The franchise that took Japan by storm has recently developed a cult following in North America as well. “Monster Hunter 3: Ultimate” is the most recent addition to the series released earlier this year. The game has been relatively under the radar until recently and is a must see for hardcore gamers.

The game is available on both the Wii U and Nintendo DS. While previous editions of the game have focused on handheld consoles and local co-op play, this edition has a special feature which allows the player to transfer save data between the console version and the handheld version. This allows players to play on their big screen at home and then transfer all progress back on the handheld to take on the road — a very convenient feature for on-the-go gamers. However, this feature does require owning both the Wii U and the 3DS copies, not good for gamers on a budget.

The gameplay feels expansive and epic. From daunting weapons to massive monsters, the fights make the player feel small in comparison to the world, but larger than life when accomplishing hunts. Fighting monsters and learning their movements and how to avoid them is the key to success which adds a tactical element to the game and depth to the fights. The downside is that replaying hunts to get the equipment needed can get very repetitive, and the learning curve is massive for newcomers to the game.

lkenney@mavs.coloradomesa.edu