

If you've been following the trajectory of Monster Hunter Tri's average play time per person, it should come as little surprise that it has finally dethroned Super Smash Brother Brawl as the most played wii game (per person). Still, this is no small feat. Brawl has remained at the top of the heap for a long while, even as games such as Modern Warfare and Animal Crossing threatened to overtake it.

None had the meteoric trajectory of Monster Hunter Tri however. Just look at this handy graph created by Kotaku illustrating it. Even if you cannot read it, just know that that steep blue line ending at the top of the picture represents MH3 (click to enlarge).

MAN! The average playtime for MH3 is about 80hours. I confess that I've put in well over that myself. How much have you contributed to the total?

New low price for MH3 and Classic Controller Pro Bundle

2010-09-29T13:56:00.000-07:00

By ARCHON

I know, I know. Two posts in one day is unprecedented but I wanted to give MH3 fans a heads up about this amazing deal. Amazon is now selling the Monster Hunter Tri Bundle with Classic Controller Pro at the ridiculous price of $40!!! That's $20 off the original release price which was a good deal itself. Back in July I posted that Monster Hunter Tri was being sold by Gamestop for $40 bucks. To pay the same price now and get the must-have controller is insane.

If you know of anyone who hasn't quite taken the leap and purchased this incredible game, there's never been a better time. Having the classic controller pro rounds out an incredible gaming experience. I promise, you won't be disappointed. This game will live in your wii for months.

Royal Ludroth Sponge Comic

2010-09-29T12:44:00.000-07:00

By ARCHON

A couple of days ago I stumbled upon this comic featuring the Royal Ludroth over at Better Left Unwritten. Matt writes:

Like many of the monsters in Monster Hunter Tri, the Royal Ludroth has a real-world counterpart. The Gobul is a big devil frog. Kelbi are just deer, pretty much.

For whatever reason, the Royal Ludroth is a large cleaning sponge.

Check out the rest of the post and the comic in context here.

Monster Hunter Soundtrack now for sale!

2010-09-03T16:43:00.000-07:00

By ARCHON

Now you can bring the epic tunes of Monster Hunter Tri with you where ever you go via your laptop, cd player, or mp3 device. Capcom announced August 24th on it's official blog, the release of the Monster Hunter Tri Soundtrack. You can buy either the disc on Amazon for $15.98 or download it for $9.99 if you'd rather. Do you think you'll be picking this one up?

Better Know a Monster: Lagiacrus...Big Bad Blue

2010-08-14T15:07:00.000-07:00

By ZANZIBAR

Laggy is the biggest water water baddie and poster child of Monster Hunter Tri. He employs a large number of lightning and dash attacks that can be very problematic for first time hunters. He is found in the deserted island and the flooded forest and first time hunters should bring a few things along to aid in they're hunts.

Lightning resists are of prime importance but should that not be an option then stun resistance can help avoid the effects of lightning blight or bringing along a full pouch of stormsender seeds to cure yourself.

Lagiacrus is weak to fire so having a strong fire weapon can bring him down faster. Perhaps more valuable than equipment is the knowledge to avoid his attacks. When it comes to lightning attacks he can shoot balls of lightning, a small discharge, a large discharge which looks like fireworks are going off and lasts longer than the small version. He can dash or spin dash which is much faster or can even add electricity to that.

On land his attacks lose some range but he can coil up and swing his tail around, this attack is best avoided by hugging his left side between his legs. For first time hunters one of the best places to attack him is around his tail area when he's underwater, staying next to the ground will make it difficult for him to hit you. Hopefully this will help you bag your big water dragon.

Monster Hunter Tri Sales strong, but Capcom profits are down

2010-07-29T14:49:00.000-07:00

By ARCHON

Capcom's first fiscal quarter of the year has been less than brag-worthy. According to gamrfeed:

For the three months ending June 2010, Capcom earned revenues of 19.037 billion Yen ($213.9 million) down slightly from 19.497 billion Yen ($219 million) in the previous June quarter...foreign exchange losses for Capcom caused a sharp drop in profitability compared to a year ago.

Going on to indicate that Monster Hunter Tri sales were fairly strong

During the first quarter of the fiscal year, several Capcom titles performed well.

Lost Planet 2 shipments for X360 & PS3 combined reached 1.50 million units worldwide
Super Street Fighter IV shipments for PS3 & X360 combined reached 1.35 million units worldwide
Monster Hunter 3 shipments for Wii (launched in the West in April) reached 0.69m units worldwide and now stand at 1.8m worldwide

So in this quarter Monster hunter sold 690,000 copies which brings its total copies sold to 1,800,000 units. A respectable number, especially considering that Monster Hunter Tri is considered a bit of a niche game here in the west.

MH3 now only $40

2010-07-19T13:52:00.000-07:00

By ARCHON

It's a reasonable assumption that most of you reading this blog already own Monster Hunter Tri, but for the few of you who do not good news: the price for a brand new copy of the game has dropped to $39.99 at Gamestop saving you $10 off the previous price. If you've been waiting to pick up a copy, now's your chance. Considering how many hours I've put into the game and how much fun it has been, $40 is a steal! If you have friends who are thinking about getting the game and need a little push, perhaps this is it. Spread the word...your reward is even more hunters to help you on your quests online.

Better Know a Monster: Barroth

2010-07-17T14:34:00.000-07:00

By ARCHON

Monster Hunter Tri's Barroth features a pretty significant jump in difficulty from all the monsters prior. He his harder and is faster than any before him, and the first few times you face him he can be quite unpredictable. Don't be discouraged if it takes a few times before you beat this foe as the challenge is formidable, but the rewards are worth it. The Barroth armor set is one of my favorites, featuring lightning resistance (useful against the upcoming Lagicrus) and a feature that increases the staying power of your stamina bar.

The Barroth is unique in that he is weak to two different elements depending on the situation. When he is covered in mud, water attacks are the most useful and help slough off that thick layer of mud armor. Once the mud is washed away, he is weak to fire. So pick a fire or water weapon for this one.

Attacks to watch out for: tail whip, running charge, a head ground-smash that sends bits of mud flying, a sideways head-but, a Great Jaggi-style hip-check, and a mud-flinging shake. Above all avoid his running charge! This attack is by far his strongest and even with substantial armor this move can kill a hunter in one hit. He lowers his head and then charges at you. Block this attack with the lance or GS or dodge out of the way, though not too early as he will curve the path of his charge to intercept you.

Most of the other attacks should be familiar to you from previous monsters, but the mud-shake is new. This attack doesn't usually directly hurt you, but it throws large globs of mud in an area around the Barroth. Getting hit by one of these knocks you back, does damage, and binds your character with mud which slows you and makes you unable to attack for a time. Use the "cleanser" item to quickly knock this off (or have a buddy kick the mud off in multiplayer), or better yet equip the Rinapolos weapon set or a mud/snow gem to negate the binding effect. Without one of these mud-proof implements I suggests staying clear while he shakes it off.

Be sure to paint your target early, as he has the ability to dig underground and scurry to another area. If you have no paint watch for the small puffs of dust to trail him. Attack anywhere you can, but do your best to take off that pesky tail. I have had particular luck using a water lance. I'll block his incoming charge , turn around, and use a high lance-thrust where the sun don't shine...then repeat but don't let your stamina deplete entirely. The bowgun might also be useful since you can keep your distance AND you can switch to water and fire ammo when the situation calls for it (scatter-shot is useful for knocking mud off).

I could go more in-depth as each weapon has its own strategies, but if you watch out for these main attacks (which are devastating) and get your licks in when you can, you'll have him down before you know it.

Monster Hunter Tri Brawl Stage

2010-07-12T10:30:00.000-07:00

By ARCHON

This resourceful soul has managed to skillfully mix two of my favorite games: Super Smash Brothers Brawl and Monster Hunter Tri. As visitors to this blog, I assume you have interest in, or own Monster Hunter Tri, but if you don't already own it I suggest adding "Brawl" to your Wii game collection as well. If you look to our last post, it is Brawl that has the highest play-time per player of any other Wii game and it is this title that Monster Hunter Tri is out to de-throne in this regard.

Ok, back to the mashup. This person has managed to take the Jhen Moran quest from MH and create an entirely new Brawl stage out of it, complete with the massive monster skimming alongside you and occasionally leaping toward the screen, mouth agape. I strongly recommend checking out the video below.

