Monster Hunter Generations
Monster Hunter Generations | |
---|---|
Developer(s) | Capcom |
Publisher(s) | Capcom |
Director(s) | Yasunori Ichinose[1] |
Producer(s) | Shintaro Kojima[1] |
Composer(s) | Reo Uratani |
Series | Monster Hunter |
Platform(s) | Nintendo 3DS |
Genre(s) | Action role-playing |
Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Monster Hunter Generations is an action role-playing video game developed and published by Capcom for the Nintendo 3DS. Announced in May 2015, the game was released in Japan on November 28, 2015, under the title Monster Hunter X (モンスターハンタークロス, Monsutā Hantā Kurosu). It is scheduled to be released internationally in 2016. Like other titles in the Monster Hunter series, players undertake quests that involve hunting dangerous creatures. Major additions in this installment include special attacks, new combat styles, and the ability to play as Felynes, who have traditionally only appeared as a companion to the player.
Gameplay
Monster Hunter Generations features gameplay similar to past titles in the series. The player assumes the role of a hunter who embarks on quests to hunt dangerous creatures. The game will have four new signature monsters along with a number of past flagship monsters.[2][3] All fourteen weapon types from Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate are included in Monster Hunter Generations, in addition to the new Prowler mode which allows you to play as a Felyne, a cat-like species.[2] The game features four villages which are non-combat areas for getting quests and communicating with non-player characters.[4] Three villages return from previous titles,[4] and a new village called Verma Village has been added.[5]
Monster Hunter Generations features new special attacks known as "Hunting Arts"; these attacks have different effects such as dealing massive damage, providing buffs, or healing allies.[2] The game also introduces a system called "Hunting Styles".[5] This system adds different attack styles for a weapon, each weapon type in the game will have four distinct forms.[2][5] The Guild Style is a balanced and basic style akin to combat in previous games of the series. The Striker Style is less technical but emphasises the use of "Hunting Arts" letting the player set up three special attacks. The Aerial Style specialises in mid-air attacks allowing players to use monsters as a platform which they can propel themselves off. The Adept Style gives players an opportunity to perform powerful counterattacks after successfully evading a monster's attack.[6] Visually, the game's combat has been described as flashier than previous titles.[7]
Development
Planning for Monster Hunter Generations began during the production of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate.[5] The game's Japanese title—Monster Hunter X, pronounced as Monster Hunter Cross—originated from the idea of crossing old and new elements of the series in the game.[8] Game producer, Shintaro Kojima, noted that "the letter X looks like it divides the given space into four… so four hunting styles, four large main monsters, four villages. They’re all crossing."[8] Originally, Capcom considered adding a new weapon type for Monster Hunter Generations. This would have required a lot of development work, so instead they opted to focus on the concept of a player's "attachment to the weapon".[5] Several features—underwater combat, guild quests, and frenzied monsters—from past titles are omitted in Monster Hunter Generations, series producer Ryozo Tsujimoto said this was to emphasise the unique elements of the new title.[9]
Release
Monster Hunter Generations was first announced in Japan under the title Monster Hunter X on May 31, 2015, during a Nintendo Direct presentation.[10] The game was released for Nintendo 3DS in Japan on November 28, 2015.[4] Alongside the game's Japanese launch, Nintendo released Monster Hunter X-themed faceplates for the New Nintendo 3DS,[11] and a limited-edition Monster Hunter X-themed New Nintendo 3DS LL featuring the game's logo and four signature monsters.[12] Prior to the game's release, Capcom announced collaborations with various anime, manga and video game series to bring themed costumes to Monster Hunter X.[13][14][15] A demo of the game was released digitally in Japan on November 19, 2015, via the Nintendo eShop. The demo features three quests involving different monsters.[16] On March 3, 2016, Nintendo announced the game's English-language title—Monster Hunter Generations—with a 2016 release date for Europe and North America.[17]
Reception
Following the 2015 Tokyo Game Show, the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association named Monster Hunter Generations as one of ten winners for the "Future Division" Award.[18]
Prior to the game's launch, Capcom expected to sell 2.5 million copies of Monster Hunter Generations by March 2016.[19] The game sold over 1.5 million units in its first two days,[20] and as of December 24, 2015[update], the game has sold over 3 million copies.[21] Japanese sales tracker, Media Create reported that Monster Hunter Generations sold through over 91% of its retail stock in its first week. Total software sales in Japan during the week of the game's launch were the highest recorded so far in 2015, with Monster Hunter Generations contributing over 75% of sales. The launch also led to a rise in total hardware sales, with sales of the New Nintendo 3DS XL increasing by over 360% from the previous week.[22]
References
