- Monster Hunter
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This article is about the series. For the first video game in the series, see Monster Hunter (video game).
Monster Hunter Franchise Genres Action role-playing game Developers Capcom Publishers Capcom Platforms PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Windows, Wii, Xbox 360, Nintendo 3DS Official website capcom.com/monster The Monster Hunter (モンスターハンター Monsutā Hantā) franchise is a series of fantasy action role-playing video games that started with the game Monster Hunter for PlayStation 2. The series is developed and published by Capcom. As the title suggests, the player takes the role of a hunter in a fantasy environment and completes quests by seeking out monsters to hunt or capture. The series has branched out into PlayStation Portable games and a massively multiplayer online game. In Japan, the Monster Hunter series is immensely popular, and it has gained a cult following in the United States, with the port Monster Hunter Freedom (known in Japan as Monster Hunter Portable) and its sequels, Monster Hunter Freedom 2 / Monster Hunter Portable 2nd, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite / Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G, and Monster Hunter Portable 3rd selling millions of copies, and Monster Hunter Tri becoming the highest-selling third-party Wii game in Japan.[1] Since the series debuted, it has sold 18 million units as of June 2011.[2] There is also an anime based on the spin-off game Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airu Village and a book called Monster Hunter EPISODE (モンスターハンター EPISODE~).[3]
Contents
Games
Below is a list of games in the Monster Hunter series. The way the games are numbered suggest a split series between console and handheld games.
Main series
Original release date(s):
Release years by system:
2004 – PlayStation 2Notes: - First game in the Monster Hunter series
Original release date(s):
- JP January 20, 2005
Release years by system:
2005 – PlayStation 2
2009 – WiiNotes: - Released only in Japan
- An expansion of the original title
Original release date(s):
- JP February 16, 2006
Release years by system:
2006 – PlayStation 2Notes: - Released only in Japan
- First game in the series to add the use of gems.
Original release date(s):
Release years by system:
2009 – WiiNotes: - Released in Japan as Monster Hunter 3 (tri-)
- First game in the series to include underwater battles
- New weapon classes include Switch Axe and Medium Bowgun
- Weapon classes Dual Swords, Gunlance, Bow and Hunting Horn were removed
Original release date(s):
- JP December 10, 2011
Release years by system:
2011 – Nintendo 3DSNotes: - An expansion of Monster Hunter Tri
- Features new monsters, locations and weapon classes
- Bowgun classes were simplified
Original release date(s):
- JP TBA
Release years by system:
TBANotes: - Announced on "Nintendo 3DS Conference 2011" (September 2011)
Freedom series
Original release date(s):
Release years by system:
2005 – PlayStation PortableNotes: - Released in Japan as Monster Hunter Portable
- First game in the series to appear on a Handheld Console
- Based on Monster Hunter G
Original release date(s):
Release years by system:
2007 – PlayStation PortableNotes: - Released in Japan as Monster Hunter Portable 2nd
- Based on Monster Hunter 2
- New weapon classes include Long Sword, Gunlance, Hunting Horn, and Bow
Original release date(s):
Release years by system:
2008 – PlayStation PortableNotes: - Released in Japan as Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G
- An expansion of Monster Hunter Freedom 2
Original release date(s):
- JP December 1, 2010
Release years by system:
2010 – PlayStation PortableNotes: - Based on and expanded from Monster Hunter Tri
- Weapon classes Dual Swords, Gunlance, Bow and Hunting Horn were brought back
- Released only in Japan.
Original release date(s):
- JP August 25, 2011
Release years by system:
2011 – PlayStation 3Notes: - High definition remastering of Monster Hunter Portable 3rd
- Released only in Japan.
Spin-offs
Original release date(s):
- JP June 21, 2007
Release years by system:
2007 – Microsoft Windows
2010 – Xbox 360Notes: - Differs from other games in the series by being a full-fledged MMORPG
Original release date(s):
- JP August 26, 2010
Release years by system:
2010 – PlayStation PortableNotes: - Released only in Japan.
Original release date(s):
- JP August 10, 2011
Release years by system:
2011 – PlayStation PortableNotes: - Based on and expanded from Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airu Village
Monster Hunter Dynamic Hunting
Original release date(s):
Release years by system:
2011 - iOSNotes: - First game in the series to be on the iOS systems
Related media
Anime
A series of anime shorts titled MonHun Nikki Girigiri Airū-mura Airū Kiki Ippatsu was broadcast beginning August 10, 2010. A sequel, MonHun Nikki Girigiri Airū-mura G, is currently in production.[4]
Manga
A manga titled Monster Hunter Orage was published jointly by Kodansha and Capcom in April 2008. The author of the manga is Hiro Mashima. There are four volumes total with the last volume published on May 4, 2009. An English release of Monster Hunter Orage first took place on June 28, 2011.
Card game
A trading card game titled Monster Hunter Hunting Card was released in October 2008 with periodic updates planned.[5]
References
- ^ Fletcher, J.C. (2009-08-13). "Monster Hunter 3 is Japan's best-selling third-party Wii game". Joystiq. http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/13/monster-hunter-3-is-japans-best-selling-third-party-wii-game/. Retrieved 2009-08-13.
- ^ "Total Sales Units". Capcom. 2011-06-30. http://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/business/salesdata.html. Retrieved 2011-08-07.
- ^ "MONSTER HUNTER｜モンスターハンター 公式ポータルサイト" (in Japanese). Capcom(Japan). http://www.capcom.co.jp/monsterhunter/goods_book38.html. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
- ^ "Monster Hunter Nikki Anime Shorts Get Sequel". Anime News Network. 2011-04-07. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-04-07/monster-hunter-nikki-anime-shorts-get-sequel. Retrieved 2011-06-04.
- ^ "Monster Hunter becomes a card game". andriasang. August 22, 2008. http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2008/08/22/monster_hunter_card_game/. Retrieved December 10, 2010.[dead link]
External links
Monster Hunter series Main series Freedom series Spin-offs Manga Franchises by Capcom 19XX • Ace Attorney • Bionic Commando • Breath of Fire • Darkstalkers • Dead Rising • Devil May Cry • Dino Crisis • Final Fight • Ghosts 'n Goblins • Lost Planet • Mega Man • Monster Hunter • Onimusha • Resident Evil • Sengoku Basara • Star Gladiator • Street Fighter • Strider • Versus • Viewtiful Joe
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