Monster Hunter Rises in the Ranks

2010-07-09T17:22:00.000-07:00

By ZANZIBAR

Monster Hunter Rises in the ranks of the top 20 most loved Wii games. You can see it at Kotaku or via your very own Nintendo Channel. Only time will tell, but could Monster Hunter Tri really dethrone Smash Bros? It had a huge increase from last month but I expect it to taper off.

Bagging two Laggies gets you a Rising Soul Sword

2010-07-06T17:10:00.000-07:00

By ARCHON

Well killing two Lagicruses several times will anyway since you will need 5 lightning tickets to craft the Longsword blade. The new event quest "Sea Power" pits you against two writhing and devilish Laggies in an underwater arena. You must have a hunter rank 40 or higher to try your hand, and as with any quest it's better with friends, so bring some along. More details of the quest can be found at Nintendolife. I'm not a longsword user but that weapons looks awfully cool with its cool blue glow; maybe its time I start learning.

Virtual Lagicrus!

2010-06-16T15:21:00.000-07:00

by ARCHON

A few days ago I came across this link describing an 'augmented reality' Lagicrus. Intrigued I followed the link and what I ended up with eventually with a 3-D Lagicrus model floating above a piece of paper in mid-air between the computer screen and I! That's what it appears on the computer screen itself anyway.

If you have a webcam and a printer try this out! Apparently the computer tracks the pattern on the printed page and uses it as a reference for for projecting a virtual lagicrus model in seemingly thin air. You can rotate and tilt the model. It's a little buggy, but really neat when you get it to work. Be patient as you may have to hold the page there for a while for everything to come into focus just right.

Bowgun Crafting Tutorial

2010-06-12T11:10:00.000-07:00

By ARCHON

The Bowgun is arguably the most complex weapon in Monster Hunter Tri. It comes in three different parts, has slots for decorations, and depending on your build can shoot completely different kinds of ammo. It makes sense that this is weapon option is rarely exploited by hunters (playing online I see very few bowgunners) One youtube user has created a really slick crafting tutorial that makes using bowguns a little more approachable. So check it out, and then go build your own!

Keyboard or no keyboard, that is the question

2010-06-06T14:19:00.000-07:00

By ARCHON

Those who have spent any amount of time playing Monster Hunter Tri online have found that communication among hunters is extremely valuable. The game offers a variety of ways to interact. There are of course the avatar gestures (funny, but no always that useful), wii-speak support, an in-game text entry screen, and support for a usb keyboard. It is this last option that I am thinking about taking advantage of.

I love that the game supports wii-speak, an underutilized device for the Wii. I love talking with my friends to plan methods of attack, set up quests, and warn them of low health or a nasty incoming monster attack. This option is fantastic but limited. I can only speak with those I register as friends through Monster Hunter Tri, and in my day to day interaction with other players my only other option is the terrible (alphabetical rather than QWERTY) keyboard in the game itself. Using this to communicate is do-able but painfully slow. So, is getting a keyboard worth it?

I have a friend who swears by using a keyboard, and for good reason. You can get your point across clearly and quickly (sometimes voices come through muffled on the wii-speak) and more importantly you can easily converse with non-friend teammates while battling. If you are a fast typist, it's not even that far of a stretch to type a note or two in the heat of battle, something that is impossible to do with the in-game text entry method. But is it worth it? Should I track down and buy a USB keyboard for just this one game? The video below is a CNET review for logitech's wii wireless keyboard. A particularly slick option. What do you think? How do you communicate in Monster Hunter Tri?

Monster Hunter Tri Smashes onto the Charts

2010-06-03T14:03:00.000-07:00

By ZANZIBAR

For those of you who are familiar with your Nintendo Channel on the Wii will hopefully have seen the list of Wii games with the highest average amount of play-time. This list has been dominated by by Super Smash Bro's since it's release an the list itself has been fairly stagnant. But Kotaku has created a really neat chart to display this information and on the far right side about 1/2 way down debuting at solid 39:56 is our beloved Monster Hunter Tri. Not bad for a first month!

Better Know a Weapon Part 4- The Long Sword (2.0)

2010-05-30T15:54:00.001-07:00

BY ZANZIBAR

Now that I have a lot of Longsword experience under my belt, I thought it best to update my original weapons guide.So the big idea here is the more you cut the stronger it gets and then you unleash your built up energy in a flurry of attacks. Basic combo is overhead slash,thrust, rising slash (X A X). The Long Sword (LS) also has an evasive slash to make up for it's lack of blocking ability, with the wiimote/nunchuck combo or CC (Classic Controller) set to attack with the right stick you can control which direction you dodge after your slash with twist of the wrist or flick of the thumb. Setup 1 with the CC only had a backwards dodge that is executed with X+A, however if you are mid combo you can use X+A and a direction press of the stick to control your direction. The LS has an infinite combo in X A X X, just keep repeating and you'll get that guage filled in no time.

The the spirit gauge will fill up and glow red at it's peak this is the time to unleash a spirity combo by repeatedly hitting R on the CC, the spirit combo has a unique trait in that it will not bounce off a monster regardless of sharpness. This combo has a tremendous amount of power behind it and each slash can do 120% of normal damage and end with your weapon being sheathed There are 3 levels to your charge, white, yellow and red. The first two will remain until you die or progress to the next level while the third red level where you get the 120% increase is only temporary but you can increase the time it is available by connecting with the final blow of a spirit combo. To extend the spirit combo you can alternate R and X for what can be a 12 hit combo and will happen very quickly, excellent for an incapacitated monster.

The running speed while the weapon is out is faster than the Great Sword and falls in pretty close to the middle as far as all weapons are concerned. The attack speed is fairly quick with good reach and the evasive slash can be combed into from any attack giving it good mobility.

Happy Hunting.

Zero Punctuation Reviews Monster Hunter Tri

2010-05-27T13:52:00.000-07:00

By ARCHON

Looks like Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw of Zero Punctuation got his hands on a copy of Monster Hunter Tri. If you've never seen one of his reviews be warned, they are not safe for work (strong and crass language) though ultimately hilarious and clever. Can't say he's a fan of the game, but games he actually admires are few and far between so I'll take it.

Monster Hunter Tri Music

2010-05-23T08:35:00.000-07:00

By ARCHON

The creators of Monster Hunter 3 certainly have a handle on what makes a game feel epic. The environments are beautiful and sweeping, the weapons are ridiculous, the monsters are crazy huge, and the sense of accomplishment after a well fought hunt is palpable. Its good to know then that all of these characteristics are backed up by a score of music just as epic.

You can always count on the music to really set the mood in Monster Hunter Tri, whether you are walking out across a huge sandy plain, wandering into your village farm, or encountering a formidable beast in the Flooded Forest.

YouTube user Tristya has posted much of the Tri Soundtrack on his/her channel. Check it out to listen to what I'm talking about. I wonder if this will ever make it to CD, like another one of my favorite games did?: Shadow of the Colossus (a game I think Monster Hunter Tri takes a cue or two from).

Custom Monster Hunter Tri Gear

2010-05-20T13:53:00.000-07:00

By ARCHON

Capcom has partnered with online apparel creator Zazzle.com to make customizable designs for T-shirts, mugs, gifts, and more bearing the Capcom (legal) seal of approval. Specifically for us, that means Monster Hunter Tri logos and images on some pretty cool shirts, shot-glasses, posters and the like.

Check out the site for a huge collection of snazzy Monster Hunter Tri-themed clothes and trinkets. It's really fun to browse around. What is your favorite? Now, if only they'd make t-shirts that look like your favorite armor set!

Better Know a Monster: Royal Ludroth

2010-05-18T13:55:00.000-07:00

By ARCHON

The Royal Ludroth, while not an abnormally difficult monster himself, can prove to be quite challenging the first couple of times around since he marks your first underwater battle. Personally, I find him much easier to fight on land than in the water since he seems to become more maneuverable and faster underwater, but the Monster Hunter should know how to fight him in any terrain.

On land he has a multitude of attacks to be aware of: A belly flop, jumping dive, a curling bite, a roll, a spitting water charge, and a biting lunge. (Did I miss any). Most of these just need to be observed to be avoided, but here are a few tips. If he does the curling bite and missed you, get ready to dodge because it is followed up by a powerful tail-flick. When he rears up to roll stand right by his tail and 9 out of 10 times the roll will miss you. Stay to the left and right of him as much as possible to avoid his belly-flop and charges, attacking his mane and tail. He will sometimes spit water globs at you that if hit, will cause water-blight. Also avoid the ground-plumes that result from these globs hitting the ground as they will do the same. He will usually charge 2 or 3 different directions while spitting water, so steer clear until he's done with this attack or you'll be bowled over.

