Monster Hunter Freedom Unite
- June 23, 2009 09:33 AM PST
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While it's relatively unknown franchise to US gamers, the Monster Hunter series is a beast in Japan, regularly selling hundreds of thousands of copies. Freedom Unite is the latest chapter to be released here and it retains the complexity and depth that the series is known for. However, a couple of glaring flaws almost single-handedly doom Freedom Unite and keep it from becoming a true global phenomenon.
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Lights, Camera, Action
Huge-flaw number one: the camera. An important crux of any third-person action title is the ability to always be able to interrupt, act and respond to whatever is going on around your character, and in Freedom Unite that is not always the case. The in-game camera is unreliable and flaky which often leaves you vulnerable in battle. It's hard to survive battles with vicious monsters when the camera suddenly collides with a wall, forcing you out of the frame. It's even worse considering the fact that circle-strafe is an almost necessary tactic.
This brings me to my second complaint: the weak combat. I especially hated the absence of lock-on targeting. This simple addition could have made battles manageable and fun. Without it, engagements that are already made difficult due to the wonky camera become even tougher, especially when you go up against the more agile beasts.
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Comments [9]
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- Jun 23 2009 at 07:32:32:PM PST
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I liked the Monster Hunter games, and the camera, and controls is a mess, but you adapt with time.
The big negative for me in the past version was the no Internet multiplayer only local 4 player in the US versions.
There's PC software that let you play networked PSP games over the internet, but the player base is limited.
Does this new one have internet play without linking to a PS3 or PC?
Four play coop online would make this game a big seller.
I can never find people to play locally to play with.
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Amen brother! horrible camera and controls.. I played the demo and it was a BIG WASTE of time.. Oh well..
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You get used to the controls. But honestly, 1up and IGN AU gave it 100 and a 95. It has a steep learning curve. Usually north Americans don't like games with huge learning curve. Hence why the Wii and Wii fit is selling like mad.
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I have personally enjoyed the PSP Monster Hunter Games. I can't say that things couldn't have been done differently in terms of the camera and battle control. Many people feel awkward initially playing the game, but that doesn't mean you should give up on the game. This series has unbelievable depth to it and once you get down the controls, the battles are epic and hectic. One great thing to learn while playing the game is a thing I like to call the "claw". This is while you bend your pointer finger downwards and rest it on the d-pad, this will allow you to easily rotate the camera left and right while still moving your character around with the analog stick. I know, it does feel really funny, but after a while you'll ask yourself how you would have played the game without it. In terms of a lock-on for the monsters, I have to disagree. With the camera control mentioned, a lock-on is not needed at all. Yes, I would admit, it may be pretty nice to have some sort of auto camera control, but I think that the game was intended to push the buttons of the player, and by allowing a lock-on, the game would quickly lose much of its difficulty, not to mention that the whole combat system would most likely need an overhaul considering the current gameplay While Monster Hunter may its issues in certain areas, I urge those of you who do try it to play with an open mind and patients; ALOT of patients.
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From reading the review I've observed these things:
The review did not even make to third serious monster.
Chances are he didn't even put 10 hours into the game.
He asks for a lock-on system and complains about the combat because the mechanics of the fighting were to complex for him.
He also put up screenshots from Capcom to hide his failure.
Commend you on your lazy efforts to review such a spectacular game.
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Seriously. This review is almost as bad as IGN's MHF review that asked for a "pause feature". As Pojo already pointed out, "the claw" is the way to control the camera. Yeah it takes a little getting used to, but any vets of the game will tell you that the camera becomes perfect when YOU adapt to it. That's the whole point of the game really. You adapting. It takes hours upon hours at first when every monster you meet, but the pay off is amazingly rewarding.
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I personally love this series, Im a huge fan and I have all of them. But there are a couple things I would like to point out about this specific game though. Unless you are a huge mhf fan like me, and u already own monster hunter freedom 2, there isnt that much of a point to buy it, yes there are more missions, and more weapons and armor, but all this really is, is a special addition, it is essentially the same game, and again if u truly love the series, u should buy it anyway, but if u didnt like the others, theres not much here for u. But that is only saying that u have mhf2 already, if u dont have it, then buy this game, u will love it. It is an absolutley spectacular game that takes alot of skill and it has a massive learning curve. I think the camera actually adds to the experience to, u will hear from alot of people that it suks, but it depends on how u like to game. it gives u a sense of emergency, as if u are actually fighting the beast ur self, cuz in real life, u wouldnt be able to see it running from behind, it gives u the feeling ur in the game, but hey, some people like know there apart from the game and now that these things u do are impossible. What else is there to say? to sum it up, this is an amazing game, or rlly just an amazing special version with more content, so if ur up to the challenge of mhfu, then buy it, if ur new to the series or just love the others... BUY IT! Just be ready to know the real meaning of "It hurts so good", its so painful... but so addictive.
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I agree with all the others about the claw. I use it and have over 500 hours of game play on Freedom 2 and I'm just getting started on Freedom Unite (i ordered it off Capcom and it came a month later) i actually use the claw like second nature i don't even notice I'm doing it so its all about adapting to the controls and getting used to doing it. I think u should give the game another look.
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