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Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate: Review Thread

Raptomex

Member
I pre-ordered this. I don't know why. I never get very far but every time I see gameplay in any of these games, it looks so cool. I just don't get far enough. This one does look improved, though.
 

ZeroX03

Banned
Sounds great. Played roughly ten hours of MH3U and still didn't "get it" but hopefully 4U with friends will change that.
 
holy shit

ign 9
gs 9

i4FokR44PbX3K.gif
 

popyea

Member
If this game is truly better than MH3U, then holy fuck gimme. The craftsmanship of that game is just so good, even after 500 hours it never lost it's impact.
 

Kyoufu

Member
Good to see MH getting good reviews. Not my favourite in the series but definitely much better than 3G/3U. Anyone buying this game is in for a good time.
 

Fistwell

Member
Yo Festwill, are you getting MH4U or are you already tapped out from playing the japanese version? Need some French-GAF to hunt with!
Yeah I'm getting it! (ended up giving up early on 4G due to being burned out on all that moon language, so I'm fresh enough and probably good for a couple hundred hours) Is there going to be a community thread?

This is what happens when a publisher /developer knows they have a solid product :)
Bububu... populated server somethingsomething experience something?

Good to see the game reviewing well. :)
 

TomShoe

Banned
For the life of me I want to enjoy this game so bad, but I can't get into it.

Combat just feels really clunky and slow...any ideas on how to liven it up?
 

Mistouze

user-friendly man-cashews
Yeah I'm getting it! (ended up giving up early on 4G due to being burned out on all that moon language, so I'm fresh enough and probably good for a couple hundred hours) Is there going to be a community thread?
Ayyyy! Hunting in french > hunting in moon language

inconnus-a-chasseurs_3l4e3_2z9qh6.jpg
 

hoserx

Member
For the life of me I want to enjoy this game so bad, but I can't get into it.

Combat just feels really clunky and slow...any ideas on how to liven it up?


It's not clunky and slow, it's just more deliberate. You have to get good before it feels good. Once you do, it's great. It's like Dark Souls in that respect....(no I am not comparing these two games directly) However if you really don't like it, then you don't like it, and that's just fine. I don't want to use the word "Realistic", but the time it takes to swing weapons, and the fact that you can't just mash buttons and do superhuman amounts of attacks over time is what makes the game more appealing to me than say, Bayonetta or DmC.
 

popyea

Member
For the life of me I want to enjoy this game so bad, but I can't get into it.

Combat just feels really clunky and slow...any ideas on how to liven it up?

This is literally just a case of learning to play. You need to learn which moves flow into each other. The game isn't clunky at all when you know what you're doing, because your aim is to plan your attacks so that they don't leave you standing there like an idiot. Even experienced players will feel that clunkiness when using a weapon they've never touched, they just stick with it because they know every weapon has combo links that flow smoothly. I encourage you to stick with it, and you'll get to the point where combat feels like a ballet with the monster.
 

hoserx

Member
This is literally just a case of learning to play. You need to learn which moves flow into each other. The game isn't clunky at all when you know what you're doing, because your aim is to plan your attacks so that they don't leave you standing there like an idiot. Even experienced players will feel that clunkiness when using a weapon they've never touched, they just stick with it because they know every weapon has combo links that flow smoothly. I encourage you to stick with it, and you'll get to the point where combat feels like a ballet with the monster.



Well said!
 

Memory

Member
Depends on why you didn't like it.

Depend on what was the reason you didn't like MH3U.

EDIT: welp beaten

I didnt like the clunkyness of the game in general, the quest system was mess and confusing. They kinda dropped you in at the shallow end but once you get tonthe main game everything is still messy and in Nees if steamlining. I mean i had to travel to another island just to do multi-player if i remember correctly.

I liked the beasts and the gathing elements buts the actual gameplay was not enough to keep me engaged.

Maybe i'll try the demo and see if i like it.
 
Yeah I'm getting it! (ended up giving up early on 4G due to being burned out on all that moon language, so I'm fresh enough and probably good for a couple hundred hours) Is there going to be a community thread?
Awesome!

We need more bowgunners online, you know we work faster than blademasters. ;)
 

Xane

Member
This is literally just a case of learning to play. You need to learn which moves flow into each other. The game isn't clunky at all when you know what you're doing, because your aim is to plan your attacks so that they don't leave you standing there like an idiot. Even experienced players will feel that clunkiness when using a weapon they've never touched, they just stick with it because they know every weapon has combo links that flow smoothly. I encourage you to stick with it, and you'll get to the point where combat feels like a ballet with the monster.

This is what it literally feels like. <3
 

Fistwell

Member

We need more bowgunners online, you know we work faster than blademasters. ;)
Oh.. hmm, yeah, totally!
said the LSer
players will feel that clunkiness when using a weapon they've never touched
Yeah, like he said, it's not clunky, what you feel is your (transient) inability to express your badassness through the medium of evocative dance (and/or of strict, mainly-non-cancel-able movesets).
 