In the water, stay high, near his head and attack the head and mane. Watch out for his charges and dodge to avoid, and for his claw-swipes as he turns to face you.

His weak points are the mane and tail, both of which are pretty large targets so have at it! His tail can even be cut off and carved from, and his mane broken (which sometimes gives you "quality sponge" as a quest reward). He's weak to fire, so bring the appropriate elemental weapon if you have one, or bring plenty of fire ammo if you are using the bowgun. Thunder and Ice will also deal extra damage, though not as much as fire. Good luck brave hunter! The R. Ludroth is but a taste of aquatic beasts to come.

Video Review from Gamespot

2010-05-15T08:21:00.000-07:00

By ARCHON

Here is another video review of Monster Hunter Tri, this time from Gamespot. Their favorite part of the game, understandably, is the online play.

"It has a great sense of adventure, and this cool aura of authenticity about it. Giant angler fish with spikes and huge lizards wouldn't be easy to take down...and so it is in Monster Hunter Tri. You're in unfriendly territory here, and I mean that in a good way."

Ironbeard Bloopers

2010-05-11T14:14:00.000-07:00

By ARCHON

I really like the humorous angle that Capcom and Nintendo have taken with the promotional spots for Monster Hunter Tri. I enjoy the little-bit campy, but always in-character Ironbeard McCullough and his interaction with passers by. Here's a little treat for those who've enjoyed him too. Some Ironbeard bloopers.

Dressed to Kill

2010-05-08T19:13:00.000-07:00

By ZANZIBAR

Next to weapons and giant creatures, armor is one of my favorite things about Monster Hunter. Armor comes with it's own defense rating, resists against elemental attacks, skills, and sometimes slots for decorations.

When choosing skills it's important to remember that most require atleast 10 points in them before they will activate, this is key because it works for both good skills and ones that have a negative impact on your character. For example Barroth armor set has a Critical Eye -1 which will lower your chance for critical hits, a single expert gem in a decoration slot will remove that debuff, granting you normal critical hits again.

Armor defense helps against all the physical attacks that monsters have while the resists will lessen the damage received from an elemental attack like Qurupecco's flint fire or Royal Ludroth's water bubbles. Balancing all these needs is extremely important for the successful hunter. Happy Hunting!

Better Know a Monster: Qurupeco

2010-05-06T12:17:00.000-07:00

By ARCHON

The Qurupeco is the second boss-monster hunter's will come across in their adventure. He's a considerable step up from the Great Jaggi, but a relatively tight attack range makes his attacks easy to dodge.

The quirk is, that he can imitate the calls of other monsters and bring them too his aid. Wailing on him a little too hard? Oh don't worry, he'll call in a Great Jaggi, and now you are faced with not one but TWO boss monsters. Qurupeco doesn't like the way you are eyeing him? He'll call in a gigantic Rathian to rip your face off! Interrupting these calls and/or driving away the monsters they attract (with dung-bombs) is essential to victory. If you see your foe stand tall and start to bellow, hit him hard with a charge attack in the throat or head if you can, or throw in a sonic bomb to stop the call and momentarily stun him.

Knowing these things will bring you a long way toward victory, but the Qurupeco isn't really a lightweight. He'll charge toward you and bowl you over, biting downward. If you get too close he'll spin around and send you flying with his tail. Sometimes he'll hover just above the ground and spit wads of goo at you (get right in his face to avoid the spit and use a high-reaching attack).

In his most lethal attack, he jumps at you, banging the flints on his arms together and creating a fireball. Get caught by this one, and you will go flying and be set a-flame. Most of the time he claps his flints together twice before using this move so watch for the tell, and dodge or run at right angles to the direction he is jumping to escape. He'll usually attack three times with this so keep dodging. You can block, but even with the lance's shield, the attack takes some life away.

Focus your attacks on his throat or head using vertical slashes to take him down the quickest. A dull weapon will bounce off his wings or tail. Make sure to throw a paint pellet on him, as he'll fly to a new area when he feels he's getting beat. This makes him much easier to track down. Keep following, interrupt his calls, focus on his head and throat and you'll have him down in no time

Better Know a Monster: The Great Jaggi

2010-05-02T10:33:00.000-07:00

By ARCHON

Zanzibar and I have already created guides for each of the weapons you will find in Monster Hunter Tri. Along those same lines we thought it might be a good idea to feature the boss monsters that you will encounter in the game. Knowing each monster's behaviors and weaknesses is essential to victory. So first up: The Great Jaggi Guide

The Great Jaggi is the first boss monster you will encounter. No doubt many of you have moved well past this foe and killing him is quite easy. But for the rest of you starting out with base level weapons and armor the Jaggi is a formidable opponent.

When he first spots you he will run towards you. Don't hesitate to attack as it usually takes him a few seconds to start biting and ramming. If you see him scratch at the ground, that's your chance as he's gearing up to roar at you which gives you an opening to land several good hits. He will also stand on his hind legs and call for help. Take advantage of this window to attack attack attack.

The Great Jaggi's main attacks are a sideways bite, a tail whip, and a hip-check that will send you flying across the screen. His bite and whip can be blocked but his tail will often reach around your defense, so I suggest rolling out of the way and counter attacking. The Jaggi will turn sideways and leap at you for his hip-check. Block this if possible and get in a few swipes of your weapon. He usually does each of his moves twice or three times in a row. So, if he's just tail swiped, WATCH OUT, another one is coming.

One of the things that makes this foe difficult is all his tiny Jaggi-lackeys. Although they don't do much damage, they will routinely interrupt your swings and occasionally knock you down. Use a horizontal weapon swipe (with the GS, Lance, Longsword, or SA) or a Hammer spinning attack to clear the area every now and again. Pellet ammo is recommended with the Bowgun for this task

The Great Jaggi takes pretty equal damage most everywhere on his body except his head which is the most sensitive. So strike where ever you can but aim for the head. With careful dodging and counter attacking you'll have him down in no time. Good luck!

Lagiacrus ATTACKS!!!.....a subway station...?

2010-04-30T10:48:00.000-07:00

By ARCHON

In a monumental effort to promote Monster Hunter Tri, it looks like Nintendo and Capcom have turned a long subway-station tunnel in San Francisco into a giant immersive ad for the game. I like that the scale of the ad hints at both the scale of the game, and the monsters within it. It looks like the hunters on the wall are just about human size...which would make the giant aquatic Lagiacrus ...*gulp*... life-size.

Thanks to Brett Bates over at Bitmob for this one. Check out the link for more cool pictures

The Mighty Barroth

2010-04-27T12:38:00.000-07:00

BY ARCHON

A week since release, I've been hard at work killing monsters and taking names. My next gigantic foe is the Barroth. A rocky bi-ped with a pension for mud and a wicked fast and deadly charge. He has evaded my blade so far, but his time will come. The diligent hunter must watch out for his mud attacks which binds your character, leaving you unable to attack or move quickly. Use a 'cleanser' to break its hold or have a fellow hunter give you a swift kick. He's also crazy fast and his headbutt packs a punch. If your armor is not up-to-date he can take you out in one hit. I'm going to try using some traps to incapacitate him and get my licks in while I can. Might my Great Sword be up for the task? Or perhaps my Bowgun is the way to go.

Archon's Monster Hunter Tri Unboxing

2010-04-25T10:51:00.000-07:00

By ARCHON

So I do understand that this is a little redundant, and not nearly as slick as Zanzibar's unboxing, but here are a few photos of my experience. At the very least you can look at the pictures and examine the controller, box art, and disc a little more, even if my counterpart represented the process in a much better way.

The box arrives at my doorstep, about 3pm on release day!

Open the box.

Under the padding, we have a thick plastic-wrapped box containing the game and classic controller pro.

A close-up of the front of the box. Great artwork!

The back of the box and a peek inside once opened.

I've removed the contents but I haven't unwrapped anything. We've got a retail copy of the game in plastic, the classic controller pro in a styrofoam sleeve and a simple instruction booklet for the controller.

Unwrapped! My nice new shinny controller, the game disc and (a rather thick) instruction booklet, and boxes. Good times.

Monster Hunter Tri Unboxing Video

2010-04-22T23:16:00.000-07:00

By ZANZIBAR

Unboxing video of the Monster Hunter Tri Classic Controller Pro Bundle.

