Monster Hunter
Encyclopedia
Monster Hunter is an action game
Action game
Action game is a video game genre that emphasizes physical challenges, including hand–eye coordination and reaction-time. The genre includes diverse subgenres such as fighting games, shooter games, and platform games, which are widely considered the most important action games, though some...
for the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
. The game was developed and published by Capcom
Capcom
is a Japanese developer and publisher of video games, known for creating multi-million-selling franchises such as Devil May Cry, Chaos Legion, Street Fighter, Mega Man and Resident Evil. Capcom developed and published Bionic Commando, Lost Planet and Dark Void too, but they are less known. Its...
. Monster Hunter was released in North America on September 21, 2004. It was later remade and expanded in Monster Hunter G, which was released in Japan and was brought to North America and Europe as Monster Hunter Freedom
Monster Hunter Freedom
Monster Hunter Freedom is an action role-playing game for the PlayStation Portable. The game's aim is to complete quests given by various people in the goal of attaining higher and more prestigious hunting ranks. This game is the third installation in the Monster Hunter series and is based mostly...
for the PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
.
Although much of the game can be played offline through single-player, the majority of the content is in the online section of the game. Not all of the monsters are found in single-player and the player's rewards are smaller when they are offline. The goal for players online is not to defeat the most monsters but to reach the highest hunter rank, which is the storyline that is carried out online by NPC characters.
Gameplay
Monster Hunter places the player in the role of an up-and-coming hunter who must accomplish various quests to achieve glory. Armors, weapons, and other items are created from the remains of slain monsters by carving off their horns, scales and bones. Monster Hunter plays in a similar fashion to Phantasy Star OnlinePhantasy Star Online
Phantasy Star Online is an online multiplayer action RPG title, originally released for the Dreamcast in 2000, bundled with a demo of Sonic Adventure 2. Another edition, entitled Phantasy Star Online ver.2, was released for Dreamcast the following year...
allowing the player to team up with up to three other hunters online to take down stronger monsters.
Quests
Monster Hunter is played through quests given to the hunter by the Village Elder or the Town Guild. Village Quests can be classified into four categories: hunting, gathering, capture and event. They are also categorized into different levels, ranging from 1 to 8. Higher level quests become available after quests in the previous level are completed. There are three types of quests:- Hunting: Hunting quests make up the majority of the missions. As the name implies, the hunter will track, provoke, and eventually slay a monster or a number of monsters.
- Gathering: Gathering quests are missions in which the hunter must "gather" items like herbs or monster parts.
- Capture: The hunter must weaken, but not kill the prey, and then capture it with a trap.
Event
The Event quests are an online-only feature. Every week, a new Event quest is available to hunters of any rank. These quests vary in style and difficulty. Some of the rarer weapons can be made only through Event quest rewards. Event quests are not vital to a hunter's success in the game, but are a useful way to gain experience and to obtain some rare items. Contract fees and time limits vary.All of the quests allow two deaths, but the third death marks the failure of the quest. Regardless which player actually dies, three deaths will still fail the quest. The only exceptions to this rule are some of the Event quests, which are failed with just one death.
Weapons
Hunters can be classified by either Blademasters, or Gunners. The Blademaster classification consists of five sub-categories: Sword and Shield, Great Swords, Lances, Hammers, and Dual Swords (Dual Swords are unavailable on Japan version). Blademaster weapons can also be of a certain element, be it fire, water, thunder or dragon as well as status effects such as poison, stun or sleep. Gunners have two choices: Light bowgun, and Heavy Bowgun. Classifications and use of sub-category weapons are not chosen and solidified into a file; hunters are able to choose to use any weapon they want, before the start of any quest or event, as long as they have the proper money and/or supplies to do so.Armor
Armor is always dependent on whether one chooses to use a Blademaster or Gunner weapon (excluding some few which can be worn either way). Blademaster armor usually focuses on stronger physical protection, while Gunner armor usually focuses on elemental protection. Certain armor combinations provide the user with skills such as fast eating (drinking potions faster) or being able to sharpen your weapon fast and better.Combinations
Combining ingredients to make even better items is a very important feature in Monster Hunter's gameplay, be it combining a blue mushroom and herb to make a health healing potion or a net and trap tool to make the infamous pitfall trap. Although many of the combinations must be discovered by the player, some combinations are hinted at throughout the game. Success is dependent on many factors, such as rarity of the items to be combined and amount of "combo books" a player has on hand or even certain armor skills. Some of the items in the game of the highest rarity can only be obtained by combining.You may also shoot a paintball to track the monster it shows blue on the map and red when its attacking
Creatures
- Apceros, a desertDesertA desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...
