Related Sections: RPGs
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite skips online multiplayer
Once again, Capcom drops the ball when it comes to bringing the Monster Hunter phenomenon to North America and Europe. As the cheesy announcer says in a promotional video you can watch here, "One of the greatest things about Monster Hunter is the ability to meet up with your friends and play socially."
Note the first step: meet up with your friends. You can't go online in the upcoming Monster Hunter Freedom Unite for the PSP, which is a sort of add-on/expansion/sequel to Monster Hunter Freedom. Instead, you can only play multiplayer using the local wireless connection with other nearby PSP owners.
This wouldn't matter if Monster Hunter didn't have such an emphasis on playing in groups. It works a bit like a massively multiplayer online game, but at a smaller scale and with special features available to people who play in groups, such as unique quests and support weapons. Even the interface is designed for multiplayer, with a timer whenever you gather your loot to supposedly give everyone a chance to look over what's been won.
So why would Capcom neglect online multiplayer? Other than the fact that it's what they're used to doing?
It has to do with how videogaming is often part of social gatherings in Asian countries. In Japan, Monster Hunter's local multiplayer is sufficient to foster a strong multiplayer community. It's huge over there and people have no problem gathering together to play! However, for various reasons, us Westerners tend to prefer our multiplayer online, across the internet rather than with a local wireless connection. A Monster Hunter with online support would let guys like me finally play as it's intended to be played rather than plinking around with it and admiring it more in theory than practice. Unfortunately, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite won't be that game.
By Jinaar at 10:56 AM ON 04/09/09
Could you imagine, even if it is a straight port to the 360, how great it would be. With the XBL chat / party, jump in - jump out quests, stored to the hard drive to hopefully get instant zone loading, ugg..... so many proper moves by Capcom... so many dumb ones as well.
What is wrong with the game industry at times? Why hasn't another company just cloned this game but give it the additions it really requires? Money to be made. Mad money.
By obonicus at 12:05 PM ON 04/09/09
There have been Monster Hunter games with over the internet online. They were the console versions. No one, not even the Japanese, care that much about them. Monster Hunter is very much the phenomenon that it is BECAUSE of local multiplayer.
It is, however, a game intended for kids, for teenagers, who are more likely to meet their peers in person. Not for the arrested development crowd, since those people need the internet to find their friends.
By obonicus at 12:09 PM ON 04/09/09
@Jinaar
What are you talking about? There's been tons of games with similar premises with full-blown online. The console versions. The Phantasy Star Online/Universe games. This is a portable game.
Isn' t MHP supported by the PS3 adhoc infrastructure bridge, though?
By Jinaar at 3:57 PM ON 04/09/09
I guess you are right. I somehow forget the hours and hours I dedicated to PSO on the Dreamcast. Point taken. I guess when you look at the 360 or the PS3 at this point, besides games like Too Human or.... PSU... there really isn't something like MH on the consoles this generation.
My comment should have been more precise I see now. I should have said "With today's consoles that can host games, chat, party chat, text, friend lists, and so much more, the infrastructure is in place, and from my point of view, Capcom and others are failing to take advantage of this on the consoles. FPS games are doing well enough, but the 3rd person action adventure game is surely lacking."
Ya that sounds abit better. But point taken above. I still think Monster Hunter could have a home on the 360 or the PS3, instead of the Wii, but I am not someone that makes those decisions for Capcom to make :)
By jinaar at 3:59 PM ON 04/09/09
"but the MULTIPLAYER 3rd person action adventure game is surely lacking."
sh*t, edited.
By Tom Chick at 6:36 PM ON 04/09/09
The Monster Hunter/PSO online comparison is a good one, but it seems to me the Monster Hunter series is a lot more indepth and "adult", with a really deep crafting system, complex combat, and a focus on resource managament and strategy. PSO was more of a straight up action RPG, whereas Monster Hunter always felt like carefully suiting up to go out for a specific task.
It just seems like such a short leap to give the game online functionality. I can't help but think Capcom could extend it to a new group of players this way. But I guess it's successful enough in Japan that they don't really feel the need to try to grow it in the West.
Tom Chick:
The Monster Hunter/PSO online comparison is a good one, but it seems to me the Monster Hunter series is a lot more ...More »