Monster Hunter

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
This article is about the series. For the first video game in the series, see Monster Hunter (video game).
Monster Hunter Franchise
Genres Action Adventure
Open world
Developers Capcom
Publishers Capcom
Platforms PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Windows, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360, Nintendo 3DS, iOS
Official website capcom.com/monster

The Monster Hunter (モンスターハンター Monsutā Hantā?) franchise is a series of fantasy Action Adventure video games that started with the game Monster Hunter for PlayStation 2. The series is developed and published by Capcom. As the title suggests, the player takes the role of a hunter in a fantasy environment and completes quests by seeking out monsters to hunt or capture. The series has branched out into PlayStation Portable games and a massively multiplayer online game. In Japan, the Monster Hunter series is immensely popular, and it has gained a cult following in the United States, with the port Monster Hunter Freedom (known in Japan as Monster Hunter Portable) and its sequels, Monster Hunter Freedom 2 / Monster Hunter Portable 2nd, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite / Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G, Monster Hunter Portable 3rd and an online game called Monster Hunter Frontier Online selling millions of copies, and Monster Hunter Tri becoming the highest-selling third-party Wii game in Japan.[1] Since the series debuted, it has sold 26.8 million units as of December [2] There is also an anime based on the spin-off game Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airu Village and a book called Monster Hunter EPISODE (モンスターハンター　EPISODE~).[3]

Contents

Games[edit]

Below is a list of games in the Monster Hunter main series. Each generation has a number of entries that are derivative of the original release.

Main series[edit]

First Generation[edit]

Title Details
Monster Hunter

Original release date(s):
  • JP March 11, 2004
  • NA September 21, 2004
  • PAL May 27, 2005
 Release years by system:
2004 – PlayStation 2
Notes:
  • First game in the Monster Hunter series
Monster Hunter G

Original release date(s):
  • JP January 20, 2005 (PS2)
  • JP April 23, 2009 (Wii)
 Release years by system:
2005 – PlayStation 2
2009 – Wii
Notes:
  • Released only in Japan
  • An expansion of the original title
Monster Hunter Freedom

Original release date(s):
  • JP December 1, 2005
  • NA May 23, 2006
  • PAL May 12, 2006
 Release years by system:
2005 – PlayStation Portable
Notes:
  • Released in Japan as Monster Hunter Portable
  • First game in the series to appear on a Handheld Console
  • Based on Monster Hunter G

Second Generation[edit]

Title Details
Monster Hunter 2

Original release date(s):
  • JP February 16, 2006
 Release years by system:
2006 – PlayStation 2
Notes:
  • Released only in Japan
  • First game in the series to add the use of gems.
Monster Hunter Freedom 2

Original release date(s):
  • JP February 22, 2007
  • NA August 29, 2007
  • PAL September 7, 2007
 Release years by system:
2007 – PlayStation Portable
Notes:
  • Released in Japan as Monster Hunter Portable 2nd
  • Based on Monster Hunter 2
  • New weapon classes include Long Sword, Gunlance, Hunting Horn, and Bow
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite

Original release date(s):
  • JP March 27, 2008
  • NA June 23, 2009
  • PAL June 26, 2009
 Release years by system:
2008 – PlayStation Portable
Notes:
  • Released in Japan as Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G
  • An expansion of Monster Hunter Freedom 2

Third Generation[edit]

Title Details
Monster Hunter Tri

Original release date(s):
  • JP August 1, 2009
  • NA April 20, 2010
  • PAL April 23, 2010
 Release years by system:
2009 – Wii
Notes:
  • Released in Japan as Monster Hunter 3 (tri-)
  • First game in the series to include underwater battles
  • New weapon classes include Switch Axe and Medium Bowgun
  • Weapon classes Dual Swords, Gunlance, Bow and Hunting Horn were removed
Monster Hunter Portable 3rd

Original release date(s):
  • JP December 1, 2010
 Release years by system:
2010 – PlayStation Portable
2011 – PlayStation 3
Notes:
  • Has an overall more eastern setting compared to previous games in the series.
  • Released only in Japan
  • Missing weapon classes returned (Dual Swords, Gunlance, Bow, Hunting Horn)
  • PS3 Edition is high definition remastering of PSP Edition.
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate

Original release date(s):
  • JP December 10, 2011
  • NA March 19, 2013
  • PAL March 22, 2013
 Release years by system:
2013 – Nintendo 3DS
2013 – Wii U
Notes:
  • Released in Japan as Monster Hunter 3 (tri-) G
  • An expansion of Monster Hunter Tri
  • Features new monsters and locations
  • Weapons brought back in Portable 3rd remain.
  • Bowgun customization returned to second generation mechanics
  • Wii U Edition is high definition remastering of 3DS Edition
  • 3DS edition has 3D graphics

Fourth Generation[edit]

Title Details
Monster Hunter 4

Original release date(s):
  • JP September 14, 2013
 Release years by system:
2013 - Nintendo 3DS
Notes:
  • Announced on "Nintendo 3DS Conference 2011" (September 2011)
  • Not yet announced to be released outside Japan.

Spin-offs[edit]

Title Details
Monster Hunter Frontier Online

Original release date(s):
  • JP June 21, 2007
 Release years by system:
2007 – Microsoft Windows
2010 – Xbox 360
Notes:
  • Differs from other games in the series by being a full-fledged Multi-player Online Game.
  • Released only in Japan and South Korea
Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airu Village

Original release date(s):
  • JP August 26, 2010
 Release years by system:
2010 – PlayStation Portable
Notes:
  • Released only in Japan.
Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airu Village G

Original release date(s):
  • JP August 10, 2011
 Release years by system:
2011 – PlayStation Portable
Notes:
  • Based on and expanded from Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airu Village
Monster Hunter Dynamic Hunting

Original release date(s):
  • JP June 1, 2011
  • NA June 1, 2011
  • PAL June 1, 2011
 Release years by system:
2011 - iOS
Notes:
  • First game in the series to be on the iOS systems
Monster Hunter Online

Original release date(s):
 Release years by system:
2013 - PC
Notes:
  • Second Monster Hunter, Multi-player Online Game in cooperation with Tencent and Capcom
  • uses Crytek's CryEngine 3
  • Free-to-play business model
  • Beta in China will begin on 6th of July in 2013
  • Currently planned to be released only for PC
  • Announced by Crytek to be released worldwide but later removed their statement from their blog for reason unknown


Card game[edit]

A trading card game titled Monster Hunter Hunting Card was released in October 2008 with periodic updates planned.[4]

Film[edit]

Resident Evil director Paul W. S. Anderson looking to Capcom’s “Monster Hunter” for his next property. [5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Fletcher, J.C. (2009-08-13). "Monster Hunter 3 is Japan's best-selling third-party Wii game". Joystiq. Retrieved 2009-08-13. 
  2. ^ http//www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/business/million.html
  3. ^ "MONSTER HUNTER｜モンスターハンター 公式ポータルサイト" (in Japanese). Capcom(Japan). Retrieved 2011-07-06. 
  4. ^ "Monster Hunter becomes a card game". andriasang. August 22, 2008. Retrieved December 10, 2010. [dead link]
  5. ^ Paul W. S. Anderson to direct Capcom's 'Monster Hunter'?

External links[edit]

Monster Hunter series
Main series
Freedom series
Spin-offs
Others
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Monster_Hunter&oldid=557697315"