I might need to jump in. I couldn't get into 3 Ult demo on the Wii U, but since then I got Freedom Wars and adored the hell out of that. I've realized since that Monster Hunter has a learning curve, but I'll need to do more reading and see what the accessibility that keeps being mentioned in the quotes is.
 

magnetic

Member
For the life of me I want to enjoy this game so bad, but I can't get into it.

Combat just feels really clunky and slow...any ideas on how to liven it up?

As an example, I played the series for around 200 hours total (not THAT much, but I´d like to think that I know the basics), really felt comfortable with the Great Sword and Dual Blades, and yet there´s still weapons that I have barely grasped.

For instance, every time I try the lance I just can´t figure out how anyone can move around properly with that thing. But the great part about that is: I KNOW that this is a good weapon, because I can look up videos of people absolutely destroying monsters with the lance and making it look really easy.

It´s easy to look at the game and say "it´s all about the monsters!" But that´s only half true. It´s also really about the weapons as well. Every weapon has a very distinct feel.

As another example, I only recently tried Sword and Shield - I read rather discouraging comments about it, being a weak beginners crutch weapon. But then I read up some more and many pro players really seem to get the most of it. And man, it yet again has a completely different feel from even Dual Blades.

There´s also a big difference between weapons you bascially put away between ever attack (the Great Sword - you´re so slow when it´s out that you´re at a big disadvantage, so you really have to learn to sheathe it and attack the monster with the powerful unsheate sprint attack) and weapons that give you more speed when they´re out (like Sword and Shield, Dual Blade, Hammer).

And, as I said, the lance for instance has a completely different way of dodging.

I really takes quite some time before I warmed up to the combat, but now it´s easily the best combat in any game I´ve ever played. It´s incredibly satisfying to really LEARN a weapon and not just go "hit A for attack, mash A for combo, okay, got it".

It´s is pretty much the complete opposite of a button masher, and that´s not even going into the details of how your weapons relate to each monster.

And man, the monsters themselves have so much personality. While I enjoy beating a monster for the very first time, I really love the feeling of actually really figuring out a creature. The feeling of being absolutely terrified of the Great Jaggi and then later on making him absolutely trivial simply by learning what he does is something that I rarely experience in games, and never before to such an intense degree.

...There´s always something to LEARN in these games. There´s always a new nuance you never noticed before, always yet another weapon you can try and figure out. Sure, there´s sometimes grinding for parts, but there´s never a point where you just zone out and do things by simply mashing buttons. You can simply learn something new every single time you play the game.
 
For the life of me I want to enjoy this game so bad, but I can't get into it.

Combat just feels really clunky and slow...any ideas on how to liven it up?

Try all the weapons. Find one you like and then master it.

There is no easy street. Much like Dark Souls this game requires patience and commitment

Unlike Dark Souks this game is very team and social oriented.

You will learn and succeed MUCH faster with a group of friends. Watching Gaijin Hunters Youtube videos wouldnt hurt either
 

redcrayon

Member
Tried to play MH4 demo on a normal 3DS. Doesn't really work for camera control I'm afraid.
Works fine for me. Did you try using the 'lock-on monster' button when a large creature is on-screen? A combination of that and pressing L to position the camera behind me saw me through the demo and 80 hours of Monster Hunter 3G with a regular 3DS just fine.
 
Works fine for me. Did you try using the 'lock-on monster' button when a large creature is on-screen? A combination of that and pressing L to position the camera behind me saw me through the demo and 80 hours of Monster Hunter 3G with a regular 3DS just fine.

Hmmm no, I thought you adjust the camera using the on screen D-Pad?
 
I might need to jump in. I couldn't get into 3 Ult demo on the Wii U, but since then I got Freedom Wars and adored the hell out of that. I've realized since that Monster Hunter has a learning curve, but I'll need to do more reading and see what the accessibility that keeps being mentioned in the quotes is.

You won't be disappointed.

Freedom Wars is a joke compared to mainline Monster Hunter games. The gameplay mechanics are so, so much better.

Hmmm no, I thought you adjust the camera using the on screen D-Pad?

Try to press the icon of the monster on the lower screen, a crosshair will appear....and then, whenever you press the L button, the camera will move in the right direction (towards the monster) It works really well.
 

Thoraxes

Member
Hmmm no, I thought you adjust the camera using the on screen D-Pad?

When in the same zone as a monster, tap this button outlined below (the icon of the monster you're currently facing will show up here):

0Eikndq.jpg


Now, when you tap L to center your camera, it will auto-focus the camera onto the monster you are facing provided it's in the same zone as you.
 
