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Jun 14 2006
Monster Hunter Freedom Review
PSP Game Review | Strategy
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| Summary: Gamespot got it WRONG!
98
If you, like me, went to Gamespot for a review of this game, you've been mislead! For those who don't know, their reviewer gave this game a (6.5). 6.5!?!!?! Their MEMBERS gave it a 9.1 (684 of them) and it's the #2 game right now! Me? 97.8. I think that the Gamespot reviewer either a) didn't play the game for more than 1/2 an hour, or b) was biased for some reason, or c) had his head up his backside while attempting to kill a Rathalos. His review reflects his lack of intimacy with this game. Beware: my review is more in depth and lengthy..kinda like the game itself. Here's my review of this game and why I think Gamespot should recend thier rating.
This game isn't easy. I just want that out of the way. Don't buy this game if you want a ez hack-n-slash..buy Untold Legends. If you want a challenging, in depth game that defies you to kill even the more mundane monsters, that requires a commitment of time, thought and patience, that rewards you with a real sense of accomplishment when you gain a level or fell a giant foe, then this game is for you. One thing about this game, while you CAN 'pick up and play' it, I don't very often. It requires some real 'me' time. Time to sit and plan a strategy for dealing with your next adversary. Time to figure out just what combination of supplies and weapons will allow you to survive the 50 mins <on avg.> time allotment for this quest and still have enough power to KILL whatever beast you've been assigned.
Not that this game only involves killing Monsters. There's ALOT more to it than that. Perhaps that's what caused the Gamespot reviewer to whimp out. I mean, it IS hard to get started. From the first time you load it, it will take approx. 30 mins of gameplay before you're ready to even FIGHT anything, and that's one reason this game is so much fun! You're not just handed a weapon and a ration and told to 'go slay this dragon', instead you're given very little to start out with. You DO however have the ability to upgrade almost everything you OWN.
So, you find yourself in a strange village with a knife and armor and a penchant for hunting dragons. While it might SEEM like a good idea to just rush out and kick some butt, you'll quickly learn you're ALOT smaller than you feel and a little patience and planning will be required if you want to truly master this sport. It will take a good half hour of wandering around the village meeting NPC's and collecting things before you're even ready for your first hunt.
One of the main aspects of this game is combining items to make better items or to improve on armor or weapons you already have. For instance, to make a net you combine a fern and a spiderweb. What good is a net? Well, combined with a trap-tool you get a pitfall trap. A pitfall trap is exactly as you might imagine it. You set it on the ground and it springs open into a circle about 30 feet in diameter, with a trigger located in the center. Now, using either raw meat as bait or by getting a monster to chase YOU across the trap, you can cause the trap to trigger, causing the monster to fall into it. While the monster is trapped in the ground he's at your mercy. You can shoot him or wail on him with you're edged weapons. Not that this means a sure kill, since the monsters your trapping are HUGE. (A quick word on the graphics..the animation of the trap and the trapped monster is beautiful. The trap looks and ACTS like a real trap might and the monster flails about as though trying to extricate itself..it just LOOKS right!)
So now you know you can combine things, but where do you GET things? Well, you search. You search under trees, beside ferns growing in the forest, beside rocks in the desert and near Yucca plants. You search everywhere that looks like it MIGHT have something hidden or growing there. Thank god thats not the only way to get things. You are also given a farm. On your farm is a mine, a fishing dock, a place for planting things and a bug catching area. So, every time you return from a quest, you stop by your farm and harvest items. You use a net to catch bugs, which in turn you use for fishing. (A quick word on fishing. Fishing is FUN and challenging. A mini-game where you drop your line into the water and watch your bobber. Hit X as your bobber goes under to snag a fish. The animations are FUNNY and if you vary your bait, you catch different fish. Rumblefish, sleepyfish, knifefish all can be used in combination with other items or are useful in their own right! Different bugs, make good bait for different fishes.) Your farm yields an endless supply of combineable items and can be expanded as you gain experience and levels. Your ability to combine things can be enhanced by buying a book of Combo's. Which increases the 'chance' of things coming out the way you hope. Every once in a while, you'll combine 2 items and it'll turn out to be garbage. That HURTS. That's part of the reason this game is superior. Things aren't just handed to you. Sometimes things don't go as planned.
