A hunt of the ages - Monster Hunter Generations Reader's Review

First released for the PlayStation 2 in 2004, the Monster Hunter series has introduced a unique gaming experience to players which creates a satisfying vibe to the RPG genre. It was a sleeper hit for some people to the point that it moved on to other consoles like the PlayStation Portable and then to the Nintendo Wii (Monster Hunter Tri), WiiU (Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate) and then recently the Nintendo 3DS (MH3U port and Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate).

Almost over 40 million copies has already been sold worldwide, the Monster Hunter franchise has grown significantly and it became one of Capcom's most prolific titles to date. However, in the past, not all Western players are as receptive to the first few Monster Hunter games; which is probably why there are only a few of them being distributed in the US.

Fortunately, as time goes by, Capcom continues to find new and innovative ways to make the series interesting and with the monumental success of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, selling over a million copies in the West, Capcom has started to find renewed interest from Western players.

OK! Enough of the background check and its time for another Reader's Review. This review is all about the "definitive" hunting game; Monster Hunter Generations!

Title: Monster Hunter Generations
Date Released: July 15, 2016 in the United States and in Europe (November 28, 2015 in Japan and a day later after the US and European release in Australia)
Company: Capcom
Genre: Action, RPG, Open world exploration
Platform: Nintendo 3DS family of consoles
ESRB Rating: Teen


Brief Background: As mentioned in my previous Reader's Review of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, the series as a whole sold more than 30 million copies and counting; making this title as prolific as their other games like Street Fighter and Mega Man.

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate has sold over a million copies in the West, which was a safe thing to assume that Capcom has finally been able to make the Westerners embrace the game fully. The secret is that it is actually the first Monster Hunter on a handheld console to feature a fully-integrated online multiplayer mode; increasing the flexibility and interactivity of the game exponentially.

There are many people who have anticipated for the release of Monster Hunter Generations in the West after finding out that about 1.5 million copies has been sold in Japan for its very first week after release, which is a strong reason for these Western gamers to be excited in the game.

Time has gone by and while Monster Hunter Generations may no longer be the top best-selling game out there due to the release of other popular titles in varying consoles, the positive reception of players has lead to the rise of the popularity of the title and the sales of the Nintendo 3DS line of handhelds.

What do you do here?
You play the role of a Hunter (which you can customize upon making a new save file) hired by the Wycademy in Bherna Village to investigate the newly-found lands of the Jurassic Frontier. You are also given the opportunity to visit other villages in previous titles to provide additional assistance and to make the Wycademy known for a lot of people there... or so I would assume that's the plot.

However, as you investigate and explore the different Hunting Grounds, you are also forced to fight monstrosities, both old and new, in order to find out more about the unknown lands you are exploring. So it's best that you prepare your best gear to hunt them down; for better or for worse...

What makes the game interesting?
The game itself is considered a celebration to commemorate the past achievements of the franchise; which is quite evident to the places that you explore. You visit familiar places of Kokoto, Pokke, and Yukumo along with their respective hunting grounds; the Verdant Hills together with the Marshlands (known previously as simply Forest and Hills and Swamp respectively), the Arctic Ridge and Volcano (the former being a revamped version of the Snowy Mountains map), and finally, the tandem of Deserted Island and Misty Peaks.

The main village you are staying with is Bherna, where the Wycademy is stationed. The features in the game are quite different from Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, all of which were either heavily reworked (such as the canteen and Meownster Hunter system) or removed entirely (including weapon honing and Guild Quests) in order to introduce unique elements in the game.

Each town provide specific quests and allows you to earn Village Points (?) which will either provide useful items or perhaps recipes in making specific pieces of equipment. There are specific quests, however, that are not worth checking out (Yeah, I am talking to you egg delivery quests!).

Another mode that was added that significantly increased the player experience was the Prowler Mode. In the past, Palicoes (cat-like beings found in previous titles until today) were specifically known to be AI-controlled units, but in this game, you can play as one; which is a lot of fun!