I am officially on the HYPE TRAIN, I have preordered the game. But all the review mentions the "steep learning curve" of MonHun games, they say MH4U is slightly better at explaining the system to newbies, it still seems like a pretty daunting game, especially after trying the demo.

All the players who sank 100+ hours into this game, any advice to newbies?
 

Owensboro

Member
Works fine for me. Did you try using the 'lock-on monster' button when a large creature is on-screen? A combination of that and pressing L to position the camera behind me saw me through the demo and 80 hours of Monster Hunter 3G with a regular 3DS just fine.

I really wish they had more prominently pointed out that button during the demo. This is my first MH game and I did two monster hunts with a Sword and Shield without knowing the button was even there. It made the camera super frustrating! That being said, once someone in the GAF Demo thread pointed out that button it made the game much, much more manageable, especially for a class that tries to block attacks. 10 hours of demo play later I've tried out most of the weapons, hunted online a few times, and am totally ready to give this game a shot. I hope to god my copy comes in on Friday, as I haven't felt this excited about playing a game in a long time. Come on Amazon!

When in the same zone as a monster, tap this button outlined below (the icon of the monster you're currently facing will show up here):

http://i.imgur.com/0Eikndq.jpg

Now, when you tap L to center your camera, it will auto-focus the camera onto the monster you are facing provided it's in the same zone as you.

Yeah, that's it! It really helped me point towards the monsters for aiming blocks, ranged attacks, and just keeping my eye on it when it was hoping around the screen like a madman or find it when it was behind walls / rocks. It still sucks when you're pinned against a wall and inside the monster, but it's better than nothing! Just takes a little getting used to. I want to say I fully figured out the camera by the time I tried my 4th weapon out? (this is after playing the first one not knowing anything about the soft lock on).
 

samn

Member
I can't even figure out combat in Batman so I'm not sure this series is a great buy for me. Shame as I've heard so many good things :(
 

Thoraxes

Member
I am officially on the HYPE TRAIN, I have preordered the game. But all the review mentions the "steep learning curve" of MonHun games, they say MH4U is slightly better at explaining the system to newbies, it still seems like a pretty daunting game, especially after trying the demo.

All the players who sank 100+ hours into this game, any advice to newbies?

Keep an open mind, play with the community (everyone is very helpful and nice), and don't be afraid to mess around with different gear and weapons till you find what you like best.

Don't always blame the monster for your shortcomings and frustration, blame yourself and change up your strategies through careful observation (and research wikis if you deem it necessary). The game isn't going to go easy on you because you want to yolo your way through it.
 

bodine1231

Member
I think the popularity of Dark Souls and it's slower,animation heavy, combat is going to help this game a lot.

I know before DS I could never get into Monster Hunter but after getting used to that style of combat I'm really looking forward to giving MH another shot.
 

Volcynika

Member
I am definitely getting the game. A friend convinced me to get the Wii U one when it was out, and voice chat helped *so* much when she explained the game and its mechanics. Made it much more accessible and easy to understand when I had someone talking me through the in's and out's. Spent about 20-ish hours at least on it, which kept my attention much longer than most other games.
 

Fistwell

Member
All the players who sank 100+ hours into this game, any advice to newbies?
Try different weapons, see what feels good. Once you pick one stick with it for a while and try to figure it out. A lot of the fun is figuring out weapons (and monsters). Find people to play online with, look at what they do, ask them questions. It's more fun to play with people, easier to learn from them as well.

If you fail a lot, try to remember that the game is tough but fair. Unless you're severely undergeared, most failures are typically your own fault, not a case of bad luck or rng.

Just a random question... is there anyone (like me) who would have preferred that the game came out for a non-handheld console instead? PS4 or Wii U?
Yeah, a lot of people. It's taboo though, you don't talk about that. (or risk getting called out for portbegging)
 
Just a random question... is there anyone (like me) who would have preferred that the game came out for a non-handheld console instead? PS4 or Wii U?
 

Thoraxes

Member
Yeah, that's it! It really helped me point towards the monsters for aiming blocks, ranged attacks, and just keeping my eye on it when it was hoping around the screen like a madman or find it when it was behind walls / rocks. It still sucks when you're pinned against a wall and inside the monster, but it's better than nothing! Just takes a little getting used to. I want to say I fully figured out the camera by the time I tried my 4th weapon out? (this is after playing the first one not knowing anything about the soft lock on).

I find that for about 90% of the people that complain about the camera, telling people about the monster-focus button almost always fixes the problems with camera controls.

Just a random question... is there anyone (like me) who would have preferred that the game came out for a non-handheld console instead? PS4 or Wii U?

Ad-hoc multiplayer for this game is fantastic, and I know a lot of people that play thanks to me. Hunting while in the same room is a great experience. I would want a handheld version 100% of the time, but would welcome an optional home console version.
 
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