I recently bought this game and... DAMN, it's HARD! Originally. this game was planned for PS3, but Capcom decided the Wii was better for I dunno what reasons. Anyway, this is basically a MMO about hunting animals / monsters, but apperantly you can also capture them and do quests and stuff.

So far I'm impressed. Especially by it's difficulty. Seriously, you can easily end up fighting a boss monster for longer than 20 minutes. The only downside so far is that the controlls are HARD to figure out. There are man types of weapons (from sword & shield combo, to bowgun, heavy, long swords / axes, lances and hammers) and each style plays differently and needs different strategy.

Just check out some trailers or game play videos, and be amazed.

Also, I'm ashamed to say my little brother of 10 currently plays this game better than I do.

I heard about this game shortly after it came out. It sounds like a Wii version of Demon's Souls, but with actual villages and farms you can manage or something like that. I do want it, but can't justify getting it when I still have a bunch of games I bought months ago I didn't get to beating due to school.

I have over 110 hours of gameplay on this. I had to take a break from it so I could play Galaxy 2 and PS3 stuff...

Looks cool. I don't have a Wii though.

looks pretty good, shame Freedom Unite exists

Looks amazing, this is a must-buy for me. I've know about this game for a long time and have been keeping an eye on its development. Kind wait to get it.

I admit, when I started this topic I wasn't yet really into the game. Yet now, I'm totally hooked! At first it's hard to get into the game play, as it's very different from what I atleast am used to. But now it's really cool, I hope to get my internet working so I can play online soon.

Switch Axes are awesome btw. Used Bowguns before, but switched over as soon as soon as the Switch Axe was available. I have no regrets.

It's a shame you keep on fighting the Great Jaggi over and over again all the time though. It's getting a bit repeative now. Then again, I'm not all too far in the game and should probably play more quests.

How often do you play online? That's where it's at. I'm Hunter Rank 34 currently and I haven't even fully completed single player yet.

That's pretty impressive. So your 34th best in the world?

No, I never play online actually. It's simply cause I can't. Internet doesn't work here.

Can't actually believe I ever had problems taking down the Great Jaggi. Seriously, every where I go, that thing seems to follow me. Once, I had to fight two of them AND a Qurupeco. Later I encountered two Royal Ludroths as well. It's a good thing getting killed isn't punished in this game.

Though, Moga Forest is getting boring a little. I'd like to go free hunting in the desert, or in the Flooded Forest but is this even possible? I kinda wish you could go hunting playing multiplayer as well. I'd send my little brother hunting me some Malachite Ores or something.

And how is online play better?

Oh - Hunter Rank is sort of like your "level". The higher your Hunter Rank is, the more difficult online quests you can do. It goes all the way up to 99.

Online is better because instead of hunting monsters alone, you can do it with a group of three other people. Also, there are a ton of monsters that are exclusive to the online mode only and as you go up in the star ranks (single player goes up to five, multi goes to six) monsters are HUGE and they're a bitch to kill even with a full party. It's like a mini-mmo so to speak.

Yeah that's how the game appeared to be in the first place. I'll try to make internet working, maybe we can play online sometimes then.

I just really find it a shame you can't do regular hunting multiplayer though. I really enjoy battleing with my little brother as he's actually pretty good. We slayed Barroth in our second attempt for example.

When can you fight stronger monsters in the area though? So far I can fight the first 3 only. Guess it's story related?

You have to capture the monsters in single player to unlock them in arena. I never do arena though so don't quote me on that.

Yeah, what you said was true. You need to capture the monster to get it in the Arena.
But damn... The monsters are getting harder and harder. The gap of power between the Qurupeco and Barroth was already big.. but now fighting the Gobol, Rathalian and Giginox is pure hell I swear!

Well, Rathalian can be quite easy, if you manage to keep hitting it on the sides but Giginox.. wtf!? Had maximum amount of potions and antidiotes, got it crippled and it still killed me cause of the poison. Got frustrated and quitted. Royal Ludroths still beat me as well quite often.

So this game is pretty damn challenging. Just getting your armor and weapons togheter is a big pain. Still wearing Barroth armor myself (going for Rathalian set, cause it looks awesome) and I can barely manage. Switch Axes are sitll real real cool though.

So guys, what control type would you recommend for this game? I'm purchasing it soon, so I'm wondering whether it's better to use the Wiimote and Nunchuk or the Classic Controller(which I don't have btw because I think it's absolute crap)? Does it support the GameCube controller?

No GameCube controller. It plays the best with either the Classic Controller or Classic Controller Pro because you can free-control the camera with the right stick.

Is the Classic Controller bundle still out there? If no, are the Wiimote controls alright?

I don't think so, but apparently the game got a price cut at GameStop.

The Wiimote controls work fine and you can turn the motions off if you want. It's just harder to control the camera with the D-pad opposed to a control stick.

Is that retail price as well or online only?

Retail. It has a red sticker on it at GS.

Oh yeah, it's part of the power sale going on. We shall see.

You should totally get it. I've logged in just over 144 hours and I'm only HR40 online. I've seen a guy that was 126.

Oh I do want it, I've just got some other games going on.