Wii Monster Hunter Tri

[Xalioniaf]

Yeah, there's a thread on it already, but I figure a new thread with a clearer title is in order.
Anyway, Capcom has been rather choicy with their words on Tri coming to the west. Reggie pretty much confirmed it back at E3, but now we've got an official statement from Capcom. The localized version will be up for preview at Germany's GamesCom this month as well.

CAPCOM ANNOUNCES WESTERN RELEASE OF MONSTER HUNTERTM Tri FOR Wii

Four-Player Online Co-Op, 2-Player Split-Screen and New Underwater Environments Introduced When Japanese Phenomenon Comes To North American and European Markets in 2010

SAN MATEO, Calif. — August 3, 2009 — Capcom® Entertainment, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today announced that Monster Hunter™ Tri will be released in both North America and Europe for Nintendo’s Wii™ system in early 2010.

Monster Hunter Tri will set a new bar in the action/adventure genre with the introduction of new features and game play elements as the multi-million unit selling franchise makes its debut on the Wii system.

One of the most strikingly beautiful titles ever developed for Wii, Monster Hunter Tri depicts a living, breathing ecosystem where man co-exists with fantastic beasts that roam both the land and the sea. Featuring both online and offline cooperative modes, players can join online hunting parties with up to four players or play with two players on a single TV for select quests. Players also have the option to face Monster Hunter Tri’s challenging quests as a single player experience accompanied by Cha-Cha, an AI hunting partner whose tracking and trapping skills will prove invaluable in the hunt. New items, weapons and armor sets will also be available to assist the hunters as they embark on the most incredible Monster Hunter adventure to date.

“Fans of Nintendo and Monster Hunter are eagerly anticipating the launch of this title in the US, which will be the first time the series is available on a Nintendo home console,” said Steve Singer, Nintendo of America’s Vice President of Licensing. “Having Capcom bring Monster Hunter Tri to the Wii console provides tremendous action, fun and entertainment to both veteran players and series newcomers alike.”

Visitors to this month’s GamesCom European gaming convention in Cologne, Germany August 19-23, will be the first to sample a localized version of the title on Capcom’s stand as it makes its English debut for a western audience. GamesCom attendees will have the opportunity to play the same game that took last year’s Tokyo Game Show by storm, with lines that stretched around Capcom’s stand as eager Japanese gamers waited in excess of five hours to play.

This desire to be one of the first to experience Monster Hunter Tri is indicative of the impact the Monster Hunter franchise has made on videogame culture in Japan. With sales of the series totaling well over 10 million units and 3.5 million sales of Monster Hunter Portable™ 2ndG alone, it’s no surprise to find that Monster Hunter has given rise to dedicated “training camps”, country-wide festivals and numerous licensed products. The franchise doesn’t just top the charts in Japan; it’s become a social phenomenon.

Here also is the latest trailer for the game.


MH3 came out in Japan on Saturday, and there's already a handful of youtube clips up if you want to check out the game and see if it's for you. And, as always, there are the three Monster Hunter Freedom games on the PSP if you'd like to give this game a try before the Wii release hits.

 

[Halifirien]

I'll be picking this one up. I like the idea of playing this on the big screen with a Wii Classic Controller a lot more than contorting myself and cramping my hands on the PSP. I really like the style of gameplay.

 

[Tymon]

This could be the best looking game on the Wii, possibly.

 

[Xalioniaf]

A bit of info I've picked up on lately. No real source.
-Instead of managing different bowguns, you now have one bowgun which you modify to your liking. Barrel, frame, etc. Modifying it changes how much it weighs (thus how fast you can run with it out), how fast it can shoot, etc.
-All weapons now have some sort of "knockout" move that used to be exclusive to hammers and hunting horns. To coincide with this, hunting quests now come with side missions such as "Knock out the monster" for extra rewards.
--The greatsword smacks the monster with the flat of the blade.
--The Sword and Shield and the Lance both slap the monster with the shield.
-Various tweaks have been made to all the returning weapons as well, such as adjusting the charge attacks of the Hammer and Great Sword, as well as adding a new Lance attack.

 

[Gerry]

This is by no means meant to bash the game or the Wii. These are pretty much my worst fears for Monster Hunter 3 coming true.

Wii title Monster Hunter 3 came out of the gate like gangbusters in its first week this August, selling half a million copies. So why is it already in the bargain bins?

The Monster Hunter series on the PSP has been one of the real success stories — not just for the PSP, but Capcom. The game was originally schedule for the PS3, but later announced for the Nintendo Wii. With the Nintendo Wii being the most popular console in Japan, Capcom shipped one million copies of the game.

Yet, after moving half a million copies in its first week, indications are that sales are way down to the tune of 130,000 copies sticking retailers with unsold copies of the game. Some retailers like Bic Camera have knocked the price down to ¥2,980 (US$31) from ¥6,600 ($69) for new copies as part of a special sale. Capcom has already shipped these games. If sales are lower than targeted, retailers are getting screwed.

Don't get us wrong, Monster Hunter 3 selling half a million copies in its first week on sale is impressive. That's the biggest third party Wii debut in Japan. Selling 130,000 copies in a week is also impressive.

However, when a million copies of a game are shipped, and there is a significant drop off in its second week, one can't help but think the game isn't living up to retail expectations. But those are only sales expectations, and sales expectations smells pectations. Monster Hunter 3 is doing great!

http://kotaku.com/5336507/is-monster-hunter-3-underperforming

(Yes yes, I know it's Kotaku)

The game is in bargain bins after two or so weeks, even after selling monstrously well (forgive the unintentional pun), but considering this is Monster Hunter, and it's on Wii, it's sad to see this.