Being a Prowler has its advantages and here are some of them;
1. Palicoes doesn't require stamina to dash, dodge, etc,
2. Prowlers don't actually need Pickaxes and Bug Nets to gather
3. Palicoes have unique skills to boot; making the experience differ depending on what type of Palico your Prowler is.
4. Palicoes are not affected by weather conditions
5. Weapons that Palicoes use don't go dull
6. It takes 3 tries before Palicoes get carted back, among others.

However, there are also certain disadvantages when using them:
1. They have generally lower defense than Hunters
2. They don't have Armor Skills
3. Their attacks are generally weaker, even with great gear equipped
4. Skills needed are only limited based on the number of slots
5. Only a few quests are dedicated to Prowlers (quests that is specifically catered for Prowlers), among others

Another important factor that made the game even more convenient is that the Advance Quests no longer need to appear and disappear; allowing you to gain access to certain missions with ease and to collect hard-to-earn parts.

With so many changes that has been implemented in this game, there will be a chance that I may not be able to cover them up, but the most important feature that is exclusive in this version is the inclusion of the Hunter Arts; extremely powerful techniques that can allow you to deal massive damage against monsters or provide extremely useful buffs for your fellow Hunters.

While there are some features in the quest system that has been removed (such as the Guild Quests), there is another system that has been introduced called "Special Permit" quests. Special Permit quests allow you to hunt special monsters known as "Deviants" which are considerably more powerful versions of certain monsters like Rathalos and Tigrex, but these are not to be confused with Subspecies and Variants that are majorly absent in this game. There are 12 of them and you can only access these quests once certain conditions are met. Each of these quests asks you to provide a certain amount of Special Permits in order to take the quests (with varying amounts depending on the difficulty and quest type). You can replenish these Special Permits by meeting other Hunters via StreetPass or to buy them from the trader worth 500 Wycademy Points (1000 points in the Japanese version).

What are the flaws that I found unpleasant in this game?
There have been a lot of complaints from some Monster Hunter fans; one of which is the exclusion of the G-Rank difficulty; a more difficult set of missions that was previously included in Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate. Veterans, to be specific, are quite critical about it since Monster Hunter was meant to be a game of memorization and timing.

Nevertheless, the absence of G-Rank was alleviated in the form of the Special Permit quests, however, with only 10 levels for each Deviant (120 quests in total), the amount of challenge was a bit shorter than the previous one (where each monster's HP in the Gathering Hall was optimized to be hunted by 4 Hunters).

Certain tweaks in the game are deemed unnecessary such as the removal of music to animated sequences when the music is turned off in the Options menu, the zoomed-in perspective where it can be pretty awkward especially when fighting tall monsters like Glavenus or Gammoth, and the removal of the arm-wrestling feature (I know that some of them may be irrelevant for others but these key features allows the players to have a nice experience, both in and out of the Hunting Grounds).

However, the worst one is got to be the removal of those immersive monster introductions. There is this odd yet satisfying feeling of seeing your actual Hunter in action; whether it is just gathering mushrooms and other irrelevant items like honey and herbs, or battling dangerous monsters that can either spell doom to that monster... or to yourself. The adrenaline rush of every hunt can be seen in those particular intros, which was toned down into brief CGI cut-scenes in Generations (which is a complete bummer).

If you were to play a Monster Hunter clone, what game would it be and why?
I have to be honest, there is no clone that can ever top Monster Hunter's unique formula. Nevertheless, there are some games that I can see the same promise that MonHun provides. That being said, if I were to play a game that looks like Monster Hunter, I would say either between God Eater or Toukiden; both good games with their own theme and style.

God Eater is set in a post-apocalyptic world where monsters rule around the lands, and you play as a character with the titular role of a God Eater to battle monsters. While the title can be misleading for most people, the game itself doesn't even actually involved about gods at all... or so I would like to assume. Toukiden, on the other hand, is set in a fantasy-like realm where you take the role of a Slayer to battle Oni (which is like the Japanese mythology equivalent of the large monsters seen in THAT hunting game) in order to prevent the Onis in taking over the world.

Again, the reason I would like to play either of them because they have their own style and unique mechanics that made them distinct from Monster Hunter games. God Eater has this particular mechanic where you "devour" monsters to gain useful abilities, while Toukiden has a Mitama system, which acts as spells that can heal your party or bolster your parameters, among other things.

