Product Description

Japan's most successful PSP title, Monster Hunter Portable 2G, is heading to North America this coming Spring. Renamed Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, this latest installment in the epic Monster Hunter series delivers over 500 hours of gameplay spanning some 400 missions. Add in previously unreleased monsters, weapons and missions and you have the biggest Monster Hunter game to date. Using the PSP's wireless Ad-Hoc connection, players can adventure with up to three friends for a savaging multiplayer hunting party. From devising the strategy to executing the attack, players will need to work together in order to hunt down the ferocious beasts and progress through the wide range of quests on offer. Players will be rewarded for their use of deep fighting combat systems, encouraging them to seek out the more experienced hunters and team up in order to learn from their experience. Even in single player mode Hunters won't be alone thanks to the introduction of the new AI "Felyne" feature. Accompanying players on quests your furry ally will helping them battle monsters and gather extra resources.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1489 in Video Games
• Brand: Capcom
• Model: MHFreedomUnite
• Published on: 2009-06
• Released on: 2009-06-23
• ESRB Rating: Teen
• Platform: Sony PSP
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: .59" h x 4.13" w x 7.01" l, .20 pounds

Features

• Fans of the series can transfer their character data from Monster Hunter Freedom 2 to continue their adventures and face 5 new monsters.
• The biggest Monster Hunter title to date, with over 500 hours of gameplay and a huge variety of character customizations, including 1,500 weapons and 2,000 armor sets.
• Building on the social gaming aspect of the overall Monster Hunter series, players can form a team of up to 4 players through wireless Ad-Hoc play and experience the multiplayer social gaming phenomenon.
• Media Install option where players can save the game to a memory stick, allowing the game to load from the memory stick and UMD simultaneously for faster loading times.
• AI "Felyne" companion who will accompany players on quests and gather extra resources. With the 'felyne casting' feature players can share their companions with other players, transferring data using the PSP’s sleep mode.

Amazon.com Product Description

Japan's most successful PSP title, Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G has finally made its way to the west. Renamed Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, this latest installment in the epic Monster Hunter series delivers over 500 hours of gameplay, spanning some 400 missions. In addition, using the Ad-Hoc connection players can adventure with up to three friends for a savaging multiplayer hunting party. Battle monsters with up to 3 friends. View larger. AI 'Felyne' companion. View larger. Wield special weapons and items. View larger. Social Play One of the most important features contributing to the Monster Hunter series' rampant popularity in Japan is the social aspect of the games. This feature continues via the PSP's Ad-Hoc connection in Monster Hunter Freedom Unite. From devising strategies to executing attacks, players will need to work together in order to hunt down the ferocious beasts and progress through the wide range of quests on offer. And this effort and cooperation is never in vain. Succeed in this and players will be rewarded for their use of the deep fighting combat systems, encouraging them to seek out even more experienced hunters and team up in order to learn from their experience. New Game Features New to Monster Hunter Freedom Unite is the fully customizable AI "felyne" companion who accompanies players on quests and gathers extra resources. He can even can be shared and traded with other players. Also new to Monster Hunter Freedom Unite is the improved "Media Install Option." This new way to play gives players the ability to save portions of the game from UMD to Memory Sticks. This results in much faster load times, as well as improved PSP system battery life since your UMD will not have to be engaged every time your game requires a new file. Finally, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite features a certain level of compatibility with the rest of the Monster Hunter franchise. Fans of the series will be pleased to hear that they can transfer their character and data from Monster Hunter Freedom 2 over to the new game. All-New Monsters to Battle There are five new monsters to the game waiting to challenge gamers in battle. These include the Nargacuga, who inhabits the old forest and attacks at lightning speed; the Lavasioth, a lava-breathing reptile who hides in volcanic areas; and the Hypnocatrice, a birdlike monster that wards off hunters with its unique ability to produce sleeping gas. Key Features: The biggest Monster Hunter title to date, with over 500 hours of gameplay. Huge variety of character customizations, including 1,500 weapons and 2,000 armor sets. Building on the social gaming aspect of the overall Monster Hunter series, players can form a team of up to 4 players through wireless Ad-Hoc play and experience the multiplayer social gaming phenomenon. "Media Install" option where players can save the game to a memory stick, allowing the game to load from the memory stick and UMD simultaneously for faster loading times. AI "Felyne" companion who will accompany players on quests and gather extra resources. With the 'felyne casting' feature players can share their companions with other players, transferring data using the PSP’s sleep mode. Fans of the series can transfer their character data from Monster Hunter Freedom 2 to continue their adventures. Five all-new monsters to battle.

