Monster Hunter Tri

First published on 12 May 2010. Updated on 23 Nov 2010.

If you ever sat down to watch Jurassic Park and thought "I'd really like to kill that T-Rex with a sword", then Monster Hunter Tri is the game for you. The third in the series, MHT continues in the same vein as its predecessors: you arm yourself from a choice of weapons, take a quest and go out and slay something far, far larger than you. Thanks to the current-gen hardware the graphics are pretty stunning, with landscapes that will have you wandering around the map to sightsee and great monster design. There have been a few tweaks to add to the overall complexity, such as resource gathering for the village you call home in single player mode, and a few welcome additions, like the incorporation of Wii Speak in multiplayer to aid with team tactics. However for the most part, fans of the previous games will be on familiar territory.

But what about newcomers? If there is one warning that needs to be issued to first-time hunters, it's that MHT is not a very forgiving game. While on a quest a number of considerations need to be dealt with, including health, stamina, weapon sharpness and environmental factors. It can be endlessly frustrating to have the upper hand in a battle only to keel over dead because you forgot to feed your character recently. Furthermore, battles seem to be weighted heavily against you in single player, where you have to deal with both the monster and its lesser, yet no less dangerous, entourage. The inventory combination system is useful for obtaining items on the run, but the scattershot nature of the combos means you won't want to drop anything you find and your storage space isn't infinite.

All this being said, it's important to make the distinction that MHT is not a bad game; it's actually a well-crafted, immersive third-person action title. However, technique is what separates the successful from the dead, and that takes time to learn. If you are looking for something that will challenge you for a good month or so, MHT is for you. If you want something you can pick up, play for a bit and drop, then leave the poor monsters alone.