EDIT: Oh, I forgot Final Fantasy Explorers, which also made a nice take on the Monster Hunter formula while also slapping in some memorable Final Fantasy game-play elements, which is nice.

Overall Rating: 9.4/10
Monster Hunter Generations is a celebration of everything that is Monster Hunter for the past 12 years of its existence. The combat is more dynamic while remaining to be exhilarating and fun. Also, with the additional features that made the game even more interesting, there really isn't any reason not to play this game at all. Truly, Monster Hunter Generations is the pound-for-pound king of monster hunting games!

--END OF REVIEW--

Top 10 Favorite Monster Hunter Monsters

In celebration for the release of Monster Hunter Generations, I have decided to make a list of my Top 10 favorite monsters in the Monster Hunter franchise. With a copious amounts of monsters in the franchise, it really is difficult to choose ten from these bad boys. Nevertheless, I find some of them to be very interesting while there are others are trying hard as much.

So here it is, my Top 10 Favorite Monster Hunter Monsters!

As mentioned, there are tons of monsters which can definitely make on this list, however, I will only consider large monsters found in this game, which means there are no small monsters or Elder Dragons to be found here as they can have a list on their own. Subspecies, Variants, Frenzied monsters, and the newly-introduced Deviants and Hyper monsters won't be included here as well.

That being said, let us begin!!!

10. Tetsucabra

One of the new monsters to be introduced in Monster Hunter 4, Tetsucabra is considered to be a beginner monster and one of the newer Amphibians in the game. Tetsucabra is very tough, even as a beginner monster. These beasts can dig big chunk of rocks to smash and they use their weights to create small tremors that will put hunters into a disadvantage. They also spit out a stamina-draining acid that will tire out Hunters if not careful. The reason why I like this monster so much because first of all, I am quite curious to know what frogs taste like, but besides that, it is one of those few monsters that defines "annoying but fair". Also, its moves are predictable and it can be good training for the more difficult fights.

9. Lagiacrus

This thunderous Leviathan is the flagship monster of Monster Hunter Tri, where underwater battles are introduced. I got to admit that I have yet to play Monster Hunter Tri and its enhanced iterations, but after finding out from a lot of people (from the Internet and even to my brother) that underwater battles are very primitive and clunky, I have made second thoughts on whether to play them or not. Gladly, this monster has re-appeared in the latest Monster Hunter Generations, and as a monster, I got to say that it provides decent challenge. It's lightning attacks are quite annoying and most of its movements are fluid yet manageable. The only thing going for this monster, however, is the nostalgia factor, especially for the people who played Tri, and I am glad that I am one of those people who considered this monster to be a nice addition to the new game; while also getting some updated move sets to match the new game's mechanics.

8. Zamtrios

First introduced in Monster Hunter 4, Zamtrios is... an odd ball of sorts. It's quite likable but there is also this kind of feeling that makes me despise this fellow. Probably because that it can burrow itself on solid ice while trying to surprise you with deadly Ice attacks, which is why it is kinda low on the list. However, the armor you make from this beast is quite cool. You also get the effect of Mega Dash Juices when eating a Well-Done Steak, which is very essential for Dual Blades and Lance users who rely on Stamina for some of their key attacks.

7. Rathian

One of the classic monsters that never gets tired to age. First introduced in the very first Monster Hunter along with Rathalos, Rathian is considered to be a veteran monster and one of the most difficult monsters early in the game. With a combination of deadly Fire and Poison attacks, Rathians are quite the challenging enemies and rewards players with a tough monster that never disappoints. Also, the weapons you make from this ferocious queen are very nice, as Poison weapons are quite difficult to come by early in the game and it's a very essential status to make hunts faster, along with Blastblight.