Amazon Sells out of Monster Hunter Tri

2010-04-21T14:22:00.000-07:00

By ARCHON

Well, it looks like online retailer Amazon.com has temporarily sold out of copies of Monster Hunter Tri. This is good news for Nintendo and for Capcom. Even though would-be fans trying to get their hands on a copy may have to wait a few days, overall I think this is good news for them as well, since it increases the chances of more amazing Monster Hunter games on the Wii in the future.

See the story over at GoNintendo.

Happy Monster Hunter Tri Release Day Everyone!

2010-04-20T11:47:00.000-07:00

By ARCHON,

The day has finally arrived and I'm terribly excited and anxious (my bundled version of the game is out for delivery as I type). In honor of the release here is a roundup of a bunch of reviews of Monster Hunter Tri for you to browse through.

You've already seen IGN's review. Here is another review, this time from Nintendo life from contributor James Newton. He gave Monster Hunter Tri a favorable 9/10.

And one from Now Gamer with an 8.6/10, saying "MH3 is easily among the best mature games on the Wii."

Eurogamer's review and a score of 9/10.

And finally, a nice video review from Gametrailers.com below.

Video Games | Monster Hunter Tri | Review

Monster Hunter Tri Release Trailer

2010-04-19T16:55:00.001-07:00

The Ultimate Monster Hunter Tri Weapon Guide

2010-04-19T10:04:00.000-07:00

BY ARCHON and ZANZIBAR
So over the past few weeks we've peppered in posts in our series "Better Know A Weapon" to help the new hunter get aquainted with their gear. Yesterday was the final post in the series. We though it would be nice to have all of these guides in one place, so without further addue I give you:

Trihunter's Ulimate Monster Hunter Tri Weapons Guide

Longsword (updated!)

And one final tiny note. Monster Hunter Tri comes out tomorrow...

Better Know a Weapon Part 7- Lance

2010-04-18T08:41:00.000-07:00

BY ARCHON

For the final installment of "Better Know a Weapon"...I bring you The Lance.

The Lance is the most defensively geared weapon-type available. With your weapon drawn your movement is very slow but your shield is huge and can block most incoming attacks. The lanceman (or lance woman) can only dodge left or right after attacking, and can only jump back (B) with the lance at rest. So, unlike some of the other weapon types in Monster Hunter Tri, this setup encourages you to stay right up in a monster's face block its attacks, and be read to deal huge jabs when the time is right. Note that the blocking ability of the shield is not perfect; you loose a little bit of life and stamina with every block and some monster's attack (such as the Jaggi's tail whip) can sometimes reach around your defense, though far less so than with any other weapon.

(sorry the formatting gets a little off here. I can't seem to get any changes to stick)

"X" draws your weapon while standing. Pressing "X" while running equips your weapon and delivers a quick forward jab. X+A while running will draw your lance and shield and quickly to put you in a defensive position. Press "A" for a high thrust (great for those flying critters) and "X" for a forward thrust. Both "A" and "X" moves can be chained together with the proper timing into a three hit combo (XAX for forward, high, forward, or AAA for high, high, high, etc). Press "B" and your character will hop back (or dodge left and right after an attack)...good for escaping a monster's close attacks or to position yourself for the next hit. "X and A" together will yield a wide horizontal sweep, which doesn't do much damage but is great for clearing the area of little guys. Pressing the "+" button will trigger a running lance-charge fueled by stamina.

Blocking is the name of the game.

Hold "R" with the lance drawn to block with your huge shield. While blocking, "X" will give you a quick forward jab and "A" will start a powerful charged high-thrust (that's what she said). Be careful though, as while charging you are vulnerable. You can creep around with your shield drawn, though slowly.

If you time your attacks and blocks properly you'll never need to leave the monster's hit zone and can keep up in it's face dealing the damage. The lance is a weapon that I found awkward at first, but a hunter willing to get to know it's ins and outs is a force to be reckoned with!

Better Know a Weapon Part 6- Switchaxe

2010-04-17T14:49:00.000-07:00

By ZANZIBAR

The Switch Axe is a new weapon to the monster hunter universe, it combines sword and axe into a transforming weapon of devastating power. The Switch Axe (SA) has a guage that fills up when the weapon is sheathed or whenever it is in axe mode. This gauge fuels your attacks in sword mode and so balancing the two is the key to achieving victory. Axe mode has faster walking speed but slower attacks compared to sword mode which also has increased elemental damage.

Axe mode has four standard attacks, vertical, horizontal, rising slashes and a charging thrust. The big damage from this mode comes from repeatedly attacking with X which will send you into a continuous figure 8 combo that is fueled by your stamina bar, as long as you have stamina you'll keep on slashing. It's a good idea if your gonna be in this mode a lot to stock up on stamina boosting items, the quickest way to get into the figure 8 combo is to use the + button (rising slash) followed by repeated presses of the X button. If the gauge is to low pressing R will "reload" the weapon filling the gauge 1/2 way.

Sword mode can be switched into from axe by a press of the R button from a standing position, comboed into by doing a foward thrust (attacking while in motion) followed up by pressing R or even pulled out from a sheathed position with a combined button press of R+X. When in sword mode every attack will deplete the gauge regardless on whether it hits or misses. X and A both have combos from repeated pressings, each with good range and speed. The plus button is the Element Discharge, it takes a heavy toll on the gauge but does massive damage and repeatedly pressing + will extend the discharge, best used on monsters that are incapacitated in some way. Once discharged it will automatically revert back to axe mode.

Happy Hunting

Better Know a Weapon Part 5- Bowgun

2010-04-16T22:46:00.000-07:00

BY ARCHON

Bowguns may seem like they are only a fit for a supporting role in multiplayer hunts, but with the proper ammo and careful dodging, the bowgun is a weapon class to be respected.

There are three classes of bowguns: Light, Medium, and Heavy but they all play relatively the same. The differences lie in the speed of your characters movement and action, and the power of the ammo. The heavier the gun the more powerful your ammo can be, but the slower your weapon and your character will move.

Controls

"X"-draws your weapon and reloads. Unlike many weapons in MH, you can't come out swinging with the bowguns, so make sure you have your ammo selected and loaded into your gun before you rush into battle. Be sure to reload every time you change ammo as well. Hold "L" and used "X" and "B" (think of them as "up" and "down" on a second d-pad) to navigate through your cache of ammo types. There is no shield to speak of, so like the hammer and switch-axe classes you must dodge your enemy to keep out of harms way. Do so by tapping "B" and holding the direction you want to jump. A+X is a melee attack with the bowgun. Tapping "R" will bring up a scope-view. This is great for shooting monsters at range but does leave you very vulnerable. I find that most ammo veers off if you try to shoot it too far so I rarely use this mode. It might prove more handy when you have other player around to distract the beast. Holding "R" will bring up an aiming reticle with can also sometimes come in handy although I find the most success just "shooting from the hip".

Ammunition:

Using the right ammo in a fight can make all the difference. Each bowgun class has its own special ammo and the heavier the gun, the more powerful its "normal" shots become. The more powerful and special ammo also come with drawbacks; for example some powerful types must be reloaded after every shot, while normal ammunition comes 6-to-a-reload. Here is a quick breakdown of the ammo types in the Monster Hunter Tri demo (this is not meant at all to be exhaustive).

(All three classes have 'normal ammo' which can come in different levels of effectiveness)

MEDIUM

-sleep: puts the monster to sleep. The bigger the monster, the more of these it will take to put the monster out

-exhaust: tires the enemy

-pierce: Shoots 3 rounds one right after another leaving you vulnerable

-slice: rounds stick into enemies and then explode with shards that damage again, and damage nearby monsters

-crag-rounds stick into enemy and then explode, often knocking them back

LIGHT

-poison: only one round in your magazine. Once hit, monster keeps taking damage

-water: shoots 3 rounds, does water damage (useful against fire foes?)

-clust- creates a fire explosion on impact

-para- paralyses your monster. As with sleep, this may take many rounds

-pellet-like a shotgun. A wide spread of pellets. Useful for groups of small enemies

HEAVY

-flaming-1 shot does lots of fire damage

-wyvern fire- charge shot and must be at point blank range. Tons of damage

Gamestop & Amazon remove MH3-Controller Bundle from Website

2010-04-16T11:14:00.000-07:00

By ARCHON

It appears that just prior to release, Gamestop AND Amazon have removed the option to pre-order Monster Hunter Tri bundled with the Classic Controller Pro. Does this mean they've run out of them? Was demand not high enough? Will they sell the bundle after the release of the game?