So you've got an idea about combining items, you've found your farm and you've figured out how to buy/sell things and save. Now is the time to start your first quest. After speaking with the village elder you find yourself at the edge of town. Up until now the graphics haven't been that impressive. A 3rd person perspective of you're avatar wandering around an extremely small village. As you leave town on your first quest that will change drastically.
First, the load times. Heres the only negative I can honestly say might cause you grief. There are loads between every area of the map and when you find yourself knocked out of an area or running from one a 20 second load EVERY time gets old. For me, it allows a quick respite and a few seconds to allow my hands to rest, but I can see how it would annoy some people to no end!
As you walk out of the cave that serves as an entrance to town, you find yourself on a vast green plain beside a river. In the distance you see waterfalls and birds circling in the bright blue sky. Off about 300 yards ahead of you you'll see a herd of what look like dinosaurs. The first 'monsters' you've encountered. These things are more or less cows. *The graphics REALLY take a step up at this point and, while still in 3rd person perspective, you're much closer to the action. The environments are beautifully rendered and the monsters move according to their size and shape.* The 'cowthings' lumber along like cows, pausing and turning slowly as they chew the grass of the open plain. These things are 4 times the size of any cow I've ever seen, and have big nasty tails that can deal a blow that'll send you rolling. They are pretty easy prey as long as you don't let them run for the river and escape. Once you've killed one you can gut it's carcass using your hunting knife. You'll harvest raw meat and bones, hides and horns and all kinds of usefull stuff. The meat can be cooked on a barb-que you will buy in the village. <Another mini-game that involves pulling the meat from the fire JUST as it turns brown, if left too long you get burnt meat!> Ok, you've gotten your first kill and your about 45 mins into the game. You are still a LONG ways from leveling or even SEEING a dragon. (Don't worry though, before you finish all your first level quests you'll see a giant Wyvern and understand why you're not even CLOSE to being ready to fight one.)
In one of the last quests for level 1 you have to get an egg from a Wyverns nest and return it to the village. By now you're starting to realize how very small you are in this land of giant dinosaurs and raptor like beasts with mosquitos the size of condors. As you enter the area outside the nest you will see a Wyvern for the first time. It's TERRIFYING! It lands on the grassy clearing and it's size becomes apparent. It makes the cow-things look tiny. It has scales, claws and viscous looking teeth. <Btw, one of my favorite subtleties to the game is seeing a Wyvern shadow pass over you, just before one lands nearby..it'll scare the bejesus out of you!> These things just look MEAN and are the epitome of how a dragon should look/behave. You're inclination will be to run. Wise choice! You'll need to sneak in and get the egg. The egg itself is nearly as large as you are and you waddle as you try to run with it . Thing is..while carrying this egg, you can't FIGHT anything and running wears you down quickly! You'll find yourself dropping the egg , or getting knocked down within sight of your goal only to have to run back and get yet another fragile prize. Though hilarious, trying to run past a raptor like creature carrying an 80lb egg is foolish and you'll quickly figure out that what seemed like a simple quest is really quite a bit more challenging. It's just EASIER to slay everything that lives between you and the village <except the Wyvern itself> before attempting to run home with an angry Wyvern following you!
Weapons vary quite a bit. You start with a hunting knife, a sword, a pike and a crossbow gun. As you progress you can upgrade these at the local weapons shop using items you've collected. You can also buy new weapons, but the cost is MUCH higher than if you just use items to improve the ones you have. I've used the knife, sword and crossbow. All have advantages and disadvantages. The crossbow allows you to sit back and shoot, but does alot less damage per blow than the sword.It also uses ammo which you have to buy and CARRY. The swords are giMONgeous and deal ALOT of damage, but are so big that each swing can take up to 5 seconds to complete!
I have left alot out of this lengthy review, but I've given you a jest of what this game involves and hopefully wet your apetite. If you still think this game sounds boring, you should apply for a job with Gamespot.
