Australian Gamer Review :: Monster Hunter Freedom 2

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Monster Hunter Freedom 2

Reviewed on: Playstation Portable
Available on: Playstation Portable

Monster Hunter Freedom 2 roars onto Playstation Portables across the world. Is this handheld title a worthy foe, or just easy prey?

Players: 1 - 4 Players
Genre:
Release: 2007-09-12

Developer: Capcom
Distributor: Capcom

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When Godzilla attacked Japan all those years ago, it would have been handy to have had someone around to handle the situation, don’t you think? Instead of wanton destruction, and nationwide fear, someone could have squared off with old ‘Zilla, and folded up the remains into an origami swan, leaving Japan free to continue selling girl’s used panties in vending machines without fear of giant lizards, right? Capcom seem to think so, and with the release of Monster Hunter Freedom 2, PSP owners can now square off against fierce monsters themselves, ready to thrive on the spoils of battle. But is the hunting life all it’s cracked up to be?

For those of you unfamiliar with the original Monster Hunter series, I can’t really blame you. The original adventures were never released outside of Japan, and the worldwide release of Monster Hunter Freedom 2 (A portable update of the Monster Hunter series) was only ensured through the Japanese release of the game making up 85% of Japanese game sales in the month it was released (eventually selling over 1,000,000 copies. That’s a fair few, huh?). But should this series have ever ventured out of the Land of the Rising Sun? The answer? A resounding yes!

Monster Hunter Freedom 2 casts you as (surprise, surprise!) a monster hunter, regaining consciousness in the small snowy mountainside Pokke village. Recovering from a serious fall (and suffering from a seriously convenient bout of amnesia), you assume control of your character and..... do whatever you want. Within Monster Hunter Freedom 2, there is a deliberate absence of plot, instead allowing you the freedom to focus on what you do best (slaying huge-ass monsters, fool!). You’ll notice the similarities between this title and World of Warcraft, except you’re offline and you aren’t hooked like a crack-addict. Not to say that this title isn’t as good as crack. Pick your own mild addiction, and roll with it.

If you are intimidated by the lack of direction the game’s outset provides, there is a comprehensive tutorial school available from the beginning. Within this school, you can road test each category of weaponry, as well as learn each mission style and the essential lessons necessary to keep yourself from ending up in a monster’s digestive system. Thank God for these tutorials, because gamers will need every ounce of assistance in understanding this huge game. There is a steep learning curve at the beginning of this title, enough to shake off the casual gamer. But persevere, and thou shalt find plentiful returns.

In keeping with the World of Warcraft style set-up, the main missions of Monster Hunter Freedom 2 can be categorised into three distinct types: Gathering (Collecting amounts of a certain item, such as mushrooms and various mountain herbs), Hunting (Tracking down and exterminating a specific monster) and Slaying (killing a specific number of the same monster). These quests can be initiated by interacting with NPCs or by accepting a quest in the Gathering Hall (suitably ranked by difficulty). Sound easy, huh? Don’t answer, as this is a review, and I can’t hear you.

Much like real life, you must take care of yourself in Monster Hunter Freedom 2, lest you lose stamina or health. Traversing through the Monster Hunter Freedom 2 world (Carefully split into 10 smaller multi-areas), a hunter must be able to take care of himself. Wander around in cold areas in light gear long enough, and you’ll need a warm drink or warmer clothes to keep your stamina up. Trudge through the desert in heavy mountain gear, you’ll run out of puff quick. The constant need to feed and clothe yourself according to you environment adds an additional layer of forethought when on a quest, and can either be perceived as a pleasant addition or an unnecessary inclusion. Got a problem, take it up with Capcom.

When exploring Monster Hunter Freedom 2’s multiplayer aspects, it’s pleasant to see the capabilities this handheld title delivers. Feeling lonely? Got a monster problem too big for little old you? Monster Hunter Freedom 2’s multiplayer mode allows you to saddle up your own posse of up to four players to help you conquer any particularly big baddie you just can’t handle. And for any of your Monster Hunter Freedom 2 buddies who don’t feel like going on the hunt, you can just hang out in the Gathering Hall and compare each other’s stats. If you’re into that sort of thing.

Comparing Monster Hunter Freedom 2 to other Playstation Portable titles, gamers will admire the level of detail Capcom have put into this title. It’s impressive to see that despite the scope of the game, Monster Hunter Freedom 2 does not skimp on graphical capability, with the various locations within the title showcasing the attention to detail. Snow falls to the ground on rocky mountain plateaus, the sun gleams off lake waters through lazy drifting grass, and sand blows along beaches. It’s all visually pleasing. Equally important, the monsters themselves are reasonably detailed as well, with the various species each comprising of smooth animations and quality design. I hate to keep saying the words ‘for a handheld’, but for a handheld, it’s all quality stuff.

As far as sound is concerned, the epic sized Monster Hunter Freedom 2 sports a suitably epic soundtrack. Bold, sweeping orchestrations permeate your travels, and the completion of each mission is aurally emblazoned with a soaring piece that makes you feel every bit the monster hunter you are supposed to be. It’s pleasing to see that this game (being a handheld) is still trying to deliver the best it can, and it certainly succeeds here. Complementing the soundtrack, each monster emits fierce grunts, growls and screams, weapons and armour clang and swish with quality sound, and the various other audio effects resound with excellence (Particularly the suitably ridiculous barbecuing-meat music, I must be able to get that as a ringtone somewhere).

From my own personal experience, the lengths of various Playstation Portable titles have left me somewhat cynical. How refreshing it was to be sickeningly proved wrong with the immense spectacle that is Monster Hunter Freedom 2. Gamers have over 250 main quests to complete, over 60 different monsters to wage battle against, hundreds of weapons to choose from, and more combinations of armour than a rational mind could conceive (1400, if you really want to know!). Even if you somehow forgo 48 years of your life completing all these tasks, you can fritter your time away hunting for treasure, fishing or even gardening (Harvest Moon, eat your heart out!). At this point, my initial cynicism has been so severely reversed, I require my jaw to be recovered from the Earth’s core. It’s big, get it?

When contrasting Monster Hunter Freedom 2 against other available Playstation Portable titles, the number of positive elements this game contains may make any purchasing decision a no brainer, right? Unfortunately, this is not the case. Monster Hunter Freedom 2, despite its unparalleled depth and quality, will only appeal to a very particular vein of gamers. Even myself, thoroughly impressed by this title, happily recognising its many amazing features, just didn’t feel like it was my kind of game (which is certainly unfortunate considering the staggering value found within one tiny UMD!). I’m not trying to deter anyone here (by all means, buy and try!), but understand that this game scratches an itch very few people get.

Besides the above issue, there are relatively few negative points to make. Gamers may find themselves frustrated with the control scheme (a layout that takes a while to get used to), particularly during combat. The lack of a lock-on target is sadly absent, especially when a massive tail slams you across a snowy field, and you find yourself staring at a “mission over” screen. It’s unfortunate, but considering the overwhelming positives this title showcases, it’s a small irk, no more. Taking into account the huge amount of value within this handheld title, the positives far outweigh the negatives, and Monster Hunter Freedom 2 proves itself to be a monster of a game. Let the hunt begin!

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Final Verdict

Despite catering for a highly specific audience, Playstation Portable owners should give Monster Hunter Freedom 2 a serious chance, in case they find themselves engrossed within one of the deepest handheld experiences available.

Pros
Hundreds of hours of content, thorough possibility for customisation, great value (for a handheld)
Cons
Poor camera system, possibly frustrating control scheme, very select audience