6. Deebil Joe (aka Deviljho)

The hunger of this beast knows no bounds, Deebil Joe, errr I mean Deviljho, is a savage like no other. Making its debut in Monster Hunter Tri, this monster was being heavily reviled for its difficult AI. Ranging from spamming Dragon Breaths to ridiculous physical damage, Deviljhos are approached with caution and only the most prepared of hunters can be able to conquer the Violent Wyvern. Also, it is highly adaptable to a lot of locations and you can see these monstrosities EVERYWHERE you go! The reason why I put him on this list? Well, it eats a lot and I eat a lot too so... :3

5. Tigrex

Fierce and savage, this Flying Wyvern shows no mercy to anything, or anyone, that stands in its way. As the flagship monster of Monster Hunter Freedom 2, many people have many terrible memories with this thing because on how difficult this monster is. Despite the lack of any form of elemental attacks, Capcom compensates it by giving Tigrex brute force and enormous coverage, allowing this monster to create devastating attacks, from a 360 degree spin attacks to its infamous charge attack. The reason why I put this guy on the list is because of its very nice ability to adapt with the environment. Like Deviljho, it can go from a wide range of places like hot surfaces like the Dunes and even snowy regions like the Frozen Seaway.

4. Nargacuga

One of the most memorable and the most nostalgic monster to ever exist in a Monster Hunter game, the Nargacuga is just cool in design and game play. First appeared as the flagship monster of Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, this monster has a lot of things going for and it is considered to be a fan favorite for many years. In terms in making it playable, however, took the developers a lot of time to make it work. Capcom also admitted in one of their interviews that designing the Nargacuga's movement in the game was one of the most difficult ones to program back in the PSP... and succeeded. From there, the players are quite impressed with the monster ever since its conception. The reason I put this baby on the list because of its armor sets focusing on evasion; which is useful in many hunts.

3. Rathalos and Glavenus

The third spot comes to a tie between Rathalos, the King of the Skies, and Glavenus, the Scorching Blade. Both of these monsters are the master of the Fire element, doing the best they can to burn their enemies to crisp. Rathalos was first introduced in the first Monster Hunter while Glavenus was introduced, along with 3 other monsters, in Monster Hunter Generations; both of which are tough and both of them capable of shooting fireballs. But if you are going to ask me on who is my favorite among the two, I would say Rathalos because Glavenus wouldn't have been existed if it wasn't for the burning wyvern with an attitude. Nevertheless, the armor you make from a Glavenus has a neat armor skill called "Heavy Polish" which increases the attack power of your weapon temporarily while also preventing your Sharpness from depleting for a brief moment.

2. Brachydios and Seregios


Another tie and this time between the exploding giant and the sharp-scaled wyvern. Brachydios and Seregios are both excellent monsters in terms of challenge and the weapons that you can make from these bad boys. For those who are not familiar in the franchise, Brachydios is the main flagship monster of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate on whose weapons are considered to be extremely powerful through the use of Slimeblight; a powerful component capable of dealing damage based on the max HP of the monster after being hit several times with slime-based weapons. Seregios, on the other hand, was introduced as the flagship monster of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate (an enhanced version of Monster Hunter 4 that was also known as Monster Hunter 4G in Japan) and the weapons based on this wyvern was praised for its versatility and the ability to sharpen weapons without the need of Whetstones. Both equipment based on these monsters were later tweaked and adjusted in future titles, but nevertheless, hunting these monsters and getting their parts to make sweet equipment out of them is a satisfying feat.

1. Zinogre

And here it is, my favorite monster in the franchise. Back when my brother was playing MH3U, I kept hearing about this "Zinogre" guy, and my brother was so hyped about this beast. Obviously the oblivious me is not even familiar with this gem of a monster back in the day, but when I played Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate the first time and the theme of this beast kicked in, then I realized that it was LIKE AT FIRST HUNT! The energy, the majesty, the theme that this awesome monster possess, is exhilarating and powerful; it feels that you are actually hunting a menace that will do what it takes to destroy you. Additionally, as the flagship monster of the Japan-exclusive Monster Hunter Portable 3rd (which was also known as the best-selling PSP game in Japan), the hype factor around this monster was second to none. The armor you make from this thing is not clearly the best out there in terms of its effects (screw you Latent Power) but its regal design screams awesomeness wherever you go! :)

Well, that's it for my list. What is your favorite monster that didn't appear here? Let us know what your thoughts about it by commenting them. Your kind suggestions will be appreciated.

Until then, savor the hunt and don't get left behind!