-dwelling, herbivorous, AnkylosaurusAnkylosaurusAnkylosaurus is a genus of ankylosaurid dinosaur, containing one species, A. magniventris...
-like ReptileReptileReptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...
. - Aptonoth, a common, ParasaurolophusParasaurolophusParasaurolophus is a genus of ornithopod dinosaur that lived in what is now North America during the Late Cretaceous Period, about 76.5–73 million years ago. It was an herbivore that walked both as a biped and a quadruped. Three species are recognized: P. walkeri , P. tubicen, and the...
-like cousin of the Apceros. - Bullfango, a long-tusked Suid. Herd leaders are called Bulldromes (which will be seen later in the series).
- Cephadrome, a large, fearsome, carnivorous Piscine WyvernWyvernA wyvern or wivern is a legendary winged reptilian creature with a dragon's head, two legs , and a barbed tail. The wyvern is found in heraldry. There exists a purely sea-dwelling variant, termed the Sea-Wyvern which has a fish tail in place of a barbed dragon's tail...
with a DiplocaulusDiplocaulusDiplocaulus is an extinct genus of leponspondyl amphibian from the Permian period of North America.- Description :...
-like head. A youngster is called a Cephalos. A very odd-looking DragonDragonA dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that feature in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern...
. - Diablos, a very large, extremely dangerous, omnivorous Flying Wyvern with an axeAxeThe axe, or ax, is an implement that has been used for millennia to shape, split and cut wood; to harvest timber; as a weapon; and as a ceremonial or heraldic symbol...
-shaped tail, two large forward-pointing tusks and horns over the eyes as well as a bony head frill like that of a TriceratopsTriceratopsTriceratops is a genus of herbivorous ceratopsid dinosaur which lived during the late Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous Period, around 68 to 65 million years ago in what is now North America. It was one of the last dinosaur genera to appear before the great Cretaceous–Paleogene...
. It is found in deserts. - Fatalis, a dark-purple Dragon that breathes fireballs that can kill a HumanHumanHumans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
in an instant. - Felyne, one of the two intelligent, CatCatThe cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
-like Lynians. This type is colored like sandSandSand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
. - Genprey, a desert-dwelling, vicious, pack-hunting, Dromaeosaur-like Bird Wyvern that cannot fly. Pack leaders are called Gendromes.
- Gravios, one of the largest Wyverns. It has a resemblance to a stone statue. A juvenile is called a Basarios.
- Gypceros, a poisonPoisonIn the context of biology, poisons are substances that can cause disturbances to organisms, usually by chemical reaction or other activity on the molecular scale, when a sufficient quantity is absorbed by an organism....
ous Bird Wyvern with a very strangel-shaped, beak-like mouth. - Hornetaur, a NeopteronNeopteraNeoptera is a classification group that includes almost all the winged insects, specifically those that can flex their wings over their abdomens...
InsectInsectInsects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
resmbling a combination of a BeetleBeetleColeoptera is an order of insects commonly called beetles. The word "coleoptera" is from the Greek , koleos, "sheath"; and , pteron, "wing", thus "sheathed wing". Coleoptera contains more species than any other order, constituting almost 25% of all known life-forms...
and a CricketCricket (insect)Crickets, family Gryllidae , are insects somewhat related to grasshoppers, and more closely related to katydids or bush crickets . They have somewhat flattened bodies and long antennae. There are about 900 species of crickets...
