The #1 Reason to Buy a PSP
by hannibul_91 Aug 12, 2009, 9:36 AM PDT
Honestly, I had no interest in purchasing a PSP, and nothing really piqued my interest in the console. Then my boyfriend showed me Monster Hunter. This series made me love video games all over again and I finally purchased a PSP just to play Freedom Unite. I have nearly 250 hours clocked already and I cannot put it down! Unlike other reviewers who seem to have been with Monster Hunter since it's PS2 days, Freedom Unite is my first Monster Hunter game.
A warning, this is not 'pick up and play' friendly. It takes skill to master, and the learning curve is extremely steep. But that is what I love about it. You have to study up and learn your enemy; his attacks, weakness, when it is safe to hit him, how to dodge, what weapon works best, the areas he frequents, what items are most effective, ect. ect. Each monster is unique and you have to stay on your toes when fighting them. Monster Hunter does not have levels; there is a ranking system that allows you to unlock harder missons after you clear certain tasks, and you can make improved equipment to make slaying enemies easier. Sometimes you are going to be so frustrated that you want to throw your PSP against the wall (somebody say hipcheck?), but the feeling of accomplishment Freedom Unite gives you is amazing, I cannot think of any video games that can replicate it.
Online play adds a whole other element of fun to the game. It is possible to do the multiplayer missions alone, but once you reach High Rank and G Rank it becomes very hard to do so. Online does not come out of the box per say; you can use Ad-Hoc to play with people in the same room, so for those who have friends that also play you are in luck. If you want to play over the internet however then you will need to use a third party service & product, or Ad-Hoc Party through the PS3 system.
All wrapped up this is a spectacular game. It is challenging, fun, and unique. I have never played anything like Monster Hunter and I wish I had heard of the series sooner. Defiantly try the demo, as this is not a game for everyone so it's best to try it first, but I think you will be pleasantly surprised by what you see.
Log in or Sign up to vote
7 of 7 people think this review is helpful... Was this review helpful to you?