Customer Reviews

Hunters UNITE!
Well first of all I want to state I' am an avid monster hunter fan, from the ps2 game to the psp ones. So my review might be a little subjective but I will try to be as objective as possible and put myself in the position of a newcomer to the franchise. And also I apologize for the length of the review. It really is a vast game there is soo much to do and so little space to explain it all in.

A few things for players from MHF2 thinking this is a brand new experience, think again. Think about it as an expansion with new missions, monsters armors, weapons, and hunter ranks. You still reside in the quaint little home up in the mountains, and all the lovable characters are still there from the cooking Felynes to the old lady who gave you the elder quests.

Now on to the review. For the newcomers this game has an amazing ray of things to do, put yourself in the position of a hunter, you are constantly hunting monsters who reside around your village. From giant dragons to giant crabs (and not the STD type) you have 5 different land types where you hunt them from the jungle, desert, snowy mountains, forest, and volcano. Also each land type has time cycles so you can hunt them at night or in the day. Now each hunt is received in the form of a quest, there are 2 places you can get these, from an elder how will give you village quest (which you may only complete by yourself) or by going to the hall.

The hall can be played offline meaning you can do the quest there by yourself (although most can be complete alone there are some that you should look for help) or online via ad hoc. Online is fun as hell, if you have 3 others friends who have the game they can join you in the hunt and you all get the benefits of the kill (as a side note if you don't have any friends to play with you can play online for more info go to www.teamxlink.co.uk/). Every time you kill a monster like a true hunter you crave their bodies. You get special items from the carve and also a prizes for completing the hunt. These items in turn can be sold for money or saved up to make special armor, items, or weapons. Aside from hunting you can, farm (meaning you can literally plant seeds and reap the rewards) you can hire Felyne to cook for you so you go nice and full into battle. And even more amazing as a new addition you can hire a Felyne to join you in battle! He will provide back such as setting traps and attacking the beast you are hunting. You will easily spend 100+ hours in this game.

Now for the veterans, a few additions have been added. As mentioned above you can hire a Felyne to help you out, there are tons of new armor and weapons to make. Your item box size has increased and items now max out at 99! Meaning no more having multiple 10 items in your box. Like 10 flash now they all combine until you get to 99 so precious space in the box has been saved. There are now G rank missions imagine hr 6 missions but 10x harder, and there are 3 new ranks to move up to.

Pros:

-New missions, new items, new Felyne battle companions.
-Also now you have the options to data install, this drastically lowers the loading time.
-Great graphics as always, each armor and weapon have a unique look. No 2 armors look like.

Cons:

-Like previously stated the learning curve sucks but there are alot of tutorials and training quests.
-Some armor attributes have really been lost, example is I had the akantor armor and lost my high grade earplugs in the transition.
-For a new comer you might tend to feel overwhelm with the amount of farming you have to do to get ONE item you need to make a weapon/armor, it's all based on luck.
-The ability to play online worldwide should be included in the game, it takes outside programs and items to make it possible.
-And also it does get a little repetitive from time to time.


Over all this is an awesome game. You either fall into the obsessions or hate it. See you in the hall.

An Amazing Game!
It's not difficult to see why the Monster Hunter series has become the leading PSP franchise in Japan. Offering gamers the chance to hook up together on quests to hunt ferocious monsters and search for hidden treasures across an appealing fantasy game world, this action RPG possesses many of same addictive qualities that have made other role playing games, such as the Final Fantasy titles, so popular. High praise has been lauded on the latest game in the series, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, after it became the top selling game in the Land of The Rising Sun last year, besting the likes of Pokémon Platinum and Wii Fit. In the U.S. and Europe, though, Monster Hunter faces a very different type of audience. Will it appeal to the taste of Western players?

Monster Hunter Freedom's combat mechanics will test even the most hardened of gamers. The third game in the series, Freedom Unite once again places you in the role of an up-and-coming hunter who must complete various hunting, slaying and gathering missions to achieve glory. Setting off from your base camp of Pokke Village, you pick up quests from the Guild Hall and embark on treacherous missions across stunning environments, including snow-capped mountains and harsh desert terrain.

Freedom Unite is all about learning your craft and learning it well. If you begin a quest without preparation, you'll be obliterated by the tough monsters lurking around every corner. Whether you're heading out on a level-one quest to pick mountain herbs or braving the cold desert nights on the hunt for the land shark, there's a lot to learn if you plan to come back alive and earn your reward. Combat in Monster Hunter Freedom Unite is difficult to grasp at first, but once studied and practiced, it is intensely satisfying.