A new frontier awaits - Brave Frontier Reader's Review

Does anyone remember Valkyrie Profile? An RPG from Square Enix (previously known as Squaresoft) which introduced one of the most unique kind of combat system known to man. You simply press in the button of the assigned character, and then the character will perform a unique attack; while pressing buttons in quick succession can allow you to perform a chain of combos to create devastating attacks!

Evidently, while the game itself wasn't that memorable for most people, the combat system was a remarkable feat for its time to the point that it was adopted by other games throughout the years.

This game, however, is one of them. This is Brave Frontier for the mobile, and I am going to make a Reader's Review about it.

Title: Brave Frontier
Date released: December 13, 2013 (July 3, 2013 in Japan, 2014 for Kindle Fire users and 2015 for Windows users)
Company: A-Lim (published by gumi overseas)
Genre: Action RPG
Platform: Mobile
ESRB Rating: None (but it will be either E10+ or Teen if given such)
The picture seen here is Vargas, one of the Six Heroes featured in this game.

Brief Background: gumi, founded in June 13, 2007, is the worldwide distributor of the game. The game itself has spanned from multiple mobile devices including Amazon, Apple, and even mobile phones that handles the Windows OS. The game itself received positive reviews from Western critics due to its simple mechanics and innovative take to the RPG genre.

What do you do here?
This is basically a "chosen hero" kind of story where you, taking the role of a Summoner, is chosen by Lucius, god of the gate, as the champion to save Grand Gaia from total destruction. You travel from various locales, meet people, and unravel the secrets that befell upon the land, for better or for worse.

What makes this game interesting?
The most interesting about Brave Frontier is its simple game-play mechanics; you simply tap the character bar to attack enemies. You can also swipe the character bar in order to perform other actions such as blocking attacks and even unleashing super moves; all of which are extremely useful in battle.

Other than the Quest Mode which you'll be doing for the most part, where you travel the world of Grand Gaia and stuff, you can also gain access to some other modes like the Vortex, Arena, the Guild, and even Imperial Capital Randall.

The Vortex is basically a mysterious dimensional gate where you gain access to special dungeons; some of which are only there for a limited time. From these dungeons you can get neat goodies like materials used for item creation and unit evolution, some Zel (in-game currency), Karma (another commodity found in Grand Gaia used for unit evolution as well as upgrading facilities in your Town), and special Units not found in the game.

There are other things that you can do in this game; such as Raids, where you tag with 3 other players to beat a powerful set of monsters that will try to beat the living daylights out of your characters if left unattended, and Arena Mode, where you test your powerful units to defeat other players (both parties use CPUs to decide the action of each of your units).

There is a particular portion in the Quest mode known as Grand Quests, where you access special levels that can only be unlocked after completing the first map. This is actually a good place to get rare gear, as well as to learn a lot regarding the NPC's backstories and what-not.

Every occasion, there are some featured units to recruit, allowing you to bolster your roster with powerful units. With a copious amount of gems to be given away frequently, there really is no reason for you to miss out these powerful units unless you want to save the gems for some powerful units later on.

The game is also generous in providing useful items, whether healing items or Crystal Gods to boost your characters' EXP, which can give you a very nice advantage early on in the game and to make you get hooked on it.

Finally, there are tons of characters to power-up and collect, making you confused and lost on whom to power-up first. Nevertheless, once you got enough materials and experience in playing the game, it is easy to get in touch with those features.

What are the flaws you found in this game?
Being a very BIG game, despite being on the mobile, bugs and glitches are expected in this game like 90% of the time; ranging from text errors to game-breaking issues that can cause major inconveniences to all players. Other than that, there really is nothing much to complain other than the game itself will force you to pay money so that you can be able to get those envied units, which is dangerous if you are working on a short budget.

Should I recommend this game? 
Not to all, especially to those who are fond of consoles and to those who find mobile games to be much of a hassle. The good thing is that if you have a smartphone with a large memory capacity, it is highly accessible and it is very easy to get hooked in this game for a long, long time.

Overall Rating: 7.2/10
While there are a lot of things to go for, Brave Frontier is not your typical Triple-A title that will create a solid experience. Nevertheless, it is a game full of potential and it is something that is truly worth playing, especially if you are the type of person who likes to collect a lot of things.

--END OF REVIEW--