Daily Review: Monster Hunter Freedom Unite

Daily Review

Monster Hunter Freedom Unite

System: PSP
Status: Unfinished
Currently: Finished 1 Star Gathering Hall, and 1/2 Star Village quests, working through 3 star.

I suppose it is a good thing when I've been playing a game so much and so often over the past week or so, that I've been too busy to do daily reviews of it. That, or I can't resist the call to pick it back up every time I put it down and try to do something else.

The game is for me, unequivocally good. It is at that perfect level of challenging without being cheap or drawing things out too much. It also gives you a very clear work to reward ratio, and you can constantly see your rewards on your character. Even though it is an RPG, the only benefits and gains you get through the game come from killing big nasty beasts, and hacking them up to make new gear for yourself. So when you get that new bow, you know you slaughtered eight wyverns or so to make that damn thing, and you're proud of it. It does induce a bit of grinding, especially if you want to be ahead of the curve on gear somewhat. Right now I'm repeating a quest to kill an Iodrome because its the closest clear upgrade for my armor, though the helm will be a rare drop of the things skull. Next up is slaughtering a Kut-ku to make myself a new crossbow.

The only problem so far with the game is the PSP itself, and the fact that I've gotten it so late I am sure I will never see any of the online only quests, just because no one else is playing it, and none of my friends will get it or a PSP. The latter is rather simple, you can always group up through the game to take down monsters, but some Gathering Hall (aka online group area) quests are more than just higher HP, they're a whole new level I doubt I'll ever be able to solo. Just doing the 1 star quests was a pain, because they require you to kill so many more enemies, and the bosses have so much more HP...for obvious reasons, its designed for up to 4 people. The PSP is the other issue, and that is the noticeable lack of two joysticks...and the tiny little bugger that serves as one. I've mostly overcome the wonky camera controls, I've gotten used to doing little shifts to realign the camera with the 'face forward' button, but if you do want to move and look around at the same time you have to do this awkward claw motion with your hand. I'm already getting a cramp holding the joystick steady in one direction for long, like I did on Peace Walker.

I always manage to gripe more about the little things than rant about the larger things...but sincerely, those two little whimpers are all I have, and all I foresee having. The game is a great challenge, every time I die I know its my fault for getting too greedy, not dodging in time, dodging the wrong way, and the like. Every boss takes skill and timing, and decent gear to back you up though I am sure you could do some of these (and some crazy people have) without any armor. It's like an MMO...except requiring actual skill in combat, instead of clicking the same four buttons.