 

[Xalioniaf]

If anything, Capcom is overestimating the amount of people who own a PSP and a Wii.
The game sold great, and I think the news outlets are really overestimating the idea of undersales, since a lot of stores ran out of stock.

 

[Halifirien]

Time to bump this thread. Today Nintendo announced the game is being released in April with the Classic Controller Pro. This is the first confirmation the controller would come to North America, so I'm very pleased.

SAN MATEO, CA, and REDMOND, WA, - January 25, 2010 - Capcom® Entertainment, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, and Nintendo of America today announced an exciting new bundle featuring one of the most highly anticipated titles for 2010, Monster Hunter® Tri, and combining it with the new Classic Controller Pro™ for the Wii™ system. The Classic Controller Pro's more traditional control configuration will give gamers the ultimate Monster Hunting experience when the bundle becomes available in North America this April at a suggested retail price of $59.99.

...

The Classic Controller Pro will be compatible with more than 450 Wii, WiiWare™ and Virtual Console™ games. The Classic Controller Pro bundled with Monster Hunter Tri will be black, while both black and white versions of the controller will also be available separately at a suggested retail price of $19.99. The game will also be available without a controller at a suggested retail price of $49.99.

 

[Tristam Green]

This classic controller Pro confuses me. Are they trying to be like Sony, except with wires?

 

[Halifirien]

It has the same number of buttons as the regular Classic Controller, but it's laid out like a DualShock, yeah. It should be a lot easier to use, especially for people who were used to playing Monster Hunter on the PS2.

 

[Xalioniaf]

The original Classic Controller was abysmal. I'm glad that they're taking this opportunity to release it with MH3 over here as they did in Japan. Also, it'll be easier to use the PS2 controller layout option with this instead of a Gamecube controller.
Time to put my reservation in~

 

[Strid]

Color me dissapointed, I was hoping for this:

I could give a shit less about the same thing with grips I could have bought separately for dirt cheap and ZR/ZL bein' moved.

 

[Tristam Green]

The original Classic Controller was abysmal. I'm glad that they're taking this opportunity to release it with MH3 over here as they did in Japan. Also, it'll be easier to use the PS2 controller layout option with this instead of a Gamecube controller.
Time to put my reservation in~

I will say that my only disappointment with the classic controller was the stupid Dreamcast-like cable-out-the-ass-end deal.

 

[Dayner]

what weapon everyone going to use?
lance and katana/longsword here

 

[Xalioniaf]

Probably Sword+Shield/Med. Bowgun here. I'll keep a couple of each weapon on hand, though. It's what I did for MHFU.

 

[Myrrh]

I'm thinking bow or DS for me.

 

[Tiael]

Releasing April 20th, and no subscription fees for online in North America

http://kotaku.com/5479365/monster-hunter-tri-dated-for-april-online-multiplayer-goes-free/gallery/

 

[Xalioniaf]

Also, starting March 8th you'll get an MH3 demo for preordering at Gamestop.
Would be nice to finally be able to either get used to the wiimote mechanics or at least drool at all the pretty scenery. I'm expecting it to be the same demo that came with the MHG Wii port that Japan got last year.

 

[Xalioniaf]

I gave the demo a whirl today. I tried out the Switch Axe and the Long Sword on both quests before I called it a day.
I really like the Switch Axe, but I have no idea how to quickly and safely switch to Heavy mode without getting a face full of rape if the monster's attention is towards me. Activating the chain attack is awkward as hell on the Wiimote, and just generally trying to get attacks in on Sword mode is a bit frustrating with the quick monsters given. I can't really offer my full verdict, though, until I get a chance to try it out with a Classic controller. The option is there to use one in the demo, but I won't have one until I get the one that comes packaged with MH3.
I like the tweaks done to Long Sword. The new combo finisher at the end of a spirit chain is both flashy and useful, as it buffs up your long sword further each time you land it up to three times. Aside from that, it the same Long Sword in the Freedom series, although there is an edge for Wiimote users (and I have to assume it's the same for the other Blade weapons) in that you can just mash the A button to combo attacks, instead of shaking a direction. It's a bit less strategic than picking and choosing your attacks, but it does make the game a hell of a lot more accessible. I'd liken it to the Wiimote controls present in Tatsunoko vs. Capcom.
As for general movement and exploration, a lot of tweaks either feel natural or just right. The swimming mechanic gets some getting used to (and I have to wonder why the land Y camera still only moves in "stages" while the undersea camera is more fluid), but as soon you mess around with it it feels like second nature. Everything, from dodging to attacking, feels just right without seeming too lout of place in the underwater environment. Unfortunately, there are no underwater bosses in the demo, but the additional third dimension available should add a ton of a strategic value to undersea boss fights.
All together, a very nice taste of what the full game has to offer. I'll try out some of the other weapons later, and post my thoughts on them. I'm most interested in trying out the new middle-weight tier of bowguns.

 

[Bajaratt]

Saw the demo, it looks like it plays a bit like demon sounds with Dinosaurs. A lock-on would be a godsend in this game, it's a pain in the ass to hit with a 2-handed weapon.

 

[Xalioniaf]

There's been many arguments for and against including lock-on for the game, but I think that it'd be a detriment if you're aiming to break a specific part of the monster and the targeting thing is only centering on the monster.
Then you could say the lock-on could cycle between the breakable parts, but that'd remove some of the fun of finding them.
I dunno. MH hasn't had any sort of lock-on since the first game, so most anyone who's played has gotten used to it by now.