. - Ioprey, a salamander-like red cousin of the Genprey that lives in volcanic regions. Pack leaders are called Iodromes.
- Kelbi, a common, AntelopeAntelopeAntelope is a term referring to many even-toed ungulate species indigenous to various regions in Africa and Eurasia. Antelopes comprise a miscellaneous group within the family Bovidae, encompassing those old-world species that are neither cattle, sheep, buffalo, bison, nor goats...
-like DeerDeerDeer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
. Males are green and females are blue. - Khezu, a large, pale Wyvern that lurks in caves and has no eyes and has visible veins, just like most cave dwellers. It resmebles a mix between cave salamaders, bats, and a wyvern. The Khezu also has the power of electricity.
- Kirin, a white, UnicornUnicornThe unicorn is a legendary animal from European folklore that resembles a white horse with a large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead, and sometimes a goat's beard...
-like Creature with red eyes. It is in the group of Monsters known as Elder Dragons (same group as the Fatalis). - Lao-Shan Lung, a gigantic, wingless Elder Dragon with an appearance like a combination of an Armadillo LizardArmadillo LizardThe Armadillo Lizard is a lizard endemic to desert areas of southern Africa. It is also known as the Typical Girdled Lizard, Armadillo Girdled Lizard, Golden Armadillo Lizard, and Armadillo Spiny-tailed Lizard.-Description:The Armadillo Lizard can be a light brown to dark brown in coloration...
, GodzillaGodzillais a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
and a Chinese DragonChinese dragonChinese dragons are legendary creatures in Chinese mythology and folklore, with mythic counterparts among Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Bhutanese, Western and Turkic dragons. In Chinese art, dragons are typically portrayed as long, scaled, serpentine creatures with four legs...
. - Melynx, one of the two intelligent, Cat-like Lynians. This type is dark-colored and is more mischievous than the Felyne.
- Monoblos, Monoblos ruber, a cousin of the Diablos that is also a desert-dweller. It is omnivorous like the Diablos and it has a very StyracosaurusStyracosaurusStyracosaurus was a genus of herbivorous ceratopsian dinosaur from the Cretaceous Period , about 76.5 to 75.0 million years ago...
-like head. - Mosswine, a PigPigA pig is any of the animals in the genus Sus, within the Suidae family of even-toed ungulates. Pigs include the domestic pig, its ancestor the wild boar, and several other wild relatives...
with a Pachycephalosaur-like dome and a symbiotic relationship with MossMossMosses are small, soft plants that are typically 1–10 cm tall, though some species are much larger. They commonly grow close together in clumps or mats in damp or shady locations. They do not have flowers or seeds, and their simple leaves cover the thin wiry stems...
and Mushrooms. - Plesioth, a large Piscine Wyvern with a SharkSharkSharks are a type of fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton and a highly streamlined body. The earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago....
-like head. It swims in a very unique fashion. - Rathalos, a red-colored Flying Wyvern that looks like a very typical Dragon with the ability to breath fireFireFire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Slower oxidative processes like rusting or digestion are not included by this definition....
. A female is gray-green, weaker and called a Rathian. - Velociprey, a blue cousin of the Genprey and Ioprey that is more common than them. Pack leaders are called Velocidromes. The name is a reference to VelociraptorVelociraptorVelociraptor is a genus of dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaur that existed approximately 75 to 71 million years ago during the later part of the Cretaceous Period. Two species are currently recognized, although others have been assigned in the past. The type species is V. mongoliensis; fossils...
. - Vespoid, a large and dangerous WaspWaspThe term wasp is typically defined as any insect of the order Hymenoptera and suborder Apocrita that is neither a bee nor an ant. Almost every pest insect species has at least one wasp species that preys upon it or parasitizes it, making wasps critically important in natural control of their...
. Leaders are Vespoid Queens (which will be seen later in the series). - Yian Kut-Ku, a omnivorous, PterosaurPterosaurPterosaurs were flying reptiles of the clade or order Pterosauria. They existed from the late Triassic to the end of the Cretaceous Period . Pterosaurs are the earliest vertebrates known to have evolved powered flight...