The lack of a lock-on targeting function means that you have no assistance in battle and ensures that combat is challenging. Freedom Unite tests your patience by pitting you against some formidable and clever opposition while asking that you spend a lot of time learning the ins and outs of the deep combat system. You have to learn each of the monsters' strengths and weaknesses and those of your weapons. Learning monster "tells," monitoring monster attack patterns and knowing when to strike is also part of the hunt. Other variables add even more strategic layers to the combat. The environment, for example, plays a part in battle (your energy gets sapped when it's cold), and every weapon and item you choose to bring along all factor into the equation. Make the wrong decisions and you'll head back to Pokke Village empty-handed.



Speaking of Pokke Village, there's plenty to do there as well. You're given a plot of land where you can mine, fish, catch bugs, gather mushrooms, and plant seeds to raise different crops. When you finish each quest, your farm becomes an essential visiting place that grows in stature the more you nurture it. These resources can then be used for cooking, which increase abilities, or to combine and forge new items that may come in handy during battle. Though you're constantly repeating the same actions to mine ore or catch Rumblefish, you're earning money from the land, which subsequently allows you to develop your character into a stronger hunter.

Gathering and collecting items in the game world is extremely important to your progression. Not all items must be hunted, gathered, or farmed; many objects can be combined to make more powerful objects or potions. There's a great deal of fun to be had out of finding new ingredients and then combining them. You can, for example, mix a fire herb with a nitroshroom to make gunpowder. Though there's a large element of trial and error, there's great reward for your efforts as you find and create powerful items that aid you on the battlefield.



Part of the appeal of the Monster Hunter series in Japan is the ad-hoc multiplayer functionality, which allows up to four players to meet up and embark on quests together. In the U.S. and Europe, however, that feature isn't such a strong selling point -- there just isn't the same social PSP-playing culture in these two territories as there is as there is in Japan. Social hand-held gaming in the U.S. and Europe is largely faceless, an activity confined to gamers' living rooms and bedrooms where there's an Internet connection. In fact, you're more likely to get mugged getting your hand-held out in public than to find a like-minded gamer to join your lobby for a spot of monster hunting. It's a crying shame that Freedom Unite doesn't offer true online functionality, because the four-player questing is absolutely brilliant. So, the bad news is that unless you've got a bunch of mates willing to join you around your house, your Monster Hunter experience is going to be a lonely one.


Still, with demanding and fun combat mechanics and a huge index of items, weapon types, armor, beasts, and quests, Freedom Unite will delight RPG gamers seeking a real challenge. With hundreds of hours worth of gameplay waiting for you, it's an RPG that's meant to be played at a slow pace, though the frequent load times slow it down a bit more than we would have liked. In short: if you're expecting a quick thrill here, you won't find it. Freedom Unite is for those who wish to master new skills with patience and hard work. It can be tough to get going, but Freedom Unite won't disappoint anyone who spends some quality time with it.

Corrections from previous reviews.
First off, there are more than 4 different lands types. Snowy Mountains, swamp, volcano, forest and hills, desert, jungle, and then there are the maps from the original MH called Old maps. And on top of that there is a new jungle map. On top of day and night for each one.
And I personally have soloed all the quests in the guild hall and on the elder page. G rank quests aren't that much harder. You just need to be quick to decide and be ready. The monsters in this game have been improved and dumbed down at the same time. Added attacks but the painful attacks they did all the time in MHF2 aren't done as much now.
When you buy armor and weapons now, it will actually show you the picture of the armor or weapon which is a huge deal especially since in the previous game's the only way to find something that looked cool was to keep making armor or weapons and restarting your game.
Attributes did not really go away, they just striped your decorations off your armor. Which means if your gonna buy this game and play from MHF@ unequip all your decorations first.
And it also sound like the three people above me are new to the whole PSP ordeal. There is a site you can go to called Xlink Kai and you can turn your computer into a hub for any console or portable device and play with people around the world. I play Monster Hunter Freedom Unite with people in multiple different countries all the time. Definitely check this out.
In addition to the previous upgrades, they added another mining point to the farm as well as a new bug area to catch bugs.
Also all the training you did on MHF2 gets whipped clean. With your friends you did play and the crowns you did earn. They all gets transferred, thankfully, i have all gold crowns.
The cats you get you can level up, adding different abilities to them such as fire attack, making it so they can use different sets of horns that heal or buff you. They can also steal from monster which im assuming there is going to be a weapon or armor you can only get this way.
There are new colors to monsters that already existed.