When Capcom's not hard at work at the next Resident Evil experience, of which the latest one was pretty fantastic, they're continually reworking and upgrading their Monster Hunter formula. And while we don't necessarily get every single Monster Hunter release here in the West, we do tend to get the better, Director's Cut versions of it. The latest entry is no different, with the small exception that it is no longer gracing Nintendo's HD hardware, the Wii U, but rather only appearing on the Nintendo 3DS. So it it worth taking the plunge once more, even if you've already invested hundreds of hours into the previous game?
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate certainly starts off with a much bigger focus on narrative, as you're thrust onto a moving caravan that's being attacked by a giant monster. Serving as the game's tutorial, the high adrenaline sequence actually perfectly epitomizes the game's high octane nature. Sure, it might be called Monster Hunter, but you don't really know what you're getting yourself into until you go toe-to-toe with one of those gigantic beasts.
As with previous iterations, Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate is all about the grind. Want to wear better armor? Grind missions to gain crafting materials. Want to upgrade your sword? Better keep killing the required monsters for their monster parts. Want to make sure your always stocked with the necessary healing materials and status curing ailments? Go out and harvest the plant life. Want to make sure you have enough whetstones to sharpen your blade? Take out that pickaxe and mine for some. My point is, you'll have absolutely no shortage of things to do, since you're constantly going to find yourself wanting to upgrade to the next tier weapon, or perhaps improve the one you're currently wielding. The series has been unapologetically grindy, but that's one if its draws. Those that want to constantly have something to do and items to upgrade and craft will find joy in hunting monsters over and over again for their materials. Not to mention, as you learn to take each monster down, you'll become naturally more proficient at taking it down. So while you never really gain any XP that make your character better, outside of increased stats from armor and weapons, it's your natural skill that will improve as your progress through the game.
The combat is for the most part unchanged from its previous iterations. Each large weapon has weight to it if it's appropriately large, while smaller weapons are fast but do much lower damage. It's a fantastic trade off between mobility and power.
There are two new weapon classes aside from the myriad of standard weapons found in each game. They are the Insect Glaive and the Charge Blade. Trust me when I tell you that these two weapon classes are stupid OP. Not only do each of them have an amazing animation moveset that very non-restricting, they also have some crazy awesome abilities that make them both insanely good offensive weapons. Firstly, the Insect Glaive might look like your standard spear or polearm, with the added exception of a giant Kinsect that rests on your other hand. Sure it might sound disgusting but this little dude is super helpful. While you're laying the smackdown, you can send him off to collect monster extracts. There are various colored extracts that will boost various stats like health, defense or offense. You can also further combine these extracts for powerful offensive or defensive results. The Insect Glaive's moveset is pretty kick ass well, allowing you to vault over it and then attack from above, which is also a great way to mount your enemies and take them down a notch. Before I get to the next weapon, new to MH4U is the ability to mount Bosses and try to deal damage while simultaneously holding on for dear life. If you're successful, you'll not only greatly damage the monster, you'll also incapacitate it for a while, allowing you to deal extra damage while it regains consciousness.
The Charge Blade is a sword and axe combo, where you're able to switch between its sword & shield combo, to a giant and powerful axe. What's interesting about this weapon is that both of its mode work together to form a damage dealing synergy. Wielding the sword & shield, you gain charge phials, which you can then unleash in Axe mode for devastating damage. The two new weapon types should certainly be worth a look early on, especially if you're familiar with Monster Hunter, as they add pretty awesome side mechanics to your standard combat, but never to the point where it feels overwhelming.
Aside from the myriad of missions you can partake in each city, you can also depart on Expeditions. These randomized missions will be populated by monsters you have previous defeated on missions or previous expeditions. They'll also have various treasure areas with powerful gear or weapons that you can later appraise. Venturing into Expeditions can be quite dangerous over time as you can easily be swarmed by multiple boss monsters, and if you're not geared up, it's lights out. There are multiple ways to clear an expedition. You can either simply run to the end of the randomly generating map until you get to the caravan, but that won't net you any extra rewards. The much more lucrative option is to bring proof of a monsters existence in that region. Of course you can take it down and bring a part of it back, but if the monster proves too difficult to kill, you can also damage it enough to drop one of its vital parts to bring it back. The reward might be slightly smaller, but still much more worth it than simply running to the caravan.
As in the previous game on the 3DS, the bottom screen is customizable to display various helpful items like the map and items, but also serves as the game's camera control. Since there is no additional stick on the 3DS, save from the new model, you'll need to rely on the virtual d-pad that appears on the touch screen, and trust me, it's not an elegant solution. Thankfully, the game does have an auto-targeting system on Boss Monsters, but it won't keep them locked, just turn the camera to their location with the press of the L Button.
And as a series staple and often mandatory option, the game's co-op allows you to tackle a myriad of quests together and Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate makes it easier than ever to find other Hunters willing to party up. While you're playing, you can toggle your online status, and immediately join other players in the Gathering Hall. You can also turn on the Hunter Search which will scan for players nearby and display their information and allow you to quickly team up together. You can also register people you find online to be Hunters for Hire. These come with various mini-quests that can also reward you handsomely upon completion.
The New 3DS difference
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate doesn't require Nintendo's new handheld hardware, but it certainly benefits greatly from it. The graphics are sharper, and from what I could tell, there are few nicer background animations running. But of course the greatest benefit comes from the added C-stick. In a game like Monster Hunter, you absolutely need that map and area awareness with an additional thumbstick, and thankfully the C-stick delivers. It takes a little bit to get used to, but once you try controlling the camera with the C-stick, you won't want to play without it.
Chances are, if you're a long time Monster Hunter fan, you'll undoubtedly be happy with what Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate has to offer. Nearly endless replay value with crazy amount of customization, fantastic combat that the series is known for, and some fantastically giant and terrifying monsters to go up against. It's much better on the New 3DS thanks to the C-stick and extra shoulder buttons, but don't let that deter you. A Circle-pad pro is a worthy substitute. And in case you're new to the series, and might find the premise of the game a bit daunting, know that the game is actually quite friendly to newcomers. With helpful tutorials for nearly everything, from weapon handling to actually hunting and crafting, it won't be long until you feel like you can hold your own against 30 foot tall monster.
