Board Thread:Questions and Answers/@comment-24.128.117.3-20130220130022/@comment-5923841-20130225221850

To download the demo, just get an Internet connection and go into the Nintendo eShop. It was on the front page last I checked, just scroll to the left/right and you should find it. If not try the search function.

The download is free, but has limited uses (at least on the 3ds). Loading up the demo counts as 1 use. You can play the missions as many times as you like, it will only count down your uses when you close the program entirely and load it up again. You can hit the home button and pause the program that way, and can use your 3ds to surf the Internet and a few other things without using up one of your uses. However, most functions of the system will require you to close the program, so if you do it like that you'll basically just have a MH3U demo machne for a while.

I don't know what happens when you run out of uses, or if you can re-download the demo when you do.

You can choose between 12 different premade characters, each with a different weapon class and armor. The sets are exactly the same for either quest--the difference in difficulty is from the monsters, not the equipment.

The armor/weapon sets seem to have monster themes. For example, the Dual Swords set includes the Gobul DS and the Gobul armor set, the SnS has the Barioth SnS and Barioth armor, etc.