- ^ a b Sato (June 3, 2015). "Monster Hunter X Creators Are Excited To Have You Try Out Its New Features". Siliconera. Archived from the original on August 3, 2015. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d Sato (June 4, 2015). "Monster Hunter X: Details On New Monsters, Areas, And Actions". Siliconera. Archived from the original on August 3, 2015. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Sato (July 8, 2015). "Monster Hunter X Adds Tigrex, Zinogre, Brachydios To The Mix With Other New Monsters". Siliconera. Archived from the original on August 3, 2015. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
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ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b c Matulef, Jeffrey (July 20, 2015). "Watch 26 minutes of Monster Hunter X gameplay". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on August 3, 2015. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d e Sato (July 9, 2015). "Monster Hunter X Focuses More On Customizing Actions And Your Own Style". Siliconera. Archived from the original on August 3, 2015. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Sato (July 28, 2015). "Monster Hunter X Details Its Four Hunting Styles And A New Owl-Like Monster". Siliconera. Archived from the original on August 3, 2015. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Sato (June 1, 2015). "Monster Hunter X Will Be All About Hunting Maneuvers And Style". Siliconera. Archived from the original on August 3, 2015. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
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: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b Ishaan (July 20, 2015). "Why Is The Newest Monster Hunter Called "Monster Hunter X"?". Siliconera. Archived from the original on August 3, 2015. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
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: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Ishaan (July 16, 2015). "Monster Hunter X Has No Underwater Combat, Guild Quests, Or Frenzied Monsters". Siliconera. Archived from the original on August 3, 2015. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Good, Owen (May 31, 2015). "Monster Hunter X announced for Japan in this debut trailer". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on September 17, 2015. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
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: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Pereira, Chris (September 3, 2015). "Slick Monster Hunter X New 3DS, Faceplates Coming to Japan". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
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: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Pereira, Chris (July 30, 2015). "Check Out This Cool-Looking New Monster Hunter 3DS XL System". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on August 3, 2015. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
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: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Whitehead, Thomas (November 9, 2015). "Capcom Shows Off Toon Link Outfit for Monster Hunter X (Cross)". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on November 14, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
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: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Sato (November 12, 2015). "Monster Hunter X Felynes Put On Their Best Star Fox Cosplay Show". Siliconera. Archived from the original on November 14, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
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: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Sato (October 14, 2015). "Monster Hunter X Collaboration With Yowamushi Pedal Announced". Siliconera. Archived from the original on November 14, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "【リリース追記】『モンスターハンタークロス』の体験版が11月19日より配信決定、初級~上級までの3クエストがプレイ可能". Famitsu (in Japanese). November 9, 2015. Archived from the original on November 14, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
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: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Goldfarb, Andrew (March 3, 2016). "Monster Hunter X Headed West as Monster Hunter Generations". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
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: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Japan Game Awards 2015 Future Division Winners Chosen". awards.cesa.or.jp. Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association. September 20, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
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: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ McFerran, Damien (June 10, 2015). "Capcom Thinks It Can Shift 2.5 Million Copies of Monster Hunter X By March Next Year". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on August 3, 2015. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
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: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Sato (December 1, 2015). "Monster Hunter X Has Sold Over 1.5 Million Units In Its First Two Days In Japan". Siliconera. Archived from the original on December 2, 2015. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
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: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Makuch, Eddie (December 24, 2015). "Monster Hunter X Ships 3 Million Copies, Series Total Hits 36 Million". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on December 24, 2015. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
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: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Sato (December 4, 2015). "Monster Hunter X Has A Stronger Start Than MH4U, Helping New 3DS Sales". Siliconera. Archived from the original on December 6, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
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