Monster Hunter Freedom 2

[Dominicy]

The series didn't disappoint with it's PSP sequel.  Leaving the original wyvern centered boss fights was a great choice.

Story -/- : For all the obvious reasons.

Sound 7/10 : the songs are great, and few get repetitive, which is particularly nice later into the game, where you'll be stuck listening to the same song for the entire thirty to forty minutes of the mission.  The sounds of the monster's roars, swinging a sword, firing and arrow, the imact of a hammer, the deflection of a weapon of the flesh of a monster.  The sound gives little to be desired, apart from non-battle songs, without, leaving the game utterly silent apart from the occasional grunts of your character or jingling or your equipment if not in battle.

Graphics 7.5/10 : The graphics are amazing, particularly for being on the PSP.  Thankfully, they redesigned loading to continue in the back ground even while in the mission itself, making the graphics come with little draw-back.  Monsters are incredibly detailed, yet still remain realistic.  Monster graphics are not scaled up to size, as can clearly be seen by the surprising detail, and when scaled at all, it's barely noticeable, making proportions realistic.  In several specific areas however, the back ground will simply be a flat surface enclosed by wall-like cliffs or simply water, a perfect example being the Fortress' palisade.  The only major flaws with the graphics are the unusually flat surfaces in some areas, and the cross-like bursts of blood that can grow to bigger than the monster it self, at times.

Gameplay 9/10 : The game play is still intense, which I wouldn't have any other way.  Monster Hunter is one of the few games in recent years that dares to have harder gameplay that can only be seen in older games, and rarely even then.  While hard, however, it is not impossibly hard, the game well balanced, preventing the game from being too difficult.  Several monsters, weapons, items, and areas give the game alot of replay value, without even replaying the game.  Everything you do can be repeated, and in the cases of items and equipment, can be undone.  While the game has alot going for it, however, a good amount of your play time earlier on will be fighting recolored monsters you essentially already killed, as well as spending an unnecessary amount of time farming materials for armor.  A good majority of time is spent farming honey and blue mushrooms for mega potions and potions.  The flaws, few as they are do make the game repetitive,  are very easily over-looked if you are interested in a good, and actually HARD action game.

Final score (not based off above) 9/10, the game is impressive, but flawed, usually minor, in some spots, as well as getting repetitive, simply fighting recolored versions of previously killed monsters.

How about you guys? :P

[Dragonium]

I don't need to give a review. Best game on PSP, best game of this year. Period.

Only flaw: unlocking HR2 Lao Shan takes forever. Nearly 60 quests to unlock? My God. It takes weeks.

[Dominicy]

Originally posted by Dragonium
I don't need to give a review. Best game on PSP, best game of this year. Period.

Only flaw: unlocking HR2 Lao Shan takes forever. Nearly 60 quests to unlock? My God. It takes weeks.

After yesterday, I can clearly state that's wrong: Rajang = flaw. >_>

Still definitely is the best game on the PSP, though.  Plus Monster Hunter 2nd G is coming out some time, and I was checking a bit about it, it's in Japanese, but gives a few screenshots that give me a strong suspicion that we're getting a felyne partner...