We'll be sure to keep you updated as we get more information, but it seems for now, if you are intent on pre-ordering MH3 with the classic controller pro you'll have to go elsewhere. Let us know in the comments if you find someplace else that is advertising preorders of the bundled version of the game.

IGN Review of MH3

2010-04-15T00:02:00.000-07:00

By ARCHON

So just short of a week before the release of Monster Hunter Tri IGN.com has posted a review of the game giving it a final score of 8.8 (out of 10) and an editors choice award. Here are some of the highlights:

"There's a significant time commitment associated with getting the most out of Monster Hunter Tri, but those who put in the hours will find the game offers the kind of satisfaction few other titles can deliver. "

"When it comes to high levels of difficulty in videogames, there can be two types. There's difficulty built to pose a challenge and that can be overcome with careful planning, perseverance, and skill, and there's the type of difficulty that's completely unreasonable that's meant to mask a lack of creative design ideas, technical limits, or simply to pad gameplay hours. Monster Hunter Tri's level of difficulty is the former. It's a tough game that readily tosses you into situations where laziness and lack of focus can swiftly result in failure. Yet its challenges aren't so difficult that they step beyond the bounds of sensibility."

"Each weapon type is essentially a character class, offering distinct rhythms of movement, attack, and unique special abilities."

"Monster Hunter Tri isn't a game for everyone. It's a dense product with a learning curve higher than most other Wii titles available. It requires patience, persistence, and a willingness to learn from your mistakes."

"For those who prefer games that reward skill and offer huge amount of options for varied play style, character customization, and a vast amount of content, look no further."

Check out the full review here.

IGN gave the game a final score of 8.8 which is good but I get the feeling (and so do many people based on the comments on IGN.com) that the positive language in the review suggested that they would have rated the game much higher. Looking at the reviews of other games on other systems but without having actually played the full version of Monster Hunter Tri I do kinda of think it should have received a higher score; but just like the review itself, thats an opinion.

I think if anything this has convinced me that this is a fantastic value for the price and a rewarding game. I'm as excited as ever to play it come April 20th.

One week 'til release, Tri-hunter Recap

2010-04-13T11:18:00.000-07:00

BY ARCHON and ZANZIBAR

So with Monster Hunter Tri a week away we thought it would be great to pick some of our favorite posts to share with you guys. It's been great sharing all this great stuff for what is shaping up to be a fantastic Wii game. If you guys have a favorite pick be sure to let us know in the comments section.

ZANZIBAR's Picks

The Ironbeard Drive Thru commercial, I just love these series where they get ppl off the streets and they look so confused.

My Long Sword post, mainly cause this is the weapon I plan on using as soon as I can. I love the range and speed combined with the mobility of the weapon to create constant pressure on the target.

Finally our first post here at Tri Hunter is one of my favorite video's that has been posted. Just . . . so . . . pretty.

It's been great doing this and we hope you'll all stick around once the game is out for info from us on about our adventures and new content .

Happy Hunting.

ARCHON's Picks

Better Know a Weapon: Hammer Time Post. It was Zanzibar's idea to give overviews of each weapon and this was my first. Challenging but satisfying to write I think figuring out all the moves for this post helped me play with the weapon that much better.

This Trailer from 2008 still gives me goosebumps. You just HAVE to watch it.

And Zanzibar's short and sweet post explaining just what the heck Monster Hunter is. I think its a good overview of a complicated game in a really approachably length-ed post.

Thanks for reading and we'd love to hear about your favorite posts or even what you want to read more about in the comments.

Monster Hunter Video Blitz!

2010-04-12T20:53:00.000-07:00

By ARCHON

Video Games | Monster Hunter Tri | Gigginox Trailer

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

Ironbeard McCullough in the new MH3 TV Commercial

2010-04-12T14:33:00.000-07:00

By ARCHON and ZANZIBAR

Mini Mall

2010-04-11T13:58:00.001-07:00

By ARCHON and ZANZIBAR

The Game that Keeps on Giving.

2010-04-10T09:09:00.000-07:00

BY ZANZIBAR

So if you couldn't tell from our earlier posts Monster Hunter is shaping up to be a pretty meaty game. Capcom hopes to keep us hooked with special events, hunts and arena battles so that we never need another wii game! The full story can be found at Kotaku.

New video: Uragaan!

2010-04-09T10:09:00.001-07:00

By ARCHON and ZANZIBAR

This monster looks like it's going to be a blast to fight. I don't see how I can get out the way fast enough and escape its rolling attack!

Setting the Graphics-Bar High!

2010-04-07T21:58:00.000-07:00

BY ARCHON

On Nintendo's website while reading the "Iwata Asks" feature where Nintendo president Satoru Iwata interviews various people in the gaming world, I came across an interesting bit of information. While interviewing the producer and directors of Monster Hunter Tri, Iwata reveals that Nintendo's own developers (working on the newest Zelda game) were impressed by Monster Hunter 3's graphic achievements on the Wii, feeling that MH3 had achieved graphically what they hadn't:

"I can tell Nintendo’s staff has really been galvanised by you...I can tell they feel like you did what they hadn’t yet."

This is huge, coming from one of the best video game developers in the world. If they are impressed with Monster Hunter's graphics we know we have something very special indeed to look forward to. Director Fujioka goes on to say:

"Striking visuals were originally one selling point of Monster Hunter, so when we decided to bring Tri out for Wii, to be honest, many players may have been uneasy over just how much we could do visually. We thought that unless we got those types of people to think, “Oh, it’s totally all right,” we would have failed."

Check out the whole interview here. The conversation about graphics is on the 3rd page.

The Great Monster Hunter Tribute Contest

2010-04-05T18:42:00.000-07:00

By ARCHON

The Monster Hunter Tri folks over at Capcom-Unity have announced a tribute contest. Ironbeard highlighted it on the official Monster Hunter Tri facebook fan page saying:

"Fer this contest, ya can do anythin' (well, anythin' *legal*) t' show yer love fer Monster Hunter. Bake a cake! Wear a costume! Write a story! Draw a picture! Grow a beard! Make yer own movie! The possibilities are all over the place! Just be sure it's somethin' original."

Prizes are awarded for each category and include a Classic Controller Pro, a Wii Speak Package, or a copy of Monster Hunter Tri. The Grand Prize winner (the categories winners will be pitted against one another) will receive all of the aforementioned prizes AND a Wii. Sounds like a contest well worth entering!

What are your plans for taking home a prize?

(Link to the Contest at Capcom-Unity)

Monster Hunter Tri Zebras

2010-04-03T15:31:00.000-07:00

BY ARCHON and ZANZIBAR

New IGN impressions for the Monster Hunter Newcomer

2010-04-01T17:49:00.001-07:00

BY ZANZIBAR

IGN recently posted an article on their impressions of MH3, they talk a little more about crafting and some of the big ideas of the game like a loot based progress system and a steep learning curve. The full article can be found here at IGN.

Happy Hunting.

Volcano Trailer

2010-03-31T18:27:00.001-07:00

BY ARCHON AND ZANZIBAR

Monster Hunter Tri Volcano Trailer

April is Monster Hunter Facebook profile picture month

2010-03-30T17:39:00.000-07:00

BY ARCHON

The Official Monster Hunter Tri Facebook fan page is promoting a "Monster Hunter Profile Picture Month" for April to promote the release of the game this April 20th. Will you be participating? What will your profile picture be?

Monster Hunter Tri: Drive Thru

2010-03-29T19:13:00.001-07:00

BY ARCHON AND ZANZIBAR

Monster Hunter Tri Trailer from 2009

2010-03-28T15:40:00.000-07:00

BY ARCHON

This Monster Hunter Tri Trailer is an oldy but a goody. Clocking in at over 3 minutes long, the great mix of breathtakingly gorgeous pre-rendered cut-scenes, action packed bits of gameplay footage, and the epic music all combine to send geeky chills up my spine. Watch this and you won't be able to tell me that you don't want this game

Better Know a Weapon Part 4- The Long Sword

2010-03-27T09:25:00.000-07:00

BY ZANZIBAR

So the big idea here is the more you cut the stronger it gets and then you unleash your built up energy in a flurry of attacks. Basic combo is overhead slash,thrust, rising slash. The Long Sword (LS) also has an evasive slash to make up for it's lack of blocking ability, with the wiimote/nunchuck combo or CC (Classic Controller) set to attack with the right stick you can control which direction you dodge after your slash with twist of the wrist or flick of the thumb. Setup 1 with the CC only had a backwards dodge.