-like Bird Wyvern with large frill-like ears that dwells in swamps and jungleJungleA Jungle is an area of land in the tropics overgrown with dense vegetation.The word jungle originates from the Sanskrit word jangala which referred to uncultivated land. Although the Sanskrit word refers to "dry land", it has been suggested that an Anglo-Indian interpretation led to its...
s. Its movements and cries are not unlike a chickenChickenThe chicken is a domesticated fowl, a subspecies of the Red Junglefowl. As one of the most common and widespread domestic animals, and with a population of more than 24 billion in 2003, there are more chickens in the world than any other species of bird...
.
Online game support
Monster Hunter's Online servers outside Japan were closed down on December 31, 2007. The server that displayed the "service termination notice" was taken down April 1, 2008."After more than 3 years of online service, the external company providing server hosting for both Resident Evil: Outbreak and Monster Hunter has decided to exit the PlayStation 2 online business altogether, with no possibility of outsourcing either the service or the technology."
Monster Hunter's online servers in Japan closed down on July 1, 2011. (PlayStation 2 versions only)
Monster Hunter G
Monster Hunter G is a video game released in Japan for the PlayStation 2PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
. It was meant to be an expansion
Expansion pack
An expansion pack, expansion set, or supplement is an addition to an existing role-playing game, tabletop game or video game. These add-ons usually add new game areas, weapons, objects, and/or an extended storyline to a complete and already released game...
for the original Japanese Monster Hunter. It was later ported to the PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
in Japan and released in America and Europe under the title Monster Hunter Freedom
Monster Hunter Freedom
Monster Hunter Freedom is an action role-playing game for the PlayStation Portable. The game's aim is to complete quests given by various people in the goal of attaining higher and more prestigious hunting ranks. This game is the third installation in the Monster Hunter series and is based mostly...
. Some of the expanded content included Dual Swords (import from North America version "Monster Hunter"), monster color changes and other monster varieties with varying difficulty. Monster Hunter G was released on April 23, 2009 for the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
with the Monster Hunter Tri Demo. There was also an extra package which included a Special Edition MHG Classic Controller. Underground attempts have been successful in translating and porting this game to the NTSC region.
New Creatures
- Ashen Lao-Shan Lung, an ashen-colored Lao-Shan Lung subspeciesSubspeciesSubspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
. - Azure Rathalos, an azure-colored Rathalos subspecies. Females are pink and are called Pink Rathians.
- Black Diablos, a female Diablos in the breeding season.
- Black Gravios, a black-colored Gravios subspecies.
- Blue Yian Kut-Ku, a blue-colored Yian Kut-Ku subspecies.
- Crimson Fatalis, the crimson-colored member of the Fatalis brethren.
- Green Plesioth, a green-colored Plesioth subspecies.
- Purple Gypceros, a purple-colored Gypceros subspecies.
- Red Khezu, a red-colored Khezu subspecies.
- Silver Rathalos, a silver-colored Rathalos subspecies. Females are yellow and are called Gold Rathians.
- White Monoblos, a white-colored Monoblos subspecies.
Sequels
Monster Hunter 2Monster Hunter 2
is a PlayStation 2 game made by Capcom, and the sequel to Monster Hunter and Monster Hunter G.-Gameplay:Along with the various species of monster returning from the first Monster Hunter, Monster Hunter 2 contains many new monsters, such as the metallic wind dragon Kushala Daora, the lion-headed...
was released in Japan on February 16 in 2006, Monster Hunter Freedom 2
Monster Hunter Freedom 2
Monster Hunter Freedom 2 is a PlayStation Portable video game and sequel to Monster Hunter Freedom, largely based on its PlayStation 2 predecessor Monster Hunter 2, which was never released outside of Japan....
, a partial port, on August 28, 2007. Monster Hunter Freedom Unite is another expansion to the PSP Monster Hunter game.
Monster Hunter Tri was originally announced for the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
but was switched to the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
. It features new mission modes as well as new monsters and items. This information was revealed in 2007 at Nintendo's Japanese press conference.