This game takes the art of the RPG to a new level. It puts you in the shoes of a novice monster hunter and makes you EARN everything.The depth of this game amazes me. You never feel as though the game is too easy or the next challenge will be a breeze.You are constantly discovering new aspects to the game that keep it fun and interesting. It's a constantly increasing learning curve. As your skills increase so do the challenges, making this an interesting and rewarding yet UNIQUE game. This game will be a part of my life for a long, long time. The depth of this game amazes me.
Looking for a game that'll last you ALL summer? A game that you'll still be playing in a year? This is it. It's the one game I own that I know will still be a challenge NEXT summer!
REVIEW IT
PRODUCT INFO
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Comments
06/19/06
2 
hansombuggah
| Hawaii USA
06/19/06
20
Motoi
| Japan | SOCOM: Motoi
Excellent review. This just about sells me for the game
+
06/19/06
72
Panther
| California USA
Totally agree. This games has sucked me in and I find myself playing it every chance I get!
+
06/19/06
30
Chance
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| Florida USA | XBC: Chance | KAI: Chance | SOCOM: Chance2
Thanks Motoi.. You won't regret buying it if you enjoy Rpg's!
+
06/19/06
7
KageNaruto
| California USA
awsome review, super long too. and yeah im still on level 4 quests, have 2 to go (capturing the rathalso and 3 wyvern eggs)
+
06/20/06
19
Agent808
| Hawaii USA
yeah, gametrailers just gave MHF a 4.8 ouch. why cant these game sites see the greatness that is MHF? i guess people dont like having to use actual skill in video games anymore hehe.
+
06/20/06
Adnanoo
| Alabama USA
I Can't Believe That Gamespot Gave It 6.5 Cause It's The Best Game Ever
+
06/20/06
30
Chance
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| Florida USA | XBC: Chance | KAI: Chance | SOCOM: Chance2
Thanks Kage..I hope longer is better. I agree Agent..its wierd how the first game in a long time that requires thought and skill is rated so low.
+
06/20/06
19
ilian123
| Bosnia | SOCOM: IM: il1an@yahoo
First of all, great review.
I just bought this game an hour ago, and reading your review, this just sounds perfect for my upcoming trip (leaving tommorow, travelling all summer).
I've never really liked rpg's but this game is really awesome.
I just feel kinda bad when i have to slay down those adorable "cowthings" like a maniac..
If it wasnt for all of your reviews here and reccomendations on psp411 i would have missed a great game (It does look kinda cheap on the outside..)
+
06/20/06
30
Chance
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| Florida USA | XBC: Chance | KAI: Chance | SOCOM: Chance2
Thanks Ilian..I really appreciate your input. I'm glad I've been able to help you finding this great game. Enjoy it, I know I do!
+
06/20/06
19
ilian123
| Bosnia | SOCOM: IM: il1an@yahoo
One question.. can i change the outfit of the hunter? Because I couldnt change the default clothes it came with when i was creating my character at the begining, and he looks like a 2 legged horse now..
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06/20/06
72
Panther
| California USA
Your outfit changes as you change armor.
+
06/20/06
19
ilian123
| Bosnia | SOCOM: IM: il1an@yahoo
God I hope I dont keep asking questions like this..
I am on the begginers missions and i need to cook raw meat into a well done steak. Now, I only manage to make a rare steak, and when i go to the deposit box where i am supposed to leave it nothing happens when trying to leave it there (pressing circle)
+
06/20/06
30
Chance
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| Florida USA | XBC: Chance | KAI: Chance | SOCOM: Chance2
Ok. These are just training missions. You can't leave the rare steak because it doesn't meet the criteria of the mission. You'll have to make a well done steak to complete the mission. It takes a bit of practice, but once you've done it once or twice you learn the rhythm and it gets pretty easy. I cant remember the last time I failed it..keep working at it, you'll learn.
+
06/20/06
19
Agent808
| Hawaii USA
i usually press x about 3 counts after the song stops for well done.
i finally beat rathalos the other night, i stopped playing for a while after i fought him the first time because he kept running away when i had him getting weak, then back at his lair i would always have a hard time finishing him off due to all the respawning velociprey in his lair. it felt good putting my sword through him on that last stroke, aahhhh.
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