The thing is if your using set-up 2 on CC or Wiimote combo then you don't have the right thumbstick to adjust the camera; hopefully this will be fixed by release.

The the spirit gauge will fill up and glow red at it's peak this is the time to unleash a spirity combo by repeatedly hitting R on the CC. This combo has a tremendous amount of power behind it with each slash doing 120% of normal damage. The running speed while the weapon is out is faster than the Great Sword and falls in pretty close to the middle as far as all weapons are concerned. The attack speed is fairly quick with good reach and the evasive slash can be combed into from any attack giving it good mobility.

Happy Hunting.

Check out our other weapons guides here:
Great Sword
Sword and Shield
Hammer

Capcom attributes sales increase to Monster Hunter Tri

2010-03-26T10:26:00.000-07:00

BY ARCHON

Capcom's 2009 fiscal year (which ends this month) was looking to be tough one. Who could blame them in this economy? However, it looks like they posted a net sales increase of 5.9% for the 9-month reporting period ending in December of 2009.

And how do they account for this gain? They attribute it to the massively successful release of Monster Hunter Tri in Japan of course! If all of Nintendo's marketing for the North American release is effective, I don't doubt they see the same jump in sales come this April 20th when Monster Hunter Tri is released here in the U.S.

link to original story by Aj Glasser, GamePro

New Split-screen footage

2010-03-25T17:06:00.000-07:00

BY ARCHON AND ZANZIBAR

Here is some great new footage of Monster Hunter Tri's split-screen multiplayer. They are trying to take down one of the monsters featured in the demo; The Great Jaggi.

Video Games | Monster Hunter Tri | Great Jaggi Takedown Gameplay

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

Better Know a Weapon Part 3-Hammer-time

2010-03-24T17:22:00.000-07:00

BY ARCHON

Monster Hunter Tri's hammer is a slow-moving (but not as slow as the Great Sword) mostly offensive weapon with a wide range of attacks.

Unsheathe and strike upward in one motion by pushing "x" while moving forward. Hitting "x" while standing still will prompt your character to simply retrieve the weapon from his back (though any time I'm getting out a hammer I'd want to come out swinging!). Hitting 'A' will trigger a quick horizontal strike that stops directly in front of your character; 'X' will result in a downward horizontal strike, and hitting 'A 'and then 'X' in quick succession will yield a quick two hit combo.

If you successfully land a downward strike, keep hitting 'X' for up to a 4 hit combo as you strike at your enemy and hit the ground, dealing elemental damage as well.

For many weapons holding down "R" will cause your character to block. The hammer has no blocking move so make good use of your dodges and dashes to get out of harm's way. Instead, tapping or holding "R" for a second or two triggers a wide horizontal (almost diagonal-upward) attack. Keep holding "R" and your character will crouch into position and charge this attack. Hold it long enough to see a quick flash from your hammer, and you can release a devastating spinning attack perfect for clearing out those pesky jaggis. You can even move (at a pretty good pace too) while charging this attack! Be careful though as after releasing this your character is vulnerable for a few seconds while regaining his balance. Keeping this spin-move charged also depletes your stamina.

This weapons has medium to short range. It has none of the reach of the Great sword or the Long sword, but it on par with the switchaxes and outreaches the simple Sword and Board (shield). Oddly, it looses effectiveness and must be sharpened after a while. I can't tell you how many times I've tried to put a nail in a board and had to stop to sharpen my hammer just to get the job done!

The Hammer is one of my favorite weapons and has a satisfying mix of power and varied attack. Try taking it out on your next hunt!

Monster Hunter Tri Monster: Gobul

2010-03-22T21:54:00.000-07:00

BY ARCHON

New videos featuring the terrifying underwater Gobul. I am NOT looking forward to facing that thing, and when I do I'll make sure to have friends with me to help take him down.

Monster Hunter Tri Demo Qurupeco walkthrough

2010-03-19T20:20:00.000-07:00

BY ARCHON

Someone from Capcom-unity has posted a video that serves as sort of a walkthrough of the Qurupeco hunter on the Monster Hunter Tri Demo. There are a lot of ways to approach a hunt and your technique will most definitely vary depending on which weapon you choose, but this video is helpful none-the-less. He takes down this difficult monster rather quickly using a switch-axe (the first several times I tried this hunt I ran out of time) and imparts techniques and tips that were both new and very helpful to me, being a Monster Hunter n00b.

For instance, did you know you can roast two steaks at once? Did you know that you can jump off a cliff at a certain point in the demo and end up in a completely new area? I didn't!

While this is not a step by step of how to beat the Qurupeco, following his lead with bring you a lot closer to victory

Better Know a Weapon Part 2-Great Sword

2010-03-19T11:28:00.000-07:00

BY ZANZIBAR

The Great Sword (GS) is an extremely powerful weapon in Monster Hunter Tri with tremendous reach. This is counterbalanced by it's slow attack spead and the slow movement rate that comes with the weapon when drawn. It also has a block function that works well in providing some defense. It's attacks aren't varied but they all have a function. The overhead swing is the default attack and can be charged for alot of damage if it connects. The 2nd blow is an attack with the flat side of the blade and causes blunt damage that will go towards making the target dizzy. Finally the end of the 3 hit combo is a horizontal slash that hits a wide radius around the hunter, great for getting little jaggi off of you. The other combo is to start with a kick, this is done with the plus button on the classic controller and then hit x this brings up the flat side attack and can be used quicker than if you did an over head swing to flat blade combo. The final attack is a rising slash that is done with a combo of X+A on the classic controller, great for floating Qurupeco's,it can be combo-ed into from the overhead slash.

Great Sword tip, you can roll at the end of any of your swings to cancel much of the time that you would be stuck waiting to return to a neutral state, this is great for repositioning yourself, evading an attack or cancelling a misjudged swing. The underwater attack are identical to their land based counter parts.

Happy Hunting!

Official Monster Hunter Tri Facebook Page

2010-03-16T18:32:00.000-07:00

BY ARCHON

So various Monster Hunter facebook groups and fan pages have been created by fans of the series, but just recently an official Monster Hunter Tri Facebook fan page has surfaced. Most of the post are written in dialect, presumably my Ironbeard McCullough himself. Here is a recent update.

"Ya know, there's one monster that I simply canna slay, and it's called "Daylight Savin's Time." If yer village dunna use it, consider yerself lucky. But while it may have threw me biological clock off kilter, that dunna mean it can stop me Dangerous Guides t' Monster Huntin'! This time, we're lookin' at the Gobul, a spiny angler fish/frog/balloon beastie, who uses its whiskers to lure in prey. So if yer not careful, it can literally get away by the hair of its chinny-chin-chin!

Oh, and there's some new videos t' watch of the Gobul in action! So go watch 'em! And make sure yer clock is correct!"

Click here to be directed to the fanpage.

Better Know a Weapon Part 1-Sword and Board

2010-03-15T11:37:00.000-07:00

BY ZANZIBAR

1st in a 9 Part Series

The sword and shield (S&S)is the go to weapon set for versatility in melee combat. It sports the fastest attack speed of any weapon in the game along with having the fastest walking speed while the weapon is drawn as well. This is balanced out by having one of the lower attack power, 4 or 5 swings with the sword and shield combo is roughly equivalent to one swing of the great sword.

S&S has a basic 4 hit combo with 3 sword swings and a shield bash to it, there is also a horizontal slice to vertical ascending that is good for hitting things overhead. The shield can even provide some offense with a 2 hit combo . Underwater things change a little with a 3 hit combo or a shield hit followed by vertical slash that makes you rise up. The thing to note is any time you connect with the shield it counts as blunt damage rather than slicing, if you can get some head shot with it then it will daze your quarry giving you time to get some extra damage in.

On the defensive side you do have your shield which you can use to block with, it's not as complete as the lance's shield and you will stagger and take a hit to your stamina so watch out! You can attack out from behind your shield but it's only one hit and it leaves you open. The last thing to note with this weapon set is that you don't have to sheath your weapon to use most items, simply block like normal and use your potion or trap at the right time and your ready to go. Happy Hunting!

