Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-2123858-20150527220652/@comment-8874090-20150529140946

For me, It all started around 2010, I can't remember the exact time. A friend of my brother had a bunch of excess PSP games, so he lent me a few. One of them was Monster Hunter Freedom 2. I immediatly found the game very interesting, however I sucked at it at first. Barely beaten the dromes, then got stuck on the Kut-Ku and Congalala. Gave up on it, but came back after a few months for a second try. This time I reached the Tigrex urgent. I tried again and again but I always got killed near the end, as he became enraged more, and the sleeping area was small. Gave up again. Then, after almost a year, I've decided to pick it up again. Over the summer holidays, I overcame these challenges, I got better at understanding and playing the game, played it for around 300 hours, reached the fatalises. I wanted more, so I looked the series up on the internet, and found out there was another PSP game, Unite. By that time Tri was also released, but I didn't have a Wii so I didn't look at it anymore.

I bought Unite, and this is where I became a True, battle-hardened veteran hunter. I didn't import the Freedom 2 save, I started from beginning, reached all the way to G rank Fatalis trio, even beat them all solo. Spent nearly 500 hours on it. I dreamt of having a hunting partner, but none of my friends were interested.

That's when 3 Ultimate was announced to be localized. I didn't want to buy a Wii, but a 3ds was more accesible and practical, plus I wouldn't mind playing Pokemon either. So I bought the 3ds MH3U bundle. I played it a good bit (around 300 hours). I loved all the new monsters. Underwater was a pain, and it's true that the challenge wasn't nearly as big as in Unite, however, I still loved the game. The graphics were much better, there were new weapon types and new movesets for old one, the new monsters were amazing, movement (both hunter and monster) was improved by A LOT, everything felt much more fluid. Monsters connected their attacks and actually properly aimed them at you. Unite's monster were more like: attack > turn 90 degrees> turn 90 degrees> attack and repeat. Now they were able to freely walk around the area and adjust their movements.

Then comes 4 Ultimate. By the time, I would do anything to play it. Since I already had a 3ds, it wasn't a problem. The game is pure awesomeness. Monsters have improved AI, cool attacks and the new ones are very well designed. Areas a beautifully made, not to mention much more dynamic. The introduction of aerial combat was a great idea, miles better than underwater. The new weapon types are great and there are some good new moves for old ones. The game has a dungload of content as well, and it's not even filler, it's all great. Some great returning monster that always had a good design, even in Unite, but are now utilized to their full potential (Kushala, Teostra, Chameleos, Kirin come to mind). Expeditions are great, guild quests are great, I was sceptical about relics at first, but I like them now. Perhaps the most important (to me) addition, is that I am able to play multiplayer for the first time ever. And boy, it's a whole new world! Love everything about it! Sure, you get some jerks every once in a while, or powersavers, or frenchies (no offense lol) who triple cart in the first 5 minutes, but overall the community is still much, MUCH better than most online games. Usually the rule is: the more played the game, the more toxic the community seems/is *cough* LoL *cough*

To sum it all up:

Freedom 2: sucked me into the game, perhaps lacked a bit in content, but still big for me at that time.

Unite: Improved things that needed to be improved in Freedom 2, added a lot of content, great new monsters.

3 Ultimate: Lacked a good bit in challenge, however it was more fair with better hitboxes, so it was still a great game, just more casual. Revamped a lot of the mechanics and made them better.Tons of new monsters, which mixed up a great new experience. A decent amount of content, but the endgame was kinda lacking.

4 Ultimate: By far the best game so far, lots of new mechanics, a huuuge amount of content. Doesn't exactly feel as fresh as 3U did with so many returning monsters, but it still feels better as a whole. Brought back the challenge, but it's a bit delayed. But when you think of it, this is how it should be, Low rank SHOULD be easy. In unite you were thrown in the thick of it, immediatly starting at a high difficulty. The new way is more begginer friendly. Very importantly, ONLINE! This means a whole lot to me. And a good thing, I started high school last year, and this year I conviced a friend to pick up mh, and he loves it! I finally have a hunting buddy!

I kinda agree that we need more things that make it personal. Unite had the farm, 3U had the house decorations. They feel like a guild card awards, made into an area. They grow with you as you progress the game. I agree that 4U might lack that a bit.