Monster Hunter Tri Hands-on Impressions

2010-03-14T14:13:00.000-07:00

BY ARCHON

My impressions of the Monster Hunter Tri Demo were written from the point of view of someone who had never before played a Monster Hunter game. I think this is a valuable viewpoint but my guess is that there are thousands of people out there who have tried their hands at Monster Hunter back on the PS2 or on the PSP and want to get a taste of what the game might be like for them. Well Greg Miller over at IGN.com posted some of his impressions of the game (not the demo). Here are some of his thoughts along with a link to the full story if you'd like to read more.

"Monster Hunter Tri has me more excited for this series than any other entrant I've tried"

Speaking about the classic controller vs the wiimote-nunchuck controls: "Each and every review (of the previous Monster Hunter games), I complain about how rotating the camera via the D-pad is a slow and arduous process that leads to lowly Velociprey killing me. So to have the freedom today to swing that right analog stick and have the camera follow while one button snapped the camera to my back was incredible. "

"There are new weapons, new areas, and new monsters. In fact, only three monsters are returning from prior games."

And the comment that really caught my eye: "...after my short, short demo of Monster Hunter Tri, I can honestly tell you that I've never been more excited for a Monster Hunter game..."

Click here to read the full article

New Multiplayer Gameplay Footage

2010-03-13T15:43:00.000-08:00

BY ARCHON and ZANZIBAR

Some new footage of Monster Hunter Tri in action has surfaced. This video shows a pretty good example of how multiple players will team up online and work together to take out monsters.

Monster Hunter 3 Demo Impressions

2010-03-11T18:35:00.000-08:00

BY ARCHON

So by now I've put quite a few hours into the Monster Hunter Tri Demo and feel I have a pretty good feel of everything, well enough to give my impressions on it. Keep in mind that these are the impressions of the demo and of course not the final game. Just to give you an idea of where I am coming from on this, though I'm very excited for this version, it is my first ever Monster Hunter experience.

My first two hunts I tried my hands at the wiimote-nunchuck control scheme. No doubt this would get easier with practice, but I had a really hard time with it. I think that might be a combination of my inexperience with the game, the complexity of the controls in general, and the control scheme itself. You move your character using the joystick, move the camera (an essential and constant function in Monster Hunter) using the D-pad. A-triggers your attacks, and twisting the wii-mote left and right changed your attacks. I might give this control scheme another shot sometime, but I have a classic controller, so I plugged that in and have been using it ever since. For some reason mapping the camera to the second joystick (I did have to invert both x and y axises on the camera controls for it to feel right) makes all the difference. I recommend this over the wii-mote and nunchuck setup. If anything this has solidified my decision to spring for the classic controller pro bundle version of the game.

I started out with the sword and shield (the first option it gives you) since that seemed like a good balance of defense and offense. I walked around the starting area pressing all the buttons just to see what they'd do: I drank three potions in a row, swiped my sword madly in the air a few times, dove to the left, threw a flashbomb, then set down to roast a steak...yeah...it was productive.

Thinking I had a handle on the controls I rushed into battle, taking a look at the map in the corner of my screen to direct me to my target. It indicated a blue dino-shape a few fields off so I headed that way in earnest.

I have to say that the visuals in this game are breathtaking. I mean really really gorgeous. I think its the beautiful backdrops that first caught my eye with towering mountains and hazy oceans stretching before you. I also noticed that the character models are fantastically smooth, very detailed and fluidly animated. That goes for the monsters as well.

It is games like this that really highlight how lazy most other developers of wii games are. The price of the beauty I suppose are the load times while traversing in between the different areas of the map. As soon as you leave one area for the next you are confronted with a loading screen. It only stays up for one to three seconds but it really serves to break up the experience, which is too bad. After sinking many more hours into the game I have to say that the loading screens became less annoying. I just sort of feel them as part of the rhythm of the game at this point. If the load times are the price I have to pay for the amazing graphics, I'll happily pay.

Gameplay is engrossing, rewarding, but perhaps most noticeably, VERY challenging. At least for a Monster Hunter newby. Getting a handle on the controls for ridiculously huge and lumbering swords and hammers; and knowing when to dodge and how not to put away your weapon on accident (I did this SO many times) was a huge challenge for me. After my 4 or 5th failed battle I really started to get the hang of it and I have to say, successfully landing a huge blow to an enemy and watching him stagger back is fantastic! I think my advice on this front is to stick with it, as once you get the hang of controls everything starts to flow and the game really opens up and is really incredibly fun.

The single player is certainly a blast, but it is easily apparent how this game is even better while playing with friends. There was many a battle when I needed to run off to the side to sharpen my blade or down a potion only to get knocked over by the monster. Having a friend to two to distract and keep up the damage for these times would be a big help.

Overall I am really pleased with the demo and have gotten a ton of time out of it. An amazing value considering the price (free). So if you haven't already, go pick up a copy at your local Gamestop (the demos are free to all no matter what they tell you) and start hunting. My only hope is that the full game eases newcomers into the experience a little better (it no doubt will) and has a stronger emphasis on exploration and crafting, of which you only get a taste in the demo.

Well I've written far more than enough on this. If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to use the comments section on this post.

An Oldie but a Goodie

2010-03-10T09:40:00.000-08:00

BY ARCHON and ZANZIBAR

Monster Hunter Tri trailer from 2008 still impresses.

Ironbeard McCullough Strikes Again!

2010-03-08T10:36:00.000-08:00

BY ARCHON AND ZANZIBAR

Monster Hunter 3 Demo Walkthrough Part 2

2010-03-07T09:58:00.000-08:00

BY ARCHON and ZANZIBAR

Part 2 of the Monster Hunter Tri Walkthrough from Gametrailers.com. Watch Part 1 below first!

Video Games | Monster Hunter Tri | Demo Walkthrough Part II

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

Monster Hunter 3 Demo Walkthrough Part 1

2010-03-07T09:05:00.000-08:00

BY ARCHON AND ZANZIBAR

Monster Hunter 3 Demo Walkthrough (Part 1) from Gametrailers.com

Video Games | Monster Hunter Tri | Demo Walkthrough Part I

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

My First Hunt

2010-03-06T08:54:00.000-08:00

BY ZANZIBAR

Well after much searching I finally got my hands a hold of the elusive Monster Hunter Tri demo disc. I went with the classic controller for what I thought would be simplicity's sake. I chose the Great Jaggi Hunt,a really big raptor creature, just to get my feet wet. The disc gives you a selection of 10 different characters each with a unique weapon. I chose the great sword cause the character was in some impressive looking red armor. The instructions that come with the demo are for wiimote and nunchuck so after making sure I can accomplish all the moves listed I felt confident enough to seek out my quarry.

A look at the minimap show that he was on the other side of the map so off I went. I pass by several creatures, lumbering herd beasts,lil jaggi,and some tiny cat people. The vistas in this game are fantastic with sweeping cliffs and towering mountains. After traveling over a mountain I arrived at the hunting grounds where my quarry awaited. My opponent had numerous allies, a huge tail,claws, teeth, and a really nasty hip check. I had a humongous sword. Our battle raged back and forth with both of us giving ground, the beast would flee to another area when it didn't have the upper hand or was wounded to complicate matter. But after blowing all of us up with a barrel bomb, chucking potions and flinging poo at it to give me a breather to sharpen my weapons the Great Jaggi final fell to my blade. The game congratulates you and sends you back to the start.

So I've probably spent a good solid 4 or 5 hours playing this doing both hunts with all the weapons, Jaggi has fallen to all but I'm still working on Qurupeco for all weapon types. This game does not hold your hand by any stretch of the imagination. There is no lock on for helping aim at your enemies. Once you start an attack you are committed to it to the very end and one wrong button press has landed my flat on my back or worse several times. Each weapon handles very differently and there is quite the learning curve just to feel like you won't stab your self in the foot. That being said it's extremely rewarding when you land a huge combo and knock that critter upside down.

I've definitely got some favorites among the weapons, the switch axe is a great combination of power, speed, and has great range, it lacks a bit on the defensive side but hopefully that will be where other people come in. I have a feeling that certain encounters will heavily favor one weapon type over another and I look foward to see what else Capcom has to offer us. In the mean time go pick up a demo for yourself,they should be at all Gamestops by monday, and leave us some feed back on your impressions.

Happy Hunting.

Demo Discs Come Early for Some!

2010-03-04T21:05:00.000-08:00

BY ARCHON

Demo discs of Monster Hunter Tri are being distributed at some Gamestop locations early! Accounts of demo disc being early rather than the scheduled release date of March 8th, began popping up on video game forums and blogs. Obviously anxious for a chance to try my hands a being a Monster Hunter well before the game release date of April 20th, I decided to stop by one of my local Gamestop locations on my way home from work.

Lo and behold, a demo disc free for the taking! I asked the guy at the counter if any of the demo discs for the new Monster Hunter 3 game were available. He informed me that demo discs are only available for people who pre-order the game from Gamestop. THIS IS FALSE!!! A rampant misconception since Capcom first released word about the demo discs. They are free to all!

I informed the guy working the counter that I had looked it up and that the demo discs were free to anyone regardless of whether or not they pre-ordered the game. He was very polite, went over and read something on the back of the box-display containing the discs, said "Sorry, I was mistaken" and handed me a copy. I thanked him and left the store.

The first thing I did was call up ZANZIBAR and let him know. The second was to drive home and plug in the game. Stay tuned for impressions of the demo!

UPDATE: I spoke with ZANZIBAR who tried obtaining a copy of the demo disc from his local Gamestop with no luck. So it seems for the moment that some stores have it and some don't. It's up to you whether the possibility of an early demo is worth the trip.

Monster Hunter Tri Website is Live

2010-03-03T10:10:00.000-08:00

BY ARCHON

The Monster Hunter Tri Website is Live and features the same wise-cracking Irish-Scottish huntsman from the commercials featured below in the blog. It provides information about the game including monsters, weapons, and news as well as screenshots and videos of the game in action. While I don't think I would have guessed the humorous approach that Capcom and Nintendo have taken to promote this Monster Hunter Tri, I think it has potential to draw a lot of new attention to the franchise and to the game.

What kind'tov a pansy hunter goes out to shoot wee 'ittle animals?

2010-03-01T09:28:00.000-08:00

BY ARCHON

Another Monster Hunter Tri Ad for your enjoyment and amusement
"Tis easy t' call yerself a hunter when yer chasin down a wee animal who can barely reach high enough t' bite yer knee. But that doesn't mean a ARE one, ya minces!"

New Monster Hunter Ad

2010-02-28T08:28:00.000-08:00

BY ARCHON

This new ad for Monster Hunter 3 made me laugh. It makes fun of the Discovery Channel's Deadliest Catch. Sit back and enjoy.

Pick Up Your Free Demo Disc on March 8th!

2010-02-26T10:28:00.000-08:00

BY ARCHON

It looks like Nintendo and Capcom have partnered with Gamestop to give would-be hunters a taste of Monster Hunter 3 well before release date. Starting on March 8th, Gamestop will be giving away free demo discs of the game. So if you are itching to wield a switchaxe or bowgun as much as I am, go pick up a copy.

Those Who Play Together Stay Together

2010-02-25T08:22:00.000-08:00

BY ZANZIBAR

Monster Hunter 3 has several modes of play, first there is the offline single player mode which will have more of a story driven element to it. Co-op via split screen is available but is restricted to arena matches pitting you and a friend against monsters. Finally where most of the time will be spent is in the online co-op mode. Here up to 4 hunters will join up, complete quests, adventure together and trade items, communicating via the wiispeak accessory or keyboard. All of your progress for your hunter is carried over between modes.

No Fees for Online Play

2010-02-24T13:52:00.000-08:00

BY ARCHON

Finally we have confirmation that there will be no fee for online play of Monster Hunter 3 in North America. This is big news, and can only help futher drive sales of the Monster Hunter franchise here in the Western world. Nintendo also announced an official release date of April 20th.

Some background: The Monster Hunter series is a best selling and well know franchise over in Japan. Monster Hunter 3 for the Wii sold half a million copies on its first day of release in the isle across the Pacific! So charging the rabid fanbase to play the game online is a good business move. Games like World of Warcraft prove that this pay-for-play model works. In Japan, a 30 day ticket costs 800 Wii Points, a 60 day ticket for 1,500 Wii Points and a 90 day ticket for 2,000 Wii Points. So if you wanted to play online with your buddies, it costs you actual cash beyond the initial purchase of the game.

Charging players to go online here in the States in contrast, would be a disastrous move. One of Capcom's biggest reasons for developing MH3 for the Wii is its huge install base. It is the best selling current generation console by leaps and bounds! And they want Monster Hunter to be as successful here as it is in Japan. Charging for online play would pour cold water all over those plans.

But it looks like we need not worry. In today's media summit, Nintendo announced that online play will be free for North America. Hunters rejoice!

New Amazon Pre-order $10 Bonus

2010-02-23T16:55:00.000-08:00

BY ARCHON
It looks like Amazon has just released yet another offer to entice those still on the fence about pre-ordering Monster Hunter Tri. Order either the standard or the bundled version of the game and you will get a $10 credit towards the purchase of your next game from Amazon. This a pretty amazing deal and will be hard to beat as we get closer and closer to release date.

What is Monster Hunter Tri?

2010-02-23T08:32:00.000-08:00

BY ZANZIBAR

Monster Hunter 3 is the third home console release of a series that got it's start back on the Playstation 2. It's created by the game company Capcom, who has given us such great franchises as Mega Man and Street Fighter. It is the best selling Wii Third Party game in Japan where it has been out since August.

Just like its previous installments you take on the role of a hunter who is tasked with investigating strange disasters that have befallen you village. Along the way you encounter increasingly stronger creatures, slay them, and use them as the components for making new weapons and armor which will give your character new abilities. New to the series will be underwater exploration and combat. Unlike most Wii games the online component will not require you to exchange friend codes as a necessity to play with your friends. Instead it has a built in lobby system for joining friends and meeting new ones.

Pre-ordering Monster Hunter Tri

2010-02-22T10:28:00.000-08:00

POSTED BY: ARCHON

New Monster Hunters have a couple of good preorder options when the time comes to make sure you have a copy of the game on release day.

Amazon.com has two options. You can preorder the game alone for $44.99 (with free shipping), a $5 discount off the retail price. Or you can preorder the game bundled with the Classic Controller Pro for $59.99, which is the retail price for the bundle but still a great deal if you consider that buying the game and controller alone will set you back $70 ($65 with the pre-order discount; the Classic Controller Pro retails for $19.99).

Gamestop is offering the game and controller bundle for $54.99 beating amazon's best price by 5 dollars when combined with a coupon code for free shipping or if you choose to pick up your order at a gamestop brick and mortar store. They also have the game by itself for $44.99.

Myself? I don't see these deals going away as we get closer to release date and the chance always remains for a better deal yet to come. So for now....I wait.

More Accessories for the Aspiring Hunter

2010-02-21T09:42:00.000-08:00

POSTED BY: ZANZIBAR

Monster Hunter Tri will also be bundled with the Classic Controller Pro. The new controller is functionally the same as the original Classic Controller but now has handles on the sides for better grip, the 2nd set of trigger buttons altered for better comfort and the cord that hooks into the Wiimote now comes out the top of the controller instead of the bottom. It should be noted that the game does not require you to use a classic controller and will support the Wiimote/Nunchuck combo.

Accessories for the Aspiring Hunter

2010-02-20T11:47:00.000-08:00

POSTED BY: ZANZIBAR

Unlike the Japanese release of the game, the U.S. and European releases will support the Wii Speak microphone. This is only the 7th Wii game to support this accessory for in game voice chat! Wii Speak costs 30 dollars but Amazon currently has it on sale for 16. For more info on Wii Speak go to Wikipedia.

Monster Hunter 3 Producer tells us why we should play.

2010-02-20T09:54:00.000-08:00

POSTED BY: ARCHON

In a new interview from WorthPlaying.com game producer Ryozo Tsujimoto tells us exactly why Monster Hunter Tri is worth playing.

A portion of a WorthPlaying interview with Ryozo Tsujimoto, producer...

WP: If you had to sum it up in two to three sentences, what really makes Monster Hunter Freedom Tri a game that's worth playing?

RT: The biggest experience is that you are actually putting yourself as a hunter in an environment that is totally unique. It's a virtual environment that seems like a lot of animals are living, and a lot of monsters interacting with each other. As a hunter, you customize your weapon and put yourself totally into the environment and then you will experience the whole world of Monster Hunter. That's the most fun that you would experience throughout the gameplay. The fun part is that you can become a hunter

See the complete interview here.

New Cinematic Gameplay trailer

2010-02-19T11:41:00.000-08:00

This recent Monster Hunter 3 Gameplay Trailer is truly epic in scale. Except for the very last shot, everything in this trailer is in-game. The long draw distances, the smooth animations, and the scale of battles is really astounding. Sit back and enjoy.